Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY282355 Unique Reference Number 04 March 2008 Inspection date Jeanne Lesley Walsh 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 2004. She lives with her husband and two children, aged four years and one year, in the Offerton area of Stockport. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and there is currently one child on roll. Children are cared for mainly on the ground floor of the property with access to the bathroom and toilet on the first floor. The family have two cats.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Children may be taken to local children's activity groups and walks to the park or the library, with parental permission. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and the Borough of Stockport Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is protected because there is a sick children policy in place, which is shared with parents. The childminder has completed training in first aid and there is a first aid box available if required. This means that she is able to provide appropriate care for children in the

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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 event of an accident or illness. Procedures for the administration of medication are kept in good order. The childminder also keeps a comprehensive record of any accidents or injuries that may occur, which include any injuries a child may have on arrival at the setting. The children are beginning to understand that regular exercise is good for them. They enjoy walking to the park and playing ball games, skipping and climbing in the fresh air. The childminder also organises dancing and action songs and rhymes indoors. Photographic evidence shows the children taking part in a charity sponsored walk around the park, to raise money for disadvantaged children. This was followed by a picnic and their certificate of achievement is available for all the parents to see.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder states that she tries to promote a healthy outlook for the children by building their confidence and self-esteem. She encourages them to become independent in their self-care, by following good hygienic daily routines. The children wash their hands before handling food, after using the toilet or playing outside or after handling the pets. They have access to fresh towels that are washed daily to reduce the risk of cross-infection. Good nappy changing routines are in place with nappies double bagged for disposal. The children also read the books that support their understanding of self-care and depict children dressing, washing, feeding and using the potty.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has discussions with parents regarding children’s individual dietary needs including likes and dislikes and any particular allergies. She demonstrates an awareness of healthy eating and children enjoy mainly home cooked foods. She offers the children an assortment of fresh vegetables each day and they help themselves to fresh fruit snacks. Drinks of fresh water are made available to children at all times. The children are developing good social skills as meals are well organised at the dining room table. They sit together in the high chair or on a booster seat as appropriate. They help to set the table and choose appropriate cutlery and their favourite table mat and they are expected to remember good manners. The children are beginning to learn where some foods come from when they grow their carrots, cress and mustard seeds and they love to eat what they grow. They also know that their milk

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Helping children to be healthy

comes from the cows and it is good for their bones. They visit the farm and watch the cows being milked and the eggs being collected from the hens. The children help to prepare some of their snacks as they spread the butter on the bread, choose their filling and make their own sandwich. They also love the books that support their learning. They are particularly interested in the story of the people who make an allotment and grow lots of different vegetables and they talk about different foods from around the world.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The children are cared for in a warm, welcoming home environment. The premises are bright with children's work displayed, which helps them to feel a strong sense of belonging in the setting. Space is organised so that they can play safely and comfortably. There is a wide range of toys and equipment available to meet the needs of children of all ages and stages of development. However, its organisation means that children cannot always access it safely. The equipment is of good quality and conforms to safety standards and is kept in a clean, safe condition.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder demonstrates an awareness of all safety issues and has made efforts to reduce risks for children. General safety within the home is good and children are under the direct supervision of the childminder at all times. However, security is such that children may be able to leave the premises unsupervised. Children are protected from the risk of fire because there

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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 are smoke alarms in place on both levels of the house. There is also an emergency evacuation procedure in place, which the children helped to prepare. They have stuck pictures on to represent each room, for example, a cooker in the kitchen and a table and chairs in the dining room. This is displayed for everyone to see and they know what it is for. They also practise their escape plan regularly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are protected because the childminder has completed Local Safeguarding Children Board training and information available for reference is shared with parents. The parents also complete a safeguarding children form, which confirms their understanding of the childminder's responsibility with regard to child protection. The childminder is able to recognise possible signs and symptoms of abuse and she demonstrates through discussion that she is aware of procedures to follow should she have concerns. However, she does not have a copy of the 'What to do if you're worried a child is being abused-summary', which means that she is not fully aware of the appropriate procedures to follow in the event of any concerns arising.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children are very happy and enjoy their time at the childminder’s home. Their individual care needs are well met and they are provided with a wide variety of toys and equipment that captures their imagination. They are interested and enthusiastic about their play and they are well challenged in all areas of their development. The children are encouraged to lead their own play and are given time to experiment with what they do. They busily explore the contents of the large, extremely well presented treasure basket. This is full of an exciting range of items of different colours, textures and a mixture of natural materials. There are several different sizes of wooden brushes, which the children sort out and line up at the side of the basket. Very gently the children stroke their face with the biggest brush, and then try again with the smallest brush. A thorough investigation reveals sponges, tins, mops, feathers, fruit, masks and a whole

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

range of different materials that the children explore with wonder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder demonstrates a knowledge of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and her simple daily plans loosely reflect this. The childminder is very supportive and encourages the children by praising and celebrating their achievements. She develops children’s communication skills by talking and singing, reading story books, playing musical instruments and singing songs and rhymes. The childminder supports their play and helps them to develop their learning. For example, the children confidently fit the pieces of a jigsaw together and talk about the picture it makes. The childminder further extends their learning by providing a set of brightly coloured pictures that link to the picture on the jigsaw and they talk about what they can see. They have also recently been making some spectacles out of craft materials and want to continue working on these. They stick brightly coloured shapes on to them and are very proud of their efforts.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are encouraged to choose and help themselves to the activities, which promotes their independence.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There is good photographic evidence available of children involved in a range of activities including painting, dressing up, digging in the sand and rolling in the ball pool. They love to build towers with the bricks, cook in the play kitchen and make tea parties for the dolls and dress them up and put them to bed. They are developing their imagination skills. The lovely examples of children's work demonstrate how they are developing their creative skills as they paint, stick, cut and glue. They have made their own canvas picture with paint and college materials and are very proud of their efforts. The displays encourage the children and show appreciation and respect for their work. This boosts their confidence and their self-esteem.

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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 children are happy and curious and confidently move around the setting exploring and discovering. They are developing warm relationships with the childminder and they are settled and content in her care. She is observed to be very patient and caring and gives them lots of time and attention. Their individual needs are being met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated with equal concern because the childminder discusses their individual needs with parents to help her provide care appropriately. The children are introduced to diversity through access to a good range of activities that help to promote positive images. These form part of their everyday play and include dressing up clothes, small world play, dolls, books and beautifully illustrated picture cards that show children from around the world and children with disability, all engaged in positive play and activities. They celebrate different cultural and religious festivals and they use their books to help them understand the world around them. One of their favourite stories tells how the people worked together to make their own community allotment to grow their food and it tells them about different foods from around the world. Other books introduce them to religions, customs and languages from around

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the world. The children are also becoming familiar with their local community through frequent visits to local amenities, such as the park, the pet shop and the green grocers, where they go to choose their favourite fruits.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Discussion confirms the childminder has some previous experience of caring for children with a disability or learning difficulties. She is willing to work closely with parents to help her to provide appropriate care for children. She stated that she would also willingly complete additional training to further develop her knowledge and skills in this area.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children in the setting are observed to be very happy and relaxed. The childminder operates a positive and consistent approach to their behaviour management. She uses explanation and discussion and makes sure children know the rules when they first come, by including them in setting simple boundaries for their own safety and comfort. These are displayed to remind the children. The children are also learning how their behaviour affects other people as they talk about being kind to each other and not hurting each other. The childminder follows her policy as she consistently rewards children with praise and encouragement, which boosts their self-esteem. The children are observed to be happy and they behave very well in the setting. They are very polite and consistently remember to say thank you and please.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder values the positive relationship she has developed with parents. She shares information with them daily and completes a daily diary about their child’s day. She willingly works closely with parents to provide a consistent approach to children’s care, for example, with potty training and diet. Parent comments confirm that they find the childminder trustworthy, caring and responsible and would recommend her to others. She has a written agreement with parents and aims to provide care according to their wishes and according to the individual needs of their child.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The minded children are happy and settled in a friendly and homely environment. They confidently play and explore and build positive relationships with the childminder and other children. The space available is suitable so that children can move around freely and safely.

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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 The childminder supervises the children at all times and never leaves them in any other person's care.

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Organisation

The childminder has completed required training and continues to further develop her knowledge and skills through attending additional training courses. She uses her new knowledge to further enhance the care she provides for the children. Documentation is kept in good order to support the smooth running of the setting. Policies and procedures are shared with parents and these include reference to how her practice relates to the National Standards. A good range of information is available for reference and is appropriately displayed for parents. All documentation is well organised and is available for inspection. 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 the childminder was asked to expand the play materials reflecting positive images of culture, gender, ethnicity and disability and to provide opportunities for children to handle and explore natural materials.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder now provides a good range of resources and activities that raise positive awareness of equal opportunities and diversity. The children also have good access to an imaginative range of natural materials to explore and investigate and enhance their learning opportunities.

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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. 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): • consider the organisation of equipment to make it easier and safer for children to access it freely and improve security to ensure that children cannot leave the premises unsupervised • become familiar with the guidelines in the 'What to do if you're worried a child is being abused-summary'.

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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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