Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY349842 Unique Reference Number 25 October 2007 Inspection date Elizabeth Patricia Edmond 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 2007. She lives with her husband and two children aged ten and five years in a suburb of York. Only the master bedroom is not accessed by minded children and use of the children's bedrooms is at the childminder's discretion. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outside play. Local schools and care groups are within walking distance and children are taken and collected on foot.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. There is currently one child under eight on roll who attends on a part time basis, older children are also cared for. The childminder is qualified primary teacher and a member of the National Childminding Association. The family has a pet cat.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in warm and very clean environment where children learn to follow highly sensible hygiene routines independently. For example, they know which is their hand towel on

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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 their own peg in the bathroom and they learn sensible procedures for preparing food and clearing up afterwards. Children have become accustomed to being active outdoors. They walk to school or nursery each day and have fun at the park or playing in the garden in better weather.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides children with a very healthy diet. The childminder works well with the children on their preferences and they learn to make healthy decisions by helping her to prepare their food. Younger children enjoy the fresh fruit for an impromptu snack and have fun choosing the fillings for their organic, wholemeal sandwiches. The high quality of the children's diet has a positive impact on their overall wellbeing and development, as well as their immediate health. For example, being well nourished enables them to concentrate on their play throughout the day. Mealtimes are happy occasions and children develop very pleasant, yet natural table manners.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children can play freely because the childminder has a clear understanding of how to minimise risks in relation to the ages and stages of the children attending. The premises are well maintained and secure. Children learn to keep themselves safe by following procedures as they walk to school. They learn how to leave the house quickly in an emergency because they have practised the childminder's emergency evacuation procedures. Younger children are reminded about not running indoors on the smooth flooring, so that they learn about keeping themselves safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a very good range of resources which the children can access freely and children use the childminder’s good quality domestic furniture for their rest and play. The childminder has all the necessary local and national guidance relating to the protection of their safety and has attended basic training. This means that she is able to ensure that the children's welfare is promoted and safeguarded when they are in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Due to the excellent settling in process, children arrive at the childminder's house very happily and their happiness and development is promoted through the warm trusting relationships that they enjoy with her and her family. Arrangements to initiate the relationships away from the childminding setting prior to children visiting, have worked exceptionally well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The stimulating and accessible, yet homely environment and the breadth of activities mean that children of all ages are gainfully occupied throughout their time with the childminder. They can help themselves to the range of resources which are invitingly presented and they confidently ask for resources which they do not immediately see. Importantly, the childminder's teaching experience combined with her excellent understanding of how children learn and develop, means that they make outstanding progress in all areas of learning. She uses clear, detailed observations of children at play, to determine their strengths and interests. She identifies how this can be harnessed to aid further development. For example, having recognised an interest in trains, the childminder provides stimulating outings to the National Railway Museum and makes sure that related resources are available at her home. This means that

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

young children develop an excellent understanding about the world around them, in everyday and historical context. They extend their mathematical awareness as they match the colours

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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 and shapes of the train-set dominoes or count how many dominoes they have. Similarly, they increase their mark making skills as they draw pictures about what they have seen.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children develop highly effective communication skills. They speak increasingly clearly to explain what they would like to do, or to eat. This is partly because the childminder models these skills in a way which young children can imitate, but also because children know that what they say will be valued by the childminder. She pays genuine attention to them as they speak and patiently offers young children time to recall the words they want to use. She praises their endeavours warmly when they have found a particular sentence difficult. The childminder also understands the importance of how children develop these skills by making up their own words and sounds. For example, they have great fun with the childminder, as they experiment with invented words to describe their soft fruit. Older children read and follow the recipe books skilfully, as they prepare the pudding for dinner.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Creative play is also very much a feature at the setting. Children enjoy experimenting with various paint and craft techniques and also very creative in their construction work. Children use recycled materials skilfully and imaginatively to create impressive mechanical models with moving parts. There are some excellent opportunities for role play and the children develop their confidence to take part in these freely.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder gets to know the children very well. She is very knowledgeable about the children's interests, dispositions and needs. She addresses them with equal concern, this helps them to feel valued and respected as individuals. Children develop excellent three-way relationships with their parents and the childminder due to the importance given to this, by the childminder and her highly professional approach to managing relationships. For example, building on the initial settling in period, children snuggle happily with either adult as they chat about care or business arrangements. Consequently, children are relaxed and happy as they wave goodbye to their parents and are welcomed warmly, into the homely family environment. This has positive impact on the children's behaviour, they are confident, exceptionally well behaved and develop very pleasant manners. Parents are very pleased with the standards of

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Helping children make a positive contribution

care provided and confirm how well their children have settled.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are some resources showing positive images of cultural diversity, children demonstrate their acceptance and enjoyment of living in a diverse community by playing with these quite naturally and enjoying the range of activities. There is good, clear information for parents about the care provided. The daily diary for the younger children, gives parents a clear insight as to how children spend their time. Written information for parents about the services provided is developing well. For example, all registration information is prominently displayed and contractual agreements are clear. However, procedures for handling and logging any complaints that parents might have are less clearly defined.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder, although she has not been childminding for very long, is already becoming very well organised in her routines for caring for the children of different ages. For example, she plans and provides baking or craft activities for the older children attending at such a time, to encourage their independence in using utensils and tools whilst promoting the younger

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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 children's safety. Younger children develop these skills also but in a more closely supervised way such as, at lunch time, when they are all together or as part of adult led craft activities.

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Organisation

All required elements of childminder training have been completed and the childminder has begun to consider areas of her skills and knowledge which she would like to develop. This approach complements her teaching experience well and means that children benefit from a continually improving service. Children are becoming very confident in the well organised environment. Whilst maintaining a pleasant homely atmosphere, the childminder organises the resources and play equipment, so that children can have a high level of independence. All required documentation is in place and very well organised. All records, such as those of accidents or attendance, are kept up to date and signed by parents where appropriate. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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): • further develop systems for handling and logging any complaints that parents may have.

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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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