Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY348250 Unique Reference Number 09 October 2007 Inspection date Clare Perry 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 family including one child aged three years in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The childminder uses the whole house for childminding 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. She attends the local parent toddler group and takes children to the local park. The family have a dog and two rabbits as pets.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy lots of physical play and activities. They regularly go for walks, to the local gym, play in the park and visit indoor soft play centres. They also play in the garden, where they access balls, a slide, sit and ride toys, wheeled toys and a water and sand table. Therefore, they have opportunities to run, kick, climb, slide and use wheeled toys, gaining increasing control of their bodies and strengthening their muscles.

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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 Children have their health and dietary needs met because the childminder works well with parents. They discuss children’s food requirements regularly and agree on a healthy diet suitable for individual children. Children are well nourished and access a healthy menu provided by either the childminder or their parents. Children enjoy plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They have fruit between meals with occasional treats. Children are not thirsty because drinking water is readily available to them either in lidded cups in the lounge for younger children or on the side in the kitchen for older children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children stay healthy because the childminder has good procedures and routines in place. She follows an excellent nappy changing routine ensuring children are not at risk from cross infection. She regularly uses an anti bacterial cleanser on her hands to prevent the spread of infection; for example, before giving bottles of milk, before preparing lunch and after washing her hands from nappy changing. Children also stay healthy because the childminder is very careful to ensure their access to her pets is safe and supervised and that they wash their hands afterwards. Children are aware that the animals need feeding, cleaning and to have water to drink. Children understand simple good health and hygiene practices and learn about healthy living as they frequently discuss with the childminder things that are good for them to eat and why exercise and fresh air is important.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are protected because the childminder has a good understanding of her role in the protection of children and is able to put appropriate procedures into practice when necessary. She demonstrates well issues that would cause her concern, such as significant changes to behaviour and unusual marks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are able to make choices and choose from a wide range of suitable and safe toys and resources. These include creative equipment, musical toys, construction, puzzles, books and wheeled toys. Children choose these from shelves, drawers and stacker boxes in the lounge. The childminder offers others regularly or provides on request. The childminder has a regular routine for checking all resources and equipment to ensure they remain safe and suitable for children to use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for in a welcoming, secure and safe environment. They access the whole of the childminder’s property, meaning they have space to move around freely and play comfortably. Children access a safe garden and the childminder always accompanies the children when they are outside. The childminder has carried out regular and comprehensive risk assessments to ensure children remain safe when they are within her home and on outings. Children stay safe on outings as they are given clear boundaries of where they can go and they are beginning to learn about stranger danger and road safety, for example, learning to look right and left and listen for cars when they are crossing the road.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn to keep themselves safe through effective and regular discussions with the childminder when out and about or at home. She talks to them about taking care on the stairs, not running on the slippery floor and acts as a good model; explaining how she is doing things in a safe way. The childminder has adequate equipment and procedures in place to ensure children remain safe in the event of a fire. The children know they must ‘get out, get the fire brigade out and stay out. Although the childminders fire blanket is not appropriately attached to the wall.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder loosely plans her day around activities at home, visits out and free play. Children enjoy being out and about, reading books, doing puzzles, playing board games, lots of imaginative play and creative activities including sticking and gluing, painting, play dough and painting. The childminder helps children to develop independence, by encouraging them to do ever-greater things for themselves, such as feeding themselves, going upstairs to the toilet and to wash their hands alone.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s artwork is on display in the lounge and kitchen and they receive high levels of praise and encouragement from the childminder developing their confidence and self-esteem. The childminder encourages children to try things they think they cannot do and to try new things. Children show interest in what they do, they make excited noises as they play and communicate with smiles, gurgles and sounds. The childminder reads children's early communication signs well and responds appropriately with her own voice or actions. For example, knowing when children show signs of being tired and needing a sleep. Children acquire new knowledge and skills as the childminder supports them well to take the next steps in their development, such as learning to sit up, beginning to learn letter sounds and improving their physical skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children make positive relationships with each other and with the childminder who knows them well. The children play happily together or alongside each other. They freely talk to each other and the childminder. Children benefit from warm and caring relationships with the childminder; she talks to them tenderly and offers them cuddles and reassurance.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have their individual needs met as the childminder works well with parents to meet individual children’s needs and ensure they are included fully in the life of the setting. She knows the children well and ensures she regularly discusses their care, well being and development with their parents ensuring they work together to provide the best care for the children. The childminder has complied a detailed portfolio of information for parents, including all her policies and procedures and other pertinent information about herself, her family and her childminding service. She shares her policies and procedures with parents through discussion at initial interviews and parents take away copies and sign to say they have seen and agree. The childminder provides parents with good daily feedback about their children either verbally or in a journal. Her journals are excellent, a very good way of sharing information such as feeds,

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Helping children make a positive contribution

sleeps, visits and very detailed pertinent information.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a clear understanding and experience of how to care for children with learning difficulties and /or disabilities, although none currently attend the setting. The childminder meets individual children’s needs well; she encourages them to partake in activities to move them on to the next stages in their learning. The childminder actively promotes equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice for the children and their families. She treats children with equal concern and respect and provides books and toys promoting positive images. She helps children understand and appreciate differences and feel good about themselves through appropriate activities and discussions. Children are developing a good awareness of our wider society by being out in the community and sharing observations and discussions with the childminder. For example, talking about why someone is in a wheelchair, why some dogs

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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 are allowed into shops and reading books on the subjects. They also learn about recycling, knowing why it is important to do this.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children begin to distinguish between right and wrong as the childminder gives them clear and consistent boundaries to work within. She demonstrates a good understanding of appropriate strategies to use to deal with unwanted and challenging behaviour. She praises children’s good behaviour, particularly if they are being kind to each other, sharing well or being helpful.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder’s documentation is very well organised and presented. All relevant legal documentation that relates to children's health, safety and well-being is in place. However, the childminder does not record accurately children’s times of arrival and departure. Policies and procedures work in practice to promote children’s health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution.

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Organisation

The childminder has a high regard for the well-being of all children, she organises her home and routines efficiently to provide children with an environment where they are safe, settled and happy. She plans her days well to ensure she is able to meet each child's needs effectively and dedicates her time to the children and not to routine daily tasks. The childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of caring for children. She knows the children well and is aware of their likes and dislikes. The childminder has good strategies in place to assess herself, and is aware of her own strengths and weaknesses; this ensures she is able to make improvements to provide children and families with a high quality service. The childminder is getting to know the Birth to Three Matters Framework and is developing ways to incorporate this more directly into her daily practice. The childminder meets the needs of the range of the

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

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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): • ensure an accurate record is maintained of children's actual times of attendance.

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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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