Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY343715 Unique Reference Number 19 August 2007 Inspection date Joanne Lindsey Caswell 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 has been registered since 2006. She lives with her partner and family in a residential area of Copthorne, West Sussex. The house is situated within walking distance of local schools, parks and amenities. The family have pet cats. Childminding mainly takes place on the ground floor. A first floor bedroom is used occasionally for sleeping. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children aged under eight years. She is currently caring for four children, who attend on a part time basis. The childminder is willing to collect children from local schools.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children's health and welfare needs are met exceptionally well. The childminder is extremely conscientious in implementing appropriate routines which fully safeguard children and protect them against infection. For example, there is comprehensive written information for parents

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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 regarding the signs and symptoms of childhood illnesses and the relevant incubation periods. This ensures that parents are made fully aware of the childminder's sickness policy and understand their child must not attend if suffering from any known infection. This prevents the spread of illness between other children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Thoughtful daily routines and meticulous planning ensure that all children understand, and implement, effective daily procedures to promote their healthy development. For example, children clean their teeth after breakfast and fully understand why they must wash their hands after toileting and before eating. Paper towels and liquid soap are further examples of how the childminder effectively protects children from cross-infection. The childminder is extremely vigilant in ensuring the family cats do not pose health risks to children. She keeps them away from sleeping babies and younger children and ensures all veterinary treatment is kept up-to-date. Sandpits are covered appropriately and children understand that they must wash their hands after touching the cat. This helps children to clearly recognise the importance of good personal care routines.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are excellent opportunities for children to benefit from physical play and exercise. A wealth of resources in the childminder's garden provide extensive types of physical play. For example, children bounce and jump on the trampoline, under the childminder's supervision. There are opportunities for children to enjoy swimming and use garden equipment such as a swing and wheeled toys. Children frequently visit the park and enjoy outings to the farm, enabling them to benefit from plenty of outside activities and fresh air.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are met exceedingly well. The childminder is qualified in Food Hygiene and is an experienced caterer. She has an excellent knowledge of environmental health regulations and ensures that food preparation areas are kept meticulously clean. Daily checks are carried out to monitor the fridge temperature and all food served to children is checked with a temperature probe to ensure it is safe for children to eat. The childminder demonstrates an excellent commitment to helping children develop healthy eating patterns. She provides an excellent range of nourishing and nutritious meals and snacks, incorporating fresh and wholesome ingredients. Children develop an awareness of how to eat healthily as all children have weekly charts to ensure they have a balanced diet and eat the recommended level of five pieces of fruit and vegetables each day. This empowers children to recognise the importance

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Helping children to be healthy

of eating healthily and encourages them to take an active part in recognising which foods are good for them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The premises are very warm and welcoming and offer a homely and safe environment for children. The childminder is very aware of how to protect children from hazards and takes appropriate precautions throughout the home. For example, all cupboards containing hazardous items, such as cleaning materials and medication, are locked and inaccessible to children. Safety gates prevent children's access to the stairs. The garden has been checked for any risks, ensuring children can play outside safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a very good selection of high quality toys, resources and play materials available to children. Low level storage areas enable children to access these safely and make independent choices. Toys and resources with small parts are kept safely away from babies and younger children. An appropriate range of equipment and furniture is available to support the care needs of all children and is maintained to a safe standard.

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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 learn about safety through explanation. For example, whilst walking near roads and during outings, children understand they must hold hands and cross roads safely. The childminder uses appropriate restraints, such as wrist straps and pushchairs, to ensure younger children are kept safe at all times. Comprehensive written procedures clearly reflect the childminder's understanding of how she keeps children safe in the event of an emergency. There is a clear emergency evacuation procedure and the childminder has made arrangements with other local childminders to offer support in the event of an emergency. This ensures the safety and welfare of children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a very good understanding of child protection. She has completed basic training and is further developing her knowledge through specialist safeguarding children training, ensuring she has a thorough knowledge of all relevant procedures. Comprehensive written information explains her regulatory responsibilities regarding child protection to parents and ensures that children's safety is promoted at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are extremely happy and relaxed in the childminder's care. They are regarded as extended members of the family and there is a particularly warm, welcoming and positive atmosphere evident. Minded children form exceptionally warm relationships with the childminder and her family and enjoy choosing from a very good selection of toys and resources. Children enjoy plenty of close attention and thrive from the stimulation the childminder provides. For example, babies develop their language skills as the childminder talks to children and reinforces vocabulary. They share picture books and the childminder emphasises key words.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy socialising with the childminder's family and regularly undertake outings and visits with other childminders and their children. This enables children to broaden their experiences as they enjoy activities such as an Easter Egg Hunt, visits to the park and farm, water play, digging in the sand and craft activities. In addition, the weekly timetable is planned effectively to enable children to visit toddler and pre-school music groups.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Although the childminder has a good understanding of child development, she does not implement any form of formal observation and assessment and is not yet using the Birth to three matters framework as a basis for planning activities for the younger children. As a result, children's development is only monitored informally and is not linked to the framework.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are met very well. The childminder clearly knows all the children and obtains comprehensive information on their daily needs. This ensures that children's personal routines are appropriately followed. Children develop an awareness of the wider world and begin to recognise diversity within society. There are some resources available which reflect modern day society, although this is still quite limited. As a result, children currently only see a few positive images of diversity reflected in their toys and play materials. The childminder demonstrates a full commitment to promoting anti-discriminatory practice in all areas of her minding and helps children to develop a strong sense of belonging and feelings of self-worth.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are supported well as the childminder has a strong commitment to promoting a fully inclusive environment. She is experienced in working

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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 with children with specific needs and is willing to adapt her service appropriately to support all children. In addition, the childminder has completed specialist training in recognising and promoting inclusion.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well as the childminder implements consistent, age-appropriate strategies. The childminder promotes a positive environment and is keen to offer children plenty of praise and personal attention. Any unacceptable behaviour is dealt with through explanation, helping children to recognise the differences between right and wrong.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There is extensive written information provided for parents giving an excellent overview of the childminding service. Comprehensive written policies reflect the childminder's full commitment to working closely with parents to address children's individual needs. All relevant parents' consent is obtained in writing, ensuring that children's care routines are formally agreed. The childminder operates an extremely flexible approach to working with parents and adapts her working arrangements to support individual parents' needs. Parents' feedback is welcomed and valued and the childminder uses an appraisal system for parents to give their views on the quality of her service. This reflects the childminder's positive commitment to working closely with parents. As a result, children see positive and strong partnerships in place between their parents and the childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is professional and highly organised in her approach to caring for children. She has a very good understanding of the role and responsibilities of a childminder and is proactive in developing her knowledge of early years practice through the completion of relevant training. Documentation is extremely detailed and comprehensive and gives a thorough overview of all childminding policies and procedures. The childminder has a very good understanding of the National Standards and displays this information for parents, helping them to be aware of regulations. Appropriate vetting procedures are in place to ensure that children are protected at all times.

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Organisation

The childminder is extremely flexible and accommodating in the organisation of her childminding. She dedicates her time to the children in her care and is committed to meeting parents' needs. The daily timetable offers a busy and stimulating routine with plenty of opportunities for child-initiated play, activities at home and outings. In addition, the routine is organised effectively to ensure children's individual sleep and feeding routines are closely followed to ensure consistency.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration there have been no complaints made to Ofsted which 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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Complaints 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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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): • develop the range of resources available which enable children to see positive images of diversity reflected in their toys • consider developing the provision to carry out observations of children's development based on a framework such as the Birth to three matters

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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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