Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY251254 Unique Reference Number 12 February 2008 Inspection date Bridget Copson 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 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged 15 months and four years in Plympton, approximately five miles from Plymouth city centre, Devon. The whole of the house is used for childminding, except the childminder's own bedroom and there is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. She makes use of the local facilities within the town, including toddler groups, library activity sessions and parks.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time. She is currently minding three children under eight, all of whom attend on a part time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder holds a level three qualification in early years child care and education and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

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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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are protected from the risk of cross-infection due to the effective practices followed by the childminder. For example, she uses separate cloths for different cleaning jobs, washes her own hands frequently and keeps rooms and play provision clean. The childminder wears disposable gloves when changing nappies for all minded children. However, this good practice is not always followed consistently for her own children to further promote good health. Children are supported in learning about good personal hygiene through using their own individual face and hand cloths, which are kept in labelled tubs to prevent cross-infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's healthy lifestyles are supported well by the childminder who provides nutritious snacks between meals, such as, fresh fruits and breadsticks. They bring their own packed lunches, according to parents' wishes and have access to drinks at all times to ensure they do not get thirsty. Children's health and fitness is promoted very well through a good range of activities to support their physical development. They benefit from fresh air and exercise everyday. For example, they play on swings, a slide, climbing frame, sand pit, playhouse, rockers and trucks in the garden and walk to the local parks and toddler sessions. Indoors, they dance, play in pop-up tents and use some of the small scale garden equipment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is further promoted through the childminder's well-organised and accurate records. For example, written records of any accidents, incidents and medication administered, for parents to sign for consistency of care. Also, keeping details of any special dietary requirements and additional medical needs on children's records. The childminder holds a first aid certificate and keeps a first aid kit at home, as well as on outings, to support her in meeting children's needs in the event of an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children's safety is assured through an effective combination of supervision and the provision of a safe and secure environment. The childminder completes risk assessments each day to ensure the many measures are in place and to maintain high standards of safety in all areas. Children learn about keeping safe through practical tasks and her guidance. For example, practising the emergency evacuation procedure, using play provision safely, managing the stairs effectively and road safety on walks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for within a well-maintained family home which provides space for them to play, eat and rest safely. They access toys independently from the many floor boxes, low-level shelves and units in the play room. Toys are well-maintained and organised effectively to promote safe and independent play. For example, play provision for younger children is stored at a lower level than resources for older children, which are stored higher up out of reach.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded effectively by the childminder. She has a clear understanding of child protection issues and procedures and supervises children closely at all times. She also keeps appropriate records and documentation to support her in protecting children.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children benefit from a broad range of play provision and activities to support all areas of their learning and development. They are happy and settled in the childminder's care. They explore and join in with interest, such as, looking at books together, using tools and utensils to play with dried pasta shapes and delving into the treasure box and shrieking with delight as they find things. Children show their excitement with new experiences, such as, clapping with pleasure as they watch bubbles blown in the garden float into the sky. They communicate well through lots of confident chatter, pointing, gestures and laughing.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's learning and development is promoted well. The childminder plans a range of activities each day, according to the children present. She interacts closely to provide meaningful challenges to promote on-going development as children progress, such as, repeating new words, talking about pictures in books and observing objects around them to promote language and communication.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for equally and fairly by the childminder, who has excellent systems in place to include them all and meet their individual needs with accuracy. For example, daily planned activities, dedicated time to all children, excellent partnerships with parents and accurate records. Children demonstrate an excellent sense of belonging. For example, they see many displays of their work and photographs, choose from an extensive range of easily accessible toys and have their own special events celebrated. They are also very involved in the local community, such as, attending library events twice a week, toddler sessions, walks around the town and to the parks.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well. They benefit from the childminder's gentle and consistent guidance as she supports them with great patience in learning difficult lessons in sharing and taking turns with others. They benefit from an extremely positive environment in which they are provided with lots of encouragement and praise. Their achievements are celebrated through clapping and using butterfly charts with stickers. This all promotes their self-esteem and confidence very well.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has established superb partnerships with parents. She provides them with an extensive portfolio showing her certificates, National Childminding Association policies and procedures, self-evaluation, previous inspection report and safety information. Parents complete child record forms, consent forms and contracts, which are updated frequently to ensure their needs are met accurately. Parents are kept very well-informed through daily report books which detail all aspects of their child's care, routines and activities. In addition, there is a wealth of information displayed on the playroom walls.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is proactive in updating her own knowledge and skills and through attending many training opportunities relevant to the care and development of young children. She has effective systems in place to monitor most aspects of her provision, such as, completing a

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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 detailed self-evaluation and establishing links with the Local Authority. This ensures she continues to provide good quality childcare.

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Organisation

Children benefit from well-organised premises which provides space for different areas of play and care routines. The childminder dedicates her time to interacting in their play, meeting their care routines and observing their independent play. As a result, children are happy and very settled. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Organisation

Children's records and relating documentation is kept well-organised to ensure information is easily accessible to the childminder. All children's information is kept secure to ensure confidentiality is maintained and updated frequently. As a result, children's needs are met according to parents' wishes and all required information is kept.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder agreed to develop knowledge and understanding of the Foundation Stage curriculum. The childminder has attended a training course to develop her knowledge, but has chosen not to become accredited at this time.

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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): • ensure good hygiene practices are consistently maintained when changing nappies for all children.

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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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