Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY277510 Unique Reference Number 10 March 2008 Inspection date Loraine Wardlaw 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 satisfactory. 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. She lives with her daughter aged over eight, in a house in Newbury. The ground floor, main bedroom and upstairs bathroom is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently caring for two children under the age of two years and an eight year old. The childminder is able to support children with learning difficulties/disabilities. The childminder takes children to and from the local school and pre-school and attends toddler clubs in the area. The family have two cats and pet rats. The childminder also dog sits, during the day, for a previous family of children she used to care for.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a regular amount of physical activity during their time with the childminder; they walk to school every morning, take the dog for walks, visit the park to feed the ducks and play on the equipment. This provides them with exercise in the fresh air and helps develop their

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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 physical skills. Their nutritional needs are met well; toddlers freely access drinks of water from their own coloured, trainer cup throughout the morning and enjoy a healthy snack of banana and raisons mid-morning. Children's health is promoted by the childminder's good understanding of how to minimise cross infection; children have their own individual flannels and hand towels to use and the animals in the home are kept clean, healthy and separate from the children. Children's welfare is supported by thorough recording of children's accidents and the sound recording of medication administered. However, the medication records have not been countersigned by the parents which is good practice. Children with allergies are well cared for, because the childminder takes account of their special dietary needs and is trained in dealing

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Helping children to be healthy

with anaphylactic shock. Toddlers emotional well-being is being promoted well by the childminder; they enjoy plenty of attention and cuddles from the childminder with whom they have built a warm and secure relationship.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children play and are cared for in a suitably safe environment. The childminder has measures in place to minimise children's accidental injury, and does a risk assessment check list every day to ensure areas of the home, are not hazardous to children. Stair gates are put across the living room and kitchen doors to restrict children's access and the stairs are checked to ensure they are free from objects. However, there is not a lot of clear floor space for the children to play safely, without treading on the toy resources which are organised in boxes on the floor. Children have a suitable range of safe, age appropriate toys and resources to play with. Children practise the fire drill with the childminder and good systems are in place for emergencies and pick ups; the childminder uses a password system should another person arrive to collect a child and has emergency contact cards in the nappy bag. Children learn how to safely cross the road

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

when out with the childminder; toddlers enjoy looking for the green man, light at the pedestrian crossing. Children's welfare is appropriately safeguarded because the childminder has a sound knowledge of child protection procedures and of the possible signs of abuse. However, these procedures are not formally written down and shared with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have a warm and secure relationship with the childminder who relates to the children very well and in a positive way. They are learning through their play which is accompanied by good interaction by the childminder. The age appropriate play they enjoy, involves activities such as playing a fun game of peek-a-boo with the childminder, hiding under a cloth which covers the small table and learning to complete a three piece puzzle. Out of doors children are able to develop their social skills; most mornings they visit either a parent and toddler or childminder group where they relate to their peers and enjoy creative and physical activities. Children gleefully play with play dough, at the small table and chairs; they mould it in their hands, cut out shapes and excitedly talk about what they are doing. They are developing a keen interest in books from a young age; they cosily sit with the childminder on the sofa talking,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

while lifting the flap in books, and listen attentively to the story 'ladybird moves home.' The childminder extends their language and vocabulary well encouraging the toddlers to think by asking questions about the pictures and explains what the pictures are. For example, when a toddler asks 'what's that?' pointing to a picture, the childminder replies 'a ladder so you can reach things high up'. Children are beginning to join in rhymes such as 'Peter Rabbit has a fly upon his nose' and make marks on paper with crayons.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's needs are suitably met and their individuality is respected by the childminder, who has a sound understanding of how to promote equal opportunities. Children are able to appreciate all people in society through the varied resources available to them which promote diversity. Those children with learning difficulties are well supported by the childminder. For example, a child with dyslexia learns their words every day with the childminder. Children receive plenty of praise from the childminder, which in turn encourages them to behave well. Toddlers learn the boundaries of the home, such as not putting the play dough on the floor. They are beginning to learn to share and not push one another when they want to become involved in an activity, through the childminder's consistent guidance. Children's continuity of care is supported by daily diaries which record the children's daily activities and care routines.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Relationships are built with parents through the daily exchange of information and parental wishes are taken into account by the childminder. The childminder has devised policies which underpin her practice and these are shared with parents. However, the childminder is not very secure in her knowledge of the complaints procedure, or sharing this with parents, which is a regulatory requirement.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are looked after in a caring environment where they receive good adult support to help

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Organisation

them feel secure and happy. The day is planned well around the children's afternoon naps, with lots of activities taking place outside the home. Inside the home, however, the organisation of the toys needs to be addressed, to ensure there is sufficient amount of play space available for the children to use. The childminder is keen to raise the standard of the care she offers to children and has recently gained a qualification in children's care, learning and development. Ratios are adhered to well and most of the legally required documentation is in place and complete with exception of a complaints record. Parents are able to view the registration certificate which is displayed in the hall, and the childminder is aware of her obligation to inform us of any significant events/changes that take place in the home. 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 requested to extend the range of resources to include more which reflect positive images of different cultures and abilities. The childminder has purchased many books on different religions, puzzles which show images of people with disabilities and a doll with a brown skin tone. These toys and resources help children to value and respect differences in people.

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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 satisfactory. 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 parents countersign medication records, after medication has been administered • organise toys effectively so children have more floor space to play safely and can take responsibility for the toys • devise a child protection procedure/policy and share this with parents • devise a complaints procedure and a system to record complaints and share these with 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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