Burrows, Gail

Inspection report for early years provision

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302149 Unique Reference Number 02 August 2007 Inspection date Jane Elizabeth O'Callaghan 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 was registered in 1990. She lives with her husband and three children aged eighteen, fourteen and eight in a semi rural location Menston on the outskirts of Otley. The childminder's husband and eighteen year old daughter are used as occasional assistants for older children. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and a bedroom on the first floor is used by older children and for overnight care. There is a downstairs toilet and hand washing facilities. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time, when an assistant is present, she may care for no more than 10 children under 8 years. There is currently three children on roll. The childminder attends local parent groups and visits local areas in the community. The family has a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder provides over night care.

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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. The children are provided with a good range of activities both in the home and outside that promote their well-being. There are daily activities that support and develop the children's physical needs. For example, the children have regular walks, visits of interest in the local area and a very good selection of outdoor equipment and activities.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children are made aware of very good hygiene practices through the effective and detailed routines and facilities provided. The children have access to individual towels which are identified by their names above. The children cared for are quite young and are encouraged to wash their own hands downstairs, with help from the childminder. The childminder has a verbal nappy changing procedure, which is discussed with prospective parents. There is ongoing monitoring of equipment and toys to ensure they are kept clean, especially with the younger children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Any children who wish to sleep or rest can do so in a travel cot or settee. The childminder provides over night care, all bedtime routines are discussed with the parents and adhered to. The children have individual daily sheets when requiring a sleep.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are clear written details for the care and exclusion of sick and ill children to prevent cross infection. The childminder has a first aid box and has attended an appropriate first aid course. Medication and accident forms are fully completed, however, forms are not kept in a confidential manner.

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Helping children to be healthy

All children have regular drinks, they are aware of the importance of drinking, and have access to drinks and fresh fruit throughout the day. The childminder offers a very good variety of regular healthy and nutritious meals and snacks for the children. Children's individual dietary needs are well met with parents providing the main lunch and this being further supported by the childminder providing nutritious snacks. The childminder is able to offer late staying children a home cooked dinner. All dietary requirements are discussed at the outset.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has very good knowledge of the 'Birth to three matters' framework, she has all the relevant information displayed and has read this and attended training. This has developed the childminder's knowledge and understanding in the caring of children in this age range.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children are cared for in an environment which offers well-planned areas, with good facilities to actively meet the children's needs in a positive manner. The childminder has a good understanding of safety in all areas of the home and outside. For example, the childminder has well written fire evacuation plans, these are regularly practiced and recorded and adapted for over night care. She takes positive steps with the children to promote safety and prevent accidents in their play. For example, safe access to the resources and a well-fenced-off outdoor area. The children have a good awareness of the safety limits, which ensures they have freedom to take risks whilst learning effectively of dangers and ways to protect themselves. For example, the children always wait for the childminder to help them upstairs where there are safety gates. The childminder also educates the children in road safety as they get older. Children are cared

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

for in a safe environment through the childminder having written permission from parents 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 using all forms of transport, the taking of photographs, giving of medication and emergency treatment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are encouraged to develop their independence through accessing toys and activities and exploring their surroundings. Risks are carefully assessed to reduce potential hazards, both toys and equipment are checked and cleaned regularly. The quality and range of toys and equipment are in good condition and appropriate to the ages and levels of children's development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected by the childminder who has some understanding of child protection. There are detailed procedures of a written policy and contact numbers in place to ensure children's welfare is paramount at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The children are extremely happy, relaxed and thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder and her family. The children relate well to each other and are able to extend their social, physical and learning skills through regular visits to groups in the community and further a field. For example, they visit local parks, childminding groups, local farms and places of interest. These provide the children with an excellent range of experiences and challenges in interesting settings.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are eager and keen to participate. The childminder is sensitive to their individual needs and offers a flexible child-led approach to the activities and resources they want to access. For example, in the play room the areas are sectioned off, one for the younger children and one for older children. Both areas offering all children a superb range of age appropriate toys for them to independently access. She skilfully adapts what she offers to ensure all the children take part. This enables the younger children to be involved in a variety of creative resources. For example, children access suitable books, holistic baskets and experience tactile and sensory materials.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children play very well together, with interaction from the childminder when appropriate. For example, one child was very keen and sociable to share the photographs of her activities with the childminder and also to show how she can write. This fosters the children's listening skills and helps them recognise things that are familiar to them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder does stimulating topics, these are age related and interest the children. For example, children did a topic on how to be healthy and good displays of posters depicting healthy foods are displayed. There are photographs displayed with the children having lots of fun playing with the gloop, painting and decorating biscuits. This ensures that children are developing their various skills in a highly stimulating, enjoyable and fun environment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are positive, caring relationships established, which promotes children's confidence and communication skills. The children develop a strong sense of self, which is evident within the ages of the children present. Children communicate with confidence to the childminder and to visitors expressing their enjoyment through their vibrant characters.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has attended a 'Birth to Three Matters' course and inputs her extended knowledge into the younger ones activities and equipment. For example, the babies have lots of tactile fabrics with different size and shapes of pebbles attached on. This ensures younger children's development extends through all of their different stages as they grow.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The childminder offers the children a superb range of resources and activities. For example, books, jigsaws, dressing up and the celebrating of a variety of festivals. This begins to enhance children's knowledge of different cultures and environments around them. She is constantly improving this area to promote an insight into the wider world and an awareness of differences for the children. The children have regular access to the community, which supports children's knowledge and understanding in the local area. The childminder takes account of all the children's individual needs and these are shared through detailed registration forms. These are completed with parents to ensure that both the parents and children's needs are continually met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a positive attitude towards caring for children with learning difficulties and disabilities. She would welcome children into her home with as long as she was able to meet the child's and parent's needs. She is very aware through training of the importance of working closely with other agencies and would encourage this with the parents co-operation.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Behaviour is managed in a caring and sensitive way, which ensures the children have an excellent awareness of the boundaries in place, as the childminder is consistent in her approach. The children learn to negotiate and take responsibility for their behaviour. They share, take turns and care for each other by being encouraged to make choices in their play. The childminder and her family are superb role models and this is reflected in the excellent behaviour of the children in her care. This develops their independence and ability to have a kind and caring nature.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are excellent relationships with parents which contribute to the children's well-being. Parents views are valued and they are encouraged to visit the childminder before their child starts, so that they can make an informed choice in the care offered. Two way daily diaries of the children are completed and these are given to parents along with verbal feedback on a regular basis. The childminder has first class feedback from parents about the care that she provides for their children. The childminder feels it is an extended role of hers to ensure a secure partnership is developed between her and the parents. This ensures that both parents and children are in a happy, caring environment and all needs are met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are superb in-depth policies and procedures in place, along with a very informative notice board, which extends the information on the support and care provided. Parents are given a complete package which includes all policies and procedures, meeting all new regulations. The childminder also displays various documentation for parents, for example, the registration certificate and insurance. This ensures that parents are well informed about the childminder and how she cares for children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is organised and efficient in most aspects of her provision. The children are welcomed into a safe and well-resourced environment that benefits their well-being. This enables the children to be confident and happy to initiate their play and learning, and to develop accordingly.

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 There are policies and procedures in place that support the quality of the childminding offered; all documents and records are kept and completed correctly. All records and documentation are stored securely and confidentiality is maintained in most areas.

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Organisation

The childminder has attended training to enhance her skills and knowledge in areas of childcare, for example, 'Birth to three Matters' and she is keen to attend more training. The childminder maintains a very professional approach to her role as a childminder.

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Organisation

The childminder provides over night care for children and adapts all policies in order to meet all National Standards. For example, fire drills include procedures for night time, separate sheets and also a sight and sound monitor. Ensuring children are cared for in a safe and well organised setting.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At last inspection the childminder was asked to develop knowledge and understanding of retaining documentation to ensure that records relating to individual children are retained for minimum periods. The childminder has all relevant documentation available to meet all regulations and is aware of retaining these for a minimum of two years. This ensures children are cared for in a safe environment where registration requirements are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

She was also asked to ensure that the contents of the first aid box, of which are determined in the first aid training course, are checked following attendance of this training. The childminder has a valid first aid certificate. Her first aid box is kept in the kitchen and contents regularly checked, she also has allergies written on front of the box. The childminder also has a separate first aid equipment to take on outings. This ensures that the childminder has the appropriate equipment at hand in the event of a child having an accident.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was also asked to review the arrangements for the supervision of children in the rear garden to ensure that they are within sight or hearing at all times. The childminder has policies and procedures to include children playing outside. She ensures that children can be seen at all times. Older children are also aware of their boundaries. All accesses to the outdoor areas are secure as are the surroundings. This ensures that children are cared for in a safe and caring environment.

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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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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): • further develop knowledge and understanding of child protection.

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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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