Johnson, Julie

Inspection report for early years provision

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320154 Unique Reference Number 13 February 2008 Inspection date Linda Filewood Inspector

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Integrated 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1997. She lives with her husband, who occasionally works as an assistant, and two adult children in Whitkirk, a suburb of Leeds. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding, together with the back bedroom and bathroom facilities on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside 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 when minding on her own and eight children when working with her assistant. She is currently minding 10 children on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children and attends the local toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She is a member of an approved childminding network and is currently in receipt of funding for early education for

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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 three and four-year-olds. Although, there were no children attending at the time of the inspection who were in receipt of nursery education funding.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a clean environment and the childminder has undergone food hygiene training so that food is prepared safely. The children are well supported to learn about good hygiene procedures. They have their own clean towel on an easy to reach hook, with a picture for easy recognition for younger children, to help prevent the spread of infection. Older children are encouraged to be independent in their personal care. The childminder clearly explains her sickness policy to parents to protect the health of others. Children are well looked after if they become ill or have an accident as the childminder has maintained her paediatric first aid certificate. She obtains written parental permission before she administers any medication and keeps well maintained records of all accidents, which parents sign as acknowledgment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are helped to understand the benefits of eating healthily and sometimes grow their own potatoes to have with the meals. Snacks and meals are nutritious and include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. The childminder works well with parents to meet all dietary requirements. Mealtimes are valued as a time for developing social skills and older children sit around the table to enjoy their meal together, whilst younger children sit in their highchair. Children help themselves to water throughout the day, especially with meals or after playing out.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a good range of activities which promote their physical development and good health, including a daily walk to and from school. They are given plenty of opportunity to help them develop control of their bodies and challenge their physical skills. For example, they learn to climb and slide on the climbing frame in the garden and regularly visit local parks and playgrounds, where older children enjoy the larger equipment. Children control their movements well. They join in with action songs indoors and become more confident negotiating obstacles when riding their bikes outside. Children's hand–eye coordination is developing as they become independent in cutting up their own food and using equipment such as scissors and crayons.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a well maintained, safe, secure and child friendly environment. The risk of accidental injury to children is minimised as the childminder is vigilant and takes precautions to reduce potential hazards, such as, using a guard on doors to prevent trapped fingers and covering plug sockets. Children are very well supervised both inside and outside. Sleeping children, who sleep in a quiet room for an undisturbed rest, are checked regularly by the childminder to ensure their comfort and safety. Children have regular opportunities to learn about their own personal safety as they take part in extremely well logged fire evacuation drills, discuss the dangers of crossing the road and why they should not approach strange dogs when out walking. Children's safety when on outings is extremely well thought out; they wear wrist

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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 bands containing the childminder's mobile number and their emergency contact numbers are carried separately as well as on the childminder's mobile phone.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Excellent organisation of the indoor and outdoor space allows children plenty of space to play safely. They choose toys and activities independently as the childminder ensures the stimulating selection of resources is within easy reach. This significantly enhances the children’s independence and development. The childminder carefully monitors the children’s toys to make sure they are safe and appropriate for the age and stage of development of all the children who are accessing them at that particular time. The child-size furniture allows children to sit in comfort to eat their meals or play with play dough. The garden is safe, secure and children are reminded of the rules for playing on equipment, such as the trampoline. Children enjoy an extremely wide variety of equipment which is in excellent condition.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is competently safeguarded and promoted by the childminder who has a very clear understanding of child protection issues and procedures. She fully understands her role in child protection and shares this with parents. She has completed recent child protection training to up date her knowledge of local safeguarding procedures and has a child protection policy that fully supports her practice. Parents are informed of the childminder’s responsibility to ensure children are only collected by those people known to the childminder and authorised by the parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are making good developmental progress as they take part in a varied range of high quality activities that support their physical, social, emotional and intellectual progress. They are purposefully engaged and enthusiastically join in all indoor play and outdoor games. Children are very confident in the setting, chatter happily to each other and the excellent relationship with the childminder and her assistant is evident. The children's imagination, learning and language are skilfully encouraged as the childminder converses with the children during practical activities, asking them questions to encourage them to think and teaching younger children number, colour and shape. The children enjoy sharing books and reading stories. They make their own books about their activities, such as growing plants or watching the tadpoles change into frogs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are encouraged to be independent and make their own choices regarding their play, which ensures that they are interested and enjoy their play. Planned focused activities are extremely well thought out to maintain the children's interest and provide opportunities for them to learn and develop in all areas. The children enjoy taking part in a good variety of play opportunities that extend their creativity. Crayons, scissors and craft items are easily accessible to the children. Children relate very well to each other and younger children develop their social skills by socialising with other children during regular attendance at the local toddler group. Outings are very well planned and include activities to develop the children's awareness of the world around them. They go on nature walks to collect leaves, visit the seaside and enjoy the local amenities, for instance to see exotic butterflies.

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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 The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. No funded children were present during the inspection, but evidence from plans and profiles demonstrates that the childminder has a clear understanding of the Foundation Stage. The childminder explains how she uses her knowledge to plan and provide a varied range of learning opportunities and activities. Although the planning does not show that it is informed by the ongoing observations of children's learning. Observations from children's profiles, as well as planning sheets, indicate that they experience a variety of play opportunities to support their development. However, the children's profiles do not show the next steps in their learning in order to continue their development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are encouraged to play together and are becoming aware of the needs of others. They become independent in managing their personal care through daily routines. For example, they are encouraged to put their own coat and shoes on before going out to play. They separate easily from their carer on entering nursery and talk about their friends there. Plans and records show that children are beginning to recognise some of the letters in their name and are ascribing meaning to marks. For example, they write down the list of ingredients needed to make a pancake. Whilst making the pancake they learn to weigh and measure out the ingredients and notice the change from liquid to solid as it cooks. They enjoy stories and are able to recall them to friends using the pictures in the book.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children use their imagination during role play activities and explain to others the role they are taking. For example, they become Captain Hook when playing pirates. The childminder provides them with numerous craft opportunities where they explore materials and media; they print, model, paint, crayon and talk about what the inside of a pumpkin felt like at Halloween. Records show that children are beginning to count, do simple addition and name numerals correctly when doing a jigsaw.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered. Children's individual needs are well met as the childminder and her assistant are skilled at including children of different ages in the same activity. For example, when playing on the trampoline the younger children hold hands with the assistant so they can enjoy bouncing up and down safely. Although the childminder has no experience of minding children with learning difficulties or disabilities, she demonstrates a clear understanding of providing an inclusive environment for all children. Children are developing an understanding of others and the world around them through discussion using a meaningful range of activities, posters, books and toys. They learn about their local community as they visit places of interest, such as museums, and enjoy nature walks and routine outings to the local parks. Watching tadpoles change to frogs and growing

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Helping children make a positive contribution

vegetables, such as a pumpkin to use at Halloween, helps children to appreciate the changing seasons and the changes in nature.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well. They show a good understanding of sharing and cooperate well with each other during play. The children respond well to the childminder's clear guidance and praise which raises their self-esteem. The childminder encourages children to understand right from wrong by reminding them of the house rules, such as how to play safely on the garden equipment. Any unacceptable behaviour is managed in a way that is age appropriate and

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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 consistent. Children are settled in the childminder's home and confidently decide what to do. They are encouraged to become independent in their self-care, for example, using a mirror to make sure their faces are clean after eating.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Good quality written information is available for parents to look at in the form of policies and procedures and information about the childminder's experience and practice. An information leaflet is given to them so they have a reminder of the policies, such as child protection and sickness. Parents are well informed about their child's day and their development through clear profiles containing regular observations and photographs, as well as verbal exchanges of information. The childminder obtains information from parents to make sure she meets the children's individual needs, for example, she finds out about food preferences and sleep routines. Parents are very happy with the care their children receive. The partnership with parents and carers of children receiving nursery education is satisfactory. Parents are suitably advised of the Foundation Stage curriculum and topics planned so that they are included in the children's

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Helping children make a positive contribution

learning. However, information about the children's achievements or development is not shared with other carers, such as nursery staff to help to promote continuity in the children's learning.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder makes good use of space, both inside and outside the home, creating a welcoming, child friendly environment where children are settled and comfortable. Their needs are met effectively as the childminder organises her space and resources well. However, children's play is sometimes disrupted when the table they are using is required for meal or snack times, and small children who use high chairs are not always included in the family group at mealtimes, so they do not receive the same social interaction. The childminder works well with other adults for extra support. Her husband works as an assistant on busy days to maintain a good adult to child ratio. She joins with other childminders to plan activities for children receiving nursery education. This positively supports children's care, learning and play and ensures all children receive sufficient care and attention. The childminder shows good commitment to extending

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Organisation

her knowledge and undertakes frequent, relevant training sessions which benefit the children and her childminding service.

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Organisation

The welfare, care and learning of the children is supported well as the childminder puts into practice effective policies and procedures, including one for complaints. Documentation is very organised and all records, parental permissions and registers required for the efficient and safe management of the provision are in place. Children’s personal information and parental consents are stored individually in separate files to ensure confidentiality. Parents are aware of their child's development and are encouraged to access their child's profile. 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 previous inspection the childminder was asked to extend resources to reflect positive images of disability. This recommendation has been met. The childminder supports children's understanding of similarities and differences and has extended her own knowledge of providing an inclusive environment by attending further training.

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Improvements 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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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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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are satisfactory.

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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): • ensure that the organisation of meal and snack times meets the needs of all children.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • develop planning so that it is informed by ongoing observations and assessments of children's learning • develop children's assessment records to show the next steps in their learning • devise a system to share knowledge of the children's progress and development with their other carers.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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 nursery education

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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