Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY291993 Unique Reference Number 02 November 2007 Inspection date Jackie Cousins 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 2004. She lives with her husband and three children aged seven, 11 and 14 in Billericay in Essex. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding except for one upstairs bedroom and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently caring for two children between the ages of one and three years. One child aged four years comes everyday before school. The childminder has two kittens and tropical fish. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler groups, takes children to the local library and takes children to two local parks. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children have good opportunities to lead healthy lives. The childminder supports children successfully to become fit because they exercise regularly and eat healthy meals and snacks. Children eat a good range of healthy snacks including various fruits, for example, banana and

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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 apple. The children have lunch at regular times and thoroughly enjoy sitting together in their high chairs at the table. This enables them to establish positive habits for life of taking pleasure in eating together. Children’s dietary needs are met well. The children’s meals are balanced effectively with meat and vegetables including sweet corn and peas. Drinks on offer are well selected by the childminder and include water and natural fruit juices. Children can help to keep themselves well hydrated because fresh drinks of water, in beakers, are available at all times. Self-determination in children is promoted well and the childminder asks them to collect items for themselves such as toys and books. Also children are confident in their abilities and are learning to feed themselves using a spoon and fork at lunch time. Children have good

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Helping children to be healthy

opportunities to rest during the day and sleep in comfortable cots. Physical activity is encouraged and children make good use of space inside and outside the house.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s welfare and good health are maintained well. The spread of infectious illness is reduced successfully because children are encouraged regularly to wash their hands after using the toilet. Children’s medical needs are well met due to parents giving prior permission effectively for medicines to be given. Children are well cared for if they are ill mainly because the childminder has a good level of knowledge in handling child sickness. She has an effective level of knowledge of first aid and what to do with basic accidents and so children are successfully cared for in the event of a minor incidents. Parents are effectively informed about injuries partly because accident records are kept well. The first aid box is suitably stocked and the childminder knows plasters will not be applied unless a parent has given prior permission.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are able to play and relax in the lounge and conservatory. Children successfully keep themselves safe, for example, they know how to handle toys and equipment carefully. Inside equipment for children is of a very good quality. The children are stimulated well because the many resources available for them are age appropriate and readily accessible.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Security is good in the house and garden. Children enjoy using the outside area because it is well resourced. They are kept safe because child protection procedures are in place and the childminder is clear about the need to ring Ofsted and report concerns as well as informing local children’s services. Appropriate checks have been carried out on the childminder and her husband. Children are kept safe inside the house because of various sound safety measures, for example, there is a fire blanket in the kitchen. Fire safety precautions mean that the childminder is well aware of how to handle fires in the home. Children are satisfactorily aware of what to do if there is fire but occasionally practise drills are not carried out with all children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children’s enjoyment and achievement are good. The children enjoy coming to the childminder because they have effective opportunities to play and learn. For example, one of them laughs as she plays in the toy house and then carefully pretends to give a baby an injection. Children like placing the correct shapes in the shape sorter holes. At the same time children make good progress in developing their knowledge of shapes when they investigate the shape sorter. New children settle in very well because parents come with them for a day and parents can come in for a while on subsequent days. The children’s relationship with the childminder is good. Children’s confidence is developed effectively as a result of the positive and specific comments

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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 made to them. For example, while the children were having lunch the childminder said, ‘Well done, you got the spoon right in your mouth.’ The children learn to use their senses well because the childminder has a good awareness of the need to stimulate children and allow them to use their sense of touch and sight. Children’s individual interests are identified and planned for well. The childminder does not always make full use of developmental guidance when planning activities for children. This means that occasionally activities may be offered to them which do not fully challenge them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are suitably valued and respected. This is mainly because the childminder is appropriately kind and considerate. Children’s additional needs are met satisfactorily. Self confidence is promoted well because children are encouraged to have a go. Children’s understanding of right and wrong is developed successfully through stories and by giving a child a short period of time out from playing, if required. The childminder uses positive behaviour management techniques; consequently children’s behaviour is good. The childminder talks to children satisfactorily about different people in the community and those who help us such as the police and fire brigade. Children’s awareness of the diversity in our society is developed adequately through songs, toys and stories from other cultures. For example, they learn about France satisfactorily through the use of a talking doll. Children learn well about our own culture

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is satisfactory. Parents are welcome into the house and the childminder discusses activities which children have been doing during the day. Children benefit from the well established relationships. The childminder is always keen to improve her service and look at ways to ensure parents are kept fully informed about their children's progress.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Required documentation is effectively ordered. The childminder uses permission forms well, for example, written permission to give emergency medical treatment is recorded in a book for each child. Children are kept safe at all times because attendance records are completed well and so the childminder is clear about when and for how long children will be with her. Routines are well understood by children and the day is planned appropriately. Recently, the childminder successfully updated her first aid training. She rightly plans to undertake training in the near future about changes to provision for children under the age of five years. Overall children’s needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to develop resources and activities to promote anti-discriminatory practice and obtain and record the contact and telephone details of social services and the local police. Resources have been further developed to ensure that children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote anti-discriminatory practice. A satisfactory range of toys have been purchased to represent disabled people. A clear record has been created of the contact and telephone details of local agencies and the local police. This means that children’s health and safety and learning opportunities have been significantly improved.

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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

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Complaints since the last inspection

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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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.

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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): • ensure that developmental guidance is used regularly to plan activities for children • make sure all children have regular opportunities to practise the fire drill.

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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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