Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY348373 Unique Reference Number 13 September 2007 Inspection date Cordalee Harrison 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 registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and child aged nine years. The family lives in the village of Bodicote, Banbury in Oxfordshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding. Children have access to the kitchen, diner and living room. Children may sleep in a first floor bedroom and toilet and washing facilities are located at this level. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for the children's outside play. The childminder's home is within walking distance of local shops, park, pre-school and school. The family pet is a dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is currently registered to care after five children at any one time, and is currently caring after seven children, of these, five are under eight years, and of these, three are aged under five years. All of the children attend on a part-time basis. School aged children may attend before and after school and during the school holidays.

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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 promote their physical development well, because they get regular fresh air and exercise. For example, they walk to and from school daily and visit the local parks regularly. They develop large movements, balance and coordination, whilst using a variety of large equipment, such as, slides, swings, trampolines and climbing frames. In addition, they make good use of the garden, where they enjoy games, such as, ‘What’s the time Mr Wolf’, which require them to run. All of the children enjoy outdoor activities, because the childminder organises the garden to enable all of the children to play outside across the seasons, she also provides age and stage appropriate outdoor play equipment for them to use.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder works effectively with parents to ensure that children eat balanced and nutritious meals. She stores the food that parents provide appropriately. For example, home cooked meals and dairy produces are in the fridge. Children make healthy choices about snacks because they are able to select from savoury foods, such as, toast and a variety of fresh fruit and salad vegetables. Fresh drinking water is readily available to the children throughout the day. To ensure that young children drink sufficient fluid the childminder offers them drinks of water at regular intervals. The childminder’s good hygiene practices in the home minimises the risks of cross infection for children. All areas of the home are maintained to a good standard of hygiene. Children develop good hygiene practices, because they learn to wash their hands often, especially after playing outside or handling the dog, before eating and after using the

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Helping children to be healthy

toilet. To ensure that young children are clean and comfortable the childminder takes good care of their personal hygiene.

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Helping children to be healthy

To ensure that she is able to respond to children's first aid needs with up to date knowledge and current first aid practices the childminder maintains a valid first certificate and an appropriately stocked first aid box. Accidents and medication records are clearly written. They contain all of the required information. The childminder further safeguards children’s health, because she gains essential written parental permissions. For example, to seek emergency medical treatment or advice for children, and to apply sun cream to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are secure as they are looked after in a warm and comfortable homely environment. For example, the proud display of their self-portraits and their work fosters a sense of belonging for them. Children play safely and make good use of the space to extend their activities. They use the space with confidence and independence according to their ability. Sufficient good quality, safe play resources are readily accessible to children. The use of suitable equipment, such as, a high chair and travel cot increases children’s independence and enables them to sit comfortably to eat and to sleep safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

To ensure that children are protected from hazards the childminder takes many effective safety precautious in the home. For example, safety gates are in place, a safety chain is fitted to the front door, a safety net is fixed around the trampoline and childproof locks is fitted on all appropriate cupboards and drawers. The childminder checks regularly to make sure that the safety measures are effective. Her good safety precautions and her close supervision of the children enhance their safety and increase their independence to use the available space. For

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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 example, children know it is safe to extend their play into the hallway and the garden. The childminder provides suitable fire fighting equipment in the home. However, she has not practised the escape plan with the children to be confident that they are all able to evacuate the premises quickly and safely. Children are developing their understanding of personal safety, they practise the green cross code, and with the childminder’s guidance, they are learning to identify safe places to cross the road.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Through discussion, the childminder demonstrates a good awareness of issues relating to child protection. She is aware of the signs and symptoms that may indicate possible abuse or neglect. She is clear about lines of communication to deal with safeguarding children issues, including parents and the local and registering authority. To safeguard children’s welfare, the childminder keeps guidance from national and local government including the Local Safe Guarding Children’s Board’s guidelines, which includes relevant contact numbers. The childminder’s good knowledge of child protection and the up to date information she maintains enables her to take the necessary action to deal with child protection issues immediately to safeguard children’s welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are gaining increasing independence as they use age and stage appropriate resources imaginatively and creatively in their play, which allow them to explore all of their senses. For example, they test their sense of taste as they sample fruits that may not be familiar to them, such as, mangoes and kiwi fruit and promote their listening skills as they use various instruments to make music. Children interact warmly with the childminder, because the childminder gives them her time and attention in play and conversation. She is careful to meet their individual needs and provide opportunities to help them to consolidate their learning by building on what they know. For example, the childminder provides opportunities to encourage children to progress from walking with support to taking independent steps. Children are happy, settled and confident, because the childminder follows their individual routine, which helps the youngest

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children promote their social and communication skills and join with their peers in activities indoors and outside of the home. They promote their intellectual development as they play group games such as ‘Build the Beetle,’ they build on what they knows as they follow the instructions of the game, learn to share and take turns, negotiate and resolve conflicts in socially acceptable ways. Children develop their understanding of other living things as they grow soft fruits, such as, tomatoes in the garden. They learn what plants need to grow and develop their understanding about how food is produced. They further develop their understanding of living things as they groom the pets and care for them in their pretend play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Open lines of communication and clear information about children’s individual needs enable the childminder to meet their health care and welfare needs well. She ensures that she provides appropriately for individual children and achieves continuity of care, because she follows parents guidance, and exchange verbal information with them daily. Children benefit from the childminder’s positive attitude to issues of equality. The resources that children use is non-gender specific and books provide some practical resources, which help them to discuss

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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 issues of equality, such as, cultural diversity and consider why it is important to value themselves and others in society and treat all people with respect.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Consistent clear boundaries, a safe physical environment, distraction, appropriate levels of play and stimulation and close supervision are some of the suitable strategies that the childminder uses to manage children’s behaviour and to help them to behave well. The childminder is a good role model for children; she speaks to them calmly and teaches them right from wrong. In addition, to gain consistency in behaviour management the childminder keeps parents informed about the strategies that are in place for behaviour. Children are learning good manners because the childminder reminds them to say please and thank you and encourages them to be polite.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are welcomed into a well organised homely environment where they are safe and secure, because most aspects of their safety are properly addressed. They have ready access to sufficient good quality, safe and suitable play resources and activities to extend all areas of their play and meet their developmental needs. The childminder safeguards children appropriately she ensures that they are in her sight or hearing at all times.

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Organisation

All of the documentation required to safeguard children’s health and welfare needs are in place and completed with all of the necessary information. For example, in addition, to the children's record forms, accident and medication records, the attendance record is accurate and up to date. All of these records are maintained confidentially and are readily available for inspection. For the benefit of the children, the childminder maintains valid public liability and vehicle insurances. To assure parents of her consistent good childcare practices the childminder shares several clearly written practice statements with them, such as, behaviour management. 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 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 complaint 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): • practise the escape plan with children.

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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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