Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY285513 Unique Reference Number 15 August 2007 Inspection date Sarah Gilpin 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 2004. She lives with her husband and two children aged three and seven years in Sheffield. The whole ground floor and two bedrooms on the first floor are used for childminding purposes. The bathroom facilities are on the first floor and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for four children and she is currently caring for three children who attend on a full and part time basis. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and makes use of local facilities, such as the park and library.

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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 good. The environment where the children play is clean and maintained to a good standard. The childminder understands and implements good hygiene practices, such as cleaning food

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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 preparation areas with anti-bacterial sprays. Children are encouraged to learn about personal hygiene through simple daily routines and the childminder provides them with individual hand towels to minimise risks of cross contamination. There is a good range of equipment for dealing with accidents involving children, the childminder holds a current first aid certificate and there are systems in place to record accidents. However, the records do not include minor bumps and grazes to give a complete record of all accidents involving the children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children enjoy nutritious and healthy snacks that the childminder prepares for them. She understands what constitutes a healthy and balanced diet, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. The childminder is happy to accommodate parents who wish to provide their children's meals and she stores these in the fridge to ensure that perishable foods remain safe for the children to eat. The childminder works in partnership with the parents to ensure she understands the children's individual dietary needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder understands that young children's physical health and well-being is important. They enjoy regular trips to the local parks and play areas. The childminder successfully encourages the young children to develop their physical skills by providing a range of equipment and activities, which assist their overall development. She works with parents to ensure that children's sleep routines are consistent, for example, by providing sleep facilities which suit their individual needs.

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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 very safe and secure indoor and outdoor environment because the childminder takes substantial steps to minimise hazards. For example, she ensures that hazardous substances are inaccessible and completes risk assessments when introducing new equipment and pets into the household. The outer doors are kept locked at all times, keys are kept out of reach and the childminder has attached emergency contact details to the keys to ensure she can contact parents should the need arise. The children only access the first floor with supervision, which helps to maintain their safety. Fire safety precautions, such as smoke detectors and a fire blanket are in place. In addition, the childminder helps raise the children's awareness of their own safety through practising her emergency evacuation procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a very good range of toys and resources, which young children can access safely because they are stored at low-level units and in boxes. The indoor and outdoor equipment available meets the required safety standards and the childminder maintains and cleans the toys and resources on a regular basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are effectively safeguarded because the childminder has an excellent knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. She has attended training and has a clear child protection policy, which is shared routinely with the parents. There are confidential recording systems and easily accessible contact details for the local social services departments to ensure that the childminder can act successfully in the best interests of the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children thoroughly enjoy the warm and affectionate relationships they have with the childminder and this results in them feeling secure and comfortable. The childminder enjoys playing with the children, she gets down to their level and helps them to complete games.

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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 There is an abundance of materials that provide children with opportunities to play creatively. They make masks using coloured glue, glitter, sequins and feathers. They paint and colour pictures using an excellent range of colours. The children use their growing imaginations when they adapt simple games and set the trains in motion along the track.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder knows the individual children well and provides activities and experiences that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. She uses her basic, but growing knowledge of child development to plan a varied routine of outings and home-based activities. There are regular opportunities for them to socialise with their peers when they visit the local playgroup. The childminder keeps a diary for each child that details their achievements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children's understanding of the local community and environment is growing because the childminder takes them out in the local area to socialise with other children. For example, they go to playgroup and visit the local park. The childminder ensures that children are developing their awareness of other people and the world around them, by providing them with books, resources and activities that show positive images of gender, disability and the diversity of society. She provides activities based around the celebrations of other religions and faiths, including Eid.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is good and the childminder effectively manages them using positive reinforcement to encourage good behaviour. They respond really well to her warm, positive and consistent approach. The childminder is skilled at managing the needs of the inspection process with those of the children in her care. Techniques, such as distraction are used successfully with the younger children and she effectively redirects them to a different task or activity. As a result, the children are busy and engaged throughout the visit.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has good working relationships with the parents and provides them with a good range of information about the service she provides for their children by providing them with a copy of her policies and procedures. Information is shared through easy-going verbal exchanges as the children arrive and depart and the children's daily diary is used to inform parents of their children's achievements as well as routine events. The childminder has a good understanding of the regulations regarding the recording of complaints and has a clear and informative policy.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children are cared for in a well organised environment. The childminder enables the children to access resources and equipment with ease because she makes sure they are accessible. She provides a good variety of fun activities each week, planning informally around the children's interests. There is a routine for the children to enjoy, which includes home-based play and outings to the local park and playgroup where they have chance to socialise with their peers. As a result, the children are secure and very confident.

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Organisation

The childminder has a good understanding of the National Standards and she actively uses them to guide her work. She has completed a level 2 qualification to increase her knowledge and regularly seeks additional training opportunities to improve her provision for the children.

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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 The childminder has all of the required documentation to support the care of the children. For example, written agreements are clear and child record forms are detailed. She accurately records the children's attendance each day and medication records provide information for parents. In addition, the childminder successfully implements her written policies and procedures. There is a clear complaints procedure, which details how the childminder intends to respond to any concerns raised.

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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 was asked to improve the following: to increase her resources to promote children's awareness of diversity and to develop a fire evacuation plan. As a result, the childminder has purchased equipment and resources that reflect a wider community and has developed her own knowledge of the festivals and celebrations of a variety of faiths. There is a clear fire evacuation plan in place, which has been developed following input from the local fire safety officer. This is practised with the children to develop their knowledge of how to deal with emergency situations.

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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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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): • keep a record of all minor accidents and incidents involving the children • continue to develop knowledge and understanding of child development.

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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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