Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY347436 Unique Reference Number 01 October 2007 Inspection date Fler Wright 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 was registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and daughter aged one year in the Portslade area of Brighton, East Sussex. The majority of the property is used for childminding and there is a secure garden available for outside play. The family have a pet 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 one child aged under one year on a part time basis, a three year old once a week, and four further children after school. The childminder takes children on regular outings to the local park, shops and toddler groups, and does regular school runs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Established hygiene routines enable children to learn about the importance of keeping healthy. The childminder ensures children have access to a hygienic environment, and takes appropriate

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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 precautions during nappy changes to promote effective hygiene practice. The childminder discusses children's individual needs with parents early on, to ensure all dietary preferences and allergies are known. Children learn about keeping themselves healthy as they talk about visiting the dentist and the foods that are good and bad for their teeth. The childminder has a first aid certificate in place, although she has not gained parental permission in order to allow her to act in the children's best interests in the event of an emergency. All accidents are recorded and parents are informed, although they do not sign the accident record, breaching a regulation.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents supply all meals and the childminder supplements these with a range of healthy snacks that appeal to children and meet their dietary needs. Children are encouraged to have regular refreshments to ensure they are sufficiently hydrated. Young children have access to their own beakers as they play, and older children have decorated their own cups that are accessible to them at all times.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have a good relationship with the childminder, who is responsive to their emotional needs. They enjoy a range of activities that help to develop their physical skills on a daily basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children have access to a warm and welcoming play area with enough space for them to explore and move around freely. There are a good range of safe, developmentally appropriate resources suitable for the ages of the minded children. The range includes books, creative equipment, small world, imaginary play and outdoor toys. Children are able to access the resources easily, encouraging their independence and freedom of choice. The childminder visits the toy library regularly to ensure the variety of resources available to children changes, in order to keep them well stimulated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an understanding of safety issues and potential hazards and many have been made safe or inaccessible in the home. She is well aware of the items that may pose a risk to children as their developmental needs change, and she plans to adapt the environment as and when the need arises. She uses supervision to ensure children do not come to any harm in areas that she has not made completely safe, for example in the kitchen. This helps to ensure children are kept safe and free from harm. There are clear procedures in place for outings. The childminder has devised a fire evacuation plan, and has a fire blanket on the wall in the kitchen. However, there is no smoke alarm on the first floor putting children at an increased risk in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and knows what action to take should she have concerns about a child in her care. She has provision to record existing injuries, and this is included in her policies making her responsibilities clear to parents. However, not all significant injuries have been noted as the childminders understanding of the reasons to record them is not clear. This has an impact upon children's safety and means that currently, her records are not complete.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy, relaxed and confident. They relate well to the childminder who is warm and affectionate making them feel comfortable and valued.

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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 Children profit from regular outings to the local park and toddler groups where they are able to develop their social and physical skills. They enjoy and learn from a broad range of activities that help to encourage their learning and development. Children have access to an interesting variety of experiences such as creative play, imaginary play and garden play on a daily basis. All activities are adapted to ensure that children are included and have the opportunity to achieve. Children have easy access to a good range of quality toys that provide balance and challenge. The way that the childminder organises the space and resources helps children to take initiative and develop increasing confidence and independence.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is relaxed and is confident in her abilities to care for children, which helps to ensure she is able to manage the children effectively and their individual needs are met. Children benefit from frequent interaction with the childminder who offers support when required. Older children complete scrap books at the childminders, and enjoy colouring in pictures, drawing or painting in order to add to them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has already incorporated parts of the Early Years Foundation Stage into her childminding practice, and is attending training in this area in the near future to help ensure the children in her care continue to enjoy and achieve at a high level.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated with respect and are made to feel good about themselves. The childminder encourages all children to participate in the activities provided, to ensure they each have an equal opportunity to maximise their enjoyment and potential. Older children each have their own cup that they have decorated for use at the childminders. Photos of themselves and displays of their work help them to develop an important sense of belonging at the setting. Children have access to a range of resources and activities that promote equality and diversity, which helps them to learn about individuality and different cultures. The childminder sponsors a girl that lives in Malawi and she has heavily involved the minded children in her communications with her, and uses the opportunity to talk to children about the wider world. A display in the kitchen helps to prompt discussion and help children to learn further in this area.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has experience of caring for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and of the ways in which information is shared to ensure children's individual needs are met. She has also cared for children with English as an additional language so has a good understanding of the ways children communicate, helping to ensure their needs are met. She is very receptive and eager to learn more about the subject. She is booked to attend a Makaton course in the near future.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is very calm and relaxed and offers effective explanations to children when managing their behaviour, which helps them to learn right from wrong and play together harmoniously. She offers regular praise and encouragement to children to help increase their confidence and self-esteem. Children benefit from receiving stickers if they have done well.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are happy with the care provided. They provide a wealth of relevant information about their children to the childminder which helps to ensure children receive individual care and attention. Details of their physical and psychological needs are also recorded to ensure the childminder is fully aware of their needs when they start. The childminder ensures parents are kept informed of their child's progress, as there are daily exchanges of information about what they have done, what they have eaten and the general care given to them during the day. This

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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 helps to ensure children's ever changing care needs are met. Younger children have a written care diary that parents are able to add to, ensuring an effective partnership is encouraged and information is shared.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She is organised, and tries her best to ensure all of the required documentation that contributes to children's health, safety and well-being is in place. However, the accident records are not signed, breaching a regulation, and the accurate hours of attendance are not recorded in the register, breaching another regulation. The childminder plans to amend these documents as soon as possible to help to further safeguard the children in her care. She has a limited understanding of the reasons existing injuries need to be recorded.

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Organisation

The childminder has devised a range of additional policies and procedures that she gives to parents to ensure they are aware of how she runs her childminding business. She holds comprehensive information on the minded children to ensure their needs are met effectively. She has a good understanding of her childminding role and responsibilities, is receptive, and is eager to improve her practice. She has attended all of the required training and has booked herself onto further courses to help ensure she keeps up to date with current childcare practice. Children benefit from a well-organised environment where they receive good adult support to help them feel secure and confident.

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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 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 permission is gained for emergency medical treatment and all accidents are signed by parents

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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 • ensure a smoke alarm is in place on each level of the property, and ensure all existing injuries are recorded • ensure children's hours of attendance are recorded accurately

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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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