Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY346003 Unique Reference Number 06 June 2007 Inspection date Suzanne Joyce Stedman Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2006. She lives with her husband and two children aged four and eight in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Her husband is also a registered assistant. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house and the bathroom on the first floor is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding one child part time. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent and toddler group. The family has a dog, cat and a hamster.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The children are protected effectively from cross-infection and their good health is promoted because the childminder implements appropriate hygiene practices. The childminder has a verbal sick child policy which is shared with the parents. All of the required documentation to promote the children’s good health is in place.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from a healthy diet provided by the childminder such as, crackers, bread sticks, and a selection of sandwiches, raisins and fruit. The childminder uses her knowledge of healthy eating to ensure that children eat well and shares the children’s daily intake of food with the parents. Drinks are made available throughout the day and children have their own cups. The childminder ensures that she is aware of allergies and other special dietary requirements so that children's individual needs are met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good opportunities to take part in physical activity and develop their skills because the childminder plans a good range of activities and play opportunities. For example, going to the cliffs, Library Gardens, Hadleigh Castle and walking to and from school. They also enjoy dancing along to popular children's television programmes. Children benefit from fresh air and exercise each day which promotes a healthy lifestyle.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are learning about the importance of a good hygiene practices as they are encouraged to wash their hands to prevent germs spreading and learn that physical activity is fun. This promotes a positive attitude and encourages them to adopt this lifestyle for their future good health.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a child friendly home which promotes their sense of security. Children’s all round development is promoted well because the childminder has a wide range of toys and play materials. These are stored at child height so they are able to access resources promoting independence and choice. Equipment and play resources are checked regularly to ensure they remain safe for children to use. Children play in a home which is regularly checked by the childminder for safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is welcoming to children as their art work is displayed in the playroom along with appropriate posters. They have their own coat pegs to make them feel at home and give them a sense of belonging.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe on outings as they either travel in the buggy or hold onto the buggy when they are walking to and from different venues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected because the childminder has a good understanding of her role in protecting children. She covered child protection on her child minding training course and has attended safeguarding children training. The childminder is aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect and the appropriate procedures to follow if she has any concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and purposefully occupied while at the childminder’s home. The childminder has a good understanding of how children learn through play. For example, children play with the cars talking about different colours and sizes and laugh as the cars whiz off the end on the ramp. Children have good opportunities for sensory experiences when playing with, sand, water and play dough. However until now they have been unable to use the outside play area.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy both their impulsive play and those activities planned by the childminder such as craft activities and outings to the local woods, gardens, cliffs and historical sites. Children are motivated because they enjoy what they do and have a range of resources readily available to them to develop their own games and ideas. The childminder listens to and values what the children say and do as they discuss what they want for snack or to drink. Children are given lots of praise and encouragement which promotes their self-esteem and promotes a positive attitude to learning and develops their confidence.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder provides children with a positive role model because she talks with parents and other children which encourages children to communicate well. She talks to young children explaining what they are doing which encourages children to link words with actions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children have good relationships with the childminder because she makes them feel welcome in her home by displaying their art work in the playroom. Providing them with their own cups and coat hooks where they can hang their personal items gives them a sense of belonging. They are made to feel valued as part of an extended family.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All children are treated as individuals and with respect by the childminder, which promotes their sense of self-worth effectively. She is considerate when dealing with children’s personal needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are provided with equality of opportunity in their everyday routines. They have good opportunities to become aware of wider society by looking at books, playing with puzzles and watching appropriate television programmes. Children also visit the local area and help to recycle.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s good behaviour is promoted through lots of positive language and encouragement. Subsequently, children are well-behaved, polite and helpful.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children benefit from seeing the positive relationships between the childminder and their parents and carers. The childminder actively promotes an open two way communication with all parents to ensure that she can offer consistent and good quality care.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are protected from non-vetted persons because the childminder ensures that all persons in the household and her assistant are vetted and that non-vetted persons do not have unsupervised access to children. Children’s needs are met effectively because the childminder

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 ensures that the required adult to child ratio is met. The childminder has completed the required local authority approved childminder's course, first aid and safeguarding children training.

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Organisation

Children’s needs are met effectively because the childminder organises space and resources well to promote the children’s welfare and learning. For example, there is a playroom were the children participate in free play helping themselves to appropriate play resources, the dining room is used for messy play such as painting, sticking and play dough and the lounge is used for quiet activities such as television, books and stories.

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Organisation

The childminder maintains all of the required records for the efficient and safe management of the childminding service. She ensures that all documentation about individual children is shared with their parents.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints since the last inspection

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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The quality and standards of the care

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • develop learning and play opportunities for children through a wide range of activities outside.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the care

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

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