Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY289001 Unique Reference Number 22 November 2007 Inspection date Joyce Cox 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 outstanding. 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 2004. She lives with her husband and one child aged five years. They live in a house in Honeybourne. There are shops, a library, park, a pre-school and school within easy walking distance. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, with a bathroom and sleeping facilities on the first floor. There is a garden available for outside play with a range of equipment. The family have a dog, a rabbit and some fish. The childminder attends a local carer and toddler group and is a member of the National Childminding Association. She is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for five children under eight and currently has eight children on roll who attend on a full and part-time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children receive an exceptionally healthy and nutritious daily range of food and snacks. This is because the childminder quickly establishes their likes and dislikes with their parents before

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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 they start. They have lots of fruit and vegetables as snacks and delicious home cooked main meals together with healthy drinks such as water, milk or fresh fruit juice, which ensures that they consume a very healthy daily diet. Children quickly learn how to eat healthily and love collecting ‘5 A Day’ stickers for their individual healthy eating charts and learning about what foods are good for their bodies and which are not. They eagerly explain that too much sugar is not good and ask for bananas and grapes rather than biscuits as snacks. They delight in buying fruit as treats from the local greengrocer’s shop on their daily walk back from school. Children eat their meals and snacks seated at a table or in a high chair thereby learning very good socials skills and eating habits.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s health is promoted extremely well because the childminder has excellent systems to maintain a high standard of hygiene and care in her home. The house is scrupulously clean and daily rigorous cleaning ensures a healthy environment. Children automatically wash their hands at appropriate times in the day and baby wipes are used to prevent the spread of infection. They are further protected from the risk of infection as the childminder has clear agreements with parents that sick children are not minded. Children learn quickly to be responsible for their own personal care and know that washing their hands before cooking, eating or after using the toilet prevents the spread of germs. They know that putting their hand in front of their mouths when coughing also stops germs spreading. Children are thrilled when the childminder praises their knowledge about good hygiene and healthy eating which successfully builds their

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Helping children to be healthy

self-esteem and confidence. Comprehensive procedures ensure that any accidents children have are managed well as the childminder has an excellent knowledge of first aid, and has devised outstanding methods for coping with any accidents in the home or the car.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from daily exercise in the fresh air, either in the exceptionally well-equipped garden or on the walks to school to take and collect older children. The childminder’s considerable knowledge of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework ensures that younger children receive a wide range of stimulating indoor and outdoor experiences to enhance their physical development. They skilfully use equipment to balance and climb, ride on bikes and cars. They love visits to the local park to play on larger equipment. Children relax and sleep according to their needs because the childminder plans her home and routines very effectively to offer opportunities for rest and quieter times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children feel very secure, comfortable and confident, as they are cared for in an exceptionally warm and welcoming environment. The home is organised effectively to provide a very safe and stimulating environment where children can make choices from a wide range of high quality resources for all ages. Thoughtful organisation of equipment and resources allows children to select resources freely and safely, for example, toys and activities are stored within easy reach and child-sized furniture allows children to be independent. Highly effective arrangements make sure that the garden is safe and excellent security means that children cannot leave the premises unsupervised. The garden is extremely well equipped with a large trampoline and a robust climbing frame with slides and tunnels. There are also swings and a see-saw and sand and water tables for spring and summer play. In addition there is a large timber play house

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

containing bikes, prams, trikes, motorised vehicles, baby walkers and scooters.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are extremely well protected from risks because the childminder is vigilant about their safety and conscientiously checks the equipment and premises daily. Children’s safety is given top priority and this is ensured by regular fire drills and meticulous safety arrangements for car

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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 travel. Children rapidly learn to keep themselves and others safe and tidy up bricks and train tracks before getting other toys out to avoid accidents. They know the dangers of running indoors or jumping and climbing on the furniture. Excellent arrangements are in place for outings including children wearing identity wrist bands and there are robust procedures in the event of a child being lost. Children clearly describe holding hands or holding onto the pram to keep safe when out walking.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s welfare is safeguarded by the childminder’s excellent understanding of child protection issues in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidance. She has a very clear written policy to inform parents of her responsibility to protect children from harm. Children are kept very safe as they are only collected by their parents or named adults by prior written arrangements and children are never left alone with other adults. Children under three benefit from the childminder’s informed use of ‘Birth to three matters’ framework to offer very good opportunities for children to learn how to keep safe in daily activities such as outdoor play and daily walks.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very happy and settled. Younger children enjoy lots of cuddles and all develop excellent relationships with the childminder. These exceptionally positive relationships coupled with consistent praise and encouragement mean that children have a real sense of belonging. For example, they love showing photos of themselves at play and talk about their shared experiences such as outings and celebrating birthdays. Excellent planning, preparation and resourcing by the childminder increase children’s understanding of others in the world. For instance, they enjoyed a Chinese meal and dressing up in Chinese clothes and sensitive resources encourage children to think about children with disabilities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All children are highly motivated and eager to join in with the fun and games. They make excellent progress in their learning and development because the childminder has an outstanding understanding of how they learn. Bright, colourful resources, stimulating and exciting toys carefully arranged and displayed provide children with endless learning opportunities. The childminder skilfully introduces resources such as musical instruments and inspires the children to join in with her enthusiasm and happy smiling face. Daily routines are successfully used to introduce new words and to reinforce children’s counting skills. The childminder takes care to find out what children can do and say and the excellent planning ensures that they learn and develop exceptionally well in her care. Children’s progress is observed, recorded and shared with their parents via daily record books, which are much appreciated. The childminder clearly

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

loves her work and says, ‘I have the best job in the world.’ Children are so very happy and blossom in this caring, sensitive, creative environment where they are highly valued as individuals.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children feel very welcome and special in the childminder’s home because they are treated as individuals and are fully included in all the family’s activities. For instance, they had all just enjoyed celebrating the childminder’s daughter’s fifth birthday. Their individual preferences and dislikes are collected at the beginning of their care to ensure their specific needs are extremely well catered for. Children with learning difficulties are supported very effectively through excellent links with parents and other agencies.

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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 Children’s behaviour is excellent as children of all ages understand what is right and what is wrong. They thoroughly enjoy devising the ‘House Rules’ together, which are typed up by older children and closely adhered to. All children are very good at selecting their own resources and equally impressive at tidying them away. Older children happily take responsibility for helping younger children with their coats and shoes. Children are widely consulted about all aspects of the home. They can suggest topics, make displays and once a month choose their own menu for the day.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A superb partnership between the childminder and parents ensures all work together to meet children’s individual needs. They are kept very well informed about the children’s day, welfare and development. The daily record books support a very effective two way flow of information and promotes children’s well-being.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children are exceptionally well cared for in a very well organised environment. Their well-being and learning is enhanced because of the excellent knowledge that the childminder has about children’s development. This is well implemented in practice to support and promote children’s confidence and self-esteem. The childminder holds a childcare qualification and attends relevant training such as how to raise boys’ achievement. Excellent relationships allow children to flourish and gain very good self-control.

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Organisation

All policies and procedures are individual to the childminder and support her excellent childcare practice. Her record keeping is extremely thorough and meticulous and she works long hours to ensure that she is completely up-to-date with her paperwork and that the house is kept spotlessly clean and safe. She loves her work; children’s care and well-being are her main priority and she works very hard to ensure children in her care are fully supported in all aspects of their learning and development. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to make sure that the garden is secure, obtain written permission to administer medicine and keep a record of significant incidents.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The garden is now completely secure, parents give written permission for medicine to be administered and the childminder keeps a log of significant incidents. By addressing these recommendations the childminder has further assured children’s welfare.

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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

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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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

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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 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

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 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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