Summers, Jacqueline

Inspection report for early years provision

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317282 Unique Reference Number 13 June 2007 Inspection date Stephen Andrew Blake 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 good. 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 1995. She lives with her five year old son in their two bedroom end-terrace home in Cockermouth. Children have access to the whole of the house except the childminder’s bedroom and there is a fully enclosed rear garden for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to mind alone and also to work with an assistant. When working alone, the childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of five children. When working with an assistant, the childminder may provide care to a maximum of seven children. At present there are seven children on her roll. The childminder has use of her car to take children on local trips and outings.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder 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 good. Children enjoy a range of activities which contribute to their good health. Each day the childminder draws upon her training and experience to organise her routine and enable children to access a range of age-appropriate resources that promote their physical development. Regular visits to parks and toddler groups improve children’s physical skills. Younger children participate fully in all activities because the childminder makes good use of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework. Her good understanding about appropriate levels of support gives them confidence to try out new skills, set their own limits and know when to ask for help.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a warm, welcoming and well-maintained environment. They are developing an age-appropriate understanding of health and hygiene through the childminder’s encouragement and modelling, for example, when washing children’s hands after craft activities and before snacks. The childminder implements effective systems to safeguard children’s health and hygiene, for example, through a safe and hygienic nappy changing procedure.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from a varied and nutritious diet because the childminder has an appropriate understanding of healthy eating and has established systems to plan varied and interesting snack-time menus. The childminder organises her feeding routine in accordance with the child’s needs and parental wishes. She has effective systems for the storage and preparation of food and for the recording of individual dietary needs. This helps children to stay healthy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a spacious home where risks are identified and minimised, for example, through a daily visual risk assessment. This means they are able to move around safely, freely and independently. The childminder gives high priority to maintaining children’s safety outside the home, for example, when using age-appropriate car seats to transport children safely. The indoor environment is secure and the childminder uses a range of appropriate equipment in order to meet the needs and safeguard the safety of all children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children independently select activities from an appropriate range of toys and equipment, which meet safety standards. The childminder carefully monitors and supervises children’s choice of toys to make sure they are safe and appropriate for their age and stage of development. The childminder has all the required procedures and documents in place to ensure children’s welfare is safeguarded and promoted. For example, the childminder holds a current first aid certificate and has a secure understanding of the Local Safeguarding Children Board child protection procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are enabled to relax and settle quickly in the childminder’s home because she has created a well-organised and welcoming environment. They relate well to each other and socialise with other children through regular attendance at toddler groups.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 Children become independent as they choose between a planned variety of toys, books and activities which appeal to all. The childminder and her assistant effectively monitor chosen activities to ensure they are appropriate for the age and stage of development for each child. The childminder uses the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework to adapt activities such as painting to promote younger children’s learning. Children enjoy and achieve because the childminder supports them in their choice of activities and enhances their learning and play experiences with a range of good questions.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All children spend their time purposefully because the childminder draws upon her knowledge and experience of early years child development. She has established effective routines to balance periods of activity with opportunities to rest.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder provides a meaningful range of activities and resources to promote a positive view of the wider world and increase children’s awareness of diversity and their understanding of others. Children are learning about their local community as they participate in a good range of activities, for example, when going for walks in the local area or attending toddler groups.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are valued and respected as individuals. Their individual needs are met as they follow their normal daily routine as discussed and recorded with their parents. Children show care and concern for each other, and play together harmoniously. They behave well and share resources effectively, for example, when painting or playing with the spider games.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder and her assistant have an effective partnership with parents. The childminder shares a good range of well-written documents relating to her childminding practice and children’s individual activities and routines. Children have time to relax as well as be active. They are encouraged to make themselves at home and are involved in deciding what to do. This helps children to make a positive contribution.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are at ease in the childminder’s well-organised environment, for example, in her use of available space and the pre-arranged accessible resources. With careful and sensitive support, children are confident to initiate and extend their own play and learning. Policies and procedures are used effectively to promote the welfare, care and learning of children. Individual children’s records are stored confidentially and shared regularly with parents to keep them well-informed about the childminding service and their child’s activities. This contributes to continuity in the children’s care.

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Organisation

The childminder works occasionally with an assistant and takes overall responsibility for maintaining appropriate records and for planning the daily childcare routine. Effective planning systems are monitored and adapted to keep children safe and to enable them to make good progress in all areas of their development. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to make improvements to the information provided to parents regarding the correct details of the regulator. The childminder was also asked to raise her awareness with regard to the Code of Practice (1994) for the identification and assessment of children with special educational needs.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has ensured that she has regard to the Code of Practice (1994) for the identification and assessment of children with special educational needs. This helps children to make a positive contribution.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has also updated her records to ensure that parents are provided with the correct details of the regulator. This improves the partnership with parents and helps children to make a positive contribution.

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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. Since 1 April 2004 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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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 good. 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): • review the written complaints procedure to ensure that the contact details of the regulator are correct.

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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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