Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY285221 Unique Reference Number 12 February 2008 Inspection date Jane Plested 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 has been registered since 2004. She lives with her husband and two children age 10 and six years. They live on a residential estate in Bicester, Oxfordshire. It is in walking distance of local shops, pre-school and schools.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Childminding takes place on the ground floor with two bedrooms upstairs used for rest and occasional play by agreement. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family have a dog, three cats and two guinea pigs as pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is registered to care for five children under eight years. There are currently 11 children who attend the setting of these, five are over eight years. Children attend on a full time and part-time basis. The childminder supports children with learning disabilities and additional needs.

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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 thrive because the childminder has an excellent understanding of healthy eating. She plans activities to promote discussion about different food groups, to explain how you create healthy meals. Less adventurous eaters are encouraged to try new foods, such as ‘baby spinach’. Her main meals are homemade and daily snacks are of fruit. Children receive or can freely access, depending on their age, drinks of water or milk, which ensure they remain well-hydrated and come to understand the needs of their bodies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s good health is important to the childminder. Her home is a hygienic environment for children, for instance, the kitchen work surfaces are spotless. The childminder provides individual towels for children so there is no sharing, which risks transferring infection. The majority of records are in place and well-organised to support children’s heath and safety and the childminder holds a current first aid certificate so she is competent to manage minor injuries.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in challenging and exciting outdoor activities. They have frequent access to the garden to use the extensive range of toys and equipment that include a sand pit, balls plus goals for football and netball. The childminder encourages walking in babies. Older children walk to school and experience outings to the woods. These activities ensure children have daily fresh air, develop their coordination, strengthen muscles and have fun.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive within the childminder’s very well-maintained home. They play freely in the lounge and rest in a highly suitable area. Children have easy access to an extensive range of high quality toys and equipment. Therefore they remain continually engaged. The childminder ensures the play resources remain safe and are developmental stage suitable through weekly checks and cleaning procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit because the premises is a secure, safe and well-maintained environment. The childminder has a keen awareness of potential hazards both in the home and on outings. She fits safety equipment such as a stair gate, and a monitor in rest in the area. The childminder regularly checks sleeping children to reassure her they remain safe. She teaches children to be safe when crossing the road or in the vicinity of water by discussing and highlighting dangers.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children know and practise the evacuation procedures so that they are confident of what to do in this eventuality. The childminder ensures children’s security by having secure grounds, and because she supervises them closely. Children are very well protected from harm and abuse through the childminder’s professional understanding of her role and her strong knowledge of child protection procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are comfortable, clearly at home and secure. Young children sit contentedly on the childminder’s lap and at other times gurgle with pleasure as they play together with activity toys. The childminder’s gentle chatter during care routines also provides reassurance to young

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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 children. She seeks the opinions of older children about their activities demonstrating they too are valued. Children greatly benefit from the childminder’s clear knowledge of their developmental needs and she works closely with parents to support their development. She positively encourages children to improve their mobility skills and special awareness. The childminder affirms children’s achievements when they are successful by using words such as ‘clever boy’. As a result children gain a strong sense of self-worth and develop a strong bond with his carer.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Older children take part in a wide variety of activities that encourage their learning and development. The childminder describes how they use construction resources to build a ‘Harry Potter castle’ and to create three-dimensional shapes such as pyramids. Children take part in a wide range of art and craft activities which the childminder also uses to reinforce healthy eating. They cleverly create imaginative creatures with their thumb prints. These activities positively support development design skills and children’s understanding of healthy eating.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy developing their imaginative play by planning and taking part in shows such as ‘Rapunzel’ and by experimenting with a variety of dressing up clothes. They play with a range of instruments and take part in karaoke sessions which provides opportunities for fun exploration of sound. Children benefit from excellent opportunities to develop an understanding of the world around them. They learn to recycle. The childminder takes young children on outings to a toddler group and to visit friends to socialise. They also attend a soft-play centre to develop their mobility skills. During the holidays older children take part in activities such as bowling and visiting the library. They enjoyed a visit to the Natural History Museum, where children found the teeth of a stuffed leopard particularly fascinating.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit because the childminder goes to a great deal of effort to ensure she meets children’s individual needs. She ensures children feel valued through the provision of individual towels and accessible toys. Children experience a wide variety of activities that help them learn about the wider world for example, they celebrate special days from around the world such as ‘Thanksgiving Day’ and ‘Chinese New Year. They learn about environmental issues and photographic evidence in the ‘scrap book’ shows children recycling and turning lights off. This will enhance their ability to be good citizens.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have clear and consistent boundaries set by the childminder. She encourages them to develop social skills from an early age, for example, by encouraging a baby to say ’tar’. She praises children’s successes and encourages good behaviour amongst children through her innovative use of a ‘marble reward scheme’. All children’s achievements are rewarded with a marble which is placed in a joint pot, when this is full the whole group receive a treat. This allows children to gain feelings of self-worth and to work as a team, and promotes good behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The systems for partnership with parents are excellent. The childminder keeps parents informed of their child's day through comprehensive verbal feedback or a daily diary if preferred. She shares service information via a personal portfolio and the ‘scrap book’ which helps parents to understand the range of experiences children have in the setting. The childminder provides parents with regular opportunities to comment on her service. Comment sheets inspected are extremely positive and make no suggestions for improvement.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children thrive because the childminder has a very professional approach to her childminding and is well-organised. She provides a safe environment that she maintains and cleans to the highest standard. Resources are set out so that they are easily accessible to children who also have plenty of space to move around and develop their play. During their activities, children have ample adult support, resulting in them feeling confident and achieving.

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Organisation

Children’s care arises from her mainly verbal policies and procedures. She maintains the required records which are detailed. She shares these with parents so, for instance, they know of any accidents or medication given. Some of the recommended parental agreements are in place, however, consent is not in place for seeking emergency treatment. Records on children are stored safely in and completed to ensure children’s confidentiality. 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 agreed to ensure that children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and help develop their understand the wider world.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has a good range of resources and artefacts to encourage an understanding of diversity. For example she has a North American Indian headdress and a lucky stone from Australia which has aboriginal art work on it. Children are also positively encouraged to observe a wide range of celebrations. For example, for Chinese New Year they ate a Chinese meal. Children are also encouraged to maintain email contact with some children who have left the setting and now live aboard so they begin to understand the experience of living in another country.

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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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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):

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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 • obtain written parental agreements for seeking emergency treatment.

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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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