Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY266873 Unique Reference Number 22 November 2007 Inspection date Heidi Wilton 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 outstanding. 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 2003. He lives with his wife, who is also a registered childminder, and their two children aged over eight. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children and has three children on roll. He co-childminds with his wife and together they may care for a maximum of eight children. Currently they have eight children on roll between them.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

They live in a town house in Harmans Water, Bracknell. Local schools, shops and parks are all within walking distance. The whole of the first floor of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder takes the children on regular outings. He is a member of the National Childminding Association and has a current first aid certificate.

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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 outstanding. The childminder demonstrates a thorough understanding of how to keep the minded children safe and healthy. He effectively completes all accident and medication records in great detail to ensure children are kept very safe and healthy and parents extremely well informed. The childminder has developed a very clear sickness policy alongside his wife who co-child minds with him from the same premises. The policy clearly defines their procedure and additional written information about infectious illnesses is provided to parents to ensure they are very well informed about incubation periods.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder uses exceptionally robust procedures when changing children's nappies to ensure cross infection is very well prevented. The nappy changing unit ensures the childminder is able to change children away from the other children but he is still able to be in the room to supervise all the children. Parents provide children with their meals and the provider demonstrates a very good understanding of storing these foods appropriately. He conducts very regular fridge temperature checks to ensure all foods are stored at the correct temperature.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children thrive as they thoroughly enjoy an extensive range of physical activities and have very regular opportunities for fresh air and exercise. The childminder takes them regularly to the local play parks where they have great fun stretching their bodies as they climb the equipment and participate with ball games on the field. The childminder alongside his co-childminder take the children to local indoor play zones where they become very excited as they play on the different equipment. They delight in music and movement where they dance to familiar action songs and rhymes. Children's fine manipulative skills and control are actively encouraged through creative activities such as cutting out and playing with homemade salt dough.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has an extremely good understanding of ensuring the children are cared for within a safe environment and continually risk assesses to ensure hazards are rapidly identified and minimised. The childminder's clear strength within his role as childminder is his exceptionally good knowledge and forward thinking skills to ensure the environment is child-friendly and safe. He works alongside his wife, his co-childminder and although safety is his clear strength both work exceptionally well together, discussing together and putting safety measures into place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has installed a security surveillance system to ensure visitors can be identified before opening the front door and he ensures visitors have very clear identification before allowing them to enter the premises. The childminder has added hooks up high near to the ceiling next to the blinds at the conservatory windows. He ensures the ropes hanging from the blinds are lifted high and hung over the hooks to ensure the children are extremely free from harm. The childminder has used his forward thinking skills and has added a small chain to the stair gate at the top of the flight of stairs to ensure further safety and security for the young children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder alongside his co-childminder has created a comprehensive smoke alarms log book which ensures all smoke alarms are tested every month. In addition, both childminder's

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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 have written the date the batteries need to be changed on a sticky label and attached to the batteries. This ensures the batteries are changed before they expire and children are kept extremely safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a very comprehensive knowledge of child protection procedures and an excellent understanding of where to make referrals should he suspect abuse or neglect of the children in his care. He shows a very good knowledge about how to record signs and symptoms and has a very detailed policy in place to ensure parents are extremely well informed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children within the childminder's home are extremely relaxed and very happy. They interact very well with both their peers, the childminder and the co-childminder. Children of different ages benefit greatly from observing each other and helping each other. For example, older children help younger children to fix pieces of train set together. The childminder knows the children very well and uses his knowledge and observations of children to extend their learning through play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Parents and their children are offered settling in visits at the outset and parents are extremely welcomed to stay for as many sessions as they wish. The childminder, alongside his co-childminder, works effectively with parents to ensure they and their children are very happy within the environment. He facilitates a high level of understanding of each child's starting points, individual needs and home circumstances to ensure he is fully knowledgeable.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children of different ages have an extensive range of age and stage appropriate toys and resources to play with. Young babies and toddlers immensely enjoy playing with light up toys and have lots of fun as they put different shapes into the wooden ship shape sorter. Older children thoroughly enjoy joining pieces of train set together and have lots of fun moving toy cars down in the ramp on the toy garage. The childminder interacts at child level with the children offering great amounts of support when necessary. Children have opportunities to explore the sand and water tray and become very excited as they manipulate the homemade salt dough to make objects.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is excellent with his interactions with the children and takes time to listen to them carefully. He and his co-childminder have an extremely close relationship with the children and demonstrate dedication and affection towards them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The childminder works extremely effectively with his wife, his co-childminder to ensure children feel extremely valued. He values the children highly as individuals and listens to the children at their level. The childminder acts as an excellent role model showing both his co-childminder and the children high levels of respect. Children foster a great understanding about other cultures and positive gender roles incidentally through the extensive range of books, puzzles, toys and clothes within their play environment. The childminder is very dedicated to the children and works effectively with parents and outside agencies to achieve consistency in learning for the children. He works very well with his co-childminder to ensure they are meeting the individual needs of all of the children.

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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 Children behave very well and the childminder gently reminds the children of the house rules. He uses lots of positive praise and encouragement for good behaviour. In addition, the childminder celebrates the children's good behaviour with parents which makes children feel proud. Children are continually rewarded and acknowledged for their achievements which in turn enables them to build high levels of self esteem and confidence. The childminder communicates with parents effectively each day and discusses with parents if they would like additional written feedback about their child's day. He creates fantastic digital compact discs for the parents with many photographs of their children to show them the things their children have been doing. This is an excellent link between the parents and the childminder's. Parents

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Helping children make a positive contribution

are very well informed about how to contact the regulatory body should they have a concern.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Daily routines are organised exceptionally well and the childminder communicates effectively with his wife, his co-childminder to ensure they are meeting the needs of all the children. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom he provides. Children are able to move seamlessly between activities within the childminder's home which ensures they are fully occupied and thriving with their overall development. The childminder works effectively with his co-childminder to ensure they remain within their conditions of registration and demonstrates a very clear understanding of adhering to these conditions. His co-childminder demonstrates very good organisational skills and implements the paperwork and policies. However, the two childminders work exceptionally well together and the childminder is involved with the paperwork process. He shows a very clear understanding of ensuring all contracts are

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Organisation

gained, parental permissions completed and other important information obtained.

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Organisation

The childminder demonstrates an extremely good knowledge of data protection having gained this knowledge from past employments. He ensures all documentation is gained from parents but stores this extremely securely to ensure confidentiality is maintained. The childminder has a very good understanding of the National Standards and current legislation and demonstrates an extremely good knowledge of ensuring all adults within the household are vetted.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection the childminder was asked to address one recommendation for care. He was asked to update records with regard to ensuring the daily attendance is recorded accurately and written parental consent gained to seek emergency medical advice for the children. The childminder has now updated all records, the daily attendance shows children's actual times of arrival and departure and written parental consent has been gained to seek emergency medical advice for all the children. This ensures all children will be accounted for in an emergency and treated without delay in an emergency.

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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. 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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