Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY259826 Unique Reference Number 01 August 2007 Inspection date Jasmin Myles-Wilson Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since 2003 and lives with her husband and their three teenaged children. They live in an semi-detached house situated in Cramlington, Northumberland. Local amenities and various schools are within close proximity to the premises. The whole ground floor is used for childminding. There is an enclosed back garden available for outdoor play.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time. There are eight children on roll; one child aged under two years, three children aged under five years, one child aged under eight years and three children aged over eight years. The childminder drives to take and collect children from school.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends a local toddler group on a weekly basis and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. The childminder shows consistently high standards of good health and hygiene practices. Therefore, children's health is promoted very well. Older children are extremely confident and self-assured in dealing with their own personal needs and hygiene. They understand how to keep their bodies healthy. For example, children clearly and readily explain that they wash their hands after using the toilet to get rid of germs otherwise they may become ill. Children receive excellent attention when sick or injured as the childminder is qualified in first aid and has superb procedures in place, such as a written policy detailing the procedure she takes to care for sick children. The childminder also keeps for her reference, meticulous information on how to recognise certain illnesses, such as sickle cell anaemia or meningitis.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children experience an excellent balance of rest and robust activities. They enjoy high levels of physical exercise, such as bouncing on a trampoline and other outdoor activities. Young children receive exceptional attention and support to develop their emotional well-being and physical development. For example, their individual needs are actively considered and met as the childminder obtains extremely detailed information from their parents so that she is able to provide continuity of care for them.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder plans and devises menus of extremely healthy and nutritious food, such as pork chops and vegetables or chicken wraps. A vegetarian option is also available. Children eat exceedingly good food with enjoyment, for example, after making fruit kebabs they quickly help themselves to the leftovers and say what fruit they really like. Children have easy access to healthy drinks which help to keep their bodies hydrated and healthy.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder welcomes children in such a way that they quickly enter her premises and treat it like their home. Children are cared for in a well-maintained and safe environment in which they are able to move around independently and unrestricted. Young children explore their surroundings within safe boundaries. Children have good access to activities and resources that are developmentally appropriate. They safely select from a varied range of activities that are easily accessible. All resources are well maintained and checked on a daily basis, therefore, children are assured of resources that are safe and hygienic for them to use.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risks to children are minimised through the childminder's good level of understanding of potential dangers to children and positive steps taken to ensure their safety. Older children have good awareness of how to keep themselves safe. For example, children know that when the smoke alarm sounds they should stop what they are doing and walk out of the house. Younger children begin to learn how to keep themselves safe by copying the actions of the older children. Children's safety is high priority, therefore, good procedures are in place. For example, passwords are used for persons collecting children who are unknown to the childminder.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has good working knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. She is confident in her knowledge of what to do and who to contact in the event of suspected abuse. Therefore, children are safeguarded and their welfare is protected.

p.3

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

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children settle and adapt superbly to the environment of being with the childminder and eagerly participate in quality activities of their choosing. For example, children decide to decorate the toy house outside and use paint brushes to imitate painting it. The childminder sees this and further develops their play by offering them a pot of water so they could imagine it as a paint pot. The childminder has a wealth of experience of caring for a wide range of children with differing abilities and is aware of how important it is to know where children's starting point is before caring for them. She has a excellent knowledge and understanding of the children, therefore, children's individual needs are met exceptionally well.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have excellent opportunities to visit places of interest, such as the farm and toddler groups. They enjoy and are totally entertained in purposeful activities which give maximum satisfaction. For example, children are absorbed in making pizza, sandwiches and fruit kebabs for a picnic lunch. As they do so they chatter excitedly about what pieces of fruit they are using or that they have made a face on the pizza. Activities are planned around the Foundation Stage curriculum and the 'Birth to three matters' framework which provide good levels of challenge for children's age and stage of development.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses vibrant verbal communication with the children and they enjoy lots of expressive communication. Children develop in confidence and social skills as the childminder actively contributes to activities and enhances their play. Children are empowered to confidently choose and independently select from a wealth of varied and stimulating activities. They know they can play with everything that is suitable for them and enjoy playing with them.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are treated as individuals and have access to whatever is available which gives them a sense of belonging. The childminder has good understanding, a positive attitude and actively promotes equality and diversity in her provision. Children have access to a good range of resources that display positive images which helps them learn to appreciate diversity in the wider world and their community. However, the childminder realises that positive images reflecting varying abilities could be improved and has ordered more resources.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn to respect and be polite to each other, for example, children playing in the sand willingly take turns in sharing a spade. Written procedures display good behaviour management strategies. Children benefit from the childminder using these strategies as they learn what behaviour is acceptable. However, children do not always receive knowledge of why they are being asked not to do something, such as running in the house. Young children respond well to the childminder's instruction, such as helping to tidy away the toys when asked. Children thrive on praise and their self-esteem is boosted. For example, when children share or make something nice they are praised and their faces light up as they continue to behave in a positive way.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has good relationships with parents and children benefit from this. The childminder is friendly with parents but is professional about what she does, such as keeping comprehensive information on children and has written contracts with parents. She also has various written consents, such as permission for children to use the outdoor trampoline. The childminder shares with parents information regarding their children on a daily basis. She

p.4

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 adheres to parents' wishes and follows them to the best of her ability, so that children's individual needs are met very well.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is very knowledgeable and experienced in caring for children. She continues to enhance her understanding and practice by completing training, such as extending childminding practice, inclusion of children with disabilities and safeguarding children.

p.5

Organisation

Children benefit from being in a well organised environment that is fit for childminding purposes. Children feel relaxed, confident and move around the space with ease. They receive effective supervision as the childminder knows when to sit back and allow play to happen while keeping children's safety and well-being in focus. The childminder's time is managed well as she dedicates it to children while they are in her care. The flexible daily routine and activities allow children to be stimulated, motivated and interested in what they do.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder clearly understands the need to maintain, display and keep documentation. All documentation is well organised, easily accessible and confidentially stored. The childminder has effective and clear documentation in place that is discussed and shared with parents to keep them informed. She has good knowledge and understanding of what Ofsted expects of her. For example, she realises her responsibility to inform Ofsted when there are any significant changes or events.

p.5

Organisation

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

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection it was recommended that children have access to resources that reflect positive images of people with disabilities. It was also recommended that the childminder develops her knowledge and understanding of child protection issues.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Children now have access to a varied range of positive images that reflect disabilities through resources, such as stories, toy play bus, wheelchair and creative activities. Although children have access to these resources, the childminder still wishes to provide more positive images. The childminder has good knowledge and understanding of child protection issues, therefore, children are safeguarded.

p.5

Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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 enhance behaviour management strategies that are already in place.

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6