Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY358214 Unique Reference Number 09 October 2007 Inspection date Fler Wright 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 2007. She lives with her husband and daughter aged one year in the Southwick area of Brighton, West Sussex. The majority of the property is used for childminding. There is no garden available for outside play although the childminder takes children on daily outings to ensure they get regular fresh air. The family have a pet cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of two children at any one time and is currently minding one child aged under one year on a full time basis, and two further children aged under five years on a part time basis. The childminder takes children on regular outings to the local park, shops and toddler groups.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder 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 satisfactory. Established hygiene routines enable children to learn about the importance of keeping healthy. The childminder ensures children have access to a hygienic environment, and takes appropriate precautions during nappy changes to promote effective hygiene practice. The childminder discusses children's individual needs with parents early on, to ensure all dietary preferences and allergies are known. The childminder has a first aid certificate in place, and has appropriate parental permission in order to allow her to act in the children's best interests in the event of an emergency. All accidents are recorded and parents are informed, although they do not always sign the accident record, breaching a regulation.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents supply all meals, and the childminder often supplements these with a range of healthy snacks and drinks that appeal to children and meet their dietary needs. Children are encouraged to have regular refreshments to ensure they are sufficiently hydrated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have a good relationship with the childminder, who is responsive to their emotional needs. They enjoy a range of activities that help to develop their physical skills on a daily basis. They visit playgroups, toddler groups and soft play areas during the week, helping to ensure their physical development is appropriately encouraged.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children have access to a warm and welcoming play area with enough space for them to explore and move around freely. There are a range of safe, developmentally appropriate resources suitable for the ages of the minded children. The range includes books, soft toys, musical toys and a variety of safe and natural household objects. Children are able to access the resources easily, encouraging their independence and freedom of choice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an understanding of safety issues and potential hazards and has successfully minimised these around the home. This helps to ensure children are kept safe and free from harm. There are clear procedures in place for outings, and the childminder organises these well. She has devised a fire evacuation plan, and has a fire blanket on the wall in the kitchen. However, it is still in the wrapper, meaning it is not easily accessible in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and knows what action to take should she have concerns about a child in her care. This ensures she is able to act in the children's best interests in the event of a referral being made. She has an awareness of the benefits of recording existing injuries.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and relaxed, and are starting to gain confidence in the home environment. They relate well to the childminder who is warm and affectionate making them feel comfortable and valued. Children relate well to their peers, and profit from almost daily outings to sessional groups such as toddler groups, the library and soft play areas where they are able to develop

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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 their social, intellectual, and physical skills. Most of their time is spent out and about, and the childminder uses her home as a base for meals, naps and settling in sessions.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have easy access to an age appropriate range of toys that provide both balance and challenge. The way that the childminder organises the space and resources helps children to take initiative and develop increasing confidence and independence. Children enjoy playing with the equipment available in the home environment, and activities such as heuristic play, singing and music help the young children in attendance to enjoy and achieve. However, there are currently no opportunities for children to become involved in messy play at home, and due to this, they have not taken an interest in this area in the groups they attend. This slightly limits the way in which children's learning potential is encouraged fully whilst they are with the childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is very receptive and is passionate about her job and the children she cares for. She has booked herself onto additional training to help increase her knowledge and understanding of the ways children develop and learn, that will greatly benefit minded children in the future.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is relaxed and is confident in her abilities to care for children, which helps to ensure she is able to manage the children effectively and their individual needs are met. Children benefit from frequent interaction with the childminder who offers support when required. She manages the logistics of caring for young children well, helping to ensure children are kept safe and gain the most from the experiences on offer.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are treated with respect and are made to feel good about themselves. The childminder encourages all children to participate in the activities provided, to ensure they each have an equal opportunity to maximise their enjoyment and potential. Children have access to a limited range of resources and activities that promote equality and diversity. However, the childminder is planning on increasing this range and using discussion with children as they get older to help them learn about individuality and different cultures.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has no experience of caring for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities although she has a receptive attitude and is keen to learn more about this area and attend training if required. She is aware of the ways in which to share information about minded children to ensure their individual needs are met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is very calm and relaxed and offers effective explanations to children when managing their behaviour, which helps them to learn right from wrong and play together harmoniously. She offers regular praise and encouragement to children to help increase their confidence and self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are happy with the care provided. They provide a variety of relevant information about their children to the childminder which helps to ensure children receive individual care and attention. Daily exchanges of information about what the children have done, what they have eaten and the general care given to them during the day help to ensure children's ever changing care needs are met. The childminder also completes a written care diary that parents are able to add to, ensuring an effective partnership is encouraged, and information is shared. She writes regular reports on the children that highlight how they have developed over a period of

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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 time. This helps to ensure parents are kept fully informed about the ways their children are progressing.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She copes well with the young children she cares for. She is organised, and has mastered the routines such as meal times, and the logistics of getting out of a building and into a car, that can be tricky when caring for a number of young children. She tries her best to ensure all of the required documentation that contributes to children's health, safety and well-being is in place. However, not all accident records are appropriately recorded or signed by parents, breaching a regulation. The childminder plans to amend these records as soon as possible to help to further safeguard the children in her care.

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Organisation

The childminder has devised a range of additional policies and procedures that she gives to parents to ensure they are aware of how she runs her childminding business. She has a good understanding of her childminding role and responsibilities, is receptive, and is eager to improve her practice. She has attended all of the required training and has booked herself onto further courses to help ensure she keeps up to date with current childcare practice. Children benefit from a well-organised environment where they receive good adult support to help them feel secure and confident.

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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 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 all accidents are recorded appropriately and are signed by parents • ensure the fire blanket is easily accessible in the event of a fire

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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 • introduce a range of creative activities for children to enjoy

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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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