Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY282188 Unique Reference Number 19 February 2008 Inspection date Sharon Greener 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 2004. She lives with her husband and child aged 10 years in the North Shields area of North Tyneside. The whole of the ground floor and one bedroom located on the first floor of the childminder’s house are used for childminding purposes. There is an 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 and is currently minding six children under eight years. All of the children attend on a part-time basis, including some before and after school. The childminder walks children to and from nursery and school and transports children in her car. She regularly attends local carer and toddler groups each week.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children who speak English as an additional language.

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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. The childminding environment is well maintained and hygiene standards are good. The childminder presents a positive role model to the children and they are encouraged to adopt suitable personal hygiene practices, such as, hand washing at appropriate times. However, individual hand drying facilities are not provided for the children and suitable nappy changing facilities are not consistently provided. In general the childminder has a good understanding of related policies and procedures, for example, caring for a sick child and the administration of medication. These policies and procedures are used well to help to promote and preserve children's health and welfare.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder shows a good enough understanding of the need to ensure that children are suitably nourished. Catering arrangements are very flexible. The childminder understands the importance of meeting the wishes of parents and carers in respect of children's dietary needs, whether for medical, cultural or religious reasons or their life style choices. She discusses such matters with parents and carers and any relevant information about a child's requirements is recorded. The childminder has previous experience of catering for children with specific dietary needs, for example, a child of Muslim faith. Healthy eating is promoted and appropriate drinks are offered. This helps promote and preserve children's health and well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities for physical play both indoors and outdoors. The childminder acknowledges the benefit of fresh air and exercise and children are frequent visitors to local parks, green areas and soft-play facilities. Children have access to an enclosed garden and a good variety of equipment is provided to enable them to develop and enhance their physical skills. Children receive praise, encouragement and support from the childminder. They are able to test their abilities within a supportive environment. Children are able to rest or sleep according to their individual needs. This helps to promote their physical development and welfare.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder has a very good knowledge and understanding of related policies and procedures. She uses these efficiently to help remove or minimise risks to children. Childminding areas are very well maintained and used well to accommodate children's play. Suitable safety equipment is in place, such as, socket covers, smoke detectors, a fire guard, fire blanket and a safety gate. Prior to children's arrival each day the childminder completes a thorough visual risk assessment of the rooms and resources to be used. This process is ongoing throughout childminding hours and helps to maintain a safe environment for the children. Children are very closely supervised by the childminder and are able to move freely and safely from room to room within the constraints of safety. Visitors are not allowed unsupervised access to the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder helps to raise children's awareness of danger and the need to preserve their own safety and that of others. She does this by presenting a positive role model to the children and through talking to them about matters, such as, road safety, not approaching strangers and the need to stay close to her during outings. The childminder sets clear, consistent boundaries for the children. She explains ground rules and the reasons for them in a simple manner in accordance to the children's age and level of understanding. Children are given

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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 gentle reminders of the ground rules, such as, not to play too roughly as someone may get hurt. Children respond very well and this helps keep them safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder shows a very good understanding of her role and responsibility with regard to safeguarding children and has completed relevant training. A written policy statement is shared with parents and carers during the induction procedure and the childminder talks to them about the action she would take if she had a concern about a child's welfare. A copy of the recommended child protection literature and the contact details for the Local Safeguarding Children Board are available for reference purposes. This helps to protect children from harm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder builds very warm relationships with the children and they are most relaxed and at ease in her care. Children are very well supported and the childminder understands the importance of using praise to promote and enhance children's confidence and self-esteem. They interact very well together and the childminder encourages co-operative play. She has a very good awareness of children's individual needs, abilities and preferences. This knowledge is obtained through her ongoing observation of the children and through talking to them and their parents and carers. This enables her to provide children with access to a variety of age appropriate activities and resources to help promote and enhance their learning and development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Younger children regularly attend the local carer and toddler groups each week. During school holidays the childminder takes children to places of interest, such as, Flamingo Land, Lightwater Valley, Edinburgh Zoo, White House farm, the beach, Blyth park, the local life boat centre and the Tynemouth Centre. Photographic evidence of outings is provided and children are able to recall such events. These outings provide children with additional opportunities to socialise and to learn about the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder shows a satisfactory awareness of equality of opportunity. A suitable selection of resources and activities are provided to help raise children's awareness of diversity. For example, children recognise and celebrate festivals from different cultures, such as, Chinese New Year. The childminder has some previous experience of caring for children from different ethnic backgrounds and for children who do not speak English as a first language. She has experience of caring for children with a disability and learning difficulties, such as, a child with Down's Syndrome. The childminder demonstrates a satisfactory understanding in this area.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder shows a good knowledge and understanding of behaviour management. Age appropriate behaviour management strategies are used very well. The childminder promotes and reinforces children's good behaviour through the recognition and praise of such behaviour. Children respond positively to her and are very well behaved.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works in harmony with parents and carers. They are asked to visit her home several times with their children to allow all parties to become familiar with each other. Children are introduced gradually into her care. This enables them to feel at ease and they settle well. The childminder ensures that she obtains and records all of the relevant information necessary from parents and carers before she takes sole charge of their children. Respective parents 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 carers have access to their child's records. The childminder talks to them about the policies and procedures she uses and other general information about the service she provides. Written policies are shared with parents and carers during the induction process. The registration certificate is displayed for their benefit.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents and carers are kept well informed of their children's progress and daily events. This is achieved by verbal feedback, the use of photographs and the creative work children take home. In turn they are asked to keep the childminder up-to-date with any relevant information that might impact upon the care of their children. This helps to ensure that the evolving needs of the children placed in her care continue to be well met.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Overall, the childminder has a good understanding of policies and procedures which are used very well. The required documentation is in place and is very well organised and presented. This helps to support operational procedures. The childminder is familiar with the complaints procedure. However, an appropriate system of managing and recording information in respect of complaints is not available for use should this be required.

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Organisation

The childminder is committed to the continued development of her good practice. This is shown through her willingness to seek out and complete relevant training. Since the last inspection she has completed training in relation to the ‘Early Years Foundation Stage, Setting the Standards for Learning, Development and Care for children from birth to five’, the Common Assessment Framework, food hygiene and has renewed her first aid certificate. She has obtained a level 3 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) qualification in Children's care, learning and education and a diploma in Home based child care. This helps to support her good practice.

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Organisation

Resources and space are well organised and used well to accommodate a variety of age appropriate resources and play experiences for the children. Child friendly storage systems allow the children to self-select resources and activities with ease. This helps to promote and nurture their independence and decision making skills. 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 time of the last inspection the childminder was asked to develop her knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures and to make parents and carers aware of her responsibility regarding safeguarding children from harm. To request written consent to seek emergency medical treatment from parents and carers and to provided children with access to a suitable selection of resources and activities to promote diversity.

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Improvements since the last inspection

An appropriate system of obtaining written consent in relation to the seeking of emergency medical treatment is in place. Children have access to a suitable selection of resources and activities that help to raise their awareness of diversity. Parents and carers are made aware of the childminder's role and responsibility regarding safeguarding children from harm through discussion and a written policy statement. This helps to improve operational procedures, partnership with parents and carers and the care and safety of the children.

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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 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): • consistently provide appropriate nappy changing facilities and individual hand drying facilities for children to help minimise the risk of cross infection • consider putting in place a method of recording information in relation to written complaints, so as to be available for use should this be required.

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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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