Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY267159 Unique Reference Number 21 January 2008 Inspection date Teresa Elkington 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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged seven and three years in Hersham, Surrey. The whole of the childminder’s house is used for childminding purposes 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 four children at any one time and is currently minding one child under five, who attends on a part time basis and two children over five before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent/toddler group. The childminder is a member of a local childminder support group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive in the childminder's care as she is extremely vigilant in ensuring consistently high levels of cleanliness and hygienic practices. This ensures that children are fully protected from germs and infections as the childminder maintains an immaculately clean and very

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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 well-maintained environment. She ensures that children develop excellent levels in independence with personal care routines, such as toileting, hand washing, giving support when needed to help children understand the importance of hand washing from an early age. Children have their own freshly-laundered bedding and use individual towels to prevent cross-infection. Children's care is exceptionally well fostered through highly considered routines, for example nappy changing procedures. Individual and personal information is discussed to ensure health and medical needs are identified and adhered to and recorded thoroughly in excellent documentation. Comprehensive written policies are on file reflecting the childminder's strong commitment towards providing a healthy and hygienic environment. For example, clear

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Helping children to be healthy

information is given to parents on the signs and symptoms of infectious illnesses, helping to ensure sick children are excluded from the setting.

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Helping children to be healthy

The daily routine is carefully planned to ensure children have ample time to play in the fresh air and undertake regular exercise. Children play in the garden and frequently visit the park, enabling them to run about and move around freely. They have access to a wide range of physical play resources which enables children to undertake frequent and robust exercise to enhance their physical well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished and receive healthy snacks, meals and regular drinks. The childminder provides a varied and nutritionally balanced diet, and she cooks using fresh ingredients. Children receive a wide variety of healthy snacks and freshly cooked meals which are fully detailed in well thought out menus. Arrangements for providing food and drinks are agreed with parents and ongoing discussions take place to ensure that children's dietary needs are recognised and fully met. For example, weaning programmes for very young children, and catering for those with specific food allergies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from an extremely well-designed, totally child-orientated environment in which they have adequate space to move around freely and a good emphasis is given to ensuring the environment is welcoming for children, to aid their development. The excellent use of floor space provides designated areas for younger children to play safely. All children have access to a superb range of quality toys and resources which are suitable for their ages and stages of development. Resources have been carefully chosen to support children's play and are regularly checked for safety and hygiene. All children readily help themselves from the well organised selection of play equipment so they can follow their own interests.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety and security is given optimum priority which ensures that children are cared for in an extremely safe and suitable environment. For example, sleeping children are frequently checked and closely monitored, and all potential hazards both in the home and garden have been identified and minimised to ensure their safety and well-being at all times. A well thought through and practised fire evacuation procedure gives the children a clear understanding of the importance of staying safe in an emergency. There are excellent systems in place for the safe arrival and departure of children. The premises are fully secure and children are unable to leave unsupervised. High priority is given to close supervision at all times and particularly when away from the childminding setting.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn how to keep themselves safe as the childminder explains potential dangers to them. She uses daily opportunities to help children learn about safety. For example, older

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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 children learn about road safety whilst on outings and all children learn that they must keep doorways free from toys to ensure clear walk ways in the event of an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All required documents and procedures are in place and consistently maintained to safeguard children's welfare. Children are very well protected as the childminder has an extremely clear understanding of child protection and attends training on a regular basis to update and compound her knowledge and inform her practice. Parents and carers are made aware that the childminder's ultimate responsibility is the safety and welfare of the children she cares for.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children have extensive opportunities to participate in a stimulating, fun and diverse range of play opportunities. The childminder provides an extremely relaxed and vibrant atmosphere, enabling children to have fun, learn through their play and feel settled and secure. Children engage in many purposeful activities, enabling them to be highly stimulated and confident in the childminder's care. They enjoy challenges and develop confidence to try new things and gain new skills, as the childminder allows them to explore and experiment and develop interest and curiosity. They are valued as individuals and the childminder takes into account each child's varying ability and needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has an extensive knowledge and understanding of child development, enabling her to plan suitably challenging activities and play opportunities to encourage children to reach appropriate milestones. For example, non-mobile babies are gently encouraged to develop their crawling skills, by having toys placed slightly out of reach from them, which also helps to strengthen their muscles in readiness for this milestone in their lives.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy an excellent range of self chosen activities, which are both stimulating and fun. Children's imagination is extended extremely well as they are able to select from a variety of play resources to enable them to act out familiar scenarios. Babies are provided with purposeful activities which allows them to experience creatively from an early age. For example, as they make hand prints with paint and as they explore the sounds of musical instruments.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

High quality adult-child interactions are extremely supportive of early communication skills. Babies express themselves enthusiastically using sounds and gestures as they share picture books with the childminder which promotes children’s early language and communication skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children form very strong relationships with the childminder and enjoy close interaction. They enjoy high levels of physical affection, cuddles from the childminder during playtimes and during personal care routines. She interacts extremely positively with children and develops strong and loving relationships, which enables children to feel at ease and flourish in her care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children's sense of belonging is fully fostered through the warm, welcoming and homely atmosphere and the childminder's overwhelming dedication to their care. The children have extensive opportunities to learn about themselves, each other and the world around them through outings to local parks and walks within the community. Children are exposed to different cultures through planned activities and the extensive selection of resources that are available, therefore, increasing their knowledge and understanding of the wider world.

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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 with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are fully welcomed into the childminder's home. She is totally dedicated to adapting her care routines and the home environment, wherever necessary, to ensure she can meet all children's individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is managed extremely well. The childminder uses effective and consistent strategies to enable children to fully understand her expectations and the acceptable boundaries. As a result, children learn to co-operate well with one another and show total care and respect for their peers and play materials. Children’s self esteem is promoted by positive praise and encouragement so that children clearly understand and learn right from wrong and to encourage harmonious relationships with one another.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder forms successful and strong partnerships with parents and carers, which ensures that children's continuity of care is significantly promoted. They are welcomed to communicate verbally on a daily basis as well as with the use of the individual daily diaries for younger children, which continue to develop the rapport between the childminder and the parents. Communication for parents of older children is promoted by the good use of prompts, which are given to the parents at the end of the day to enable them to encourage conversation with their children at home, which helps to strengthen partnership with parents. Comprehensive written information regarding the childminding service is well maintained and parents are made fully aware of all aspects of care and written policies.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder has a very sound knowledge and understanding of child development through her past experiences of working with young children and through her commitment in updating and extending her current knowledge. This ensures that her highly professional approach in providing for children’s care and learning experiences is enhanced. Children are protected at all times as the childminder ensures that all adults living in her home have been fully vetted. The childminder has an excellent understanding of the National Standards. This ensures that children receive the highest levels of care and the conditions of her registration are adhered to at all times.

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Organisation

Children's toys and play materials are organised exceptionally well. This enables children to access them easily and safely, and enhances their opportunities to develop independence and experience many worthwhile learning opportunities. The daily routine is planned meticulously to cater for all children's differing needs.

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Organisation

The childminder's portfolio evidences her commitment to providing good quality care for children. The portfolio includes extensive and well written policies and procedures which are shared with parents to keep them fully informed of the provision. All required documentation is completed correctly, is up-to-date, reviewed regularly and is well organised to ensure that confidentiality is respected.

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Organisation

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, one recommendation was raised; to ensure the children's actual arrival and departure times are recorded. The provider has addressed this by ensuring that she keeps an accurate and detailed record of children's attendance on a daily basis.

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Improvements 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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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 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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