Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY348514 Unique Reference Number 15 August 2007 Inspection date Susan Marriott 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 2007. She lives with her three adult children and other children aged 15, 13 and eight years in their house in Bozeat, Northamptonshire. The ground floor of the childminder's home is available for minding and there is a downstairs toilet facility. Minded children may access the first floor to use the bathroom and the childminder's bedroom for sleeping. There is a garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time and is currently caring for three children under five all day on a full-time basis. The childminder either walks or uses her car to transport children to and from local schools and pre-school groups. The childminder attends a local toddler group and childminding support group. The family have a pet dog and rabbits. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a welcoming home where the childminder implements her written health policy, which identifies good hygiene rules in order to prevent the spread of infection.

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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 For example, young children learn to wash their hands before eating food and after they have visited the toilet. Children are invited to bring a toothbrush so that they can clean their teeth between meals. Children stay healthy because the childminder controls infection by excluding children who become sick or unwell. Appropriate documentation is available to record accidents and the childminder is very clear about her responsibilities regarding the administration of any medication. The childminder holds an appropriate first aid certificate, maintains a properly stocked first aid kit and gains parental permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. The family pets are managed well in the presence of minded children. The dog is very friendly and children can handle the rabbits if permission is gained from their parents or

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Helping children to be healthy

carers. Children are able to sleep according to their needs in one of two travel cots monitored by the childminder for their safety and welfare.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities that contribute to their physical well-being. Each day the children go out in the fresh air. They walk to and from school with their childminder and there is an opportunity to play in the well-equipped garden, supplemented by regular visits to the nearby park, where children enjoy playing on the swings and slides. Children are beginning to enjoy occasional outings to places such as Wicksteed Park and Irchester Country Park and a photographic display shows them having great fun at Stanwick Lakes. This supports the development and improvement of children’s physical skills and agility.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder works with the parents in all food related matters to ensure that parents are happy with their child's diet. Sample menus demonstrate the childminder's intention to supply a balanced nutritional intake. She promotes the basic principles of healthy eating and is supportive of children with special dietary needs. The childminder works together with parents to encourage positive messages about healthy foods through imaginative efforts to promote increasingly adventurous eating habits. Children do not become thirsty because they have access to drinks of water, milk or diluted fruit juice throughout the day, prompted by regular reminders from the childminder. Although young children use their familiar beaker or cup for drinks whilst playing, the childminder promotes independence by encouraging them to learn to drink from a cup whilst sitting at the table at mealtimes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are very safe and well-cared for because the childminder gives top priority to safety within her home. She does not allow unauthorised persons on her property and ensures that all doors are securely locked, keeping the keys on hooks by the door in case of emergency. The childminder controls access to various parts of the house by keeping internal doors shut and directly supervises all activities. She carries out informal risk assessments and promotes road safety awareness to help children keep themselves safe. Children are able to move around and play freely and independently because the vigilant childminder has thoughtfully identified and minimised all risks. Proper domestic safety measures such as safety gates, socket covers and fire safety equipment are in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children feel at ease in this friendly, child-orientated environment. The childminder admits that the fabric of the house has deteriorated but some areas are gradually being re-decorated and upgraded and space is used well to ensure that children may play safely under direct supervision at all times. The living room and playroom is dedicated to children's play during the day. Children have direct free-flow access, when weather permits, to the safely enclosed garden. Children of all ages can enjoy craft activities at the family kitchen table, sitting on the high stools or safely secured in a high chair. Toys and equipment are stored in plastic boxes in

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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 wooden storage units in the playroom and are easily accessible to the children. The childminder is continually extending her resources at this early stage in her childminding career and is thoughtfully providing some helpful equipment such as training scissors and scissors which make special patterns. The childminder positively safeguards children's welfare and has a secure understanding of child protection in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. She has attended a relevant training course and keeps reference literature to hand to guide her in the process of making any necessary referral. Information about child protection is shared appropriately with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are extremely happy and settled in the care of this highly experienced mother and friendly childminder, who gives excellent priority to the individual needs of the children. The childminder uses her life experience to plan appealing age-appropriate activities that cover all aspects of children's development. The childminder has an excellent relationship with the minded children. She is skilled at both listening and conversing with them to develop their play and understanding.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are involved in a broad range of planned activities and spontaneous events, which support their development and overall learning. For example, when the inspector arrives, a diverse range of ages of children are all sat at the kitchen table, concentrating on their collage pictures using brightly coloured foam shapes. The childminder skilfully supports children's play and learning, helping the younger children to cut out shapes themselves and responding to their wishes to use the glue sticks independently. After a brief spell of free play, the children ask if they can help to prepare the lunchtime pudding and the childminder readily responds, again including the children of different ages. The children eagerly take turns, helping to whisk the instant whip. The childminder gives them half a banana to slice into the bowls. Children make their choice of brown, chocolate sprinkles or coloured, pretty ones with which to decorate

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has attended a training course based upon the 'Birth to three matters' framework. She intuitively includes the aspects of learning within the way she works with younger children. She has identified the use of the framework as 'work in progress' as her childminding business continues to develop. She devises a suggested basic weekly programme which she shares with parents. This includes daily opportunities for activities such as messy play and arts and crafts, cooking, gardening and educational play. The daily routine provides time for outdoor play and quiet activities such as reading and colouring. The childminder takes ideas from this programme to determine the daily activities and takes care to ensure that activities are meaningful, interesting and relevant to the young children in her care. She is beginning to develop her observations of the children at work and play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children learn about their community as they walk in the neighbourhood and visit local parks. The childminder demonstrates her clear understanding of equal opportunities through her clear written policy. She implements this effectively to ensure that children develop positive attitudes and awareness of the wider world according to their age and stage of development. She provides foods from different countries to enhance children's awareness of the wider world and talks

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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 to the children about where they would like to go and what they would like to do. Children have frequent opportunities to express their likes and dislikes, interests, feelings and needs. They spontaneously use 'please' and 'thank you' and demonstrate respect for one another's personal space and preferences. This helps to develop their self-esteem and confidence. The childminder has direct experience of caring for children who have identified learning difficulties and/or disabilities and is very aware of children's stages of development. Consequently, she feels able to approach parents if she is worried about children's progress and obtain appropriate support to address the concern. The childminder meets their needs through the daily routine as discussed with their parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well in response to the childminder's clear boundaries for acceptable behaviour and consistent expectations. She uses facial expression and tone of voice to remind children about positive behaviour including good manners and courtesy. The childminder's policy sensibly identifies that occasionally children may be restrained for their own safety. For example, if they attempt to run into a road or endanger themselves by having a temper tantrum. Any such incident is recorded and a parental signature requested to acknowledge the information. Parents and carers are invited to attend an induction meeting before placing a child in the care of this childminder. They are presented with an information pack which sets out what parents can expect from her service. The childminder ensures that thorough daily dialogue is used effectively to keep parents extremely well informed about their child's activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a suitable complaints procedure and has decided to put the remainder of her verbal policies and procedures into a written format.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is sincerely committed to developing a successful, good quality childcare practice. She uses her warm personality and her life experience as a mother of six, together with her mixture of verbal and written policies, to actively promote positive outcomes for children. The childminder is beginning to develop ways in which records and her remaining verbal policies and procedures can be further enhanced in order to raise the quality of provision for children across all outcomes. The childminder is beginning to use a diary to record particular events and there is a suitable record of children's attendance. She demonstrates a genuine commitment to professional development through training and has attended many courses since registering as a childminder to develop her knowledge in more detail. She has enrolled on several further courses during the coming months to continue to update her knowledge.

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Organisation

The childminder is able to enrich children's care, learning and play through her constant interaction and interest. All of the children receive individual attention at some time during the day and benefit from social interaction with children of varying ages and backgrounds. Children confidently choose activities and the childminder encourages them to extend their experiences. Children's welfare and education is effectively supported through the childminder's clear use of thoughtful routines which cover the National Standards. Overall, children's needs are met.

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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 registration, 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 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): • consider ways in which records, policies and procedures can be further enhanced to ensure the continuing welfare, care and learning of 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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