Childminder in East Riding of Yorkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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314377 Unique Reference Number 30 January 2008 Inspection date Dawn Lumb 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 has been registered since 1987. She lives with her family in Swanland, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. She is registered to care for six children, and is presently caring for 10 children. A dedicated playroom is the main area used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed side and rear garden available for outside play. Children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder takes and collects children from nursery and school.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She has National Childminding Association Quality Assurance.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a very clean and well-maintained home environment. The childminder adopts effective procedures and promotes good practice to prevent the spread of infection and minimise the risk to children's health. For example, parents are made aware of the sickness policies that are followed. Arrangements for first aid and administering medication successfully meet requirements and protect children.

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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 Children's lunch is provided by the parents; the childminder works exceptionally well alongside parents so that parents' preferences and children's dietary needs are well met. Children benefit from a good, well-balanced, nutritious diet, which includes a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit for snack, as well as drinks throughout the day. Children's knowledge and understanding of a healthy lifestyle is very successfully supported. For example, the childminder uses well planned topics, taster sessions and healthy eating posters to promote interesting learning opportunities.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children's day is very well planned and includes regular opportunities for their individual physical development. For example, visits to local childcare sessions, ball games and equipment for climbing and balancing promote their physical well-being. They enjoy excellent play opportunities which enable the children to practise and develop their fine motor skills and control. For example, they make musical instruments and use a variety of movement and manipulative skills to play them.

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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 secure and safe indoor and outdoor environment. Children's risk of accidental injury is effectively minimised because of the constantly high awareness through training, detailed policies and rigorous procedures and risk assessments. For example, the childminder assesses any risks in the garden area and when walking to school.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder protects the children through vigilant, consistent monitoring and close observation. Children are unable to leave the premises unsupervised and unauthorised people are unable to enter freely. For example, there are clear procedures to ensure children are collected only by authorised people. Children are safeguarded from harm as the childminder has a very good understanding of the policies and procedures to follow if they have any concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are provided with rooms which are effectively organised to provide provision to meet the differing age range of children attending. Children use a very good range of quality toys and equipment that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. Children can self-select them easily and safely because they are stored at the children's height.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Effective routines and consistent rules help to safeguard the children. Children develop a very good awareness of their own personal safety through the childminder being a good role model and skilfully promoting learning opportunities. For example, the children learn the importance of safety when out and about through specific activities and books.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

High regard is given to the safety of the children within the home. For example, the childminder ensures the safe use of all equipment and resources through joining in with the children's play and making sure it is used appropriately. Exceptional thought and consideration for written risk assessments and a comprehensive checklist successfully monitor and evaluate the provision. The childminder gives good priority to fire safety procedures and fire evacuation practices are regularly carried out and recorded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very settled and happy. They have access to a very good, well-balanced range of toys and equipment which help them make very good progress in their learning and development.

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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 Children enjoy a stimulating and interesting range of activities and opportunities both indoors and outdoors. They are sensitively supported and encouraged to flourish and further develop. The childminder makes learning fun and uses everyday opportunities to enhance their play and development. Many creative activities, which are fun experiences, are undertaken. For example, children make musical instruments from various materials and join together to make music. Children are involved in activities that promote name recognition and the individual letters in their name. For example, they use letter bricks and are supported to develop sequencing techniques.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are learning and developing through very good interaction from the childminder, which leads to the children making significant progress. Skilful questioning techniques and the childminder's ability to motivate and interest children encourage them to take an active part in everyday play and learning. The childminder has attended many training sessions and plans activities for children alongside the framework.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is enthusiastic and committed to providing activities that promote all round learning and development. She asks open-ended questions and responds to the children's needs very well. The childminder promotes children's learning and development extremely well through very good observations and record-keeping systems that identify the next steps in children's learning and enable the childminder to extend their play opportunities in line with the next stages. She has an excellent knowledge and understanding of what activities to provide, how to use them to their full potential and why she is using them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The childminder effectively uses the children's own play experiences to promote their understanding of respect for others. She successfully uses the local amenities and plans play opportunities to build on children's social and emotional skills. For example, they visit play sessions and use snack times and games to learn about taking turns and sharing. The childminder has a positive attitude towards diversity and uses a good range of books and resources well within her planned play opportunities to heighten children's knowledge and understanding.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are valued and respected and there is a high commitment to ensuring that all children feel secure and are included. They receive positive praise and encouragement; the childminder promotes their achievements. For example, children's work is displayed to promote a sense of worth and belonging. The childminder is skilful in her awareness of when and how to support the children and activities are adapted to ensure all children are able to participate. The childminder talks to the children in a warm, caring manner and is skilful in encouraging good behaviour. For example, she has a good awareness of how to motivate and stimulate children to promote their interest. They behave very well and understand rules and boundaries that are in place within the home. For example, children are encouraged to tidy up after themselves. This gives them a sense of responsibility and encourages self-discipline.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children begin to develop a positive attitude and a good understanding of their local community and wider world because they access interesting and stimulating activities and well-planned opportunities that increase their awareness of diversity. For example, they learn about dances from different countries and talk about people, clothes and food from around the world. Children learn about the seasons; they go for nature walks and are involved in firsthand experiences, such as visiting the duck pond to feed the ducks. This also promotes their understanding of caring, growth patterns and the needs and habitats of animals.

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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 promotes a very positive attitude to working with parents. A highly effective information sharing system supports both parents' and children's individual and personal needs.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children benefit from a child-orientated home and children's care is significantly enhanced by exceptional organisation. Space and resources are effectively organised to allow children the freedom and independence to access a very broad and balanced range of toys, resources, activities and experiences.

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Organisation

All policies, procedures and documentation are robust and fully support the very good practice of a knowledgeable and skilled childminder. She constantly gives her utmost priority to protecting all the children, promoting their well-being and supporting all the children to develop their potential.

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Organisation

The childminder always strives for further improvement through evaluated and reflective practice. She is very proactive and committed to training and enthusiastically puts into practice what she has learnt. Children's needs are successfully supported through excellent consideration and routines.

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Organisation

The childminder has exceptionally high regard for the well-being of the children in her care and works very closely with the parents to ensure this. Parents are made to feel welcome and receive verbal communication, diaries and observation sheets about their child's progress, achievements and daily routines.

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Organisation

An abundance of written information, including all the relevant and required paperwork, is in place and effectively organised, maintained and kept in a confidential manner.

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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

The last inspection raised recommendations in regards to documentation, to ensure confidentiality when recording accidents. The childminder has successfully addressed documentation to support the setting and children's well-being.

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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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