Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY277611 Unique Reference Number 29 August 2007 Inspection date Patricia Joan Latham 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 satisfactory. 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 January 2004. She lives with her husband and children, aged 21 months and five years in Bradwell Village to the north of Central Milton Keynes. The home is within walking distance of local shops, pre-school and schools. Childminding takes place mostly on the ground floor, with a bedroom upstairs available if children need a sleep. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is currently minding four children all on a part time basis. The family have a pet rabbit that lives in a hutch in the garden.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds the National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) qualification.

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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 satisfactory. Children’s health is maintained, and the risk to cross infection minimised, through the childminder’s adherence to hygienic practice. She encourages children to wash their hands after outdoor play, or before eating, and follows appropriate procedures when changing babies’ nappies. Children with infectious illnesses are excluded and the childminder has clear procedures in place to deal with any medical emergencies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are offered healthy food, and regular outdoor exercise, to promote their physical well being. The childminder provides all meals as requested by parents, offering home cooked meals prepared with fresh ingredients. She gains information regarding any individual dietary needs children may have and caters for them.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have daily use of the childminder’s garden with a range of appropriate resources to help them gain, and practise, physical skills. Children also have regular opportunities to go on walks to local leisure areas and to nearby play areas.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children have ample space designated for their use. All areas are well maintained and provide a welcoming environment. Most activities take place in the play room where children have easy access to a wide range of good quality resources. There are items to cover all areas of play and to support the learning of all ages and abilities of children attending.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder supervises children to maintain their safety and has established safety rules in place for children to follow. All exits from the property are secure and she has clear procedures in place should a child become lost whilst in her care, or is uncollected at the end of the day. The childminder obtains written permission to transport children by car and uses appropriate safety seats. However, she does not have written permission from parents to allow their children to use the large trampoline in her garden, nor does she have a safety net on it to help prevent accidents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s welfare is safeguarded. The childminder has a clear understanding of child protection issues, recording any pre-existing injuries children arrive with and knowing the procedure to follow to refer any concerns regarding children’s care to the relevant authorities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are offered stimulating and fun activities to keep them happy and to enable them to acquire and practise necessary skills. The childminder follows a daily routine which is consistent to help children feel secure yet is flexible enough to accommodate children’s individual needs. She uses her childcare knowledge to provide suitable activities which help children develop in all areas of learning. Children take part in creative activities such as painting and sticking, have access to a large variety of imaginary play resources and use books and games to develop their knowledge and practise skills in such areas as counting and colour recognition. The childminder visits local groups with the children to encourage their social and language skills as well as

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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 providing opportunities for them to have one to one play with her at home. Most activities are child led, although the childminder does plan more structured activities for children during the school holidays when they attend for longer hours.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children form a good relationship with the childminder, and her children, and are relaxed in her care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from an environment which promotes their self esteem. The childminder offers regular praise to reward children’s positive behaviour and teaches children to be polite and respect other’s feelings. She includes all children in activities offered and follows a policy of non discrimination. Children are expected to follow basic rules, such as sharing resources, and the childminder uses appropriate strategies to manage their behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is able to adapt activities for differing abilities and is able to offer individual support to children who may have a specific learning or developmental need. She forms a good relationship with parents and provides them with detailed information about her service and how their children have been throughout the day. She ensures there is time to talk to parents at the end of the day and provides a written daily diary for all babies in her care. Parents are given copies of policies and procedures which the childminder follows, including a complaints procedure which details how parents may contact Ofsted.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder organises her childminding service to ensure children are happy, remain healthy, safe and are offered a good range of activities. She ensures her knowledge is updated and is willing to attend training to extend that knowledge further. She provides written information regarding her service and organises pre visits and settling in periods for children. The childminder keeps Ofsted informed of relevant changes to her registration; however she does not display her certificate for parents to view.

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Organisation

All documentation is organised well and kept secure to maintain confidentiality of children’s details. Relevant information regarding children is obtained and updated as necessary and all required records are maintained accurately. The childminder retains paperwork for the required length of time.

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Organisation

Overall 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 ensure children followed good hygiene practise after playing outdoors, and to establish a complaints procedure which detailed how parents could contact Ofsted. The childminder has made good progress on both recommendations. Children are now encouraged to wash their hands when they have finished playing in the garden which helps to maintain their health. The childminder now provides parents with a written complaints procedure which includes the current contact details of Ofsted.

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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 satisfactory. 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 parents give written permission for their child to use the trampoline in the garden and that a safety net is provided to reduce the risk of accidents to children using it • ensure registration certificate is displayed during childminding hours for parents to view.

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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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