Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY269972 Unique Reference Number 02 October 2007 Inspection date Jill Nugent 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 registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and three children, aged two, six and nine, in a house in St Albans. The whole of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The family has two pet guinea pigs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight at any one time. Currently she is minding four children on a part time basis, all of whom are under five. She travels to local schools to take and collect children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is promoted well because the childminder has good medical procedures in place. Her records are well maintained and all necessary permissions are requested from parents. She provides clear information about excluding children who are ill in order to protect others from infection. If children become ill in her care she makes them comfortable while they await collection. Children are well taken care of in the event of an accident as she keeps her first aid

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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 qualification up to date. Young children sleep or rest according to their needs so that they do not become overtired. The childminder is attentive to matters of hygiene and provides individual hand towels and bedding to help prevent the risk of cross infection. Children are encouraged to wash their hands when necessary and are becoming aware of good hygiene practice themselves. These procedures contribute effectively to keeping children healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are offered a range of healthy and nutritious meals. The childminder has a good awareness of food hygiene and preparation. She offers a variety of cooked meals, for example, pasta and baked potatoes. Her menu is well balanced and includes vegetables and fresh fruit. As a result children are becoming aware of a healthy lifestyle. Children have access to drinking water throughout the day so that they do not become dehydrated. Children with special diets have their needs met appropriately as the childminder liaises closely with parents. Therefore, all children are well nourished.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy good opportunities for regular physical activity. They especially enjoy playing in the garden where there is a range of interesting resources, for example, a slide, trikes, trampoline and sand pit. Children like to play imaginatively in the refurbished play house. They develop confidence on the play equipment and increase their physical skills on visits to parks and activity centres. Consequently, children get plenty of fresh air and exercise which helps them to keep fit.

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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 environment. The house is bright and spacious and children have good access to a well-maintained back garden. They are able to choose from a good range of attractive and interesting resources which are suitable for children of different ages. The childminder has carried out a thorough risk assessment to ensure that children are safe and secure on the premises. There are locks on low-level cupboards to prevent children from having access to any hazardous materials. Children keep safe if playing upstairs and those who sleep are checked regularly. Young children play safely downstairs because safety gates are in place on the staircase. There are good fire precautions in place and children practise an evacuation plan regularly. These practices are recorded so that any problems can be rectified. These excellent safety measures help to keep children safe and secure at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use resources and equipment that are regularly checked for safety. The childminder rotates the available resources and adds new ones from time to time so that children have variety. Those resources which are suitable only for older children are kept away from younger ones. Children learn to keep themselves safe because the childminder ensures that they are aware of any dangers, for example, taking care to use outdoor equipment in a sensible manner. Children learn about road safety on walks in the locality. They are well supervised on outings as the childminder makes use of safety restraints if necessary and teaches children to hold hands.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a very good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues. She ensures children are collected by a known adult. She has attended training in this area and has introduced a logging system in case of any concerns. She has on file the current information from the local authority safeguarding board, although she does not have the government publication 'What To Do If You're Worried a Child Is Being Abused' which sets out clear guidelines for dealing with any concerns.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are settled and happy in the childminder's care. They show interest in the resources on offer and take part in a variety of organised activities. The childminder is aware of the short concentration span of young children and suggests different play activities throughout the day. For example, they show great interest when introduced to a box of brightly coloured vehicles and play people. The childminder takes opportunities to enhance their exploration and independent play by finding extra resources, helping them to build self-confidence and develop their natural curiosity as learners. Children like to take part in creative activities, for instance sponge printing, painting and sticking. They have fun sharing books with the childminder, commenting on pictures and laughing as she makes animal noises. They enjoy mixing with other children at toddler groups and going on outings to the library and farm. These various

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

experiences provide children with a range of good learning opportunities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are involved in a variety of activities which support their development and learning. The childminder interacts effectively during organised activities to promote their learning. For instance, she makes use of a set of flash cards to encourage children's communication skills and awareness of letters of the alphabet. She extends their learning by asking open-ended questions which encourage children to think further. Children's self-esteem is boosted when praised for choosing the correct card. The childminder has a good knowledge of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and makes use of this to provide suitable and relevant activities for young children. They enjoy opportunities to explore and create, for example, when making leaf collages and sand paintings. They show great delight in discovering things for themselves through exploration, for instance, when threading coloured balls onto sticks. Overall, children

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

are enabled to develop good skills in a stimulating learning environment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and included and made to feel special. For instance, they enjoy sitting together having a cuddle while the childminder reads books. Children develop a sense of belonging and are content in the childminder's care. She is aware of their needs and responds immediately to practical needs, such as drinks or nappy changes. Children learn to make decisions for themselves as they choose toys and select books. They learn about diversity in society through finding out about different cultures, for example, tasting foods. There are good procedures in place for supporting children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is very good. They play harmoniously and are encouraged to share by the childminder, who finds alternative resources if necessary. She is very clear in her explanations to children and this helps them to learn to distinguish right from wrong. For example, they discover that it is just as pleasant to share a book rather than trying to take one for themselves. Children are aware of their boundaries as there are a set of house rules in place. The childminder has appropriate strategies for dealing with children who behave inappropriately and encourages them to respect others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works very closely with parents and carers. She provides written information about herself, and her policies and procedures, in an attractive information pack. She displays photographs and useful information on a notice board. She exchanges information verbally with parents when they collect their children and takes care that it remains confidential. Parents receive newsletters which include details of any changes in the setting, recent events and the

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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 childminder's own professional development. They are highly satisfied with the care she offers. This close working partnership is of great benefit to children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder's policies and procedures work extremely well in practice to promote the outcomes for children. She has a set of key policies in place and these contribute successfully to keeping children safe and healthy in her care. Her attendance record is well maintained. She is well organised in her dealings with parents and all her paperwork is readily available. She collects photographs of children and examples of creative activities into an evidence book which provides a particularly useful record of children's time with her. Her documentation provides a very good framework for her practice.

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Organisation

The childminder is very committed to the ongoing improvement of her practice and attends training courses whenever possible. Since the previous inspection she has trained in various areas, including Behaviour Management, Aspects of Creativity and Working with Parents. Children benefit from her organisational skills and knowledge of childcare. They enjoy plenty of space to play and much attention from her as she seeks to keep them happy and safe. They thrive in her care, developing individual skills through the stimulating environment she provides. She spends her time with the children, organising her day around school runs and prioritising the well-being of all. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to: improve some aspects of safety by minimising potential hazards; make Ofsted's details available to parents; obtain written permission for seeking emergency medical treatment or advice and to consider reflecting diversity in new resources. The relevant hazards have now been minimised so that the premises are safe for children. The necessary permission is requested and parents are given the contact details for Ofsted. The childminder has extended her range of resources which reflect diversity. This response has led to an improvement in the outcomes for children.

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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 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): • improve the procedures for safeguarding children by obtaining the publication 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused'.

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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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