Childminder in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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252503 Unique Reference Number 27 February 2008 Inspection date Sally Elizabeth Lee 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 outstanding. 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 1992. She lives with her husband and son aged 17 years in a house in Ravenshead, which is near Mansfield. The home is located close to the local schools and shops. Minded children have access to the whole of the ground floor, with toilet and sleeping facilities provided in this area. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family have no pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years and is currently caring for five children under eight years and some older children. Most children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds an appropriate early years qualification.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children develop an excellent understanding of how to keep themselves healthy and protected from infection because the childminder encourages them to wash their hands after outdoor

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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 play, after using the toilet and before eating. She provides liquid soap and a stool to enable them to reach the sink easily. In addition, each child has their own colour coded hand towel and even quite young children will confidently show which is their towel and which are those of their friends. Children benefit from the childminder's scrupulous cleaning routines and excellent example. A cleaning routine is displayed in the kitchen with daily, weekly and monthly jobs detailed. There are clear and detailed procedures in place to record medication administered and accidents children may have. This keeps parents fully informed of these aspects of their children's care. In addition, each parent receives a copy of the sick child procedure before care begins.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children thrive because the childminder provides a broad range of healthy, nutritious meals and snacks. A daily visual menu is displayed for children and parents. The childminder has an excellent knowledge of what constitutes a healthy diet and how to store and prepare food for children and babies safely. She enables children to learn about healthy food choices through the projects they take part in which involve talking about foods, looking at books and magazines, playing games and quizzes as well as art and craft work. The childminder is very careful to ensure she discusses and records children's special dietary needs and individual routines, as well as their likes and dislikes, before care begins in order to ensure they are comfortable and happy in the setting. Drinks are provided throughout the day to help children to stay well hydrated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have ample daily opportunities to develop their physical skills as they play in the garden, walk to school and go to the local parks and play areas. Physical play is planned every day and children thoroughly enjoy pushing, pulling and pedalling the wheeled toys. They play on the slides and make dens in the garden, and develop control and co-ordination with the various ball games provided. They experiment with sand and water play and make snowmen on the occasional snowy days. Children benefit from trips to local country parks where they experience challenge as they play on the larger equipment. The childminder provides excellent opportunities to ensure all children make good progress in their physical development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a warm, inviting, child-centred environment where they feel secure and settled. The home is light, warm and spacious. Bright displays of their art work and projects help children to feel their contribution is valued and they are welcomed and respected. There is sufficient clear floor space for a group of children to play together and for younger children to learn to crawl and develop physical skills. The ground floor toilet encourages children to develop high levels of independence in their self-care.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children thoroughly enjoy the extensive range of attractive toys and play materials available to them which admirably support the activities provided. In addition to the resources provided, the childminder makes her own games to enhance children's learning in a particular area or to meet a learning need. She borrows toys from other childminders and uses the library to widen the already superb collection of books available to the children. Toys are stored accessibly wherever possible and this accessibility enables children to develop confidence and independence and promotes their self-esteem. The resources cover all areas of play and learning and the whole age range of children cared for. There are sufficient quantities of toys for children to play together happily, for example, construction sets and role play resources. All the toys and equipment are carefully checked on a regular basis for safety and hygiene, as detailed in the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

cleaning record displayed in the kitchen.

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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 The childminder's extensive knowledge and experience enables her to identify and minimise risks effectively. Good quality safety equipment is in place ensuring children are well protected. Children learn how to keep themselves safe by practising the fire evacuation procedure regularly. The childminder ensures that this procedure is effective by asking another childminder to phone to raise the alarm so that the childminder herself is also tested. Children learn how to cross the road safely from the project work they do. The childminder uses extensive resources from the internet to support their learning. In addition, the children learn about 'stranger danger' and older children will correct and explain to younger children while they are out that they must not go out the childminder's sight and must not talk to anyone they do not know. Thus older

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

children develop a sense of responsibility towards younger children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are further protected by the childminder's comprehensive knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures. She ensures she keeps her training up to date in this area and is very clear that the welfare of the child is her main consideration. The child protection procedure helps parents to understand the childminder's duty with regard to safeguarding children procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children have a wonderful time at the setting because the childminder is highly skilled and has an exceptional understanding of the needs of children. She has a good knowledge and understanding of the early years curriculum guidance and uses this to prepare and provide an outstanding range of activities. The childminder clearly enjoys the company of the children and they are relaxed and happy during their time with her. She knows the children well and treats them like an extended family. Care tasks are performed sensitively and children's personal independence is fostered as they take themselves to the toilet, wash their hands and put on their coats and boots for outdoor play. Further, children's self-esteem is nurtured as the childminder offers them a great deal of choice and influence over how they spend their time with her. For example, they can choose which snack they have, which colour plate and cup they

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

would like, whether they play inside or out, and the suggestions box is always accessible for children to contribute their ideas for future projects. For example, the children's next project is 'Under the Sea', following a suggestion from one of the older children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder, with parental consent, takes many photographs of the children and these, together with examples of the children's art and craft work, provide an excellent record for parents and children of their time at the setting. Children take part in an imaginative and exciting range of activities which cover all areas of play and learning, both inside the home and on trips out. They have regular opportunities to experiment with paint, corn flour dough, sand and water. They thoroughly enjoy baking and this is a regular activity whether it is making and tossing pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, baking and decorating gingerbread men and small cakes or creating exotic pizzas for lunch. They develop their knowledge and understanding of the natural world as they look at the weather and record the rainfall on their charts. They collect twigs and leaves in the woods and bring in photographs of lambs for their Spring display. Older

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children learn about the solar system from looking through the telescope and discussing the delightful model of the solar system. Excellent resources and play materials are provided to support children's play and learning in all areas.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Younger children's social development is very well fostered by regular trips to toddler group and to song and story sessions at the library. Children's progress is regularly assessed and the childminder takes this into account, ensuring she provides a full range of activities to help them

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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 to make progress and to take the next step in their learning. Children benefit from the warm and loving interaction with the childminder. She clearly takes great delight in their company and they approach her for comfort, support and fun. Children learn to respect and care for one another from the childminder's excellent example. Older children are encouraged to develop a caring and responsible attitude to the younger children. They learn to share and take turns, and to express themselves from the excellent open-ended questions used so effectively by the childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are happy and eager to take part in the activities. The childminder recognises and respects each child as an individual and they respond to this, developing self-confidence and independence.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children's individual needs, including routines, likes and dislikes, are discussed and recorded carefully before care begins in the child's daily diary. This information is updated regularly through talking to parents. Thus children are able to play a full part in the setting. They benefit because the childminder values their contribution and respects their individuality. The children are encouraged to learn about the wider world through discussion and projects. For example, the children learn about how people live in India. They are encouraged to bring in resources, Indian clothes and books, and these are attractively displayed. They talk about how people of different faiths celebrate festivals and learn about Chinese New Year and Diwali. The excellent and imaginative range of resources and activities available to them help them to develop their knowledge and understanding of wider society.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has experience of caring for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and has undertaken training to enhance her practice and develop her knowledge and understanding in this area of work. She works very closely with parents and other professionals to ensure children are fully included in all the activities and daily routines and have their individual needs extremely well met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well while they are with the childminder. She is very clear and consistent and the rules of the house are displayed for older children and their parents. The childminder has attended training in this area and uses excellent strategies to manage behaviour. The daily routines and activities encourage children to be kind, to take turns, to share and to respect one another. The childminder provides them with an excellent role model and from her they are learning to understand the difference between right and wrong. She is very positive with the children and uses praise and rewards very well. Younger children benefit from the childminder's skill in using distraction to avoid confrontation. There is close liaison with parents to ensure consistency in the management of children's behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

An excellent partnership with parents contributes significantly to the children's health, safety and enjoyment. Parents are encouraged to give detailed information about their child's daily routine, likes and dislikes before the child starts, and this information is updated regularly through good links between childminder and parent. Children have daily diary sheets which ensure parents are kept fully informed of all aspects of their child's care, and to which parents are encouraged to contribute. The daily menu is shown in bright, laminated pictures so that parents and children know which foods will be offered that day. The childminder has produced a clear and detailed information folder which includes details of training the childminder has undertaken and provides details of the care to be provided. All parents are given copies of the

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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 childminder's policy statements and procedures. The childminder works very closely with parents to provide consistency and to ensure the individual needs of each of the children who attend are very well met.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children benefit from the childminder's overwhelming commitment to improving her practice through self-evaluation and ongoing training and development. She constantly reviews and monitors the care she provides and strives to develop. She is highly qualified and supremely skilled and she gives the care of the children top priority. She thoroughly enjoys the company of the children and they are relaxed and happy in her care.

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Organisation

The childminder is very careful to comply with all her conditions of registration. She makes sure that any person who has not been checked does not have access to the children and talks to the children from an early age about how they can protect themselves. She organises space, time and resources exceptionally well to ensure the needs of the children are met. For example, each child has a folding basket in which to keep their belongings. If, during the day, the childminder knows that she will need to speak to the parent about something particular, or they need to sign an accident or medication record, then she puts into the basket a laminated note to remind both her and the parent on collection.

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Organisation

All of the documentation required for the smooth running of the childminder's business is kept in an efficient and effective manner. In addition, the childminder has drawn up a set of policies and procedures to ensure parents are well informed of the service provided. Overall, the setting meets the needs 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 develop her knowledge and understanding of children with special needs. Since then she has gained experience and undertaken training in this area which ensures the needs of all of the children are met.

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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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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

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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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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