Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY280927 Unique Reference Number 10 December 2007 Inspection date Lynne Milligan 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 husband and two children ages 12 and nine years, in Audley, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. The whole of the property is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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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 and she is currently minding two children aged 22 months and three years of age. She walks to local schools to take and collect children, takes children to the park, shopping and out on visits.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children gain a good understanding and knowledge of a healthy lifestyle. The childminder provides children with different types of fruit and vegetables which are washed thoroughly before being eaten. Children benefit from fresh air as they go out for walks, visit the park and

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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 use the garden which has a large range of different equipment. Children develop control of their bodies and confidence in their abilities as they use the different equipment and toys available in the garden and park.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's good health is promoted as there are effective hygiene procedures in place, such as hand washing routines and exclusions for infectious illnesses. The childminder follows effective procedures when changing nappies as she washes the mat after each change and cleans the younger children’s hands with baby wipes. This helps children, from an early age, learn about healthy routines.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder understands the children's individual health needs as she gains information from parents, for example, about allergies and medical conditions. This ensures she is able to meet the children’s specific needs. Paperwork is in place to support children's good health, for example, accident and medication records. Written consent is in place to apply sunscreen, take children on outings and to seek emergency treatment. The childminder is proactive in ensuring that these are updated on a regular basis in order to allow for the changing needs of the children and their parents/carers.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with a good balance of freshly prepared, nutritious meals and snacks. The childminder strives to encourage children to eat fresh fruit and vegetables each day, with the addition of delicious organic smoothies, ensuring that they eat their 'five a day'. Food is stored appropriately and the childminder works with parents to ensure children’s individual needs are met. Children develop social skills as they eat together at the table. The childminder supports the children's independence as she encourages them to access the fruit and to pour their own drinks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are happy and secure in the premises which is welcoming and stimulating, with self-portraits, collages, masks on the walls and play equipment arranged at their level. They enjoy freedom to move around and explore as a result of the childminder's good awareness of safety issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have access to a good selection of well-maintained toys and resources. The childminder ensures that all resources and equipment meet safety standards and carries out checks, replacing them if necessary. Children make choices as they access resources appropriate to their age.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected as the childminder has a good awareness of any risks. Effective precautions, such as using child-friendly equipment when baking with the children and wrist straps used when on walks, ensure children's safety. The childminder has further developed her practice by attending recent training courses on risk assessment. There is appropriate fire detection equipment in place but the fire blanket is not fixed to the wall in the kitchen. The childminder has a clear evacuation plan in the event of a fire and has practised this with the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are effectively safeguarded by the childminder's generally good knowledge and understanding of the child protection procedures. Although the childminder has not completed any training in this area, she has a good understanding of the signs and symptoms that would alert her but is not confident of whom she should report any concerns to. Children are further

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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 protected as the childminder ensures that children are not left unsupervised or with anyone who has not been vetted.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children thoroughly enjoy learning through play as the childminder ensures that they have a well-chosen range of resources. A child explores accessible items, picking a bag of farm animals from the range of resources. The childminder shows the child how to line the animals up, then grouping them together depending on their breed. They talk about the different animals and laugh as they make the sounds of the pigs and say, 'quack quack' like the ducks. The child is stimulated and actively engages with the childminder as they explore, relating it to a local farm that they visit. The childminder skilfully introduces new ideas when the child's attention wanes, providing food from the play kitchen, as the child asks her what she would like on her pizza.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn numbers, colours and letters through the childminder's close involvement with them in all activities that they choose. The child becomes involved in a game of pushing the buttons on the till with the childminder gently supporting their learning. She establishes a pattern of numbers with the child, saying 'one at a time', and encouraging them to count up from one, and showing her the number in print to the corresponding till button. The child successfully counts up to six and says 'I have a lot of money in my till now'. They then discuss what they will play with next. The child selects a book and sits with the childminder as they sound the letter 'a' for apple and aeroplane; the childminder subsequently sits them comfortably on her lap and reads it, with the child excitedly spotting pictures that link to the different letters.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children benefit from the childminder actively ensuring that they enjoy stimulating activities, so that they behave well. She has appropriate strategies to deal with any unacceptable behaviour, which she shares with the parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have access to resources which reflect different cultures, for example, multi-cultural play figures and books. Although the childminder has yet had no experience of childminding children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, she understands and values the importance of adapting activities so that all children can take part together.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the childminder's high commitment to building good working relationships with their parents so that they settle well. She offers flexible opportunities to help children settle when they commence minding with her. She provides daily feedback to parents. She makes written agreements with the parents and seeks relevant consents. She has appropriate understanding of procedures to follow in the event of a complaint about her practice.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder provides an environment where children feel safe to explore and experiment in their play. She allows children to choose their activities from a well-thought out selection and patiently helps them to maximise their enjoyment and learning.

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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 All relevant documentation is in place to ensure children's safety; it is shared in confidence and stored securely for the required time. The household members have undertaken appropriate checking procedures.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder was asked to review the medical emergency treatment and advice consent form. She has now updated her paperwork and has in place a new form that clearly explains the procedure, with signed consent from all parents and/or carers. This ensures that children's welfare and safety is consistently supported.

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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): • fix the fire blanket to a suitable position on the wall in the kitchen • improve knowledge of reporting procedures in relation to child protection.

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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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