Parker Deborah

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

220854 Unique Reference Number 01 November 2007 Inspection date Diane Mary O'Neill Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered 1999. She lives with her husband and two children aged 11 and nine years in Northamptonshire. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house and an upstairs bathroom is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently caring for three children under five years. The childminder collects children from the Headlands primary school. The childminder regularly takes children to groups for children under five and children's activity centres. The family has two pet rabbits.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children actively learn the importance of good health and hygiene practices. The childminder helps this process through being very proactive in promoting good health and hygiene procedures both inside and outside her home. Children’s awareness is developed through

p.2

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 everyday activities. For example, all the children follow good routines where they are encouraged to wash their hands, before and after snacks and meals and after using the toilet. Children are beginning to learn about oral hygiene and what happens when you visit the optician, through discussion with the childminder, so learning about other forms of health and hygiene care.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder takes positive steps to ensure children are well cared for if they become poorly. The childminder holds a valid first aid qualification and maintains well-organised medical supplies within her first aid boxes, both in the house and car. This enables her to deal with any emergency which may arise. The childminder ensures her first aid knowledge is up-to-date. This is achieved by having relevant guidance, leaflets on certain illnesses and a first aid book in place. All required documentation is available including procedures to obtain written permission from parents for the administration of emergency medical treatment. Therefore, children’s overall well-being is positively met.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The parents of the children attending the childminder currently provide their children’s meals and snacks, which the childminder ensures are stored safely. The children sit down at the table for their meals as this encourages a sociable time for everyone within the daily routine.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

All the children enjoy opportunities to play indoors and outdoors. This helps them to develop and improve their physical skills through being able to take part in various challenging activities. For example, babies and young children have maximum freedom, in which they can move confidently within the childminder’s home. When the weather permits children enjoy playing out in the garden, with a variety of play materials. For example, the children learn to ride and manoeuvre sit and ride toys, play pretend games in the summer house. Children have their play experiences extended, by going on trips to the local park and children’s indoor play centre, where they have the opportunity to explore and play with larger physical play equipment.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a well-organised, warm and welcoming, clean and secure home environment. Children’s safety is paramount and the childminder ensures all necessary preventative safety precautions are in place. This is achieved by the childminder being very vigilant in undertaking visual checks prior and during the children’s attendance. Children learn the importance of staying safe during an emergency as the childminder practises fire evacuation procedures on a regular basis, therefore, maintaining children’s overall safety and well-being.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have very good opportunities to independently select activities, from a wide range of good quality resources and equipment within the childminder’s home. Children are able to make independent choices and to further access a variety of play materials as the childminder takes them to a local toy library. The childminder is efficient in monitoring and supervising the children’s choice of toys to make sure they are safe and appropriate for their ages and stage of development.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are further safeguarded as the childminder has a very good knowledge and understanding of child protection and the importance of protecting children at all times. She has recently undergone child protection training and is keen to attend a course which is the next level up. Although most of the required guidance is in place, the childminder is not aware of the Department of Health booklet ‘What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused’–summary, therefore, the lack of some up-to-date guidance may potentially compromise the safety and welfare of the children in her care.

p.3

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

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children thrive in this happy, family orientated and fun filled environment. The children are provided with good opportunities to access a wide range of age appropriate and stimulating learning materials. This enables children to experiment, explore and develop their learning skills. For example, the childminder helps the children with their language and communication skills as they try to say the words of the pictures on some of the building bricks.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have positive attitudes and are confident, happy and secure as they play well together. The childminder praises the children and encourages them to experiment in new and interesting activities. For example, they enjoy building a tower of bricks and laugh when they are knocked down. They enjoy making the sounds of animals such as that of a lion and elephant when watching a television programme. The younger children enjoy exploring the toy boxes within the playroom, which have toys that are suitable for their ages and stages of development. For example, they show wonder when looking at the shape sorters, tactile type toys and toys that make sounds. The childminder extends the children's play and learning opportunities through taking them on trips to the local parks, children's activity centres, visits to toddler and childminder groups where they meet up with other children. The childminder has photographs

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

on display in the playroom, showing the children joining in on some of the activities which the children's centre provides.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is aware of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework, and although not using it formally with the children, does use elements for preparing activities to help and support them in the various areas of their development and learning.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued and made welcome in this home from home provision. They know the daily routine well which helps them to feel safe and secure. Children are further valued and respected as their art work and some photographs of them involved in various activities are displayed in the playroom. This helps to show the children that what they do is important.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are effectively beginning to learn right from wrong through positive interaction from the childminder. They are very familiar with the routines and have clear understandings of the rules. They are well behaved and have good manners, as they are encouraged to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. Children receive praise and encouragement as they learn to share and take turns. For example, when they fall out over a toy the childminder takes time to explain about each person having a turn. Sometimes she uses distraction as the children are quite young and she finds this works best.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is very keen to meet the individual needs of all children and works closely with the parents. Any children who may require extra help and support the childminder will work with the family, school and any other agency that may be involved. This enables a good working relationship to develop which helps all children with their care and welfare.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have some opportunities to learn about the diversity of the world. This is achieved through the resources the childminder has such as books and play people. The children sometimes take part in activities to celebrate festivals which are run by the local toddler group.

p.4

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 However, the children's learning and understanding is not being effectively promoted by the childminder.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed a positive partnership with parents and carers. She has a very friendly, flexible and relaxed relationship which is also professional. She is able to verbally give parents information about their child’s day, as well as having leaflets from the local authority about childcare options, which helps with the sharing of information. The childminder has ‘thank you’ cards from previous parents who on occasion still come back and visit. The childminder has a suitable system for the sharing of any complaints with the parents, therefore, ensuring any potential impact on the children’s well-being is addressed.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder adopts a well-organised and professional, conscientious approach to her childminding. She is extremely confident in her childcare practice and constantly seeks ways to improve her skills and practices, by attending training and incorporating any suggestions which might further enhance her provision for the care and well-being of children.

p.5

Organisation

Children benefit from this home from home environment, which is well-organised. The childminder enriches the children’s care, learning and play through her constant enthusiasm and positive interaction with the children. Children confidently choose from the extensive and interesting play materials within the childminder’s home, which enable children to extend their imagination, creative skills, play and learning opportunities as well as having fun.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder is very organised with her documentation to ensure that she cover all aspects of the National Standards effectively supporting children’s welfare, care and learning and underpins her professional practice. Overall children’s needs are met.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to develop knowledge and understanding of child protection issues, including the procedure to follow if an allegation is made against the childminder or a member of the household. The childminder has recently undertaken child protection training and is intending on going on the next level course. She is keen to keep up-to-date with practices and procedures to ensure children's safety and welfare. However, some documentation is not in place which limits her ability to be kept fully up-to-date with procedures. This therefore may compromise children's safety and well-being.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was also asked to ensure that children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice. The childminder has partially met the recommendation by using the local toy library to obtain resources as well as adding to her own with puzzles and play people depicting disabilities. This is still an area of weakness and requires more improvement in opportunities to extend children's knowledge and learning.

p.5

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.

p.5

Complaints 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 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.

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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): • obtain an awareness of the Department of health booklet 'What to do if you're worried a child is being abused' - summary • further improve children's understanding and learning through positively reflecting all areas of equal opportunities.

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6