Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY221755 Unique Reference Number 04 February 2008 Inspection date Julie Larner 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 2003. She lives with her partner in North Shields, North Tyneside.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Children have access to the whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor. There is access to an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for three children under eight years. She currently has three children on roll, all of whom attend on a part-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has a BTEC Diploma in Nursery Nursing.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a very clean, hygienic environment where the childminder uses good consistent procedures to maintain their health and welfare. They play with well maintained,

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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 clean toys and equipment and the childminder has a clear exclusion policy about caring for children who are sick. The childminder ensures that the children's needs are her main priority as she assesses what is wrong with children then takes steps to either phone the parent to seek advice, or if the illness is minor and will not put other children at risk, she makes sure that children are comfortable and feel reassured by giving them cuddles and monitoring them regularly.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's good personal hygiene is effectively promoted by the childminder. At snack time children are sensitively encouraged by the childminder to wash their hands before eating. The childminder supervises children closely during the session and provides them with support to meet their individual needs, for example, as she provides them with tissues and helps wipe their noses, then disposes of the tissues in the bin to limit the spread of infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children choose from a freely available, healthy range of snacks. An easily accessible fruit bowl and the childminder's encouragement for children to make choices about what they would like to eat means children benefit from foods that they enjoy. Children like helping to prepare foods that they eat as the childminder encourages them to chop up the banana themselves, this also contributes to developing their fine motor skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from lots of good opportunities to develop their physical skills. The childminder provides a wide range of outings that contribute to a healthy lifestyle and allow children to be active, such as playing with bikes at toddler groups, taking walks at nearby country parks and climbing tress under careful supervision.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children move freely and safely around the setting due to the childminder minimising risks appropriately with safety equipment and supervising children very well to ensure they remain safe. The childminder discusses safety issues with parents, for example, the use of stair gates for younger children and respects parents wishes, for example, by helping to support younger children to use the stairs to develop their skills to negotiate these successfully. The childminder's approach to keeping children safe is very successful as she ensures that cupboards are made safe to prevent access, electrical sockets are covered and children play with age appropriate equipment. The childminder maintains a high level of supervision when children of differing ages attend to ensure that they all remain free from the risk of inappropriate equipment, for example, when a wide age range of toys and equipment are used by the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children begin to learn about how to keep themselves safe through appropriate, spontaneous discussion with the childminder, for example, they know they can hurt themselves if they fall off the settee as they talk about similar instances where other children have done this. Children also learn about safety outdoors as they know they have to look and listen at the roads and hold on to the buggy or childminder's hand when they are outside.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children make choices from a wide range of good quality toys and equipment that interest them and capture their imagination, such as small world figures. The careful consideration which has been given to the storage of equipment ensures that children can make choices about what they want to play with and the childminder places a high emphasis on encouraging children to make decisions, because of this children make choices easily and confidently. A lovely warm and welcoming atmosphere is created for children and parents as the childminder

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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 displays children's work on the stairs to show that this is valued, whilst also contributing to their confidence and self-esteem.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children's welfare is effectively safeguarded due to the childminder's thorough understanding of child protection issues. She maintains a written child protection procedure to ensure that any incidents are treat consistently and is aware of the procedures to follow in the event she has concerns, however, certain child protection documentation is not always readily accessible.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very happy, settled and relaxed in their environment. The childminder has developed good, strong bonds with the children she cares for and because of this, they approach her with great confidence for guidance and reassurance. A particularly high emphasis is placed on valuing children's interests, child-led play and encouragement for children to make decisions, because of this, the childminder clearly respects children and what they want to do. For example, she provides them with sticky putty to put on their pictures as they decide where they want to hang them on the staircase.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder encourages children's learning and development very well in their everyday play. Children eagerly identify colours and count different items in comics which contributes to their overall learning in a fun and interesting way. Children share positive and worthwhile discussions with the childminder as they talk about different behaviours and how these make other people feel. This helps children think about how their own actions, or how other people's effect others.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy a wide and varied range of well planned activities with the childminder. They enjoy trips to the beach where they bury each other with sand, visit local parks to feed the ducks and make lovely collages with different materials. Children enjoy their time with the childminder immensely as they giggle as the childminder creates voices for figures they play with and children laugh as they colour in pictures of animals.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have good opportunities to learn about diversity. The childminder plans a careful range of craft activities to celebrate Chinese New Year which take account of differing children's ages and needs. For example, she clearly recognises that making paper lanterns will suit all of the children's abilities and will successfully promote inclusion for all of the children she cares for. A clear written policy on equal opportunities ensures that all children are treated consistently within the setting. Children make choices about what they want to play with on a daily basis, however, some older children's toys do not always reflect a balanced range with regard to gender.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnerships with parents are very positive. The childminder respects parents' views and builds good relationships to ensure that she has comprehensive information from parents about children's individual needs, meaning that she can successfully meet those needs. Parents are extremely well informed about the care of their children as the childminder tailors her feedback to the parents' needs, for example, through in-depth discussions or scrapbooks showing what children have done. Written policies ensure that parents are well informed about how the service

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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 operates and comprehensive consents from parents, for example, to allow the childminder to help with activities at the children's nursery, ensures they are updated and well informed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well due to the childminder's good understanding of behaviour management. A focus is placed on encouraging choice and praising positive behaviour and achievements consistently, which adds to raising children's self-esteem. Children's efforts are recognised by the childminder to help them feel good about themselves, for example, as she praises them for matching colours. Children enjoy taking responsibility for chosen tasks as they freely offer to tidy away toys after they have used them and carefully collect jigsaw pieces to put them back in the box.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are safe, settled and happy due to being cared for by a childminder that shows a good understanding of child development and of how to interpret the National Standards to maintain children's welfare and safety in the setting. She considers her own practice by producing written policies and procedures for her childminding to ensure the care of all the children is consistent.

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Organisation

Space is used well in the setting. Children choose were they want to play as they use the kitchen to colour in and draw and the living room to complete jigsaw puzzles. The childminder supports children's play very well as she sits at the children's level and offers guidance to help them with puzzles.

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Organisation

Paperwork and documentation is very well organised, maintained in confidential manner and easily accessible.

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Organisation

Overall, the setting 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 agreed to, seek written parental consent for emergency medical treatment, provide positive images of diversity and ensure that telephone numbers for child protection concerns were easily available.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has successfully addressed all of these recommendations. She has parental consent to seek emergency medical treatment for all children. Children enjoy discussions with the childminder about differences and diversity and can further this knowledge by looking at books depicting different cultures and religions. The childminder has telephone numbers for child protection concerns clearly documented beside her written policy on child protection. All of these further benefit the care and welfare of the children.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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 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): • ensure all documentation relating to child protection is readily available, for example, a copy of "What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused - Summary" • ensure that a wide and varied range of toys are available for all children.

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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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