Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY271005 Unique Reference Number 09 August 2007 Inspection date Sara Haigh 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 outstanding. 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 has been a registered since September 2003. She lives with her husband and two adult children in the Kearsley area of Bolton.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There are two rooms used for the main activities. One of the rooms is used as a quiet area if a child needs to rest or sleep while the other children use the other area. The bathroom is located on the ground floor. There is a small, fully enclosed garden available to the rear of the property for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children under the age of eight years at any one time. There are currently three children attending.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends local child care groups on a regular basis and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 outstanding. Children are welcomed into a very clean and well maintained home. They are learning the importance of following good hygiene procedures as the childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of how to prevent the risk of cross infection. Surfaces and floors are cleaned thoroughly and toys are wiped down regularly. Children have a clear understanding of why they need to wash their hands at appropriate times of the day, for example, when asked why they were washing their hands, a child responds 'so that we don't get germs'. Children have individually named wash bags containing their own towels and toothbrushes which encourages children to learn about personal hygiene. The childminder follows very clear and good standards of hygiene when changing nappies to help protect very young children. Highly detailed and comprehensive policies and procedures are in place to ensure that effective measures are taken

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Helping children to be healthy

when children are ill or have an accident.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy an excellent range of activities to develop their physical abilities and promote their healthy life styles. They learn to appreciate their environment and benefit from fresh air as they go on regular walks to local parks. They develop their large muscle skills and coordination as they hold their own sports day on the field in front of the setting. They have great fun learning how to do the sack race and egg and spoon race. A fully enclosed and secure rear garden allows children to access the outdoors at all times. Children routinely take games and equipment outside to play with, and eat meals and snacks outdoors.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are successfully well nourished through hearty, home cooked meals which comply with individual dietary or medical requirements. They have the benefit of detailed and well thought out menus, which detail the protein, carbohydrate and dairy being provided, and the vitamins and minerals contained in different foods. This information is shared with parents so that they can be assured that their child eats a healthy and balanced diet. Children enthusiastically try new fruit and vegetables in order to collect a sticker on their 'way to five-a-day' charts. They discuss their lunch and identify healthy carrots. Children remain hydrated throughout the session, as they independently access fresh drinking water, fruit juice or milk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are meticulously safeguarded through the childminder’s excellent practice. For example, external exits are locked and the front door also has a safety gate to ensure children’s security is maintained at all times. Children’s welfare is additionally promoted through the childminder’s proactive skills with regard to their safety. For example, the childminder plans a week of safety activities, which include visiting the fire station and examining household materials and bottles. She provides very close supervision whilst discussing the symbols on cleaning fluids and empowers children in the prevention of accidents. The outside area is covered with safety surface tiles to protect children as they engage in vigorous, physical play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safe when outside the setting as the childminder talks extensively to the children about stranger danger, road signs and safety, and bullying. Children are involved in regular fire drills and the emergency evacuation plan is displayed and shared with parents.

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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 Children have full and open access to their environment. They are encouraged and supported by the childminder to access all spaces and the childminder has organised the setting into areas for active play, role play, reading, small world play and messy play. Children can move freely and without fear of injury and the childminder organises the setting in different ways, depending on the children attending, to ensure that they get the most from their time. Children access an excellent range of toys and equipment that is suitable for the children's age and stage of development and complies with British safety standards. Equipment is very efficiently stored and organised on open shelving and in drawers where children can help themselves or ask for items they know are available. Children learn about keeping themselves safe in the home as

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

they follow and discuss the house rules. For example, children comment that they must not run in the house as they might fall and hurt themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are very well protected and their welfare is effectively safeguarded because the childminder has extensive documentation in place. The childminder has a very good understanding of child protection issues and procedures; including a clear understanding of what to do in the event of identifying any concern, this ensures children's safety.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The children present were extremely happy and settled in the childminder's care. Children are very confident and self-assured in their play and older children are praised for helping younger ones in their activities. The childminder is dedicated to ensuring that all children in her care reach their potential and she ensures that they have a rich and varied timetable of opportunities and experiences planned from the 'Birth to three matters' framework and the Foundation Stage documentation. For example, children enjoy planting broad beans, playing nature bingo in the local park and watching the development of tadpoles into frogs before releasing them. Individual records of children's work, photographic evidence and regular observations are recorded to demonstrate how children are making excellent progress in relation to the relevant curriculum guidance.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

An excellent balance of child-initiated and adult-initiated activities are provided. For example, when children find a spider in the garden, the childminder extends their interest by providing them with a magnified 'bug-box' to examine it. She encourages the children to name the spider and shows the children how to use toy binoculars to search for the spider's family. Children are highly motivated to learn because they are engrossed in exciting and challenging opportunities. This enables them to make excellent progress in all areas of their development and helps them to develop a positive attitude and disposition to learn more.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Communication skills are given a high priority and the childminder is extremely skilled in talking and listening to children. Children are confident and have good self-esteem because the childminder listens carefully to what they have to say and responds appropriately. Language development is very well promoted in the setting. Older children are learning about phonics through the use of various phonic systems and they enthusiastically search for the magnetic letters to display the current day of the week.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Games and fun are used to develop children's mathematical development. Pre-school children are skilled at recognising how many dots there are on a dice face without counting them. Number songs such as 'Five little monkeys' and 'Five little ducks' are brought alive through the use of beautiful hand puppets and toy ducks. This ensures that children learn through practical activities and can see the number correspondence.

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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 The childminder is excellent in responding to children in order to meet their needs. For example, she adapts an area of the playroom with a sliding curtain for the children to develop their interest in putting on puppet shows. She provides sensory resources, such as lamps that change colour and water visual toys to calm children after periods of excitement. Children develop their manipulative skills by making patterns outside with water and pastry brushes, using rolling pins and plastic scissors when playing with play dough, exploring treasure baskets and sand play. Children express themselves creatively as they paint with watercolours, print with leaves, finger-paint and spontaneously draw pictures of their 'mummy' on the easel.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop a huge amount of confidence and positive self-esteem through the interaction, care, love and attention they receive from the childminder. They are becoming more confident with each day as they learn new skills and gain new experiences. The childminder is very skilled at supporting children in new situations, for example, she informs children that an inspector will be visiting and shares a book about an inspection with them. Children are valued and treated with trust, concern and respect by the childminder who has a wonderful manner. All children are welcomed with open arms and are encouraged to build relationships and gain trust in others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Every child is very warmly welcomed and actively included by the childminder. They have excellent opportunities to learn about themselves and the wider world. The childminder utilises children's family members expertise and knowledge to focus on a particular country and its culture. For example, 'Australian week' enables the children to look at traditions, recipes and pictures from the other side of the world. Children have access in everyday play activities to high quality resources that reflect a wide range of positive images of society. Children visit a local childcare group that has child sized equipment to reflect disabilities. The childminder uses this opportunity to extend children's thinking as they act out possible scenarios. For example, the childminder asks children playing in the wheel chair, how they would reach an ice cream from the children on the climbing frame. Children develop a strong awareness and sense of

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Helping children make a positive contribution

empathy when positive images of disability are introduced in such an innovative way. As a result, children develop an excellent and fully rounded awareness of diversity. There is a very positive attitude to caring for children with learning difficulties and disabilities. When necessary the childminder works closely with parents and relevant professionals to enable her to effectively support individual children. She has attended training to enhance her knowledge and understanding of various learning difficulties and disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder speaks very positively to the children at all times and works hard at building their self-esteem. Their social skills and respect for people and property are very well developed through the use of good manners, simple house rules and encouragement in small chores. Their efforts and participation are rewarded by lots of praise, encouragement and stickers from the childminder and as a result behaviour is very good. Children are skilfully encouraged to understand the consequences of their actions as they explore emotions and learn to relate effectively to others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There is an excellent partnership with parents which promotes very good continuity of care for children. A comprehensive information file, notice board and detailed records ensure that all relevant information is shared. Parents are fully informed of their child's day through informal chats at either end of the day. The childminder notes any ideas or suggestions that parents may have to continually develop her practice. Parents show their appreciation of the excellent

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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 service they receive as they have nominated the childminder for 'Childminder of the Year' in 4Children's Star Awards 2007.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children’s care is promoted through the childminder's exceptional organisation. All policies and procedures are individual to the childminder and fully support her very good childcare practice. She is meticulous in her record keeping and demonstrates a very high commitment to improving her childcare practice. She has attended a wide range of training courses to enhance the service she provides. The childminder’s portfolio evidences her commitment to providing good quality care for children. All necessary documentation is completed correctly, is up to date, reviewed regularly and maintained in a confidential manner.

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Organisation

The childminder has a dedicated play room and the space is organised in a highly effective manner and all resources meet the children’s requirements. Individual needs are extensively met through the childminder’s attention to each child’s routines and requirements. Children benefit from an excellent range of indoor and outdoor experiences giving them a varied and interesting day. Children actively contribute to their care by making decisions about their play. The childminder supervises children exceptionally well, enabling them to play safely and independently. She maintains ratios well through careful timing and is mindful of her responsibility to let Ofsted know of any changes in circumstances.

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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 the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure that departure times are recorded in the register, medication records have more clarity, and to raise awareness of the latest government guidelines for child protection. The register is meticulously completed and medication records are detailed and comprehensive. The childminder has obtained the latest government guidelines for child protection, displays the flow chart for referral of concerns and has a very good understanding of safeguarding issues and procedures. All of these improvements contribute to the high level of safety and protection offered to children in her care.

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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. 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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