Childminder in Suffolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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251106 Unique Reference Number 06 September 2007 Inspection date Karen Pretty Inspector

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Integrated 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1987. She lives with her husband in Bury St. Edmunds. The whole of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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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 minding 15 children. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools. She attends the local parent and toddler group, takes children to the local park, indoor adventure play area and library. The family has two rabbits and a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder holds an appropriate early years qualification. She is a member of an approved childminding network and is currently in receipt of early education funding for three and four-year-olds. The childminder is a member of a local childminder support group, committee

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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 member of the County Childminding Association and a member the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children's health is excellently promoted through a wide range of comprehensive policies which are proactively shared with parents. An extremely informative and up to date exclusion policy ensures that children are not at risk of cross-infection. Children's understanding of personal hygiene is promoted extremely well, appealing toiletries, clean fluffy hand towels and fun whale shaped floor mats encourage children to wash their hands and use the bathroom. The childminder talks to children to help them develop an understanding of germs and the importance of hand washing. Exceptionally well thought-out procedures are in place to ensure children receive the best care should they become ill or have an accident. The childminder has an up to date first aid certificate and records any accidents for parents to sign, subsequently children's health is not compromised.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children can rest and sleep according to their needs, younger children can use a travel cot which is placed in a quiet well-ventilated room with clean comfortable bedding. Children enjoy the daily benefit of fresh air which is enthusiastically promoted by the active childminder. They walk to the local park and have regular access to the secure well-kept garden. Children's understanding of the benefit of good fresh food is greatly increased through the provision of healthy and nutritious snacks and meals. The childminder actively encourages children to try new healthy foods. Children are involved in excellent first-hand experiences where they have opportunities to cook and grow their own food. Younger children are encouraged to enjoy meal times and gain independence as they hold cups and eat finger foods. Children have constant access to drinks to ensure they do not become dehydrated, younger children have their beakers

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Helping children to be healthy

replenished regularly by the childminder. Further drinks are encouraged during meal times and after exercise. Children's individual dietary requirements are very clearly recorded in written agreements and are sensitively catered for.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in an extremely clean and homely environment that has been very well-organised to accommodate children. The premises are in an excellent state of repair and decoration. The environment is light, spacious and softly furnished to enable children to eat and play together comfortably. Excellent use of space enables children to comfortably use the downstairs areas to effectively support their play. This ensures children are safe and feel secure. A broad range of safe equipment that is regularly checked supports the children's care, learning and play. Resources are laid out daily and the children are able to make choices about how to spend their time. The equipment is safe, clean and checked daily prior to children arriving. The resources are rotated to ensure that activities are of interest and consequently children are interested and motivated to play with the available toys.

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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 Children's safety is very well maintained by proactive steps taken by the childminder to minimise all potential risks. Risk assessments are conducted and the house and garden are secure. Preventative fire measures are taken and discussed with the children to minimise danger from fire and all requirements are in place. Children are taken out on trips in safe car seats with written permission from parents. Children are protected extremely well from potential harm as the childminder has undertaken safeguarding training and is vigilant and alert. Child protection procedures are comprehensively understood and the childminder is aware of her responsibilities. A comprehensively written safeguarding policy is shared with parents prior to minding and local contact numbers are readily available should a concern arise.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy an extremely wide range of play opportunities provided through very stimulating toys and activities. They build confidence and self-esteem through close relationships with the childminder who is intuitive of their needs. The childminder interacts with the children and supports their language development extremely well. She is interested in what children say and do and children confidently initiate conversation. They are clearly settled and secure in the known routine and thrive in the caring and organised environment. A broad range of resources that are appropriate to their age and stage of development are available for them to choose from. These have been photographed and collated into a small album so that they can be easily accessed to remind children of available activities. Children enjoy puzzles, stories, dolls and dressing up clothes. Children develop excellent hand-eye coordination as they use 'aqua pens'

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children attend a wide range of groups which encourages them to develop their social skills extremely well. They regularly attend music groups, toddler groups and visit the indoor soft play centre where they meet other children and accomplish new skills. An exciting range of trips are planned by the childminder. These include going to the zoo, the beach and other local activities such as visiting Abbey Gardens. Children also enjoy cooking, play dough, printing and sand and water play. They make choices about how to spend their time from the many toys that are readily available and appropriate to their age and stage of development. This ensures that children can follow their particular interests and become thoroughly engrossed in their play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Quality of teaching and learning is good. The childminder has a good knowledge of the Foundation Stage and how children learn. Plans are documented well and cover all six areas of learning. The childminder is beginning to follow children's interests within her short term planning, however, she needs to further consider how her observations can inform planning and focus more on children's individual interests in order to extend their learning more effectively. The childminder is quick to maximise on any potential learning opportunities and currently adapts her activities informally for individual children, further, more formal consideration of adult focussed activities is required to consistently plan in advance how activities can be changed to include all children's individual needs. She asks open-ended questions and challenges children through daily routine activities. This provides a very good

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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 learning environment in which children are stimulated. Children are assessed from close observation and one to one activities. This enables the childminder to determine children's starting points and provide activities that move them on. Children are making good progress towards the early learning goals and this is recorded on written records with progress highlighted through the stepping stones and fed back to parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children form good relationships with each other and adults. They play harmoniously in small groups and learn how to manage minor disputes. The childminder links up with other minders in order to provide opportunities for children to develop their social skills. Children show care for the environment as they tidy away toys and learn to take responsibility for their actions. A good range of materials and resources that reflect a positive view of diversity and the wider community enables children to value each other's differences and similarities. Children are making good progress in their early speaking and writing skills. They link letters to sounds through songs, stories and rhymes and have many opportunities to mark-make.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing their counting skills well through a range of planned and spontaneous activities and resources. They use and develop their directional language through fun activities such as following clues to sort the numbered houses into a correct ordered line. Children are learning about their local environment and observe features and seasonal changes as they walk through woods and parks. They have many opportunities to learn about the natural world as they feed the family rabbits and grow their own flowers. Children explore textures and change as they play with sand and water. They use a good range of materials to create junk models using their own preferred style and method. Children's creativity is supported well. They recreate roles in imaginary play as they play with dolls and blankets. A very good range of different music and instruments encourages them to explore different sounds and experiment with

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have good opportunities to develop physical skills through a range of planned activities. They gain confidence using equipment in the park and practise their climbing skills in the garden. Outdoor equipment including a small trampoline and selection of bikes and ride-on toys enable the children to become increasingly confident as they gain new skills. Children are encouraged and supported towards gaining self-care skills such as fastening clothes and putting on shoes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children develop an excellent sense of belonging because they are warmly welcomed into the childminder's home. Children's records detail all requirements and babies routines are clearly recorded in order to provide continuity of care. Children learn about other cultures and customs through hands on and enjoyable experiences such as discussions, puzzles and books. Resources that reflect a positive view of diversity and the wider community enable children to value each other's differences and similarities. Children are happy and settled because the childminder meets their individual needs extremely well. Informative and detailed written agreements enable the childminder to prioritise their specific needs and respect parental wishes. The childminder has an excellent understanding of equality of opportunity and is extremely mindful to ensure that all activities are suitable and inclusive for all children in her care.

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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 The childminder has an extremely positive approach to caring for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is experienced and confident in her approach having accessed specific training from other professionals in order to meet the needs of the children in her care. The childminder works closely in line with parents to ensure that children receive the best possible care in all aspects of their lives.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have an excellent understanding of responsible behaviour. The childminder uses extremely good strategies that are sensitive and provide meaningful consequences of actions. Clear and concise policies are shared with parents prior to minding in order that the behavioural expectations are made known to all parties. The childminder provides an excellent role model to children, remaining calm and polite and providing clear explanations that are easy for children to understand. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered. Children show high levels of self-esteem, behave well and are developing a good understanding of right and wrong. Children relate well to the childminder, and are developing an understanding of their community through planned activities and the introduction to a broad range of festivals and celebrations from other cultures and beliefs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from a positive working relationship with parents and carers. Regular contact through detailed daily diary entries enables any behavioural changes to be shared and ensures children's ongoing well-being. An excellent written agreement details all children's requirements and gives parents a comprehensive overview of the childminder's practice. Information given prior to minding exceeds requirements with effective brochures introducing all aspects of the childminder's practice. Up to date and relevant information is readily available including a concise complaints procedure.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers of children receiving nursery education is outstanding. Parents are made extremely welcome by a friendly and approachable childminder. They come in to collect their children and are clearly relaxed and at home as they chat with her and collect children's work. Parents have excellent opportunities to become involved in their children's learning and regularly view and make comments on their child's developmental records and discuss their child's progress with the childminder. Photographs showing children enjoying activities are linked to areas of learning and consequently parents have a clear understanding of how children learn in the Foundation Stage. A personalised prospectus has been developed to provide information about the routines, activities and curriculum. An extremely informative notice board provides relevant and up to date information regarding recent updates and regular

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Helping children make a positive contribution

newsletters are produced and given to parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children are cared for extremely well by a highly motivated and experienced childminder who organises her day superbly in order to provide a rich balance of activities both inside and outside. Children are very happy and secure as they receive outstanding care and levels of support from the dedicated and knowledgeable childminder. Children thrive in this brilliantly organised child-friendly environment, they are secure and confident and clearly benefit from the individual care and attention given.

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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 The childminder has an extremely good understanding of the National Standards and her responsibility to comply with these and the details of her registration. Extensive and honest self-evaluation allows the childminder to reflect upon her own practice. Accurate checks are in place to ensure children are cared for by a suitably checked person and children are never left alone with any person not checked.

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Organisation

Recent updates have been comprehensively understood with relevant information displayed and made available to parents. A register is maintained, accurately showing children's actual hours of attendance and all required documentation was available for inspection. The childminder has developed a highly organised operational plan which includes over and above the required information to support her registration. All children's details are stored securely and confidentially and the childminder ensures children are cared for in accordance with their parents' wishes.

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Organisation

The childminder has clearly defined aims and objectives that support and guide her to provide a stable, happy and stimulating learning environment as evidenced by the good progress that children are making. Children's well-being is effectively supported by the childminder's thorough knowledge of how young children learn. She holds a recognised early years qualification and is fully committed to continual professional improvement and has participated in an extensive number of workshops and short courses over recent years to ensure that her knowledge and skills remain up to date. The childminder is very motivated and continually evaluates her practice through honest and reflective evaluation activities and the learning environment. She is working closely with a support teacher from the local authority. She attends the local network cluster meetings for further support to enhance the high quality care and education that children

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, to improve the standards of care, the childminder was required to: continue to develop her knowledge and understanding of child protection issues, with particular reference to protecting all children from any persons not checked and continue to develop her practice to ensure that the children are in direct supervision at all times.

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Improvements since the last inspection

These recommendations were related to a situation where the childminder had allowed a particular child in her care, at the time, to play with another child in a neighbouring property with the parents' permission. The childminder understands the importance of children not being left with any person not checked and instantly stopped the child from playing at the neighbouring property when left in her care. The childminder demonstrates a very good understanding of all child protection issues and updates her training every two years to ensure all children remain safeguarded and well protected within her care.

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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 any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints 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 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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The quality and standards of the care

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • consider adult focussed activity sheets to formally identify adaptation and differentiation within specific activities • continue to develop the use of observations to inform future short term planning for individual children and formally incorporate their interests.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 nursery education

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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