Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY297754 Inspection date 10 June 2005 Inspector Julie Ann Birkett

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 has been registered since 2004. She lives with her husband and 3 children aged 7, 10 and 14. They live in a house in the Howbridge catchment area of Witham, close to local schools, early years groups, local shops and parks. The whole of the ground floor and an upstairs bathroom are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have one cat. The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time and is currently

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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 minding six children all of whom attend on a part time basis. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are welcomed into the childminder's comfortable, clean home where they learn about the importance of good hygiene and personal care. Their understanding of, for example, why they wash their hands after using the toilet or before meals is promoted by the childminder through regular discussion and hands on support. This reduces the risk of cross contamination but also ensures that children develop good independence skills and social and self awareness. Children enjoy a healthy diet in the varied and nutritious menu provided by the childminder. The children eat together, the younger children learning good table manners from the older children. They all enjoy the social aspects of meal times, chatting about their day and what they have been doing. Children also learn about healthy eating when they share books and games with the childminder and talk about what is good for them for example when shopping for food. Children with special

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Helping children to be healthy

dietary needs are well catered for because the childminder works closely with the parents to ensure that information is shared. Children benefit from a range of activities to develop their physical strength and wellbeing. They walk to and from school daily. They eagerly participate in dancing games such as musical statues and actions songs and rhymes. They are aware of the effects exercise has on their bodies when they notice they are hot or thirsty. The very youngest child is encouraged to join in by the childminder helping them follow the hand actions to the songs. The childminder has a very good understanding of how exercise should be made to be fun from an early age so that children develop a positive attitude for their future. The children have good, warm and open relationships with the childminder which enables them to show and tell her about how they feel and what they need. These positive relationships promote the children's emotional wellbeing. The children are

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Helping children to be healthy

content and at ease in the childminders home.

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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 welcoming, well organised environment where the childminder has identified and minimised the risk of accidents and incidents. Children have space and the freedom to move around and play safely and independently but benefit from the watchful eye of the childminder who organises her time to be with the children. Children learn about keeping themselves safe inside and outside of the home because the childminder takes time to explain safety issues carefully with the

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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 children. Older children make a positive contribution to the house rules, including the safety aspects, and therefore have a greater understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Children enjoy using a range of good quality toys and equipment which meet safety standards and are appropriate for their stage of development. Children develop an understanding of how to use toys and equipment safely for example by clearing away as they go along. They also learn how to consider the safety of others for example, when they use particular items away from the younger children. The childminder has all the required procedures and documentation in place to ensure the children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted, for example, she holds a current first aid certificate. The childminder has a very clear understanding with

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

regard to her responsibility to protect the children she cares for and takes the appropriate precautions. She has produced some written procedures to share with parents so that they are also fully informed about the childminder's responsibilities for example, with regard to child protection issues.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are secure and settled in the childminders home. They have developed good relationships with each other and the childminder and all play and work together in good humour. The children have a busy time with the childminder enjoying their play and activities. They also enjoy being part of the daily routines of home life for example, helping to lay the table or making sandwiches. The younger children benefit from the careful observations made by the childminder of their play and learning. The childminder uses this information to support the children's next steps and to help them make progress. The older children benefit from the comfortable home environment where they can relax after school as well as learning through play and discussion with the childminder. All children participate fully in the activities planned by the childminder, for example, musical statues, where they all join in together and have fun while exercising. The

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children are enthusiastic at their play because they are interested and supported by the childminder who enjoys spending time with them and is interested in what they say and do. The childminder has the skills and knowledge to adapt activities to appeal to a broad age range or to provide time and space for specific activities for particular children. The children have time for free choice activities and select independently from the range accessible to them on a daily basis, although this daily range is slightly limited for the very wide age range of children attending. The childminder has a good range of equipment available in her home and rotates this to provide interest. Children are suitably confident to ask for further equipment that may not be out. Children spend their time in the childminders home purposefully.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals and show care and concern for others. The children's behaviour is very good in response to the childminder's praise, encouragement and clear boundaries. The childminder takes time to get to know the children in her care so that she can meet their individual needs. She achieves this by ongoing discussion with parents and spending most of her time actively with the children. Children make themselves at home, confidently choosing what they would like to do, helping themselves to toys, asking for drinks. They are able to make a positive contribution to what happens while they are being cared for by talking to the childminder, who listens and values their ideas and what they say. Children learn about the wider world is a meaningful way. The childminder provides a range of toys and resources to develop children's awareness of our differences and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

similarities and provides the time to discuss issues with the children. Children learn about the local community as they walk home from school and make visits to local amenities. The childminder and parents have developed excellent relationships and share information on a regular basis. This exchange of information enables the childminder to care for the children with consistency and with regard to parents wishes and the needs of the children. The parents are also well informed about what their child has been doing while in the care of the childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises her time very effectively. She spends most of her day being actively involved with the children while still enabling the children to enjoy the normal routines of family life. The children benefit from this support and are confident and at ease in the home and in her care. The childminder values working with parents to provide good care for the children and has developed very good relationships with them. She ensures that all documentation is kept up to date and shared with parents. She provides good, clear information for parents, both verbally and with some written policies. She makes careful written observations of the younger children's progress to share with parents so that the next steps can be planned together. This effective sharing of information with the parents contributes to continuity in the children's care. The childminder has a clear understanding of her responsibilities as a carer of

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Organisation

children. She continues to improve her practice through her own instigation for example, researching and implementing the Birth to three matters framework. This commitment to providing good standards impacts on the quality of care given to the children. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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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

This is the first inspection since registration.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints since registration.

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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): • extend the range of toys and play equipment readily accessible to the children to enable them to further develop their own independent ideas and play

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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