Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY269499 Unique Reference Number 08 October 2007 Inspection date Gillian Sutherland 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 2004. She lives with her family at Little Sutton in Ellesmere Port. She has three children, one of whom is an adult and the other two are aged 10 and eight years old. The whole of the ground floor is available for childminding purposes, although activities will be primarily based in the lounge area. There is a secure outdoor play area.

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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 eight children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks or drives to and from school, and also takes the children to local places of interest. The childminder has a dog, a rabbit and goldfish.

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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 good. Children enjoy a varied range of activities and experiences, both indoors and outdoors, which promote being healthy. They walk to and from school with the childminder on a daily basis and they also access a range of games which, weather permitting they play with, in the grassed and paved areas at the rear of the house. The range of outdoor toys and resources includes swing ball, hopscotch and team games using hoops, bean bags and when playing such games they take turns and one child is the scorekeeper. Indoors, children access a range of resources which develops their fine motor skills, an example of this was observed as children played with play dough and used it by rolling it into strips and creating the letters of their name.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a home that is very warm and welcoming to them, where they learn about the importance of good health and personal care as part of their daily routine. For example, they wash their hands as they come in from school and before they sit down to enjoy their snack time. The toilet and hand washing facilities are upstairs although there are always hand wipes available downstairs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's individual dietary needs are well met by the childminder as they are fully discussed with parents prior to care commencing and specific needs are recorded on their enrolment form. This ensures that children are looked after in accordance with their parents' wishes and their individual dietary needs are met. On arriving home after school children have a buffet style snack in the lounge, where they self select which foods they want to enjoy, including cucumber strips, breadsticks, fresh fruit and yoghurt covered fruit flakes. A hot meal is provided for children who stay later and are there for tea with the family. A choice of drinks are available including water and these are freely accessible to the children during each session.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are allowed to move around freely and play safely. To ensure children are safe the childminder has taken steps to minimise potential risks or hazards and she and the children have devised some house rules which all children then adhere to.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Smoke alarms have been fitted by the fire service and are sited on each level of the house and there is also a carbon monoxide detector in place. Children have participated in fire drills, thus, ensuring they are aware of the procedures that would be followed in the event of a fire. Acting on advice given by a fire officer the mobile handset has the directions written on and would be given to the emergency services if required. The garden at the rear of the house is fully enclosed and there is a high lock on the gate ensuring children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well informed about road safety dangers and also stranger danger through discussion and participation in good practice as they go on frequent outings with the childminder to many local places of interest. To ensure children's safety when on outings all children must wear a wristband and badge which contains appropriate information and contact details of the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children can freely move from room to room on the ground floor and can self-select the toys of their choice or participate in a varied range of activities. One or two children may choose to go upstairs and read a book quietly or watch an appropriate television programme or game, as

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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 it is registered for use when childminding. The childminder has a very wide and varied range of resources all of which are clean and well maintained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a sound knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and she has a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures, which she has familiarised herself with and would refer to for contact details as and when required.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very happy and settled with the childminder. They know where everything is and are kept interested and stimulated with a selection of appropriate toys and games. Children access a wide and varied range of resources; they make choices about their play and learning as they self-select what to play with or which activities they want to participate in.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Interaction between the childminder and children is good as they participate in games or play activities and also as they walk to and from school with the childminder when they discuss their experiences of their day at school. The childminder explained that she always consults the children about the activities available and to see if they want to incorporate any of their own ideas into the activity programme.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are encouraged to become confident and independent. This is achieved through the consistent use of support and praise from the childminder during their play activities who is interested in their play and ensures the activities available are fun. Children access a very wide range of age appropriate activities some of which they can play alone with, for example, the computer, looking at books or playing with the dolls or the hairdressing activity.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They are introduced to nature as they often go on walks through the local woods, look for the squirrels and enjoy the wider play spaces to run around and play their games. Children were very keen to look at the spider they had collected and put into a specifically purchased container. After researching the life and habits of the spider and using a magnifying glass they were then able to watch it through the vision panel as it moved around and ate the leaves they had put in for it.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children and their parents are made to feel very welcome in the childminder's home. Children's individual needs are fully discussed with parents prior to care commencing and information gained is recorded in their personal file. As a result, the childminder is extremely knowledgeable about the children in her care and ensures that their individual needs are met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children become familiar with the routines of the childminder and are aware of the house rules, such as sitting at the table at meal times although a buffet snack is offered as the children come in from school. The childminder leads by example, speaking politely to the children and praising them appropriately during their play. For example, when some of the children were playing with the dolls and the hairdressing resources the childminder took a real interest in the activity by engaging them in conversation about the activities they were participating in.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder always discusses the strategies she uses to manage children's behaviour with parents prior to care commencing, as this results in achieving a consistent approach to managing

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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 unwanted behaviour. This is always included in the pre-admission discussion when she discusses her policies in detail. The childminder has devised a complaints procedure and has a system in place which she would use to record any complaints made, and this is shared with parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for in an environment where they are able to play and feel comfortable whilst in the care of the childminder. Here children access bright and welcoming play areas and also benefit from daily fresh air and exercise as they walk to and from school with the childminder. Weather permitting they also access outdoor play activities in the outdoor play area and also visit many local places of interest.

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Organisation

The childminder maintains a current first aid certificate and this is kept in a file, along with details of additional training she has attended plus other relevant childminding documentation, and is shown to parents prior to care commencing. The childminder fully discusses her policies and procedures with parents as part of the pre-admission discussion. There is one policy that does not currently comply with current legislation and guidance, and that is the safeguarding children.

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Organisation

The childminder has developed a good working partnership with parents and keeps them fully informed about their child's day and the activities they have participated in. This was confirmed by the parents who came to collect their children and who were more than satisfied with the care provided by the childminder.

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Organisation

All the required documentation that contributes to children's health, safety and well-being is in place, however, the daily register does not include the times of arrival and departure. The childminder ensures that all documentation relating to childminding is stored appropriately and in such a way that ensures confidentiality for the children and their parents.

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Organisation

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

Since the last inspection the childminder has replaced the door which had a glass front and ensures that all video tapes are securely stored, thus ensuring children's safety.

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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 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): • revise the current safeguarding children policy to ensure it complies fully with current legislation and guidance

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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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