Childminder in East Riding of Yorkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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314372 Unique Reference Number 13 December 2007 Inspection date Elizabeth Patricia Edmond 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 childminder since May 2000. She lives with her husband and four children aged 14, 12, nine and four years in a semi-detached house in a village near Driffield and Bridlington. Only the ground floor of the property is used for childminding. This includes a playroom, dining room, sitting room, kitchen and downstairs toilet. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family has two pet cats.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered for a maximum of four children under eight years old. There are currently six children on roll who attend various full and part time sessions. Older children are also cared for. Children are taken to and from local primary schools and nurseries. All local amenities are within walking distance of the home, and the childminder takes children out into the community to attend music sessions or toddler groups in Bridlington. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and the local childminding group.

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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 are cared for in a warm, clean environment where measures to promote the children's health and hygiene work very well in practice. For example, children are very confident about the labelling on their own hand towel in the down stairs towel. Children develop a positive attitude to being active in the outdoors. For example, they have great fun building dens with tree branches in the large rear garden when trees have been pruned. There is an exceptional range of good quality activities in the garden which help children to have fun with their developing physical skills. The childminder has also done training on how to encourage children's interest in music and movement which means that they can enjoy being active indoors.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from the healthy meals and snacks provided by the childminder. The childminder provides all meals and effectively works towards providing the children with their recommended five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables each day. Children enjoy their mid morning fruit and talk confidently about the different types of fruit they like. They also learn to make their own healthy choices in their diet. For example, they enjoy choose from a range of healthy fillings to assemble their own wraps at lunch time or choose whether to have carrots or broccoli with their sausages. Children are active and alert throughout the day because the childminder has an excellent understanding of how to explain to young children about the necessity of keeping hydrated and she is proactive in reminding them to drink regularly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children can play freely with an excellent range of equipment because it is in good safe condition and stored invitingly and accessibly so that children can reach it safely. They also use her good quality domestic furniture freely for their rest and play. For example, they take part in art and craft at the table and use the sofa cushions to bury themselves as part of a game.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a professional approach to identifying risk and minimising them in relation to the children's ages and stage of development. She carries out risk assessment for all aspects of her practice and keeps advice about child safety on file should she or the parents need advice. Children learn to keep themselves safe as they play outdoors. The childminder asks them to think about what might happen if they rush across the frosty ground and they are very confident about what might happen if they slip. All local and national child protection guidance is kept on file and the childminder updates her training regularly. This means that children are protected and their well-being safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children arrive happily at the childminder’s house. They make themselves at home and greatly enjoy their time there. The wealth of interesting equipment and the displays of children’s art work create a homely and wonderfully stimulating environment where children are motivated and actively engaged throughout the day. Children know that their choices in their play and learning are welcomed and their efforts highly valued. However, at times, the play becomes so involved and the play equipment so muddled that items get lost and valuable play space is taken up. This means that the children become frustrated when they cannot find what they

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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 need. Children develop a good level of independence. For example, children learn to use cutlery and they fasten their own coats very well. This is because the childminder models how to do this and sometimes suggests they look in the mirror to see where their coat buttons are. The childminder has begun to develop a system of noting relevant observations of children as they play and takes photographs to support what she has learn about their development. This system is not yet used fully to identify the next steps for children’s learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has an excellent understanding of how the use of household items and natural materials fuel the children’s imagination. Consequently, children are very imaginative with the large cardboard tubes or pruned branches. They concentrate very well and become confident, motivated learners. The childminder also provides a good range of art and craft activities. They help themselves to the different colours and experiment confidently to find out what happens when the colours are mixed together as they make Christmas wrapping paper to wrap their presents. Children learn to speak very well because the childminder actively engages them in conversation as they play. She speaks clearly to them and, importantly, gives them time to reply. This means that as well as having the time to practise their skills, children know that what they say will be valued. The childminder helps them to recognise the different sounds in

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

words by hinting that that the fruit they had yesterday started with a ‘M’ sound. They are proud when they remember that they had melon. Children benefit from the broad range of activities which help to appreciate the outdoor environment and they become competent active learners. They develop a high level of natural curiosity and talk with increasing knowledge about their gardening projects and are proud of their success with the hyacinth bulbs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder gets to know children and their families very well. She chats about their family members, knows what they like to do and she enjoys their developing personalities. This means that children are highly respected and valued as individuals. This approach combined with the childminder’s training and experience means that measures to support children with learning difficulties and disabilities are also good. The children are relaxed, confident, play very well together, and importantly, they learn to resolve their differences. They take turns with the equipment and the childminder skilfully helps them to talk about their feelings when they are cross.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder’s highly professional approach to working in partnership with parents means that they give their views regularly on the quality of care provided. The surveys show that they are very pleased with the standards of care and the flexible service provided. There is good written and verbal information for parents. For example, there are clear written procedures about the childminder’s approach to childcare and daily diaries give parents a clear insight into how their children spend their day as well as informing them about basic care routines, such as how well they have eaten or slept.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is very well organised in her daily routines. For example, she makes sure that children who attend part time have had equal opportunity to create their Christmas wrapping paper whilst the others are at nursery, and she helps them to complete this before they all need the table for lunch. The children benefit from a continually improving childcare service. This is

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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 because the childminder has an excellent approach to evaluating the quality of the provision and improving it where practically possible. This includes an extensive programme of training and an action plan relating to all aspects of care including the premises.

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Organisation

Children are happy with the organisation of the premises. They confidently help themselves to the equipment and they attend to their personal hygiene needs easily at the downstairs toilet facilities. All aspects of the childminder's documentation are clear and well organised, records are detailed and shared with parents. Information is similarly well organised, and therefore easily accessed, should guidance on child health or safety be needed. 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

At the last inspection three recommendations were raised to improve outcomes for children. The childminder was asked to continue to develop resources to include those to promote children's awareness of cultural and religious diversity. There is now a range of resources and activities which promote equal opportunities. She was also asked to further develop procedures for recording medicines administered to children. All records are now in good order and signed by parents to acknowledge that they are aware of any dosage given. This lessens the likelihood of misunderstandings. The childminder was also asked to devise and implement an emergency evacuation procedure. This is now exceptionally clear and practised regularly. The effectiveness is evaluated by the childminder along with the older children and practised again when they think this can be improved.

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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 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): • continue to develop the use of observations of children as they play to actively promote learning and development • improve the organisation of the equipment so that children can easily see and find what they need and have increased space to play.

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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 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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