Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY270775 Unique Reference Number 14 August 2007 Inspection date Sharon Greener 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 2003. She lives with her husband, who is a childminding assistant and one adult son in the Millfield area of Sunderland. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom and one bedroom located on the first floor of the childminder's house are used for childminding. There is an enclosed yard for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding four children under eight years. One child attends on a full-time basis and all of the other children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks children to and from nursery and school and sometimes transports children in the family car during outings. She attends local carer and toddler groups and childminder support groups on a regular basis each week.

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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. The childminding environment is very well maintained and hygiene standards are very good. The childminder presents as a positive role model to the children and they are encouraged to adopt suitable personal hygiene practices, such as hand washing at appropriate times. The childminder has a clear understanding of related policies and procedures, for example, caring for a sick child, nappy changing and the administration of medication. These procedures are used very well to help to promote and preserve the children's welfare.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder shows a very good understanding of the need to ensure that children are suitably nourished. Children's dietary needs are very well met. The childminder is very flexible regarding catering arrangements and children's individual dietary needs are discussed in detail with parents and carers. Relevant information regarding any special dietary requirements a child may have is recorded. The childminder fully understands the importance of adhering to the dietary wishes of parents and carers, whether for medical, cultural or religious reasons or their life style choices. Babies and very young children are fed in keeping with their individual routines. The childminder has previous experience of catering for children with specific dietary needs. For example, she has catered for a child who ate a traditional Nigerian diet. Children are encouraged to eat a healthy diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables are offered daily and appropriate

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Helping children to be healthy

drinks are provided at regular intervals throughout the day. This helps promote and preserve children's good health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities for physical play both indoors and outdoors. They benefit daily from fresh air and exercise through outdoor play in the yard, walks and visits to the local parks and green areas. A good variety of equipment is provided to enable children to develop and enhance their physical skills. Children receive lots of praise, encouragement and support from the childminder. They are able to test their abilities and to develop their physical skills. All children are able to rest or sleep according to their individual needs. This helps to promote their physical development and well-being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder has a clear understanding of relevant policies and procedures. She makes very good use of these to help remove or minimise risks to children. Childminding areas are very well maintained and used effectively to accommodate children's play. Suitable safety equipment is in place, such as socket covers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, safety gates, a fire guard and a fire blanket. The smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are checked weekly and a record is kept indicating when new batteries have been fitted. The childminder completes a visual risk assessment of the rooms and resources to be used before children's arrival each day. This process is ongoing throughout childminding hours and helps to maintain a safe environment for the children. Children are very closely supervised by the childminder and are able to move freely and safely from room to room.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder helps to raise children's awareness of danger and the need to preserve their own safety. She does this by presenting as a positive role model to the children and through talking to them about matters, such as road safety and the need to use equipment and resources properly to prevent accidents or injury. Children respond very well to her and this helps to keep

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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 them safe. The childminder sets clear, consistent boundaries for the children. Ground rules and the reasons for them are explained to the children according to their age and level of understanding. The childminder reinforces these ground rules when necessary. For example, a child was gently reminded that they were not allowed to switch on the television. Children wear high visibility waistcoats when out walking and wrist bands stating the childminder's name and telephone number when on outings. This helps keep children safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder shows a very good awareness of her responsibilities with regard to safeguarding children and has recently attended training to update her knowledge in this area. During the induction procedure she talks to parents and carers about the action she would take if she had a concern about a child's welfare. A written policy statement is shared with parents and carers which they sign to acknowledge they have read and understood the content. The childminder has a copy of the recommended child protection literature and the contact details for the Local Safeguarding Children Board are available for reference purposes. This helps to protect children from harm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder discusses children's individual needs in great detail with parents and carers and makes effective use of a gradual induction process. This process allows parents, carers and children to become familiar and comfortable with her, her family and the childminding environment. Through her ongoing observations of children and discussion with their parents and carers the childminder is able to keep up to date with children's changing needs and abilities. This allows her to plan and provide activities and learning experiences at the correct level so as to enable children to develop and achieve at their own pace.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has an extremely warm and caring approach towards the children. Children are most relaxed, comfortable and at ease with her. The childminder ensures that children are able to use their initiative and become increasingly independent as appropriate to their age and ability. For example, older children are actively encouraged to attend to their own personal needs, such as toileting. Children are very animated and very eager to take part in the activities available. They are able to make choices and self-select their own activities from a broad range of materials and resources made easily accessible to them within the constraints of safety. Children's confidence and self esteem is very well nurtured by the childminder. For example, a child of four confidently counted from one to twenty and then wrote down several numbers on a piece of paper. The child beamed with pride when praised readily by the childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has a very clear knowledge of child development. She is familiar with the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage and has completed training in respect of the 'Birth to three matters' framework. She has copies of these documents for reference purposes and makes positive use of them to help to enhance and support children's learning and developmental progress. Very good use is made of the space available. For example, the lounge is used to accommodate imaginative and construction type play and the table in the dinning room is used for board games, mark-making and various creative activities. Resources are frequently changed to keep children interested and engaged. Throughout the day children benefit from a very good balance of adult led activities, such as singing, story telling, baking and outings. The childminder ensures that planned outings provide children with rich educational

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

opportunities. For example, a visit to the local museum to allow children to take part in an activity about dinosaurs and exploring the beach for shells and sea life. These outings help to effectively promote and enhance children's knowledge and understanding of their local

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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 environment and the natural world. Children have ample opportunity to initiate their own play and learning. The childminder ensures that children are particularly well supported and sufficiently challenged.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has a very good understanding of caring for children from different ethnic backgrounds and has previous experience of this. She recognises the importance of promoting equality of opportunity and has completed relevant training. A suitable selection of resources is provided to help raise children's awareness of diversity. However, there are few resources provided to help promote positive gender awareness. The childminder has previous experience of caring for children with learning difficulties and disabilities. Her knowledge and understanding in this area is good.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder shows a clear understanding of behaviour management. Age appropriate behaviour management strategies are used very well and applied in a calm and consistent manner. For example, distraction tactics are used with very young children. The childminder acknowledges the need to recognise and praise children's good behaviour so as to reinforce and promote such behaviour. Children respond positively to her and they are very well behaved.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder work very closely with parents and carers to introduce children to the childminding environment. As part of the induction process parents and carers are expected to carry out a series of visits with their children to the childminder's home. Children settle extremely well. The childminder talks to parents and carers about the procedures she uses and written policies are shared with them. Pertinent information about the children is obtained from parents and carers and recorded on each child's individual record before they are left in the childminder's sole care. Respective parents and carers have access to their child's records. They are asked to keep the childminder up-to-date with any relevant information that might impact upon the care of their child. This helps to ensure that children are very well cared for in keeping with the wishes of their parents and carers.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a very good understanding of policies and procedures. These are used effectively to ensure that children are very well cared for and that their individual needs are very well met. The vast majority of the required documentation is in place and is very well organised and presented. This helps to support operational procedures. However, the childminder is uncertain as to whether appropriate car insurance is arranged in respect of her childminding business. The childminder holds a valid first aid certificate. This enables her to administer emergency first aid to children should the need arise and helps to promote children's welfare. The childminder shows an ongoing commitment to the continued development of her very good practice through her willingness to seek out and complete relevant training. For example, she has successfully completed all three of the childminding practice certificates and has

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Organisation

competed training to help her to promote young children's speech and language development.

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Organisation

The childminder makes very good use of the space available to accommodate a broad range of age appropriate resources and play experiences for the children. Child friendly storage systems allow the children to self-select resources and activities with ease. This helps to promote and

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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 enhance their decision making and independence skills. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection the childminder was asked to further develop procedures for sharing information with parents and carers regarding the seeking of emergency medical treatment and the care of a sick child.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Appropriate systems are in place to inform parents and carers of policies and procedures regarding a sick child and of the seeking of emergency medical treatment. This helps to support operational procedures and improve methods of working in partnership with parents and carers.

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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): • further extend children's access to resources and activities to help raise positive gender awareness • ensure that appropriate car insurance is arranged in respect of any car used for childminding purposes.

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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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