Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY276145 Unique Reference Number 13 August 2007 Inspection date Christine Fraser Turner 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 2003. She lives with her husband and two children, one adult and the other aged 11, in the Smithills area of Bolton. She uses the lounge/dining room, two bedrooms and the bathroom for childminding. The children play outdoors in a small enclosed area on the drive.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five. The childminder drives to local schools to take and collect children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has completed Quality First Counts, a childminder quality assurance programme. She is a member of The National Childminding Association. The childminder visits local parks and childminder groups.

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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. Children are protected from infection and are well taken care of if they have an accident or become ill because the childminder follows effective health and hygiene guidelines and policies. Children are beginning to understand good hygiene routines, for example, as they wash their hands before eating snacks or make sure that the table is clean before eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished through the provision of healthy snacks and meals, for example, low sugar and salt foods. They have their health and dietary needs met well because the childminder works effectively with parents. Children receive regular drinks but they do not have ready access to drinking water. They are able to rest and sleep according to their individual needs which are discussed with parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy physical activities both in and outdoors . They have regular visits to the local park to use the slide and play with balls. They take part in planned physical activities when they attend the toy library, such as group exercise or football.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a welcoming, secure, safe indoor and outdoor environment. They are able to help themselves to toys and find space to play either on the floor as they build a train track or on the table as they play with play dough.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

They use good quality, suitable and safe equipment. Children have additional items on loan from the toy library, for example, play kitchen or work bench. They are kept safe on outings because the childminder uses suitable equipment, such as reins and car seats. They learn about 'stranger danger' and which adults they can contact for help. They also learn road safety when they are on outings. Children keep themselves safe indoors as they tidy toys away to prevent accidents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded because the childminder has a satisfactory understanding of her role in child protection. The childminder has ready access to the local authority procedures and government guidelines. However, she is not clear on when Ofsted needs to be informed of child protection issues.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home. They are involved in a broad range of planned activities and spontaneous events which support their development and learning. They take part in interesting outings, for example, pond dipping which leads to discussion about the life cycle of the frog. Children are encouraged to become independent, for example, as they wash their hands in the bathroom. They enjoy playing with dough, painting, playing the musical instruments, making train tracks or playing with the dolls house. They form good relationships with the childminder and each other as they play together as they learn to share, for example, when playing lotto. Photographs show children caring for plants as they water

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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 them in pots. Children benefit from the childminder using her knowledge on the 'Birth to three matters' framework to plan age appropriate activities for children under three.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are cared for by the childminder who works effectively with parents to meet individual children’s needs and ensure they are included fully in the life of the setting. Children are able to make their own decisions for play from the wide range of toys available. They benefit from activity resources that help them to value diversity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well and are praised by the childminder, for example, helping to tidy away the toys and are told why they are being praised. The childminder works closely with parents and shares her policy on behaviour management with them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents and carers are well informed about their child's day because the childminder gives them verbal feedback each day on what they have done. The childminder shares her written complaints policy with parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for by a suitable adult who ensures that children are always supervised while in her care. They benefit from the childminder's strong commitment to continual improvement through training, for example, the childminder has introduced a positive behaviour management strategy which she shares with parents. Children benefit from good adult-child ratios that positively support children's care, learning and play.

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Organisation

Good use of time and space contributes to children's good health, safety, enjoyment and achievement. Detailed policies and procedures work well in practice. Record keeping systems are used effectively to meet children's individual needs and ensure that they receive good care.

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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 improve consistency in the countersigning of medication records. Parents now initial the medication record to say that they have received feedback on the administration of their child's medication.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that require 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): • ensure that children have ready access to drinks • ensure that the local authority child protection procedures, in terms of reporting concerns to Ofsted, are fully understood.

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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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