Watters, Susan

Inspection report for early years provision

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500635 Unique Reference Number 18 February 2008 Inspection date Margaret Patricia Mellor 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 2001. She lives with her husband and two children aged seven and 17 years in Prescot, Merseyside. Children use all of the ground floor of the childminder's home for their care and activities. There is a secure, fully enclosed garden for children's outdoor play. The family has a rabbit.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children aged under eight years at any one time. There are three children on roll aged two years, and two children aged over eight years. She walks to take children out to places of interest. She regularly attends the local toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder receives support from the local authority. She 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's interest in a healthy lifestyle is fostered and encouraged. They love to be active and negotiate space well. They respond gleefully when climbing, playing ball games, riding or pushing wheeled toys, and exploring rhythm to music. They walk everywhere they go and visit places of interest, for instance the park, where they run around in the fresh air. Children relish doing simple puzzles and show plenty of dexterity as they lace animal cards, building on their fine motor skills through fun play and learning experiences. They enjoy opportunities throughout the day to be active or restful according to their respective needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished. They childminder offers a good variety of healthy food options for some of the children and others bring a packed lunch from home, contributing to their health needs. They relish fresh fruits every day as snacks and have plenty of fun comparing the different tastes and textures. Children have drinks throughout the day to satisfy their thirst and toddlers develop their coordination as they drink from their feeder cup.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is safeguarded well. The childminder ensures children use sun creams, wear hats, have plenty of drinks and play under the shade of the trees on hot days. She has a relevant first aid certificate and vigilantly keeps the first aid boxes fully stocked so that children's minor injuries are dealt with effectively. She stores medication in an accessible place out of children's reach and acts in children's best interests when they are ill. This is well supported by a certificate in the safe handling of medicines, and sick child policy. Individual dietary needs are communicated well, therefore parents' wishes are respected and children remain healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a clean, comfortable and homely environment. The childminder has a good understanding of health care issues, for example, wiping down surfaces, nappy changing and looking after the rabbit. Younger children develop their awareness of simple personal hygiene through their daily routine and as they learn to blow their noses with some adult support. They build on their awareness as they sing rhymes, such as 'this is the way we wash our face', also helping to prevent cross-infection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children's well-being is generally well safeguarded and promoted. There are effective procedures for the collection of children in an emergency. The childminder has accessed child protection training and prepared a policy. She has a copy of the government booklet 'What to do if you're worried a child is being abused' and is aware of the local procedure should she wish to report a concern. Children begin to learn aspects of personal safety. They practise crossing roads and talk about staying close to familiar adults on walks, and love to listen to the story of Hansel and Gretel. However, they do not practise the emergency evacuation procedure to follow in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children move freely with pleasure and confidence in the childminder's home, which is spacious and affords plenty of natural light. All the necessary safety equipment is in place, minimising the risk of children accidentally injuring themselves. They sleep in safety because the childminder regularly checks them and is close at hand to respond to their awakening. There are effective and well thought out procedures for keeping children safe and well whist enjoying outings.

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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 There is written parental consent and children are appropriately secured in prams so they safe and comfortable.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children freely and safely access the resources and activities. They play with a good range of toys which provides appropriate challenges and stimulates enjoyment. Younger children show curiosity as they freely explore their environment and develop self-assurance, seeking out what they want to play with from the toy boxes at child height. The garden is secure, providing children with a variety of safe challenges on the portable toys. The childminder keeps toys with small pieces out of reach and follows appropriate procedures for checking the play materials, therefore children remain safe.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have plenty of fun in the childminder's home. She is using the 'Birth to three matters' framework to promote children's learning and development. She plans a wide range of activities around children's interests, helping them to make good progress in their all-round development. She is beginning to use observation to track their progress. Every child has a scrapbook containing pictures they paint or draw and photographs, with captions of their play as a memento of their experiences and achievements.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop good levels of self-esteem, promoting their personal, social, emotional development. They eagerly choose whether to dress up, crayon, look at books or do lacing cards. The childminder is very attentive, sitting on the floor with children to support and motivate their learning. Children are keen to engage her in their activities, for instance, as they play matching shapes on peg boards. They sit and concentrate to complete tasks, for instance putting simple puzzles together, and competently build a tower with blocks of five or more. Children show a good awareness of how to behave.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's creative skills are nurtured and encouraged. They freely express their own ideas and feelings through art and craft. They explore colour, texture, shape and form through a range of media, such as collage, sticking, painting, sand and water. They have plenty of fun as they do leaf printing, and make models out of play dough and octopi out of paper plates. They extend their creativity as they decorate the cakes they bake, dress up and spontaneously role play with the dolls. Examples of the children's art creations are displayed, fostering their self-worth and a welcoming environment for themselves and their parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Younger children develop a strong sense of 'me, myself and I'. They smile at their reflection in the mirror, respond to their name and are gaining control of their physical needs, such as going to the toilet or helping themselves to a drink. They follow simple instructions and confidently ask questions, such as 'what's that?' or 'why?' The childminder consolidates children's learning, for example, repeating unfamiliar words or talking about colours and shapes whilst playing with blocks. Children enjoy singing rhymes with actions and love to look at picture books.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's curiosity and investigation skills are promoted well. They plant sunflower seeds and learn that they need light, sun and water to grow. They love to watch the wild birds and squirrels as they play in the garden. They have plenty of fun as they hunt for insects under the garden stones and feed the animals on visits to the farm. Younger children begin to make connections. They press the buttons on the interactive toys to create visual and sound effects, responding gleefully at hearing the different sounds. They begin to explore using their senses. They relish

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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 tasting vegetables with dips, listening to music and the feeling of paint or running sand through their fingers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's early years experiences are enhanced through activities outside the childminder's home. They go for lots of walks and relish visits to places of interest, for instance, the museum and theme or animal parks. Younger children regularly attend toddler group. This provides them with very positive opportunities to socialise with others and access different play experiences, whilst the childminder is close by for reassurance.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's needs are met very well. The childminder works closely with parents to ensure she understand children's individual needs and home routines. She encourages new children to bring things from home to comfort them, recognising that this may help them settle. Parents are provided with a welcome pack about the childminder's activities. There is good ongoing sharing of information about the children, reassuring parents that their interests come first. The childminder takes time to write in the under fives day diary and chat to parents as they arrive. Parents comment very positively in letters they write about their children's care, play and loving environment. This warm and meaningful relationship between home and the childminder enhances children's continuity of care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very happy and content. The effective equal opportunities policy and the childminder's previous experience of learning difficulties ensures that all children are included and valued as individuals. Children, themselves, begin to develop positive attitudes towards others as they play with different nationality dolls, small world toys, push dolls in wheelchairs and do puzzles or look at books. They learn about their own and others culture through celebrations, such as birthdays, Christmas or Chinese New Year. Activities are not gender-specific and all children are encouraged to play with the toys.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's self-esteem is nurtured in a positive environment. They are encouraged to feel good about themselves, and happily select play materials which help to make the environment relaxed, bright and attractive to them. The childminder uses appropriate strategies to manage their behaviour. She is a good role model and consistent in her approach, reinforcing children's good behaviour through constant praise and encouragement. She is very attentive and younger children relish her close contact as they play with the toys. They are encouraged to share, take turns, be kind to each other and be helpful, for instance setting the table. They are well occupied and involved in their play, resulting in them behaving very well.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's well-being is promoted and safeguarded in a caring environment. There are written policies and effective procedures so that they are not left unattended with non vetted persons. The childminder has accessed training, such as first aid, child protection and food safety, which also helps to provide an effective service. All the necessary regulatory daily documentation is maintained well and stored with regard to confidentiality, and the paperwork is made available for inspection. The child protection policy, however, does not fully reflect the local safeguarding procedures.

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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 Children are cared for as part of the family in a very warm, stimulating and homely environment. The childminder creatively organises the space with a good balance of activities, allowing for both active play and relaxation. Children gain independence and have plenty of fun as they spontaneously pursue interests that appeal to them. They enjoy good levels of individual support, reflected in the their happiness, confidence and strong sense of belonging. The childminder plans the activities well, affording children the benefit of everyday routines and a balance of home-based care with outdoor visits, when they meet up with others.

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Organisation

The childminder provides children with good adult support. She demonstrates plenty of commitment to improving the care and learning for all children. She is enthusiastic about her own self-development through regular attendance on childcare courses, for example, 'Birth to three matters' and 'developing childminder practice'. She uses her knowledge of child development well so children are provided with a broad range of play and learning experiences. Regularly sharing information with parents fosters and encourages children's continuity of care.

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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

At the last inspection two recommendations were raised to improve the quality of care. These referred to organisation and positive contribution. The childminder has reviewed the children's medication records, and increased the range of resources reflecting positive images of diversity, therefore safeguarding children and improving the quality of care offered.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the previous 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 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): • improve opportunities that promote children's awareness of personal safety • review the child protection policy.

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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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