Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY253223 Unique Reference Number 20 November 2007 Inspection date Eira Gill Inspector

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Integrated 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2002 and is NNEB trained. She lives with her two children and her husband in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. Practically the whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and there is a full enclosed garden for outside play. They have one cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding four children under five years. Two attend part time and two full time. The full time children are babies aged 10 and 14 months. The childminder is accredited to offer funded nursery education and currently has one child in receipt of funded early education.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect her own children. She attends the local carer and toddler group on a regular basis with the children. The childminder is an accredited member of the West Wiltshire Childminding Network.

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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 good. Children are cared for in a clean and hygienic setting where they receive good levels of care through effective working practices. Comprehensive documentation is recorded with parents to ensure children’s health and dietary needs are met. The childminder has good knowledge and recent training in first aid, easily available first aid equipment and clear recording systems. A travel first aid kit and emergency information is taken on all outings to ensure children’s needs are met effectively in all situations. Nappy changing procedures are carried out appropriately with a close watch kept on hygiene. Written permission is requested from parents for the seeking of any necessary medical advice or treatment in the future. This is of considerable help in the event of an emergency when valuable time is saved.

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Helping children to be healthy

The enclosed garden for outside play ensures children’s safety and enables them to play independently and be healthy in the fresh air. Photographs show children using wheeled toys and other equipment to enhance their physical development. They develop positive attitudes to exercise and also move forward in their personal and social development. A record is kept of the funded child’s caring attitudes, for example, when willing to share one of the wheeled toys with a younger child. Opportunities for physical exercise when children meet up with others at the toddler group also promote their social skills as they learn to share toys.

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Helping children to be healthy

Food is prepared hygienically and the children benefit from the childminder’s training and knowledge of healthy foods and her encouragement to parents to provide their children with healthy lunches. They enjoy a variety of healthy snacks between meals including fresh fruit and drinks which are readily accessible. The childminder sits with the children creating a social occasion when good table manners are promoted.

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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 warm, spacious and welcoming environment. Household furniture is arranged effectively to ensure children can take part in active play and relaxation in a safe setting. Systematic arrangements ensure the outside play area is totally safe and tight security ensures children are not able to leave the premises unsupervised. This means that they can play with confidence and independence. Toys and resources for each age group are stored at child height. They are easily accessible in low level storage boxes to allow the children to select their favourite toys and equipment. Safety gates allow the children to move around safely and independently with unrestricted access to resources. All fire precautions are in place including an emergency evacuation plan which is practised with the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder holds a first aid qualification and has a sound understanding of her role and responsibilities within the local authority procedures to safeguard children. She is able to put appropriate actions into practice if necessary. Her attendance at relevant training courses and clear information shared with parents ensures they are fully aware of her role to report any

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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 concerns to maintain their children’s welfare. Accidents are managed well and records shared with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The welcoming environment ensures that all children are supported to settle and feel secure. The emotional well-being of the younger children is supported well and eases their transition from home to the setting. The childminder’s training as a nursery nurse helps to ensure that the youngest children under two have continuity of care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children’s development is supported well because of the good consultation with parents about children’s individual routines. The childminder ensures she talks to, holds and plays with the baby and toddlers. The baby is able to crawl around and interact with the toys for quite long periods. These very young children are learning in their own way to be sociable and effective communicators. They enjoy being with the other children and want to ‘talk’ to visitors at 14 months. Their speaking and listening skills are developing well and they respond appropriately most of the time. The children engage positively with the toys and resources. The childminder provides a level of challenge that is appropriate to their age and stage of development. She interacts sensitively and promotes the toddler’s self-esteem. She joins in with games, talks and listens, praises and encourages and is keen to move children forward in their speaking skills,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is good. The childminder has a good knowledge of the Foundation Stage, the stepping stones and how children learn. Plans show the learning intentions for the child across the six areas of learning. Knowledge of children’s starting points and assessments are used well to evaluate progress and mostly used to plan future activities. Although planning and assessment are good overall and relate to children’s interests, just occasionally the stepping stones are not used to identify in depth children’s next steps in learning, particularly in their mathematical development, such as, early shape recognition. The childminder uses an effective range of teaching methods to meet children’s needs and to help them make good progress. Reciting number games, sorting solid shapes, sharing books and listening to stories are regular activities which help to promote early literacy and numeracy

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The range of activities available help children to be interested in learning and well motivated. Good opportunities are given to promote creative development. An individual ‘scrap’ book includes examples of firework pictures made with materials that show very good concentration and imaginative use of colour and texture.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder manages behaviour effectively for this age range, setting clear and consistent boundaries. This ensures that learning takes place in a stimulating and safe environment and the child is helped to develop confidence and persevere with tasks. Good use is made of the indoor and outdoor environment for learning activities. Resources for learning are of good quality and contribute well to children’s enjoyment and development, such as, increasing confidence in mark making and knowing that writing is for communicating ideas and thoughts.

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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. Effective relationships with parents ensure the childminder knows the children well and they receive good care. Very thorough written and verbal methods are used well to discuss their individual needs. The partnership with parents and carers is good. Children receive warm affection and build trusting relationships with the childminder which contributes to their sense of belonging. Children make their own decisions about their play. The older ones develop an awareness of the needs of others as they play together putting together the pieces of a fence for the garage. They play confidently whether they are alone or with others. They are learning about the local community as they visit the toddler group and go on various outings.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered. The childminder is committed to ensure that all the children treat each other with respect. A good range of play resources and books provide opportunities for them to develop an awareness of other cultures, disability and the wider world in which they live. The older children are developing social confidence and competence in their relationships.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Records are in place when behaviour has been less than good and minor incidents occurred. Parents are informed either in discussion or writing in the children’s home books. It is sometimes difficult for the childminder to deal with the younger children’s unsociable behaviour if parents have a different system. Good behaviour is valued and encouraged but, sometimes, positive methods such as distraction strategies to encourage good behaviour are not always used.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder leads and manages her provision well and this has positive outcomes in terms of children’s learning and development and in parents’ confidence that their children are safe and well cared for. She has attended various training events in order to provide a high standard of care and has a good understanding of the legally required documentation. This is fully in place and the range of written policies and procedures are shared with parents to ensure they have the appropriate information about the service she provides.

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Organisation

Good planning and organisational skills are effectively implemented to promote and maintain children’s health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. The generous space available and a wide range of resources are organised well. Children can initiate their own play and learning. Well planned activities and social networking ensures that the children are taken to toddler groups where they meet other children and broaden their overall development. Children spend their time purposefully. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was asked to develop an appropriate knowledge and understanding of the Area Child Protection procedures. She has undertaken training and has developed good awareness through the childminding network.

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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

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection 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 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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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 systems for behaviour management which include positive reinforcement methods and distraction strategies

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • develop use of the stepping stones to identify the next steps in children’s learning, particularly in mathematics.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 nursery education

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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