Tinnion, Sylvia

Inspection report for early years provision

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317308 Unique Reference Number 30 May 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 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 1993. She lives with her husband and daughter aged seven years, in their two bedroom detached home in the village of Hayton, approximately eight miles from Carlisle. The whole of the premises except the large kitchen store are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed front forecourt area for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time and is currently minding 13 children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder has use of her car to take and collect children to local schools and nurseries.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a range of activities which contribute to their good health. Each day the childminder organises her routine to enable children to access a range of age-appropriate resources that promote their physical development. This includes options for indoor and outdoor

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 activities. Younger children participate fully in all activities because the childminder has an appropriate understanding of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework.

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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 before snacks and after a craft activity. The childminder implements generally effective systems to safeguard children’s health and hygiene, for example, through a safe and hygienic nappy changing procedure. The system for recording the date of an accident is not robust.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder organises her feeding routine in accordance with the child’s needs and parental wishes. 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 menus. 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 satisfactory. Children are cared for in a spacious home where most risks are identified and minimised, for example, through a daily visual risk assessment and through regular monitoring of toys and equipment to ensure that they are age-appropriate and do not pose a hazard to children. The childminder has devised and practised an emergency escape plan. However, the fire evacuation route from the first floor is currently obstructed. 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 meets safety standards. The childminder has established generally effective systems to ensure that children stay safe, for example, by maintaining appropriate supervision ratios. The childminder has most of the required procedures and documents in place to ensure children’s welfare is safeguarded and promoted. However, she is not secure in her 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 share resources effectively, for example, when painting jewellery and making prints.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children become independent as they chose between a planned variety of toys, books and activities which appeal to all. The childminder effectively monitors chosen activities to ensure they are appropriate for the age and stage of development for each child. Children listen and respond with enthusiasm as the childminder enhances their learning and play experiences with a range of good questions, for example, when talking about the life cycle of a butterfly. The childminder uses the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework to adapt activities such as craft and painting to promote younger children’s learning. Children enjoy and achieve because the childminder supports them in their choice of activities and this promotes their independence.

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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 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. The childminder effectively supports children in their choices and enables them to enjoy and achieve.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder provides an appropriate 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.

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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. The childminder works closely with parents, sharing information verbally on a daily basis. Children have time to relax as well as be active and 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 satisfactory. Children are at ease in the childminder’s generally well-organised environment, for example, in her use of available space and the pre-arranged accessible resources. With appropriate support, children are confident to initiate and extend their own play and learning. Children’s care is enhanced because the childminder has established generally effective procedures to promote the welfare, care and safety of children.

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Organisation

Procedures are shared regularly with parents to keep them informed about the service and their child’s activities. This contributes to continuity in the children’s care. Planning systems are monitored and adapted to keep children safe and to enable them to make 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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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection a number of recommendations were made concerning; adult-child ratios, providing nutritional snacks; reviewing the sick children policy, developing resources to promote equal opportunities and, obtaining parental signatures on records.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has improved her organisation by ensuring that supervision ratios are maintained at all times. She now provides nutritional snacks and she has reviewed her policy with regard to sick children. These actions promote positive outcomes for children’s health.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has reviewed and improved the range of resources and activities that are available to children, to support their play and learning and to promote positive images of culture, ethnicity, gender and disability. This helps children develop a positive awareness of diversity. She has also improved some of her systems for the recording of dates and obtaining

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Improvements since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 parental signatures on records. However, the system for recording the date of an accident is not robust and this is a point for further consideration.

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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 the last inspection 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 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): • ensure that the date of an accident is accurately recorded in the accident book • remove the materials obstructing the emergency evacuation route from the first floor • develop an understanding of the Local Safeguarding Children Board child protection procedures.

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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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