Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY262927 Unique Reference Number 31 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 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 2003. She lives with her husband and three sons aged two, four and six years in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. The whole of the childminder’s house, excluding the master bedroom 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 three children at any one time and is currently minding seven children aged from four to ten part-time. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family have 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 satisfactory. 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 antibacterial gel on outings. The childminder routinely cleans children’s toys to ensure children play with germ free toys. Children learn about their own personal hygiene and use paper towels to stop cross-infection. 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, however, her first aid certificate has recently expired. She keeps a first aid kit in the kitchen and in the pram when on outings.

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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. 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 and learn about what they are eating. Several items of the food the children eat are produced by the childminders father on his allotment.

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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, the beach and local parks, and play in the garden with the footballs, parachute, space hopper and swing ball. 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 in the photograph album. The childminder knows the children and their individual characteristics extremely well and meets these very effectively as they have been cared for by the childminder for some years.

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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. Their safety when out of the home is carefully considered by the childminder. She prepares herself well for outings and carries items, such as a first aid kit in the pram 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 when out walking and be sensible when using trains and buses.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

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

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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 example, a written fire evacuation policy is displayed in the hall and ‘back-up’ childminders have been 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 in the lounge diner and hall 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 in her outcomes for children folder 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 as she has cared for them since they were babies. They work compatibly together while reading an interactive story book.

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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. There was a general conversation about where the fruit came from, did it have pips, could you eat the skin, and did they all grow on trees? What colour was the inside and outside of the fruit, was it a different colour or the same, how many pieces were needed, how many children were present?

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s creativity is promoted as the childminder aids the children with ideas as they create their den in the garden, helping them with suggestions of what they could use, such as the cushions for walls. They play with sand and water at the beach and in the home, enjoying sensory experiences. Children develop their imaginative skills as they play shops in the garden. They have excellent opportunities to be with one with nature when they visit the local woods, feed the squirrels and ride the ponies.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. 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 which make the children feel special. They are given jobs such as, being the main waitress, this develops their self-esteem and confidence.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All children are treated with equal concern and as individuals. Children benefit greatly from the childminder’s philosophy of inclusion and her knowledge of how meaningful activities and

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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 resources promote a positive view of the wider world and our differences and similarities, such as celebrating Chinese New Year and Burns Night. There are excellent systems in place to support children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities because the childminder works closely with the parents and other agencies. The childminder is proactive and provides books which she looks at with the children and discusses peoples varying abilities.

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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 and continually offers parents opportunities to assist her in improving her working practice. There is an extensive range of information provided for parents, such as the five outcomes for children, their related standards, how she puts these into practice and information leaflets relating to these outcomes. 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.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The children are well 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. They benefit from the childminder’s excellent organisation of time, space and resources.

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Organisation

The childminder has undertaken all the required training to become a childminder, however, her first aid certificate has recently expired. She is proactive in gaining new knowledge and has obtained a copy of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and is familiarising herself with this document in readiness for the training. She demonstrates the ability to put 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.

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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 make sure that she consistently request a variation to her registration certificate to reflect changes. This recommendation has been complied with and her certificate reflects the current situation.

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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 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): • ensure that a current first aid certificate is maintained.

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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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