Hainsworth, Joanne

Inspection report for early years provision

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311061 Unique Reference Number 08 October 2007 Inspection date Helene Anne Terry 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 has been registered since 1998. She lives with her husband and two children aged 15 and 13 years in a semi-detached house in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Areas of the home used for the children include the kitchen and dining room and bathroom on the first floor of the property. The rear garden is used for outdoor play.

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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. At present she has eight children on roll between the ages of one and seven years; most of whom attend for various sessions throughout the week. The childminder transports children to and from the local school. The family has a dog and a rabbit.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder regularly attends toddler groups and is a member of the local childminding group and 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 benefit from a very good range of meals, snacks and drinks. Healthy eating options include portions of fresh and dried fruit and a choice of drinks, such as water, juice and milk. Children enjoy a cooked meal at lunchtime and those arriving from school are offered a light snack, such as waffles, toast and crackers. This supports their health and growth needs well. The childminder identifies the individual dietary needs of children and obtains information from parents. This ensures mealtime arrangements are managed safely and in line with parents' wishes.

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Helping children to be healthy

The health needs of children are promoted very well. Children are developing their independence and gaining an early awareness of the importance of hygiene procedures. Children have the use of individual towels to prevent the spread of infection and they learn how to wash their hands thoroughly to get rid of the germs. Pet hygiene is also fully considered.

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Helping children to be healthy

Appropriate arrangements are in place to protect children from potential health risks. Parents are informed and made aware of the sickness policy and children are discouraged from attending if contagious. Health care arrangements for children are agreed with parents and include prior parental consent to administer medication and seek emergency medical advice or treatment. In addition medication and accident records are well maintained.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health and growth is further promoted owing to daily activities in the fresh air. They enjoy regular outings to the park, where they develop their physical skills using the large apparatus. They also play in the garden using a good range of equipment, such as bikes, balancing stilts, bats and balls, tunnels, tents and a slide.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children enjoy access to comfortable and homely surroundings. Designated areas for play are arranged appropriately and include the use of the dining room and kitchen for specific activities. A good range of toys and equipment are provided. They support the needs of children attending across the age range and are easily accessible in drawers, boxes and on shelves in the dining room. Toys and equipment are maintained very well and promote safe play experiences for children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder risk assesses her home and carries out appropriate procedures to keep children safe. For example, low-level plug socket covers, smoke alarms and secure arrangements for the storage of medication and household cleaning fluids, prevent children from possible dangers. Under the close supervision of the childminder children are learning to look and listen out for cars and traffic when crossing roads. They also learn how to use equipment safely. For example, they are reminded to tidy the bricks away so that they do not fall on them and hurt themselves. Older children also learn to keep small pieces of equipment away from the babies. A fire evacuation plan is in place, however, this is not practised with the children. This hinders children's ability to feel confident and know what to do in the event of an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder shares information with parents about her responsibility to keep children safe. She knows what action to take if she has any concerns about children in her care in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The childminder understands and recognises the

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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 importance of keeping records and shares information with parents. As a result, children are protected well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy good levels of support and encouragement from the childminder. This helps them to develop trusting relationships and gain confidence. The childminder is interested in what children do and say. She frequently involves them in conversation and encourages their input in the activities. They are involved in a varied and flexible routine with times for play, rest, meals and outings. Children's individual routines are followed incorporating parents' wishes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are happy, occupied and engaged. They benefit from good levels of care and enjoy warm and kind responses from the childminder. This helps them to feel reassured and at ease in their surroundings. Children benefit from a good balanced range of free play and planned activities. They choose what they wish to do and happily play with toys. The childminder plans activities for special occasions, such as festivals and special events through the year. For example, children bake and decorate buns on 'Red nose day'. The children have their own activity books that contain examples of their artwork and photographs. These are shared with parents. The childminder is not using the 'Birth to three matters' framework to support young children's development. As a result activities are not planned to extend individual children's development needs. Children enjoy lots of creative activities, for example, potato and hand prints, and collage

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

work. They take part in activities that develop hand and eye coordination and use good concentration skills as they thread picture mats and put beads in doll's hair. Children learn about colours and numbers as they talk about the colours of bricks and how many they have in their tower.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are welcomed and valued as individuals. The childminder finds out about children's daily care needs and any specific arrangements from parents to promote continuity. Children begin to learn about the world about them and about people's differences and similarities through a range of resources and activities. For example, they play with dolls, play figures and books representing positive images of people of different ethnic origins and disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved, relaxed and polite. They are learning the importance of good manners and learn to say 'please' and 'thank you'. The childminder uses age-appropriate methods to support children's behaviour. Children benefit from discussion and explanation, helping them to understand the difference between right and wrong. They enjoy frequent positive praise and their good behaviour and achievements are recognised. This promotes children's confidence and helps them to develop a positive self-image.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder develops positive relationships with parents. A good range of information is provided for parents to keep them fully aware and informed of the service the childminder provides. Parents receive regular feedback and benefit from time to talk to the childminder about their child's day at pick up times. As a result continuity of care is promoted well. Parents also benefit from written information on request, relating to their children's daily routines, activities and play they enjoy. Parents also access the good range of policies and procedures

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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 available about the setting, including the complaints procedure. This ensures, parents are informed and up-to-date about children's day-to-day activities and arrangements for care.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises space and resources to successfully meet the needs of the children. Consequently children settle well and feel at home. The layout of the play areas ensures easy supervision of children resting whilst others play. Children are kept safe due to the childminder's good awareness of vetting procedures for adults having supervised or unsupervised access to the children. The childminder has a good deal of experience in caring for children, having been a childminder for many years. She updates her knowledge as required and holds a current first aid certificate to enhance children's well-being. There is a good range of policies and procedures that effectively underpin the setting. The childminder evaluates the provision through a range of statements that provide evidence of how she meets each of the National Standards. All required documentation is in place to protect children and is stored confidentially. Overall, the

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Organisation

provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection it was recommended that improvements were made to documentation and resources that represent positive images of diversity in society. Good improvements have been made to enhance children's well-being and development. The medication records are completed accurately with all the required information and the complaints procedure is readily accessible to parents should they have any concerns. The toy provision now contains resources that positively represent images of different cultures and disabilities, to enable children to become aware of their society.

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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. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaint 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): • practise the fire evacuation plan regularly with the children

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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 • develop the use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework to support individual children's developmental needs.

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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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