Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY250520 Unique Reference Number 31 January 2008 Inspection date Joanna Scott 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 2003. She lives with her husband and one child aged five in Walton-on-Thames, in Surrey. The whole ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding, with sleeping facilities provided upstairs. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time, and is currently minding four children under eight, and two children over eight, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local toddler groups, and takes children to parks, and on visits with fellow childminders. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children play in a very clean and well maintained environment. Their good health is protected. This is because the childminder has robust systems in place to minimise the risk of cross infection, such as wearing disposable gloves to change nappies, and using anti-bacterial spray to clean the changing mat thoroughly. She provides children with individual towels to

p.2

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 dry their hands. The children learn through discussion that hand washing is important for their health. The childminder is observant and ensures that if children forget to do it on their own, they are reminded. This helps children to learn to be independent and follow good practice when they are out of the childminder's care too.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a healthy diet, and learn through discussion that some foods benefit their development. For example a young child talks about the raw carrots he is eating being good for him. All foods are stored appropriately, and the childminder is flexible in her approach to providing food. Children's individual needs are taken into account, the childminder takes account of their home routines and as far as possible implements them into her own day. This means that children have the opportunity to be active and rest as they need, to best promote their growth and development.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

All required permissions and records are in place relating to the administration of medication, and the childminder has updated her first aid training which ensures she has the skills to care for children should they be injured or become well. The childminder monitors the children's health with great care, she liaises closely with parents to ensure that they are given pain relief medication if it is needed, and she keeps parents informed of any developments, for example regarding teething. This ensures that children are comfortable and parents are reassured.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children have plenty of space to move and play. The childminder organises her home very well to enable them to move freely between the sitting room and the playroom in safety. She uses safety equipment such as a fire guard, stair gate, cupboard locks and socket covers to minimise any risk to children, and she ensures that they are unable to leave unattended because she is vigilant in using a safety chain on the door. The garden is well fenced and children are unable to leave it without her, however the gate is not additionally secured to prevent unauthorised access from off site. The childminder supervises the children very well. She is child focused, and follows the children as they move around the ground floor to play. This keeps them safe. The childminder has a clear child protection procedure to follow should she have a concern about a child.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are learning about keeping themselves safe. The childminder has a detailed evacuation plan, and fire safety equipment in the house. She practises evacuation with the children on a regular basis, ensuring that all have the opportunity to develop their skills and confidence in leaving the premises quickly and safely. The childminder talks to the children regularly about keeping safe when going in the car or walking to school. This is reinforced by the childminder as she displays some 'Stop Look Listen Live' road safety hedgehog posters at low level, for the children to look at. Children understand that babies must not put small things in their mouths. This demonstrates that children start to take account of each others well being.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder organises her home, time and resources very well, and the children are settled and benefit from the caring environment she provides. The childminder is very focused on the children's care and play, and this ensures they are well supported and encouraged. She enables children to make their own choices about their play, and provides resources which enable them to do this. For instance when a child is interested in knights and castles she ensures that he

p.3

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 has such toys accessible, she provides items which promote imaginative play such as cardboard tubes which become a horse as the child straddles one, and a lance as the other is placed under their arm. The childminder even provides lunch on a knights plate which encourages the child to eat all the sandwich, to see the picture. Additional resources are always accessible to children. The childminder stores many of her resources in translucent boxes which are labelled, and many are at low level. This ensures that children do not become bored or restless.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies benefit from the very warm and nurturing interaction with the childminder. She communicates very well with babies, and encourages them to hold eye contact, smile and vocalise. This is very beneficial for their development. The childminder helps children to take account of each other and be kind. She is skilled at encouraging children to share their experiences with each other, and acknowledging when a child has returned after a sleep. This promotes warm and caring relationships.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder provides children with a varied range of experiences both in and out of the home. This promotes their development, builds on their experiences, and helps children to become confident.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The partnership with parents and carers is excellent. The children benefit from the close working relationship fostered between both parties. There are excellent systems in place for sharing information relating to the children's development and care needs, and this ensures that children's individual needs can be met. Parents receive lots of information about their child's day, and each has a scrap book of photographs which show their child busy in play. The children learn about the wider world, and learn to develop positive attitudes from an early age, this is because they are surrounded by colourful posters and play with some very good quality resources with promote diversity, including some dolls and hand puppets.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The children behave very well. They understand what the childminder expects of them, because she is consistent and communicates very clearly. She praises and encourages the children as they play together and learn, and this promotes their self esteem and results in wanted behaviours.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises her home, time and resources extremely well, which allows children to have freedom of choice about what they would like to do, and enables the childminder to be focused on their care. The childminder has been proactive in accessing training to develop her skills and knowledge, and this has resulted in her ability to provide a highly professional and good quality service.

p.4

Organisation

The written information shared with parents is excellent, and systems are in place for the childminder to review her practice and maintain very high standards. All regulatory records are in place. Required adult to child ratios are maintained which ensures children are supported. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

p.4

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.4

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection a recommendation was raised to obtain written parental permission before administering medication to children. This is in place and benefits children's safety and welfare.

p.5

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.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.5

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.5

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 that any risk assessment of the garden takes full account of unauthorised entry through the side gate

p.5

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.5

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.5