Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY338599 Unique Reference Number 06 June 2007 Inspection date Geneen Yvonne Hulse-Brown 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 has been registered since December 2006. She lives with her family in a semi-detached property in Sheffield. Local shops, schools and parks are within walking distance. The childminder has one child aged three-years-old.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, this includes the kitchen, lounge, dining room, and hallway, with upstairs access to the bathroom. Children have access to a fully enclosed area for outdoor play to the rear of the property. The family have three cats.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She is registered to care for five children at any one time and is currently minding three children who attend on a part time basis.

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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. Children enjoy regular outdoor activities, including walks to the local park to develop their physical abilities. They have fun playing in the garden, climbing and riding bicycles. Children confidently climb the stairs in the house with increasing skill. The childminder plans a balanced range of activities to help them learn how to keep healthy. She takes them on regular outings to the local playgroup and to see the animals in the park to broaden their understanding and interest in the environment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children know when they are hungry, as they ask the childminder for fruit and when it is time for lunch. They confidently help themselves to their own beakers, which are easily accessible for a drink when they are thirsty. The childminder serves healthy, nutritious snack in accordance with parents’ wishes, such as strawberries and juice. The children make choices of fillings for sandwiches and talk about liking ham and cheese. The childminder has a sound understanding of the children’s likes, dislikes and allergies, demonstrating a positive commitment to healthy eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn the importance of good personal care through daily routines, due to the childminder’s consistent approach to good hygiene. They know why they wash their hands and brush their teeth after eating. Children are cared for in a warm, clean environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder provides a welcoming and child friendly home where all risks are minimised. She has appropriate safety equipment in place and spends time helping the children learn how to keep themselves safe, such as reminding them to take care when going upstairs to the bathroom. Children move freely from room to room extending their independence and building their confidence. The childminder uses language appropriate to the children’s level of understanding to reinforce good safety practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Equipment is easily accessible to the children as it is stored in boxes and at floor level around the rooms. They make secure choices of toys, games and activities that meet safety standards. Children are encouraged to help tidy away and move obstacles to prevent accidents and take care when using scissors. The childminder maintains good levels of supervision, appropriate to the children’s ages and abilities. She allows them space to explore in safety, choose what they want to do and where they want to play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder demonstrates a positive regard for the children’s well-being and is in the process of producing policies and procedures to support her work. The childminder holds a valid first aid certificate for working with children and babies. She has limited knowledge of child protection procedures, but is booked on a training course to develop her understanding. The childminder is in the process of developing her documentation for recording accidents, incidents, medication and concerns in a confidential manner.

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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 good. Children settle very well and are happily involved in a broad range of challenging and stimulating activities with the childminder. They are independent and confident to make choices of activities and plan what they want to do. Children make good choices from easily accessible boxes of toys set out around the home. They concentrate well as they choose from a wide range of craft materials to paint, glue and make collages to express their natural creativity. Children use their imagination well to act out stories as they dress dolls to go to the mini disco. They choose shoes, bags and outfits as they chatter happily together, discussing their favourite colours.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children listen intently to stories and choose which one they will hear next, responding to the childminder’s questions to extend their thinking. The childminder consistently uses language to encourage the children to think for themselves and develop their play. She introduces new vocabulary and talks about number and colour as part of everyday activities, using every opportunity to extend language and progress their play. The childminder has started to look at the 'Birth to three matters' framework to build on her knowledge of how young children learn and plans to attend a course as soon as one is available.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children establish very good relationships with the childminder, playing games, having fun and building on what they know. They interact well together as they use their imagination to make up stories and act out holidays. The children excitedly recall holidays to Spain and Kos as they share their experiences with each other. Children confidently request activities and the childminder ensures she has the resources to support these activities, such as discussing the need to shop for ingredients to bake with. They demonstrate good self-esteem, as the childminder consistently uses praise and encouragement for attempts and achievements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder effectively provides an appropriate range of resources to offer fun activities that develop the children’s self-esteem. She has toys and books to introduce children to differences and broaden their understanding of the world around us, promoting a positive view of diversity. Children enjoy looking at books as they share home experiences and act out roles using small world figures. They are confident to make choices, ask visitors questions and talk about what they are doing.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All children are valued and respected as the childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of their individual needs. She recognises their abilities and steers them to try new skills and experiences, planning activities that will challenge and extend them. Children’s behaviour is good as they follow agreed daily routines, which they know well. They understand clear boundaries as the childminder sensitively reinforces right from wrong to help them learn acceptable practice. The childminder recognises when children need individual attention and responds accordingly.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents share information and are developing secure relationships with the childminder. This in turn ensures a consistent approach to the care of the children. The childminder completes written daily sheets for parents to inform them of activities and general routines of the children’s day. She has not yet devised a system for recording complaints, as she is still in the process of developing the paperwork she uses with parents. She has started to compile useful information to share with parents about herself, her role as a childminder and the service she offers. Children

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Helping children make a positive contribution

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 are secure, happy and confidently make decisions about what they want to do at the childminder's house.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are happy, relaxed and make themselves at home in an organised environment, where they are confident to initiate their own play. The childminder has started to devise systems to share information with parents and maintains all required records in an organised manner. She understands the importance of ensuring that all information is up to date and has started to compile files of information. However, she has not yet implemented systems and developed her policy file to support her working practice and reflect new guidance. All children's records are kept confidentially and secure. The childminder demonstrates a positive commitment to her own personal development as she has identified training courses she wishes to access and has started her National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in childcare learning and development.

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Organisation

Flexible planning allows children space to make choices and plan their own time. The childminder sensitively supports and guides them to extend their play and learning. All available play space is well used to provide children with a stimulating and challenging environment. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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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 complaint 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 an understanding of child protection issues and recommendations from Local Safeguarding Children Board • provide parents with a written statement that details the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint

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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 • develop information and systems to support childminding practice.

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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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