Harding, Tracy Anne

Inspection report for early years provision

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203172 Unique Reference Number 09 July 2007 Inspection date Anne Daly 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 satisfactory. 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 1989. Her partner is her registered assistant. They live with her adult child and 13 year old child in a residential area of Chelmsford, Essex. The whole of the ground floor of childminder's home is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available 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, currently minding three children aged under five years on a part-time basis. In addition, two children over eight are minded. The childminder walks to the local school and pre-school to take and collect children. She takes children to the park and shops. The family keep fish.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children’s good health is well promoted by the childminder taking positive steps to ensure that they learn the importance of effective personal hygiene. Children have a sound understanding of the need to wash their hands before eating food and after using the toilet to prevent illness

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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 from germs. They are protected from the risk of infection by the childminder ensuring prompt action taken if unwell. All the required documentation regarding children’s health matters promote their well-being, such as the recording of allergies and medical conditions. Any minor injuries can be effectively dealt with by the childminder as she is first aid trained. She has sought written parental permission to enable her to seek emergency medical advice or treatment to ensure that she can act in their best interests. She ensures that children play with clean toys by regularly cleaning her play provision and equipment to prevent them suffering cross-infection from germs, especially when they are at the stage of putting toys in mouths.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy eating balanced snacks and meals supplied by the childminder. Their individual needs are effectively met by the childminder gathering information from parents about any allergies or dietary requirements. Children are developing a good awareness of healthy eating through the childminder talking to them about why fruit and vegetables are good for them. They know that vegetables make them ‘big and strong’ and that they can help themselves to their water bottles when thirsty at any time to avoid the possibility of becoming dehydrated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a varied range of activities contributing to the promotion of their good health. They go on trips to the local park or play in the garden to enjoy the physical freedom of an environment contributing to a healthy lifestyle. They are developing confidence by enjoying moving their bodies in various ways when dancing to music or when meeting the challenge of jumping on the trampoline. Children know that they can quietly look at books if they need to rest.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are made to feel welcome in the childminder’s comfortable home. They are benefiting from having plenty of space to move around and from being able to play freely in the lounge or conservatory. They are able to self-select activities from a varied range of toys meeting required safety standards and developmental needs. Toy boxes in the conservatory enable them to independently access resources appropriate for their individual needs. The garden provides further safe, child-friendly play space.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s safety and well-being are being promoted by the vigilant supervision of the childminder. She takes positive steps to ensure that they are kept safe by placing soft cushions on the hearth in case a child falls onto the sharp edges and by fitting a high bolt onto the side gate to prevent any child opening and having access to the busy road. However, she is allowing children to use a large garden trampoline without assessing whether it is age appropriate to fully protect them. She is unaware that some trampolines have guidance regarding only being used by children over six years of age. Parents and carers are however aware that their younger children use the trampoline.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children enjoy outings to local amenities and are beginning to learn how to keep themselves safe when outside the home. They understand that they must hold the childminder’s hand when walking by roads. When walking along ‘road-free’ paths, they can run ahead, but must wait for their childminder at lampposts. They are being encouraged to tidy away their toys and are learning the necessity to do so to avoid hurting themselves by tripping over them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded by the childminder being aware of the need to ensure that they are only collected by authorised persons. Although she is not aware of current Government

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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 publications, such as ‘What To Do If You’re Worried A Child Is Being Abused’, she is able to implement appropriate procedures if she has concerns for a child’s safety.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children have a busy time at the childminder’s home and are happy in their play and learning. Their emotional well-being is being well fostered through the childminder ensuring that she is warm and affectionate in her care. They share books with the childminder to develop their language and understanding. They are learning through play as the childminder has a sound knowledge of how to use opportunities to support their learning. For example, when playing with cars, the childminder comments to them that a racing car has numbers of one and two, meaning that the car’s number is 21.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's independence skills and confidence are being fostered through being actively encouraged to help themselves to their play provision. They use initiative and imagination when ‘going on a picnic’, by laying a blanket on the lounge floor, before collecting soft toys, plastic plates and cups for their pretend meal. Their self-esteem and confidence are being further promoted by plenty of encouragement from the childminder to help them to try new things. Their individual needs are being met through the childminder setting out a variety of activities and being aware that some children particularly enjoy making patterns with small pegs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are learning through everyday activities and are becoming aware of their local environment through visits to the shops and by going on bus journeys. They make three dimensional structures with construction toys and the childminder talks to them about different textures. They have opportunities to be creative by singing songs and playing musical instruments. They have some opportunities to explore and experiment by drawing and crayoning to enable them to express their thoughts and ideas.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Their needs are met by the childminder following their normal routines as discussed with their parents or carers. They feel a sense of belonging by having low-level coat hooks on which to hang personal belongings. The childminder consults with parents and carers about their need for any special services or equipment for their children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s awareness of other people’s similarities and differences is being fostered through the provision of toys and books reflecting diversity. They watch television programmes to help them to further develop an understanding of people from different cultural backgrounds and with varying needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s self-confidence is being encouraged and fostered by the childminder having clear and consistent expectations and trust in their abilities. Desirable behaviour is being encouraged by the childminder giving them plenty of praise. Children respond well to the childminder’s clear behaviour boundaries, which are realistic for their stages of development. The childminder encourages children to talk about their feelings and to learn how their actions may make others feel, while also encouraging them to apologise for any undesirable behaviour.

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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 The childminder ensures that children’s well-being and development are being well met. They are benefiting from her building friendly and helpful relationships with their parents and carers, who are kept informed of their experiences and progress through daily verbal discussions. Personal details and contracts are maintained for each child setting out the expectations of all parties. Parents and carers are able to share views and concerns with the childminder and she is aware of the need to record complaints in line with October 2005 updates.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from being cared for by a childminder who has 19 years experience and who has attended training to develop and support her childminding practice. She has some understanding of the National Standards and copies of some of the associated guidance to inform her practice.

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Organisation

The childminder and her assistant have undergone appropriate checks to ensure that they suitable to look after or to be in contact with children. Children are protected as both have a clear understanding of their responsibilities regarding the requirements and conditions of registration. The childminder notified Ofsted when a family member returned home to live, although appropriate vetting checks have still to be completed.

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Organisation

The childminder maintains the majority of the required records and has all the required parental consents to enable her to act in children’s best interests. Parents or carers have given their written permission for the childminder’s assistant to take sole responsibility for their children. There is a daily attendance register for children, but no record showing when the registered assistant is left in sole charge of them. The childminder maintains most of the required policies and has satisfactory procedures to ensure children’s health, safety and well-being. She organises her time to ensure that she spends her working day completely involved with the children, who all evidently enjoy each other’s company and their time together. They feel at home with the childminder through being encouraged to develop their independence. Overall children’s needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was issued with two actions: to complete an appropriate first aid course including training in first aid for infants and young children and to ensure that all records relating to childminding activities are readily accessible on the premises and available for inspection at all times (this referred to children’s' records of information about their individual needs, contracts with parents and permission for emergency medical treatment for some children). She was also recommended to provide a plan demonstrating how children will have an appropriate range of activities and resources promoting equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, the childminder has completed a paediatric first aid course and children’s individual records are now freely available to enable her to take any necessary steps to safeguard and promote their welfare. Children now have an adequate range of activities and resources promoting equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice. The childminder now helps children to learn about different cultures, genders and disabilities through reading books and by watching some television programmes.

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Improvements 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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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 satisfactory. 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): • take reasonable steps to ensure that hazards to children on the premises are minimised (this refers to following the manufacturer’s guidelines in respect of the use of the garden trampoline) • ensure that persons over the age of 16 years living in the household when children are present undergo vetting checks, including criminal record checks • keep a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises, their hours of attendance and the names of the persons who looked after them.

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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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