Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY340495 Unique Reference Number 18 June 2007 Inspection date Sheila May Price 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 2006. She lives with her husband and two children aged four and 10 years in the Huyton area of Knowsley. Children have access to three rooms on the ground floor, the front bedroom and bathroom on the first floor. An enclosed rear garden is available for outdoor play. The family has a pet cat. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. She currently has two school aged children on roll of whom one is over eight. A three year old attends on a temporary basis when needed. The childminder escorts children to and from local schools. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and receives support from the local authority early years team.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children have a healthy balance of rest and exercise through routines which include regular outdoor play and times for rest and relaxation. They use challenging equipment such as a large climbing frame and slide to develop coordination and balance, under close supervision for their safety.

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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 The childminder models good hygiene practices as she washes her hands before preparing their meal and uses a clean board and utensils. Children know that they wash their hands not only to remove dirt they see, but germs they cannot see, thus gaining a basic understanding of good hygiene. They have easy access to a downstairs toilet and use their own individual towels.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are protected well from infection and illness. For example, the childminder ensures parents are well informed about her sickness policy and are given information about how to identify symptoms of illnesses such as meningitis. All required authorisations and medical details about each child are kept close at hand for easy reference, including when out and about.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy meal times, helping to set the table, and eating food which they like. Meals are freshly cooked and nutritious. They are well balanced, according to healthy eating guidelines. The childminder encourages children to take an interest in healthy food by involving them in growing tomatoes and picking fruit from the garden. Children have regular drinks to quench their thirst

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are provided with good facilities and a welcoming environment, having two rooms designated for their play, both set out with a wide range of equipment. The garden offers children good scope for physical, imaginative and creative play, as well as very good opportunities to observe the natural world. The maintenance and cleanliness of the premises and equipment is sufficient to keep children safe and secure.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risks are assessed well according to children's capabilities. The childminder ensures that children understand what precautions they need to take to avoid accidents, such as not running indoors and playing safely on the high equipment outdoors. Children are appropriately supervised, allowing them just enough freedom to make their own decisions, but within suitable boundaries for their safety. Rooms sometimes become over cluttered with equipment that could cause tripping hazards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a clear understanding of how to keep children protected, having recently attended a safeguarding children training course. She knows how to take appropriate action in partnership with parents, and according to the Local Safeguarding Childrens Board procedures, should she be concerned a child was at risk.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder plans a good range of activities to promote all areas of development. Activities are based on knowledge of children’s needs, abilities, and interests. For example, depending on the days different children attend she has a routine to suit their individual needs. If children have been at a playgroup in the morning they stay in for the afternoon so they can follow their own interests. When older children are spending all day with her during the school holidays the childminder takes them to somewhere of interest such as a museum, beach or park.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy choosing what they wish to play with from the wide range of resources available. They create their own pictures with felt pieces, and talk about the characters they have made. The childminder is sensitive to children's changes of mood. For example, she encourages participation in preparing for a meal when interest in the previous activity wanes. Children are

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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 confident to share their views with the childminder about what they would or would not like to do. She respects their choices while expertly managing to turn negative attitudes into a positive alternative.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have great fun playing indoor games of which there is an excellent range catering for every interest. For example the childminder knows that some of the children especially enjoy playing games which require physical activity and coordination. The game they choose involves catching paper butterflies in a net as they are blown out of an elephants trunk. The childminder encourages effort and perseverance just long enough for the older child to get a sense of achievement before introducing a simpler game for the younger child to also succeed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children gradually overcome negative emotions because the childminder has a very good understanding of why young children experience these, and skilfully distracts them onto more positive behaviour. Children are given choices and encouraged to make decisions, but always within explained boundaries. Children learn to share and take turns, be helpful and considerate towards others, through the childminder's good example.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s individual needs are met well and their experiences at home are appropriately acknowledged and respected. The childminder has a good understanding of how to raise children's awareness of similarities and differences so that they appreciate and value diversity. She has some good resources which she uses at opportune moments when topics come up in conversation relating to race, culture, or disability. She also has positive images of diversity displayed, including writing in different languages.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Good information is obtained from parents to help with the settling in process. Children complete a 'getting to know me' booklet as well. The childminder takes a professional approach to her childminding, using contracts with an information pack for parents to understand her policies and procedures. She also writes information in a log book about what children have done and their responses to share with parents. Parents value the childminder's services and confirm this in responses to questionnaires.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a good understanding of children’s development which helps her to organise her service well to meet their needs. Because she specialises in care for children of pre-school age and upwards she has focused her training on creative ideas for the age group. These include recreational activities such as den making, junk modelling and garden games to complement children's time spent in school or pre-school.

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Organisation

The childminder works in partnership with a group of childminders to meet the needs of children and parents in emergencies and to cover holiday periods, which is much appreciated by parents. She maintains a good ratio to meet individual needs. The premises, space and resources are mostly well organised, although there are some issues relating to clutter both indoors and out which detract from the quality that is aimed to be achieved for children in their safety and choices.

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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 Records are stored securely, shared with parents, and kept up to date, to ensure children’s safety and welfare. The childminder is participating in a quality assurance scheme through which she evaluates and develops her provision for the benefit of the children and the parents. 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. 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 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): • continue to evaluate the quality of provision to identify areas for further improvement in organisation of resources and maintaining a safe environment.

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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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