Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY279308 Unique Reference Number 03 December 2007 Inspection date Anne Archer 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 2004. She lives with her husband and son aged three years in the Ise Lodge area of Kettering in Northamptonshire. The ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding with sleeping facilities on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outside play. The family has a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently caring for two children under five during the day in term time, two children over eight after school and five children aged five to eight years during school holidays. All are part-time arrangements. The childminder attends local parent and toddler groups.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has a level three qualification in early years, has achieved level three in the National Childminders Association (NCMA) Quality First scheme and is a member of the Northamptonshire Childminding Network.

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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 are cared for in a clean home where they learn about the importance of good hygiene and personal care in relation to maintaining their good health. For example, even very young children learn that they need clean hands before eating as the childminder cleans their hands with a baby wipe before giving orange segments for snack. Food preparation and eating surfaces are cleaned before and after use and the childminder also follows thorough procedures to maintain good levels of hygiene when nappy changing and toilet training. Children's health needs are well met because the childminder has effective procedures in place such as written details of their health, consents for obtaining emergency medical treatment or advice, consent and recording forms in relation to accidents and administration of medication. The childminder does not have a current paediatric first aid certificate. However, because she updates her first

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Helping children to be healthy

aid kit regularly and in discussion shows a good working knowledge of first aid, the impact on children's health is minimal.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy physical activities which contribute to their good health. They have regular opportunities for fresh air playing in the childminder's garden or at the local park. Children are able to rest or sleep according to their needs and their parent's wishes. Children are well-nourished. The childminder has written information from parents about their child's dietary requirements and likes and dislikes. She provides snacks and meals that they enjoy ensuring that they have a choice of fresh fruit and vegetables. Children are also offered regular drinks of water to ensure they remain hydrated. All meals and snacks are taken together at the kitchen table providing a social occasion for children and childminder to sit and chat about the day and also for children to learn good eating skills and table manners.

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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 warm, welcoming home where potential risks and hazards are identified and action taken to minimise them. This has been particularly effective during extensive building work to the property. For instance, when access via the front door was unsafe, the childminder arranged for a gate to be fitted into the rear garden fence to provide a safe emergency exit. The childminder is fully aware of children's developing abilities and takes appropriate measures to avoid potentially dangerous situations enabling children to move around the house safely and independently. Children learn about keeping themselves safe through discussion with the childminder and by following good road safety practices when they are out and about together. Children travel safely by car because the childminder has sufficient and appropriate seats and restraints for them, and her documents are in order.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well-protected from possible abuse or neglect because the childminder has a thorough understanding of her role and responsibilities whilst protecting the children in her care. She is familiar with the local child protection procedures for recording information and reporting concerns. Children have a broad range of suitable toys, games and activities to choose from which the childminder ensures are safe and clean for the children to play with and use.

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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 appear settled and happy in the childminder's care. They experience warm relationships with the childminder which promotes their confidence and self esteem. They can independently choose from a range of toys and resources building on their natural curiosity as learners, such as the child who enjoyed watching the builders in their digger so much that he regularly plays with the diggers and other large vehicles that the childminder has, recreating what he saw. Children also participate in more structured activities planned by the childminder such as when they experience the different textures of bird seed, jelly or mashed potato in the sand tray. Older children enjoy art and craft activities such as making greetings cards or painting murals on large pieces of paper attached to the garden fence.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder takes children on outings to local places such as the ford at Geddington so they can splash about in their boots and to country parks to take part in adventure hunts. Pre-school children attend several group activities with the childminder during the week which provide opportunities for them to socialise with their peer group. The childminder has a clear understanding of children's development needs and uses the 'Birth to three matters' framework and the Foundation Stage curriculum guidance to support her observations and planning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children show confidence in their relationship with the childminder as she clearly values and respects them as individuals which helps to promote a sense of wellbeing and aids their emotional development. Children learn about the world around them during the discussions they have with the childminder about the things they see when they are out and about together and by playing with the range of resources which reflect diversity. Children are polite, well-behaved and respond positively to the childminder's appropriate behaviour management strategies and clear boundaries which take account of children's stage of development and level of maturity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's care, welfare and learning are promoted because the childminder has developed positive working relationships with parents. She shares her policies and procedures with them including what they should do if they wish to complain about any aspect of her service. Clear settling in procedures mean that children settle well and parents are able to confidently leave their children in the childminder's care. The childminder asks parents to provide sufficient information to enable her to meet children's individual needs and she keeps them well-informed about what their children have been doing and how they have been during the day through a daily diary and verbal discussion.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Space, routines and resources are organised very effectively to ensure that children are comfortable and content in the childminder's care. Children have opportunities for free choice play as well as joining in with more structured activities led by the childminder. The childminder has thought carefully about which areas of her home to use for childminding, particularly during an extended period of building work, to ensure that children are not only safe and secure but also have suitable and sufficient space in which to play.

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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 Children's care and welfare are safeguarded by clear documentation, and policies and procedures are shared with parents to ensure that they are fully aware of the service being provided. Records are very well-maintained, are stored securely and confidentiality is maintained. However, the childminder has overlooked renewing her paediatric first aid certificate which expired recently. This is a breach of conditions of registration and affects the outcome judgements of this inspection. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to make potential hazards in the garden inaccessible to children and to provide a suitable range of toys and activities for children aged four to under eight years. Both recommendations have been well met and enhance the level of care provided to 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 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 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): • maintain a current first aid certificate which includes training in first aid for infants and young children

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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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