Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY259366 Unique Reference Number 25 February 2008 Inspection date Margaret Davie 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, who is also her assistant and two children aged 13 and nine in Stokenchurch near High Wycombe. Most of the childminder's house is used for childminding with the exception of an upstairs bedroom 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 is currently minding two children under five part-time during the day and four children under eight part-time after school. She also minds four children who are nine, 10 and 11 years old, part-time after school. The childminder is not currently working with her assistant. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children. The family has two cats and a dog.

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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 cared for in a warm, clean home where they learn about personal hygiene through daily routines such as hand washing. Separate flannels are provided for each child to ensure they do not spread germs by sharing towels. Children's good health is protected in the event they have a minor accident or illness as the childminder keeps her first aid training up to date. She has a clear understanding of the need to keep appropriate accident and medication records to promote children's continuity of care.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a good range of activities which contribute to their physical development. They regularly play in the childminder's secure garden and visit the local playground where they can use large equipment to develop their physical confidence. Children explore and develop physical control and co-ordination by using a range of resources such as crayons, pens, puzzles and modelling equipment, which they manage with increasing confidence.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children begin to understand the benefits of a healthy diet. They receive meals and snacks which are prepared by their parents and the childminder with a view to healthy eating and meeting their dietary needs. Parents are kept fully informed of all foods given to their children in order to promote their continuity of care. Children are offered healthy drinks of water, juice or milk, however fresh water is not available for all children all of the time so that they can help themselves to a drink whenever they are thirsty. This detracts from their understanding of a healthy lifestyle.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play safely in a home where risks have been suitably identified and minimised. Their play space is well organised to allow them to move around freely and independently and choose resources according to their own preferences. The childminder has given clear consideration to evacuation procedures, which are occasionally practised with children in order to familiarise them with the routine. Safety precautions such as smoke alarms and a fire blanket help to protect children and a stair gate ensures they do not access any areas which pose a risk to their safety. Hazards in the garden have been minimised so that children can play in safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of child protection matters in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Boards procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children independently select activities from a wide range of good quality toys and equipment which meet safety standards and which are appropriate to their ages and stages of development. These are checked regularly by the childminder to ensure they remain safe for their use. Children use the childminder's computer to play games and access research for their homework. It is protected by a parental control system to ensure they only access material which is appropriate for them.

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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 access a good range of resources and receive good support from the childminder to support their development in all areas. The childminder clearly enjoys supporting children's developing skills and has a vast range of resources to encourage their early learning. For example, activity books support their language and mathematical development and their knowledge and understanding of the world is supported by activities such as bug catching and treasure hunts. Children also enjoy many craft activities which support their creative skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are well settled at the childminder's house and enjoy good relationships with her. She is kind and attentive to them and constantly praises and encourages them. This ensures they develop self esteem and confidence. The childminder talks to children all the time and involves herself in their play and learning which helps develop their language skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children develop a good awareness of diversity and the needs of others because the childminder provides a meaningful range of activities to provide a positive view of the wider world. For example, she has resources such as dolls, dressing up clothes and games which depict different cultures and needs. Children celebrate a range of festivals from around the world such as Chinese New Year and Diwali as well as major Christian celebrations. They learn to appreciate important people in their lives as they always make cards for their families on special occasions and have shown their appreciation of the good care they receive from the childminder by presenting her with a highly complimentary report card.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well as the childminder's clear expectations and consistent boundaries help them to develop a sense of right and wrong and learn to take responsibility for their own actions. They follow simple house rules which are designed to help them learn to get along with others and to have regard for the safety of themselves and the other children in the setting. They develop good levels of independence as they help themselves to resources and activities and help to tidy up and clear away their plates after meals. Children feel comfortable and at ease and receive lots of praise and encouragement to help build their self esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Relationships with parents are friendly and promote children's continuity of care well. Parents are pleased with the care their children receive and say they are particularly happy with the childminder's warm, maternal nature and the wide range of activities provided for their children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are comfortable in the childminder's home and with her support, make good progress in their development. Their play space is well organised to provide them with plenty of room to spread out and involve themselves in the variety of stimulating activities that is on offer.

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Organisation

Children's good health is effectively supported as the childminder ensures they get plenty of fresh air and exercise and a healthy diet. However, she does not make fresh drinking water available for all children at all times so that they can have a drink whenever they want. This detracts from their understanding of a healthy diet.

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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 required documentation is in place to ensure children's health, safety and well being, however as she is not currently working with her assistant she does not have written permission in place for children to be left in his sole charge. A regular two-way flow of information between parents and the childminder ensures children's continuity of care; however she does not have a clear understanding of how to set up a complaints record which may impact on children's welfare. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to make sure electrical heaters and poisonous plants do not pose a risk to children. She was also requested to make parents aware of her role in the protection of children and of how they could make contact with the regulator.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children's safety is now protected as the childminder has removed all free standing heaters as well as a poisonous plant from her garden. She has ensured that all other plants in her garden do not pose a risk to children. To safeguard children her child protection policy, which is shared with parents, clearly states that the protection of children is her first priority and she also provides parents with contact details for the regulator.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was also asked to request written agreements from parents to seek emergency medical advice and treatment and to detail when the children may be left in sold charge of her assistant. She was also requested to ensure that she kept a detailed record for each child.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children's good health is promoted because parents are now asked at the time of placement to provide written agreement to seek any emergency advice or treatment as required for their children. The childminder also ensures that she keeps her own first aid training up to date so that she can appropriately deal with any minor incidents. Children's needs are effectively met as she ensures that she keeps a full detailed record for each child in her care. Her husband, who is her assistant, is not currently helping to care for children. She is aware of the need to ask parents for written permission outlining the circumstances under which children may be left in his sole charge.

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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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Complaints since the last inspection

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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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 fresh drinking water is available to children at all times • improve understanding of setting up a complaints record • ensure prior written permission is requested from parents before leaving children in sole charge of assistant

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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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