Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY246825 Unique Reference Number 20 July 2007 Inspection date Suzanne Joyce Stedman 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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged 14 and nine in Leigh on Sea, Essex. The whole of the childminder’s bungalow is used for childminding 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 a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding five children between the age of five and two years six months. One child is cared for full-time and the other children are cared for part-time. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent and toddler group. The family has no pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is a member of an approved childminding network and 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 thrive because they are cared for in an extremely clean and hygienic environment. The childminder very effectively reduces the risk of cross-infection because the children use anti-bacterial gel on outings and they have individual bedding. The childminder routinely puts the children’s toys into the dishwasher where the high temperature kills any bacteria on them and ensures children play with germ-free toys. Children learn about their own personal hygiene when asked what they have to do before lunch they said 'wash our hands to get the germs off'. There is a clear written policy about the exclusion of children who are ill to prevent the spread of infection. The childminder is able to deal with medical emergencies because she has parental consent to seek any emergency advice or treatment and is first aid trained.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are very well-nourished. The exceptional partnership with parents enables the childminder to meet the children’s dietary needs very effectively. For example, the parents are provided with sample menus and are informed about what the children have eaten in a daily communication book, so that parents are aware of what their child has actually eaten. The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of childhood nutrition and how to promote the children’s developing understanding of healthy eating. The children’s independence is promoted very well because the childminder treats meal times as an opportunity to help them enjoy their food, learn to feed themselves and learn about what they are eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from excellent opportunities for fresh air each day, which stimulates their minds and bodies, when they walk to and from school, go on outings to the beach, woods, local park and play in the garden. The childminder has an excellent understanding of providing children with good and varied opportunities to experience physical exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children’s emotional well-being is promoted extremely well. They are made to feel very special because the childminder ensures they are given lots of individual attention. The children enjoy looking at photographs of each other on the wall and on the computer screen. The childminder knows the children and their individual characteristics extremely well and meets these very effectively.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children’s safety is given very high priority. Children are kept very safe in the home because the childminder carries out an extensive risk assessment and acts on changing situations. For example, children practise fire drills with the childminder. Their safety is further enhanced as the childminder has a gold award for a non smoking household. Children’s safety when out of the home is carefully considered by the childminder. She prepares herself well for outings and carries an ‘emergency bag’ with items such as, a first aid kit and a mobile phone with parents contact numbers programmed into it. This enables her to act promptly to any emergencies when away from the home. Children’s safety is also very effectively promoted because the childminder takes action when out and about with the children. For example, children are aware that they have to stop at roads and drives when out walking with the childminder.

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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 The children’s safety is promoted very well because the childminder has considered varied potential scenarios and developed excellent contingency plans to cover such eventualities. For example, a written fire evacuation policy is displayed in the hall and ‘back-up’ childminders organised to care for the children if something should happen to her.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are very settled and comfortable in the childminder’s welcoming and child-friendly home. This promotes the children’s strong sense of security and helps them separate from their parents happily because they feel secure in the environment and with her. Children benefit from lots of space to play freely and safely. They have choice in an environment kept safe by the childminder who knows there should be a balance between freedom and safe limits. They have access to a broad range of safe toys and resources which are stored to enable children to select things for themselves, which encourages their independence skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded exceptionally well because the childminder has an excellent understanding of her child protection responsibilities. A comprehensive policy is in place and is shared with parents so that they are aware of her professional responsibility to the children she cares for. Contact details for various agencies are kept so that the childminder is able to act promptly with any concerns. The childminder maintains excellent communication with parents which develops strong partnerships between all those involved in keeping children safe.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from the superb and meaningful interaction of their caring childminder. Children receive excellent support because the childminder plans a broad range of experiences to promote their all-round development. The childminder knows the children well and makes useful written observations of what they can do, to help her plan stimulating activities to help them achieve their next steps and fulfil their potential.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s language development is promoted extremely well and at every opportunity. This is because the childminder tunes in to the children’s development very effectively. Children enjoy everyday routines as the childminder sings and chats with them encouraging them to vocalise and to link words with actions.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s playfulness is promoted as the childminder plays mummies and daddies with the children and they sing along with CDs which help the children with their spelling and numbers. The childminder effectively encourages children to be creative when playing with sand and water, art and crafts, cooking and other sensory experiences. Children develop their imaginative skills as they explore an extensive range of dressing up clothes such as, hula hula skirts and garlands for their necks and arms. Children explore and investigate messy play through a range of activities both in and out of the home. For example, they enjoy digging, sieving and building wet and dry sand on the beach and at home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. All children are treated with equal concern and as individuals. Children benefit greatly from the childminder’s ethos of inclusion and her knowledge of how meaningful activities and resources promote a positive view of the wider world and our differences and similarities. There

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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 are systems in place to support children with learning difficulties or disabilities because the childminder works closely with the parents and other agencies.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s good behaviour is promoted very well because they are cared for with consistency and in a positive manner. They receive lots of praise and encouragement for the things they do which fully develops their self-esteem and confidence.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents is extremely positive because the childminder acknowledges the importance of the parents as the main carers. There is a wealth of information provided for parents about the childminder's services and her working practices. This provides valuable reassurance to all parents that their children are cared for by a professional childminder who provides purposeful experiences for their children. Excellent communication between the children’s homes and the childminder’s home contributes to the commendable outcomes for children. For example, the two-way communication between the childminder and the parents ensures that all those responsible for the children are able to offer consistency of care.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The children are protected because the childminder and other adults living on the premises have undergone checks to ensure they are suitable to be in contact with children.

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Organisation

The childminder has undertaken all the required training to obtain a level three in child care and demonstrates the ability to put this new knowledge into practice very effectively to promote children’s health, safety and enjoyment. Children’s care is greatly enriched by the childminder’s enthusiasm. Children benefit from the childminder’s excellent organisation of time, space and resources.

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Organisation

All documentation is systematically organised with a high regard for confidentiality and the promotion of the children’s welfare and learning.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to develop her knowledge and understanding of activities and play opportunities for older children. She now provides the children with an extensive range of play materials and activities so they are continually experiencing new and challenging experiences.

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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 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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