Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY344006 Unique Reference Number 23 July 2007 Inspection date Carol Patricia Willett 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 2006. She lives with her partner and their two young children, one of whom is at primary school. They live in a semi-detached house in the Hawley area of Farnborough. The property is close to local schools and amenities and there is a park nearby. The ground floor of the house is mainly used for childminding, with toilet facilities available on this floor. There is provision for children to sleep on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have a dog and a rabbit.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. There are two children under three years currently on roll, on a part-time basis. She is not registered to provide overnight care. The childminder will walk or drive to local schools and nurseries to take and collect children. She intends to take children to the parks, library and a local toddler group. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She holds a relevant childcare qualification and a current first aid certificate.

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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. Children stay healthy as the childminder provides a well maintained, child friendly home where there are good hygiene routines and procedures. This ensures the areas where the children play and sleep are comfortable, clean and safe. The childminder has generally good routines around nappy changing as she wipes down the changing mat after every use with antibacterial spray which minimises the risk of cross infection and ensures children's good health. However, nappies are put into the kitchen bin and this is not in line with current good practice guidelines to minimise contamination. Children learn about good hygiene as they wash their hands before lunch and when they come in from the garden, for example. The childminder ensures their noses are wiped as needed and encourages older children to get their own tissues to develop their awareness of healthy practices.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good opportunities to enjoy fresh air and exercise as the childminder ensures they experience a wide range of activities daily to develop their physical skills. These include visits to the park, where they play on climbing frames, slides and swings, garden play on wheeled toys and with balls, and walks in the local area. Children develop manipulative skills as they play with a range of toys including musical activity toys and shape sorters. Older children use tools such as pencils and paint brushes and complete age appropriate jigsaws.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's individual dietary needs are met as the childminder receives good information from the parents about their wishes and children's preferences, and all parents' wishes are respected. Children enjoy a varied selection of healthy snacks which are well prepared. The childminder has a good awareness of children's developing skills and takes steps to encourage them, for example, as they try finger foods. She keeps parents well informed as they try new foods such as pears at snack time. Parents currently supply their children's meals and food provided by parents is well stored and reheated to their requirements. The childminder has registered with the environmental health office and develops her practice using information received from them. She keeps parents well informed of all aspects of their children's care, including what their children have eaten, through daily discussions. The childminder ensures babies drink

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Helping children to be healthy

plenty to maintain good health offering drinks with meals and as needed during the day. Older children have free access to drinks.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has good procedures in place if children require prescribed medicine and records when any is given, sharing records with parents. She telephones them before she gives pain relief medication. However, she has not obtained prior written consent to give pain relief medication in an emergency to avoid any delay if parents are not contactable.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has considered many safety issues and identified hazards within her home to ensure children are safe. For example, safety gates are in place across the living room door and stairs and sockets are covered. Harnesses are used in highchairs and pushchairs to keep children safe. However, risk assessment and daily checking procedures are not fully effective as cleaning materials are left hanging on the stair gate. Family medication tablets are on the side in the kitchen, although children only go into the kitchen under supervision this is still a potential

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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 hazard. The small pond in the front garden has a mesh cover put over it. This is not sufficient to prevent children gaining access to the water.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play happily in a comfortable, warm and welcoming environment where they feel secure. Children explore and develop safely as they move freely between the conservatory playroom where all the toys are stored and the living room. They have ample space to sit and play in comfort as the childminder has organised the space well. The children enjoy playing with the variety of safe, good quality play equipment and resources that are appropriate for their ages and stages of development. These are arranged in boxes in the conservatory so they are easily accessible to children, encouraging their independence skills and choice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children stay safe as the childminder has good security precautions in place. They are carefully supervised throughout the day and they are unable to leave the premises unsupervised. Children begin to learn how to keep themselves safe as part of the daily routine and because the childminder uses situations that arise to reinforce their understanding. She gives them good explanations about why they should not jump on the furniture. They practise walking safely as they go to the park and the childminder talks to them about road safety. The childminder has given good consideration to evacuation in the event of a fire. She has a sound understanding of child protection procedures and her responsibilities to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder has a very warm, caring, calm, attentive manner and she develops good relationships with the children so they are happy, confident and secure. The childminder has good interactive skills and uses good techniques with lots of conversation to develop children's skills and extend their thinking and learning. She sits on the floor at the children's level to support and encourage their play. She has a good knowledge of children's individual needs and likes. She flexibly plans themes and activities around the children's interest, for example, in animals. The children enjoy sitting on the childminder's lap looking at books. She encourages them to join in and they respond making animal sounds and trying to turn the pages with enthusiasm. These positive interactions ensure children are developing their communication skills and enjoying their time at the childminder's home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder provides a good range of resources and activities both inside and out of the home to ensure the children make good progress in all areas of development. Children benefit from regular outings to the local toddler group, park, and shops and to places such as a children's farm which promotes their learning, develops social skills and stimulates their interest in the wider world. Consequently children are happy and thriving.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children show high levels of independence as they freely access a range of toys and activities and explore the environment. They are learning to be independent as the childminder provides opportunities to practise their developing skills, such as through the provision of finger foods for babies. Children have their individual needs met well because the childminder and the parents develop open relationships and work closely together to discuss the children's progress and development. The childminder provides parents with useful information, for example, the words to songs they sing so parents can continue them at home. The childminder has a childcare qualification and a wide experience of caring for children, consequently, she has a good understanding of their needs and organises a suitable range of activities to ensure they develop in all areas.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are welcomed into the comfortable family home, which ensures they settle well and develop a clear sense of belonging. The childminder shows a good understanding of equal opportunities and knows the children well. She provides a meaningful range of activities and resources to promote a positive view of the wider world including posters which are displayed in the conservatory playroom. Children develop a sense of their community and learn about where they live through regular outings in the local area, for example, to the local toddler groups, parks and animal farm. They meet other friends of the childminder developing their social skill and knowledge of other adults and children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children’s behaviour is good because the childminder has a positive approach to behaviour. She remains calm and in control and has effective strategies in place to manage children and their behaviour, such as distraction and explanation. By using a firm consistent approach with her own children and the minded children, she ensures they all have a clear understanding of the boundaries set. The childminder encourages positive behaviour through the use of praise and encouragement, acting as a good role model and using please and thank you when talking to the children. She makes them aware of house rules so they develop an awareness of right and wrong.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a very good relationship with the parents. She happily provides parents with daily verbal feedback. She uses a daily sheet to record the children’s day and the activities they have taken part in to ensure parents are kept fully informed. Children have a scrap book to keep their work as a record of their development and activities whilst in the childminder's care. The childminder has a comprehensive portfolio of her polices and procedures and information that is shared with parents. This ensures they are kept fully informed of her practice and procedures. The childminder obtains most relevant written consent and parents sign records such as accident records appropriately. The childminder feels parents have a good open relationship and would discuss any concerns directly with her. She has a policy which contains information about contacting the regulator but this information has not been updated. The

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder has not yet developed documentation to record parents concerns should there be any.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's needs are effectively met as the childminder organises the environment, resources and documentation well. This ensures all children’s needs for food, rest and play are met and allows children freedom to explore and develop safely. They play and select resources freely from the range of toys available which develops their confidence and independence skills. They receive good support from the childminder and the organisation of the minding week allows for a good variety of experiences and activities. The childminder has effective procedures in place to ensure children are kept safe and are protected from un-vetted persons as she closely supervises children at all times. Consequently, the children are happy, comfortable, settled and secure.

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Organisation

The childminder has a good understanding of the requirements for registration as she holds a Level 3 childcare qualification and has completed the required training for childminders. She ensures she maintains ratios at all times. She has a comprehensive range of documentation which contributes to the children's health, safety and welfare. She develops very good

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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 relationships with parents and shares her written polices and procedures with them to ensure they are kept fully informed of the service she offers. However, the complaints policy does not contain up to date information of the address for Ofsted. The childminder has generally good recording practices in place, for example, she records accidents and any medication given. All parents receive verbal feedback about their children's progress. They are very happy with the service provided. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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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. 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): • obtain prior written consent to give pain relief medication • improve risk assessments and daily checking procedures to ensure children's safety at all times • develop documentation to log any complaints from parents and update the complaints policy to include the correct phone number and address of Ofsted.

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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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