Childminder in West Sussex

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

155515 Unique Reference Number 10 December 2007 Inspection date Rosemary Musgrove 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 in 2001. She lives with her husband and two young children in Worthing, West Sussex. The ground floor of the property is used for childminding and there is a dedicated playroom. Children have access to one bedroom and toilet facilities on the first floor. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor 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. She is currently minding six children on a part-time basis.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has two cats, one dog, a rabbit and two goldfish.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder lives near to a local park and she attends toddler and childminding groups on a regular basis.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has a certificate in childminding practice and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder has a good understanding of individual dietary needs, for example, children who are vegetarian or who have a nut allergy. Children have a morning snack and healthy options include fresh fruit, raisins and bread sticks. The childminder provides cold lunches such as, sandwiches and sausage rolls, desserts include fruit and yoghurts. After school, children eat a hot meal, such as shepherds pie or lasagne. The childminder gives children drinks at snack and meal times, such as, milk and water. At other times, children can ask for a drink; however, they cannot help themselves to water when they are feeling thirsty.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a current first aid certificate. This means she can administer first aid in the event of an emergency. She has written parental permission to seek emergency medical treatment and acts in the child's best interest if they become ill in her care. The childminder keeps appropriate records for accidents and if she has to administer medication.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children play in a hygienic and tidy environment. They are beginning to learn the importance of healthy routines. For example, the childminder wipes their hands on individual flannels before eating food and encourages them to clean their teeth after lunch.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in a good range of physical activities. This means they are beginning to develop their coordination skills. In the childminder's garden, they play on a variety of equipment, including wheeled vehicles. At the local park, they enjoy the slides, swings and balancing equipment. Children have plenty of fresh air and go on walks with the childminder and her dog. These activities mean that children are beginning to develop a healthy life style.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in an orderly and welcoming environment. They benefit from having a dedicated playroom that is well organised with a wide range of good quality resources. Children independently select their preferred activity, such as, the rail track, the role play equipment or building blocks. The childminder has spent much time planning and she provides many stimulating resources for her childminding practice. A range of story sacks and texture bags encourage and arouse a young child's interest. Because of the well organised resources and space, children move around freely and independently.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are looked after in a safe and secure indoor environment. The childminder has a range of safety measures in her home, such as, safety gates, locks on low level kitchen cupboards and safety film on glass. She does regular risk assessments and checks a number of potential hazards, such as, cleaning materials in the toilet and the escape routes. The childminder displays her evacuation routes and children have regular fire drills. This means they are beginning to learn about keeping themselves safe. The outside rear garden is secure and the side gate is bolted. However, there is one uncovered drain and this is a potential hazard for young children. The childminder demonstrates that she knows how to keep children safe on outings. For example, children wear wrist bands and the childminder takes all contact numbers and her mobile phone.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder understands her role in child protection. She has a good knowledge of the signs and symptoms of child abuse. If she has concerns about a child in her care, she has the current documentation and knows whom to contact.

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 outstanding. Children settle well, are engrossed and thoroughly enjoy their time at the setting. This is because they interact with quality resources and take part in an excellent range of appropriate and stimulating activities.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has an impressive knowledge and understanding of Birth to three matters. She uses developmental records that are linked to the aspects of learning, such as, a strong child. The childminder regularly observes the children, for example, she notes when a child can play on their own in the home corner or joins in a simple action rhyme. This information coupled with her good understanding of child development means that children participate in learning experiences that are relevant to their developmental stage.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has excellent planning systems and uses a monthly topic. Recent examples include, Christmas, keeping healthy and people of the world. Children benefit from a wide range of worthwhile activities and outings. These really help them to learn and find out about each topic. For example, they visit an Indian restaurant for a meal and go to Shoreham Airport to learn about transport. Children learn about the world in which they live through many stimulating experiences. In the childminder's garden, they plant, grow and eat tomatoes. At Arundel, the children visit the wetlands centre and find out about a variety of birds.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enthusiastically choose their own resources. For example, two children are very motivated to play with the role play doctor's equipment or to sit on the floor and construct a train track. The childminder intervenes where appropriate and extends the children's language and understanding. For example, she encourages them to build a tall tower without it falling down and then assists them with counting the bricks.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children take part in a wealth of creative activities. They enthusiastically make food for Santa's reindeer. First, they use glue and sticky shapes and decorate a pot for the reindeer's food. Afterwards, they make the food. They open small boxes of raisins, ladle in oats and then add silver balls and chocolate bits. These activities help children to develop their hand eye coordination skills. When children finish the activity, they have a real sense of having completed something worthwhile. This means they begin to develop a positive attitude to their learning.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Overall, the childminder's excellent knowledge of child development and planning of stimulating activities, mean that children show high levels of independence and concentration while in the childminder's home.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has a good awareness of the needs of individual children. For example, she knows about specific medical requirements. Children learn about their own and other cultures. During Chinese New Year, they have a party with other children and taste a variety of Chinese food, such as, vegetable rolls, wanton soup and noodles. At a Diwali party, children decorate lamps and smell a variety of aromatic spices. Children learn about their local community when they take part in the Broadwater Carnival and visit the library.

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 The childminder has experience of caring for children who have additional difficulties or disabilities. She works closely with other groups and this means she can provide the appropriate care for the children.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well in the childminder's home. The childminder uses appropriate behaviour management strategies. These include distraction, explanations and if necessary, time out. The childminder has a written behaviour management policy. This states she likes to reward good behaviour and set a good example. The childminder encourages the children to be polite.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

If parents are interested in using the childminder's service, they visit her house for an interview. Children have a minimum of two settling in sessions and parents receive a detailed welcome pack. This contains an array of helpful information and policy statements. This means parents are well informed about the childminder's service. Young children have a daily written diary. This gives details of their lunch, snacks and activities. With older children, daily communication is verbal. The childminder produces an attractive monthly newsletter. This informs parents of themes, dates and her new toys and equipment. Each child has a comprehensive folder, which shows details of trips and activities they have enjoyed. These factors mean that parents know about important events in their child's day. The childminder asks parents to complete a questionnaire. The responses show that parents like the written diary and the well planned,

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for by a childminder with an appropriate childcare qualification. She is committed to improvement and is currently studying with the Open University for an early years qualification. The childminder keeps up to date by attending a variety of training courses, for example, inclusion and celebrations. These factors mean that children are looked after by a childminder with relevant training and knowledge of current childcare practice.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder's home is well organised, with plenty of quality resources. Children get enough adult attention to help them feel secure and confident. They move around freely and independently inside the childminder's home. The children have opportunities to choose their own activities and initiate their play, yet the childminder is always on hand to offer guidance and ideas. Because of the childminder's excellent knowledge of child development and her meticulous planning, children enjoy many quality learning experiences.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder has a good understanding of the requirements of her registration. She has the mandatory documentation in place. This is generally well maintained and securely stored. However, the record of children's attendance does not reflect accurate times of the children's arrival and departure. The childminder has a good range of written policies and procedures. These support her practice and contribute to the children's welfare. Examples include a nutrition policy and an additional needs statement. The childminder has a number of written permissions from parents, such as, permission to go on routine outings and to use play equipment. The childminder knows how to respond to a parental complaint in the correct way.

p.5

Organisation

Parents are informed about their child's day on a regular basis. This contributes to and enhances the continuity of the children's care.

p.5

Organisation

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

p.5

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

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was asked to continue to maintain the National Standards and guidance for childminding.

p.6

Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has continued to maintain the National Standards and guidance for childminding and this means that children are cared for in an appropriate way.

p.6

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. 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.6

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): • ensure children have access to drinking water at all times • ensure accurate times are recorded of children's arrival and departure.

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