Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY241748 Unique Reference Number 17 July 2007 Inspection date Melanie Calway 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 January 2002. She lives with her partner and three children aged 12, eight and three years in a village, near to the town of Wisbech. The whole of the ground floor and one bedroom and the bathroom on the first floor are 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 five children at any one time and is currently minding six children, one of whom attends on a full-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children and takes them on outings. She attends a parent toddler group and a childminding group on a regular basis. The childminder has a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the Emneth Cluster of the Norfolk Childminding Network and she is a member of 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's health is promoted well because there are good hygiene procedures in place. Children are encouraged to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet and so are learning about good hygiene through the daily routine. Children can use the downstairs toilet independently and individual towels are provided to prevent the risk of cross-infection. All areas of the home are clean and well-maintained. The childminder uses disposable gloves to change nappies and changes nappies in a bedroom to give children privacy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's medical needs are met as the childminder has a current first aid qualification and keeps a first aid kit in the kitchen so that she can deal with minor accidents and injuries appropriately. An accurate record of all accidents is maintained as well as a record of existing injuries. There is a system for recording the administration of medicines, which is completed correctly. The childminder is aware of children's health needs and acts accordingly. Consent has been obtained from parents to seek emergency treatment or advice so that she can seek help in the event of an emergency. Children are protected from the risk of infection as the childminder has clear written procedures on not accepting children with infectious conditions, which she shares with parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are able to sleep and rest according to their needs. They can sleep in a travel cot in a quiet bedroom. The childminder respects their routines and ensures that they get the sleep they need. Children have regular opportunities for exercise and fresh air as they walk to school every day and play in the garden whenever they want to.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished. The childminder offers them a healthy snack of fresh fruit and biscuits. She provides a balanced menu of home cooked lunches, including a good selection of vegetables or sandwiches if parents require them. She records what children have eaten in small notebooks to keep parents informed about their children's diet. Information about children's dietary needs is obtained on their record forms. Children are offered drinks at regular intervals. Older children are invited to help themselves to drinks and children can ask for drinks but are not always independently able to access fresh drinking water for themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in premises which are safe and suitable. The premises are secure and the door is always locked while children are present. Children have plenty of room to move, play freely and explore their environment safely. The upstairs rooms are temporarily not in use and a stair-gate restricts access. Cupboards are protected by child locks. The outside area is safe and fully enclosed. The environment is made welcoming to children. There is a dedicated play room which is full of bright and colourful displays including photographs of the children enjoying activities. A good selection of toys is available at child level. Children access a wide range of appropriate toys and the childminder checks that smaller items are kept out of the reach of younger children. Toys are checked regularly for hygiene and safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is promoted well. The childminder has written a thorough risk assessment to identify and minimise any hazards. The childminder maintains a good level of supervision. Children are able to move from room to room and outside if they are old enough so they can

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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 achieve a degree of independence and yet be safe. Children are kept safe on outings as the childminder takes her phone with her, which has all the emergency contact numbers. There are good procedures in place for outings including risk assessments and the use of wrist bands for the children. All the necessary permissions for outings and transport have been obtained from parents. The childminder has written an emergency plan and arranged for emergency cover with another registered childminder so that she could take appropriate action in the event of an emergency. Children are protected from the risk of fire as necessary fire equipment such as fire blanket and smoke alarms are in place. Fire drills are carried out at regular intervals so that children are learning what they should do in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder is aware of her duty to report any child protection concerns and makes parents aware of this in her policies. She has all the relevant information on child protection procedures and has attended child protection training to ensure that she is aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy an excellent range of well planned and stimulating activities. They attend a toddler group and a childminding group on a regular basis to help them to socialise. The childminder also takes them on outings to the seaside and other places of interest. When at home they are able to move around the home freely and have a dedicated play room, which is bright, attractive and well-equipped with an excellent range of toys and play equipment. Resources are kept in a storage unit in the play room and in a dresser in the kitchen which children can access for themselves. Children are able to access the outside play area whenever they want to ensure that they have plenty of opportunities for active play. A wide range of equipment is available in the garden, including a play house, tent, swings, slide and play wheel. The childminder uses a toy library to supplement her equipment and is constantly adding to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

her stock, for example, by using a local supplier of recyclable materials to add to her craft resources and to find interesting objects for younger children to play with.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from the childminder's interaction. She plays with them at their level, playing games and chatting to them to encourage their language development. She makes suggestions to children about what to play with and ensures that interesting resources are available so that children's play can be extended and developed. For example, children use coloured cardboard tubes on their arms to pretend they are robots. She then introduces balls so that the children can experiment with rolling balls down the tubes. She brings a bowl of coloured water in to play with on the kitchen floor when the children want to play with water but do not want to play outside because it is raining. An interesting programme of summer activities is planned for older children such as a quiz about the solar system and producing a menu for a healthy picnic. She is aware of what the children are doing at school and nursery and provides activities

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

which build on similar topics to consolidate children's learning. As a result, children are offered activities which provide them with challenge and stimulation.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are able to play independently. They play together well and are forming friendships. The childminder has a thorough knowledge of child development. She knows the children well and uses observations to record their achievements and progress. These are shared with parents as well as their special books which include snapshot observations and photographs to provide an attractive record of children's development.

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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 Children under three are given opportunities to explore and investigate. They can crawl around freely to explore their environment. They are given interesting objects such as pine cones to handle. The childminder engages them using smiles and eye-contact. They smile and laugh as the childminder plays 'peep-o' with them using coloured scarves. They feel secure as the childminder gives them plenty of affection and reassurance. The childminder has done some training on the 'Birth to three matters' framework pack and uses the pack to enhance her understanding and practice relating to the care of children under three.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children's individual needs are met as the childminder gathers excellent information from parents about their care. Parents are offered several visits so that the childminder can settle children in and get to know them. She carries out detailed observations of children to assess their development and to help them progress. These are shared with parents and give parents and the childminder a greater insight into the children's development. Each child has a special book of photographs, observations and examples of their work, which provides an individual record of their time at the setting. Children are beginning to learn about the wider world as there is a wide range of resources which reflect other cultures and lifestyles. Activities are planned which include topics about other countries and follow on from work that the children are doing at school.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children from all backgrounds are included and made to feel welcome. Children who speak an additional language are supported well and the childminder works with parents to ensure that the approach is right for the individual child. The childminder has attended training in caring for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and is able to offer appropriate support. Children behave well in the childminder's care as she has consistent boundaries so that children know what is expected of them. Children are forming positive relationships with the childminder and with each other. They form friendships and are able to play independently and co-operatively. The childminder uses positive methods to manage children's behaviour such as time out or praise to encourage good behaviour. Star charts are also used as an incentive for children and the childminder ensures that all children are able to succeed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are cared for extremely effectively because the childminder has an excellent relationship with parents. Parents are given comprehensive information about the service. New parents receive a parent pack when they start which includes essential information. In addition, they are given a set of policies and procedures. They see the childminder's folders which contain details of qualifications, clearances and insurance. Parents benefit from a flexible approach which caters for different work patterns. Parents feel welcome to come in and chat to the childminder at drop off and collection times and share information about the children's care. They express great appreciation of their children's care in the form of written testimonials. The childminder provides parents with information about how to make a complaint including the name and address of the regulator and is aware of the regulations governing the recording of

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder is a suitable, qualified and experienced person to care for children. She and her household have the necessary clearances and evidence of these is kept in a folder for parents

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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 to see. She is in the process of obtaining clearances for assistants to help her with busy periods. The childminder has obtained a level three qualification in child care and education. In addition, she regularly attends workshops and training courses on a wide range of topics relating to child care to ensure that her knowledge and skills are constantly being updated. She has a strong commitment to develop and improve her practice. She is a member of a local childminding group who meet regularly to exchange ideas and good practice and receives regular visits from a childminding co-ordinator. She has recently achieved accreditation through a childminding quality assurance scheme.

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Organisation

The premises and schedule are extremely well organised to ensure children's safety and well-being and to give them a range of stimulating experiences. Children are encouraged to be active, to explore and to be independent learners with the childminder's support. The environment is bright, attractive and adapted to the varying needs of children of all ages. An accurate record of children's hours of attendance is kept.

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Organisation

Excellent documentation is in place to enhance the quality of care which the children receive and is maintained in an orderly and accessible manner. Confidentiality is maintained at all times. Parents receive comprehensive policies and procedures and benefit from the outstanding records the childminder keeps of their children's progress and development. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure safety issues are addressed on the first floor, in respect of the windows, the electrical sockets, hazardous cleaning materials in the bathroom and access to the second bedroom. Windows are now protected by window locks. All cleaning materials are out of reach and the second bedroom is not accessible, ensuring the environment is safe. Sockets on the first floor are normally covered but were not at the time of the inspection. However children are safe as young children are prevented from accessing the first floor by a stair gate.

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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): • enable children to access fresh drinking water independently 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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