Poulter, Mary Teresa

Inspection report for early years provision

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405501 Unique Reference Number 12 March 2008 Inspection date Janet Armstrong 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 has been registered since 2001. She lives in a four-bedroomed detached house in the town of Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, 10 miles from Bristol. The childminder lives with her husband and four children, two sons aged 16 and 14 years and two daughters aged 18 and eight years of age.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Downstairs is used as the main accommodation for childminding purposes. This comprises of a lounge/dining room, kitchen and cloakroom. Rest facilities are available of the first floor. The back garden is included in the registration.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for up to five children under the age of eight. There are currently four children on roll, all under the age of eight years. The childminder holds an early years qualification 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's health is promoted well. From a young age, children are supported to wash their hands before meal times. Liquid soap and individual hand towels that are labelled help to prevent the risk of the spread of germs. Older children have helped to make a poster reminding them of the need to wash their hands. The childminder follows appropriate nappy changing procedures to support young children's health. Her home presents as clean and well-maintained. The childminder has a recognised first aid certificate. All the necessary records and consents are in place to enable her to manage any minor accidents the children may have and to administer any medicines as required. Parents receive a copy of the childminder's sick children policy to encourage them to support her in excluding children when they are infectious to help reduce their exposure to illness.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have a good introduction to a healthy lifestyle. They learn about making healthy choices through planned activities, such as playing the 'healthy food game' and helping to plant vegetable seeds and care for and eat the results. The childminder provides children with healthy options at snack and lunch time. She ensures appropriate information is obtained from parents regarding individual dietary needs and discusses and agrees with parents what foods will be offered. Children have daily opportunities to become physically active. Regardless of the weather they enjoy walks to the woods to explore nature and have picnics. In the back garden they have access to a suitable range of play equipment to support their development, such as bats, balls and a slide.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a well-maintained and organised family home where all the necessary precautions have been taken to reduce or remove potential hazards. The childminder ensures children are supervised at all times. These positive measures means that children are able to explore freely and safely. The rooms within the home are used well to support the children's care needs. All the necessary furniture, equipment and play provision is in place to support the childminder in her role. The childminder completes regular formal risk assessments to monitor and maintain its ongoing suitability.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn safe practices to enable them to start making positive choices with regard to their own safety. For example, house rules remind children to respect the furniture and not to run indoors. Children participate in evacuation procedures to help raise their awareness of what to do in an emergency situation. When on outings, they learn how to cross the road safely with the childminder. A written lost and uncollected children policy is in place and shared with parents detailing appropriate procedures to follow.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a sound knowledge and understanding of the correct child protection procedures to follow should she have a concern about a child in her care. She is supported by up-to-date training, documentation and a written policy that is shared with parents. This helps her to safeguard children's welfare.

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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 are very happy and settled and respond well to the high levels of positive interaction and stimulation they receive from the childminder. The family home has been set up well to enable children to explore their environment and self-select from a wide range of suitable toys and play provision to support their ages and stages of development. The childminder plans her day to ensure children's individual needs are met. She identifies targets for each child to support their individual progress.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder constantly talks to the children about what they are doing and encourages them to try a wide selection of activities. Her interested tone of voice and constant communication supports their interests and development well. This means children have a strong natural curiosity and desire to explore. For example, young children explore the effects of rolling a ball through a large cardboard tube, they explore sounds and rhythm on the drum and dance to Caribbean music, they use play dough and a range of tools to explore the effects of moulding. The childminder encourages them to make marks in the dough, much to their delight.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

A young child enjoys the toy kitchen and sets about making a cup of tea and stirs, pours and imitates cooking. They enjoy familiar nursery rhymes and story books which extend their language as they try out new words, such as 'hello' and 'E, I, E, I, O' when singing Old Macdonald had a Farm. They receive lots of praise and encouragement from the childminder and respond well with lots of laughing and babbling.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have a positive introduction to the world in which they live. On a local level, they learn about their environment through regular walks to places of interest, such as the park, woods, library and river. They learn about the wider world through access to a suitable range of play provision that raises their awareness of diversity. The childminder works closely with parents to ensure that individual needs of each child and family are catered for and respected.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is a positive role model. She ensures that children are fully occupied and engaged when in her care. This means that children are happy and secure and behave well. The childminder ensures that children receive consistent messages about expectations so that they learn to be kind to others and share and form positive friendships. Parents receive a copy of the behaviour management policy to ensure consistency between home and the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are effective systems in place to ensure there is a positive working partnership with parents. Each parent receives a copy of the childminder's written policies and procedures to ensure they are fully informed and able to work with the childminder to promote positive outcomes for the children. All the necessary written records, consents and paperwork is in place to support the childminder in meeting the individual needs of each child. Daily discussions with parents and the use of a diary further promotes the children's well-being to provide them with continuity of care and gives parents reassurance. The childminder is clear on the correct procedures to follow in line with legislation should a parent make a complaint.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for in a warm, welcoming family orientated home. The childminder presents as bubbly, outgoing and plays an active role in ensuring the children are fully occupied and engaged throughout the day. She uses her time well to dedicate to the children to ensure they are suitably interested in appropriate and interesting activities. The childminder supports the children's health, safety and learning needs well. The provider meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Organisation

The childminder ensures that records, consents and documentation is kept up-to-date and accessible to enable her to support the children's individual needs. It is stored confidentially and reviewed regularly. Current systems to enable the childminder to monitor her own effectiveness to maintain and build on the already high levels of care are basic.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the provider agreed to ensure the register is kept up-to-date. The childminder ensures that her register is completed promptly as children arrive to show who is present.

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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): • develop systems to self-evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of the care provided.

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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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