Goodacre Marie

Inspection report for early years provision

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208542 Unique Reference Number 10 January 2008 Inspection date Sharon Waterfall 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 has been registered since 1991. She lives with her husband and three children in a detached bungalow in the rural village of Bicker, Lincolnshire. The premises are within walking distance of local amenities and transport is provided to local schools. Minded children have access to the whole of the bungalow, although children only sleep in the allocated bedrooms. The children generally use the conservatory, hallway, dining room, lounge and kitchen. There is an enclosed rear garden which is used for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children under eight years at any one time, she currently minds a large number of children both under and over eight years of age all on a part-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She has completed a recognised childminding qualification to Level 3 and has attained Level 3 in the accreditation Quality First organised through 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 good. Children stay healthy as the childminder understands and follows appropriate guidance. Policies and procedures are positively implemented overall to support children's health and welfare. The good health of children is promoted and positive steps to prevent the spread of infection and appropriate measures are taken when children are ill. Such as a written policy is shared with parents regarding contagious illness, permission is held to seek emergency medical treatment and emergency contact numbers.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children understand simple, good health and hygiene procedures. Excellent procedures ensure that they develop a good understanding of the importance of personal hygiene, for example, they use paper towels to dry their hands on after toileting, have individual flannels for meal times and clean their teeth after meals. Nappy changing procedures support children's health as the childminder uses gloves and cleans the nappy mat thoroughly after use.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are adequately nourished during the day and receive adequate quantities of food for their needs with individual children's preferences being adhered to. The childminder has a nutritional policy that is discussed with parents ensuring agreement and consistency in children's diets. Fresh fruit and vegetables are encouraged through daily meals, particularly local and seasonal foods. Home made meals such as soups and potato dishes herald a vast array of vegetables and provide a very homely feel to meal times. Children have their own beakers of drinks which are replenished when required ensuring that children are constantly hydrated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Regular walks in the local environment such as to the local park, around the village and to local shops ensures that children benefit from gentle exercise and fresh air. Whilst in the park the children play active games such as, football and use large physical climbing equipment to develop coordination and balance. Within the garden the children devise obstacle courses and enjoy use of a bouncy castle.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. A very welcoming and friendly environment is provided for children and families as the conservatory area and playroom are specific play areas and are very child centred. Resources are stored to enable children to access them independently in low level boxes and book cases, which enables them to make independent choices and be autonomous within their play. The rooms provide a good amount of space for children to play either on the floor or at a table enabling a variety of activities for both older and younger children to be available.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Resources are age and stage appropriate and support children's overall development. Certain projects through the year have been spontaneous and based on children's own ideas supporting their ownership, ideas and creativity of designs and activities. The childminder has developed a library of resources through assessing and identifying trends and developments, for example she has developed her range of multi-cultural activities, expanded construction for younger children and collected supermarket vouchers to extend her sports facilities. This ensures that children have an interesting and stimulating range of activities to engage in at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Older children have a quiet area to complete homework or reading activities and younger children sleep in a bedroom that ensures their much needed sleep is not disturbed by playing

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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 children. The children are confident in moving around the space and are able to be independent in meeting their own needs due to the well thought out environment. A written and regularly checked risk assessment has ensured that hazards within the home have been identified and minimised. The children actively participate in emergency evacuations and discuss safety issues enabling them to avoid accidental injury. However, the locking system on the garden gate is limited in its effectiveness in preventing unwanted access.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a strong knowledge of issues relating to child protection that safeguards children from harm and abuse. She has completed up-to-date training and has discussed her duty of care with parents and they receive a copy of her written policy.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder has completed training on relevant curricula for young children and uses this knowledge and child development knowledge gained through completing higher level childcare qualifications, to plan and provide a good range of stimulating and interesting activities for the children. She takes into account their ages and stages of ability and circumstances personal to the children such as their cultures and interests. For example, the children remove the clothes from the dolls and put them into the washing machine. They then get bowls of water, towels and cloths and bath the dolls and will hang out the clothes to dry. One of the children has a new sibling and another enjoys dolls and therefore this activity enabled important role-play combined with the interest of the other child.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are able to access resources independently and do so easily with confidence. The children request a quiet time after the planned activity and choose independently different activities to play with. Children's opinions, thoughts and ideas are valued by the childminder ensuring that their confidence and self-esteem develop positively. Children's independence is actively encouraged as the childminder provides support, suggestions and motivation as the children try to do things for themselves, but is on hand to offer hands on support when required.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Spontaneous activities lead on from children's ideas, such as a Summer Fete they organised for themselves. The children made banners and flags, devised games such as a coconut shy and a fortune teller. They then tasted the coconut milk after knocking them off and were able to role-play, dress up, design and create. Other stimulating activities have included metal detecting, collecting flower petals and making perfumed water, tasting different fruits, making lemonade, scones and biscuits. The children have planted sunflowers and had a competition to grow the biggest one, encouraging them to care for the plants, measure them and discuss how they grow. They engage in craft activities such as painting, making models and making collages from natural materials.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The activities provide children with a rich tapestry of opportunities to explore, investigate and develop ideas. The planning ensures that children will be interested and the varying ages of children are taken into account. The children play with dough during the inspection and have a good amount to enable them to play harmoniously, they use exciting accessories such as bug bodies and the children are delighted with their creations.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individuality is respected and valued as the childminder plans a range of activities that take into account children's development stages, interests and attendance. She has begun to link planning into assessment for the younger children using the most current guidance and is aware that this will enhance the children's activities. There is very positive interaction with the children and they are actively encouraged to be independent with sensitive support. Young children's own routines are respected within the daily routine and discussions with parents about children's needs ensures consistency. The childminder demonstrates that she has a good awareness that some children have differing needs due to learning difficulties and/or disabilities and she ensures that they are included within all activities. The children are becoming aware of the wider society as they access a wide range of resources that promote positive images of

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Helping children make a positive contribution

diversity. This includes books that show disability and different races and small world toys that reflect positive images and are available for the children to play with.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's positive attitude and excellent cooperation is due in part to the childminders full understanding of raising children's self-esteem and confidence through positive praise and encouragement. The children receive constant praise for their achievements and are listened to as they talk and make requests. The older children have been involved in making rules for their behaviour and these expectations are used to provide gentle reminders and as basis for discussions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works conscientiously with parents to meet the children's individual needs and ensures that they are included within the life of the setting promoting consistency of care as they receive constant feedback regarding the children's progress. The younger children have daily diaries which record their care needs to ensure parents are fully aware of their child's day. Parents receive copies of polices and procedures which facilitate discussions regarding the expectations of both parties in providing quality care that meets the children's needs.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are well protected and cared for by a childminder with good knowledge and understanding of child development. She is continually developing her knowledge through constant training including short courses, mentoring other childminders, being an inclusion childminder and completing higher level childcare qualifications.

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Organisation

The environment is very child friendly and has been adapted to enable the children to make full use of the facilities independently. Positive interactions support the warm relationships and give children a sense of belonging. Policies and procedures are very well organised, all documentation meets the standards except the minor detail lacking in the confidentiality of the medication and accident procedures. They effectively promote children's care, learning and safety and go beyond as they assess children's development and are shared fully with parents.

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Organisation

Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection there were three recommendations made to improve standards of care for children. These included ensuring that children can select their own resources, making

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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 the garden safe and ensuring medication documentation met required standards and all documentation was well organised and shared with parents. The childminder has successfully implemented all of the recommendations as she has developed the environment specifically for the children and they are now able to access their own toys. Bricks in the garden have been removed to ensure children's safety when playing outside and all documentation now meets the required standards, is comprehensive and shared fully with parents.

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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 have procedures for dealing with concerns and complaints from parents and to keep a record of complaints and their outcome.

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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 locking system on the garden gate to further support children's safety • ensure all documentation is recorded to ensure confidentiality at all times.

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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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