Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY267136 Unique Reference Number 09 January 2008 Inspection date Catherine Hill 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?

This childminder has been registered since 2003. She is registered to care for five children at any one time and currently minds six children under eight years, all of whom attend on a part-time basis during the week. The childminder works with an assistant at certain times. When the assistant is present the total number of children who may be minded at any one time increases to seven.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder lives with her husband and their two children, aged 15 and seven years, in a semi-detached house situated on a residential through road in Lightwater. There are local amenities, schools and pre-schools nearby. The minding is confined to the ground floor of the property where there are washing and toileting facilities. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outside play. The childminder also makes use of local play venues and groups. The family have one Chihuahua dog and two cats.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and is also a member of the Surrey Childminding network.

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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 play in a clean environment where they develop a good understanding of positive hygiene practice through daily routines. They wash their hands after going to the bathroom and use wipes to clean their hands before they eat. The childminder talks to children about hand washing practice and she ensures children are kept clean and comfortable whilst in her care. The childminder has a range of written policies to support her practice in keeping children safe from illness and infection, for example, she has policy statements on illness and exclusion. Children receive appropriate care if they have an accident as the childminder has a current first aid certificate and maintains a suitably stocked first aid kit within the home. Accident and medication records are maintained although some medication records are not countersigned by parents to acknowledge medication given and full dates of entries are not always recorded.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop an understanding of a healthy lifestyle as they have opportunities for regular exercise, fresh air and access to a healthy diet. They are taken out daily by the childminder and develop their physical skills through play, for example, at ball ponds and in the garden, where the childminder has a good range of outdoor play equipment. The childminder provides children with a good range of healthy, balanced meals to meet their particular dietary requirements. She has attended training in food hygiene and healthy eating for children under five and displays weekly menu plans. Children enjoy healthy snacks and eagerly select from a variety of fruit offered to them, although both eat from the same fruit bowl and do not have individual bowls for their snack. They eat fruit, such as strawberry, grape and pear and ask for the bowl to be left on the table after snack time so they can help themselves when they wish. They freely

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Helping children to be healthy

access their cup of drink when thirsty. Children's emotional well-being is supported by the childminder and very young children settle happily as they are cuddled whilst being fed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play happily in a welcoming, child orientated home environment. They move freely around the minding areas and have access to a wide range of age appropriate resources which promote learning in all skill areas. Children are at ease and relaxed as they play, for example, with interactive toys and musical instruments. Children keep safe within the home as the childminder has identified and minimized hazards. She uses safety gates, as appropriate, and ensures children are supervised during outside play. The large climbing frame is securely anchored down and outside play apparatus is positioned within a safe barked area. The childminder has written policies to support her safety practice, including an outings policy with good procedures in place to ensure the safety of children when on outings with them. Children learn how to keep themselves safe as the childminder is vigilant to safety issues and talks to

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

children about safety. For example, she reminds children to put their legs down and not kneel on low level chairs in case they slip. Children's welfare is well safeguarded as the childminder understands her role and responsibilities with regard to child protection. She has a written child protection policy and has attended training within this area.

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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 relaxed in the childminder's care and enjoy themselves as they play with a variety of resources. They show good levels of concentration as they sit at the table together to make collage masks. They are proud of their efforts and say loudly 'I did it' as they smile whilst holding up a mask they have assembled. They thoroughly enjoy themselves engaging in craft activities and develop in independence as the childminder encourages them to choose what colour paper they would like for their sticking activity. The childminder asks children questions as they play to make them think and reinforces vocabulary by encouraging children to repeat new words. Play is child led and the childminder sensitively supports children but recognises when to step back and allow children to play independently. She sits on the floor to play with children and ensures babies are well supported as they explore an interactive tree

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

house together. Children listen intently as the childminder supports children's interest in books by reading them a story about Floppy the dog. They have fun as they bang and shake musical instruments together as the childminder sings songs to, and with, them. The childminder keeps track of children's development as she keeps daily diaries for children which she shares with parents. She displays her weekly activity plans and attends training to further develop her knowledge of early years care and development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are confident and develop in self-esteem as the childminder praises their efforts. She treats all children with equal concern and is vigilant to their individual needs, for example wiping children's noses and settling them for a nap, as appropriate. All children are included in play and children learn about differences through play with a variety of accessible resources. Children learn to share as the childminder positions resources between them explaining that they are for all children to use. Children generally play very amicably together and the childminder is quick to intervene when disputes over toys arise. She is firm but fair with children and changes her tone of voice so children are aware of inappropriate behaviour. The childminder has established positive relationships with parents and provides them with questionnaires to obtain feedback on her practice. Written policies and procedures are shared with parents, including

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Helping children make a positive contribution

those on equal opportunities, special needs, behaviour management and complaints. Recent testimonials on file from parents state that they find the childminder 'reliable, trustworthy and flexible' and 'very professional'.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises her time and resources effectively to provide children with a friendly, relaxed home environment for their care and learning. She provides children with a good variety of learning experiences both inside and outside the home. Children are very happy within her care and have good relationships with her. The childminder is pro-active in attending regular training to further develop her knowledge and skills. She maintains a good range of documentation to support her practice although a little detail is missing from some records. For example, weekly attendance records do not show children's full names or the year entries were made. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has addressed both recommendations raised at her last inspection which related to behaviour management and documentation. She has amended her behaviour management policy so that children who have 'time out' are seated close by her and she updates her policies annually to reflect current practice.

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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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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): • enhance existing hygiene practice by providing children with individual bowls for their snack • improve medication and daily attendance records by including full details of children's names, full dates of entries, and by ensuring all entries in records are acknowledged in writing by parents.

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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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