Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY284653 Unique Reference Number 11 January 2008 Inspection date Kathleen Snowdon 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 partner and their two children, aged five and nine near Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne. Her home is close to all local amenities, including schools and nurseries. All rooms are used for childminding apart from the master bedroom and there is a fully enclosed back garden for outdoor play; the childminder has a pet cat and dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She is currently minding two children under five and older children attend also. The childminder is a member of the local childminding network and the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Excellent opportunities encourage the children to be active and alert. They benefit from fresh air during the daily walk with the dog, for example, and enjoy more vigorous exercise when they play with great enthusiasm in the local park. As well as this, the children learn that exercise

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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 is fun and an effective way to make new friends when they go swimming and participate in sponsored toddles and walks.

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Helping children to be healthy

Delicious and appetising meals give the children the nourishment they need to grow and develop. These include pasta, egg and fish dishes, soups, salads and traditional roast dinners. Snacks include bread sticks, sliced carrots, fruit and yogurts to encourage the development of healthy tastes and preferences. The children visit local farms to pick blackberries and strawberries, which they later wash and eat. These enriching first-hand experiences show the children where the food that they eat comes from.

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Helping children to be healthy

Very good priority is given to helping children develop good personal hygiene. For example, the children each have a personal toiletry bag containing a face cloth and towel exclusively for their own use. They wash their hands after using the bathroom, after outdoor play and before eating. Alongside the highly effective arrangements that deal with sick children, these factors contain the spread of common illnesses and infections.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Good use of safety equipment minimises the risk of accidents in the childminder's well lit, well organised and welcoming home. For instance, safety gates restrict the children's access to potentially hazardous areas like the kitchen while covers in electric sockets prevent them from hurting their hands. Excellent priority is given to fire prevention. The children take part in fire drills, for instance, which teaches them how to stay safe in emergencies. As well as this, they have outstanding opportunities to learn about the work of the emergency services, for example, when the childminder arranges for fire fighters to visit her home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A very good range of developmentally appropriate toys and resources helps the children to make progress in all areas of their development. It is stored to allow the children easy access which encourages them to make choices and decisions. Effective cleaning and checking routines keep the equipment in good condition and ensure that the children handle items that are safe and hygienic.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are very well protected on a day to day basis through the childminder's vigilant supervision and by her very good awareness of safeguarding children issues, which keeps children safe from unsuitable people and situations. Sensible practices, such as keeping external doors locked during the hours of childminding and highly worthwhile discussions about road safety and stranger danger, raise the children's awareness of potential dangers. To consolidate this, the children wear high visibility jackets when it is dark so that they can be seen more easily. This shows the children a simple but effective way to stay safe.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. An excellent range of activities gives the children ample scope in which to enjoy themselves and have fun. For example, they dress up as cats, popular cartoon characters, people who help us, like nurses, doctors and police officers, and learn the power of their imagination in the process. The children use ordinary household objects, such as whisks, sponges and soft brushes, to represent other items; this teaches them to become resourceful and creative players.

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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 love to bake and cook. They decide what to make, list the ingredients that will be required then go shopping with the childminder to get these. Blending the ingredients teaches the children about processes while eating the end product helps the children to understand the merits of making an effort.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Excellent opportunities increase children's knowledge and understanding of the world. For example, they visit fascinating places, such as local farms, beaches, museums and the city. They talk about these outings with each other, the childminder and their parents, which extends their vocabulary and helps them to recall past experiences. Warm and affectionate relationships exist between the children and the childminder. The children receive the childminder's complete attention during their time with her; consequently, they are happy, settled and secure.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated with equal care and regard. They have very good opportunities to learn about culture and ethnicity when they celebrate a range of festivals, such as Divali, Christmas and Chinese New Year. The children eat food associated with these occasions and decorate the house with pictures they have drawn and lanterns that they have made to mark the occasion. Very good quality books and bright puzzles and jigsaws depict images of people carrying out tasks traditionally associated with the opposite sex and people with disabilities; these raise the children's awareness of gender issues and different abilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Sensitive and consistent advice and guidance from the childminder helps the children to understand boundaries and enables them to behave well. The clear and developmentally appropriate explanations that the children receive from the childminder enable them to understand why certain actions are unacceptable and teach them right from wrong. The childminder encourages the children to think about the feelings of others. This encourages the development of positive personal qualities, such as consideration and empathy.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents and carers is excellent. When parents first meet the childminder they receive a well presented and informative 'parents pack'. This contains important information about routines and policies, for example, so that parents have an insight into the childminder's work. Contracts are used, which set out clearly the expectations of both parties, while daily sheets and discussions keep parents and the childminder fully informed about the children's recent experiences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents have highly positive views of the childminder and the service she provides. They describe her as 'wonderful' and 'extremely professional' and state that she is prepared to go 'the extra mile' to help them. They add that their children have 'blossomed' in her care and they particularly value the 'wonderful activities' that their children participate in.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Documentation is impeccable. All essential records are in place, readily available, reviewed frequently to keep information up to date and accurate and stored securely to protect confidentiality. A poster advising parents how to make a complaint and the registration certificate are prominently displayed so that parents can scrutinise them should they wish to.

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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 has excellent awareness of registered numbers. She understands the importance of never exceeding them and is fully aware that she must contact Ofsted in the event of any significant change or event. The childminder gives excellent priority to further training, which enables her to keep abreast of current trends in child care and stay well informed. Recent courses include safeguarding children, fire prevention training and visual awareness.

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Organisation

The childminder constantly strives to improve her practice. This is reflected in her intention to further promote equal opportunities, for example, by extending the range of resources and equipment that reflect positive images of diversity. She is an outstanding role model to the children. Through her excellent example the children learn to respect themselves, other people and the world in which they live.

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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 the childminder was asked to increase items that reflected positive images of diversity. Several items that depict various aspects of ethnicity, culture, gender and disability are readily available to the children. This helps the children to develop respectful views of culture, ethnicity, gender and disability.

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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): • continue promoting equal opportunities, for example, by further extending the selection of resources that reflect positive images of diversity.

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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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