Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY279449 Unique Reference Number 11 December 2007 Inspection date Lynda, Margaret Ronan 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 since June 2004. She lives with her husband and three children aged eight, six and three. They live in a house in Timperley within walking distance of schools, shops and parks. The family have two rabbits.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole of the ground floor, upstairs bathroom and the two older children's bedrooms are used for childminding. Children also have access to a fully enclosed rear garden.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time and currently there are six children on roll, all of whom attend on a part-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends local carer and toddler groups on a regular basis. 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 satisfactory. Children are secure, confident and very well settled: they demonstrate a trusting and strong relationship with the childminder. For example, they seek hugs and reassurance from her when faced with new situations or are concerned and they soon regain their confidence.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are encouraged to make healthy choices. Children thrive as they follow their individual sleep and eating patterns. The childminder takes care to meet the individual physical needs of children, for example, by preparing different foods for each child and planning the space in her home to allow children to sleep quietly whilst others play.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children grow strong as they regularly walk, play in the garden and visit the park. They also play actively at mother and toddler group, for example, by playing with a large parachute. The importance of vigorous regular exercise is recognised by the childminder and she organises each day effectively to provide this.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children know and follow appropriate hygiene routines, for example, washing hands prior to eating. The childminder protects children from cross-infection through consistently applied good hygiene routines with regard to food preparation and the personal care of children and by sharing a written sick child policy with parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder records information regarding accidents and administration of medication, however, not all occurrences of administration of medication are adequately recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are kept safe and well protected. The childminder is proactive in ensuring safety: precautions are in place; equipment is safe and raising children's awareness of danger is a priority. For example, she keeps children safe by giving each child a reflective arm band to wear when outside. Children are given good opportunity to discuss and recognise hazards consequently they are aware of precautions and actions to take; for example very young children know why they need to wear seat belts in the car.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are at home in the setting. They feel valued, as their work is displayed in the dedicated playroom and the kitchen. The high quality and plentiful resources are well chosen to meet the needs of children under eight and, consequently, children are involved and interested. However, not all resources are organised effectively to enable children to fully extend their independent play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected as the childminder closely supervises children at all times and has a sound knowledge of child protection procedures. She shares her duties and responsibilities in this area in written format with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Observation shows the children are actively engaged in conversation and purposeful activity throughout the inspection. Children and childminder chatter happily in a relaxed, friendly

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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 atmosphere. The childminder is skilled at using these conversations to extend children's language and to encourage them to think. When toddlers discuss a picture of a woman and baby, the childminder listens for a while and then asks the children who they think the woman may be? Children are ably supported to use language to reason and deduce.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children consolidate their learning as the childminder asks them to recall what they did that morning and offers opportunities for them to continue their play. They make choices about their play and activities and are able to organise resources to facilitate their play. Toddlers, for example, decide to be 'mummies' and dress up accordingly with clothes from the dressing up box and collect their babies and prams to go out. The childminder allows good time for child led activities but sensitively intervenes when support is needed. So, when the game of 'mummies' starts to flag, she suggests the babies and mummies go for a picnic and the toddlers soon start to organise for their trip out.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has a very good understanding of how children learn, as she uses practical experiences to extend their learning. Children learn number recognition by looking for numbers in the environment and counting whilst shopping for fruit. They learn the pre-writing skills whilst learning to feed themselves, gluing with glue sticks and using spatulas for runny glue also by throwing bean bags into hoops at the other end of the room.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children behave very well in a positive environment where they are constantly praised for their attitudes, efforts and achievements. Children have a clear understanding of expectations as the childminder quietly and calmly reminds them of boundaries. Very good emphasis is put upon children being polite, kind and considerate.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are proactively encouraged to form positive attitudes to diversity, through discussion of issues whilst reading books such as 'All kinds of bodies' and Little tiger makes friends' also through posters such as a welcome poster in different languages. The childminder also plans activities such as creating masks relating to Hinduism to enable children to learn about the society in which they live. Information about children's culture, religion, personalities and preferences is sought and recorded, enabling the childminder to fully meet their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are secure as they receive consistent messages and care at the childminder's and at home. Parents are kept very well informed about the childminder's service and about their children as well as their views being sought. The childminder takes care to recognise the parents as primary carers and to follow their wishes, resulting in an effective partnership of care. She consistently endeavours to meet children's individual needs very well including where necessary attending additional training to enable her to do so.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder keeps herself well informed of legislative changes and is committed to developing her childminding practice. She has, for example, attended courses on inclusion, child protection, positive behaviour management, the Birth to three matters framework and celebrating diversity.

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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 There are very good systems in place to record children's attendance which demonstrate ratios are met at all times, which positively promotes children's wellbeing and learning.

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Organisation

Children benefit from the dialogue between parents and the childminder being recorded accurately in legally required documentation. The childminder maintains her records by regularly updating them to keep them current which enables her to support children's safety and health effectively. A well ordered file of information gives parents good information about the service offered and an opportunity to ask informed questions.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder agreed to take action regarding four recommendations. She has completed a first aid course which includes paediatric care and maintains an appropriately stocked first aid box. Her knowledge of child protection procedures is up to date. The back garden is now fully enclosed. These actions further enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of children in her care.

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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

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): • keep a suitable written record of all administration of medication to children • seek advice on how best to reorganise the good resources available to children to fully support them to extend their independent play.

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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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