Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique Reference Number 560156 Inspection date 05 September 2005 Inspector Elizabeth Shellard

p.1

Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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 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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1977. She lives with her husband and adult daughter in Epping, close to the station. The ground floor and an upstairs bedroom of the childminder’s house are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 6 children at any one time and is currently minding 3 children under 5 and 1 child over five on both part and full time contracts. The childminder also cares for 3 children over 8 years of age. The childminder drives to local schools to take and collect children. She attends a toddler

p.2

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 group, takes children to the local library, forest and play areas. The childminder regularly works with an assistant. The childminder has some experience of caring for children with special needs. The childminder helps to run a weekly carer and toddler group.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children enjoy a range of activities that promote their good health. The childminder has adapted her home to provide spacious accommodation to ensure that children obtain all the benefits of daily fresh air, physical play and exercise. Children move freely between the house and garden. They have lots of fun keeping fit, singing and dancing to pop music in the converted garage. The home is clean and well maintained. Children learn to take responsibility for routine personal care such as hand-washing and cleaning teeth. The children speak enthusiastically about how much they enjoy the changes the childminder has introduced to the their diets. For example, ‘more salad, less chips’ and favourite foods include pasta and sweet potatoes. Children have been successfully introduced to new foods by the childminder presenting food in serving dishes so that the children have choices and individual preferences are respected.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children and parents have been fully involved in the childminder’s implementation of nutritious and healthy meals.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm child friendly home where they can feel safe and secure. The child minder takes positive steps to promote safety within the home and on outings and ensures proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents. Children have easy access to a good range of toys and books which are safely stored and well organised by type of play. Children learn the importance of safety in the home. For example, how to use scissors safely. Children’s safety and welfare is enhanced by the childminder working with an assistant on outings and at busy times of the day such as when she needs to take and collect children from school. The childminder understands her role in child protection and is confident to follow correct procedures to ensure that children are well protected from harm.

p.3

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 are happy and settled in the childminder’s home. The child minder knows the children very well. All of the children currently in her care have been with her since they were babies. The children all get on well together and these relationships contribute significantly to the children’s sense of belonging. Children feel valued in this warm family environment and they receive continuity of care of the highest quality. The children are confident and articulate. The childminder is attentive in her conversations with the children and responsive to their thoughts and ideas. Children enjoy being physically close to the childminder and she cares for them with affection. For example, the childminder cuddles children on her lap giving them time to wake up from their rest slowly.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy an interesting and worthwhile range of activities and outings. Their creative development is encouraged through activities such as role-play, singing and dancing. Children speak enthusiastically about their favourite outings to a wild life park and the forest where they make dens and pick blackberries. They also enjoy the treasure hunts that the child minder sets up in the back garden. Children’s need to play quietly at times, on their own, is facilitated by the childminder’s unobtrusive supervision. For example, children being able to play alone in a room with a play-station enables them to have a time when they can relax and become totally absorbed in their activity free from interruptions or distractions from the other children.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children behave well. They are polite and know the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. The childminder explains why she does not want the children to behave in a certain way and they respond positively. Children’s ages and stages of development are taken account of in the childminder’s strategies for managing behaviour. For example a minor dispute between two younger children about a bucket being quickly resolved by the childminder providing another bucket. Children are taught to care for and respect one another. They develop an awareness of diversity through books and television programmes. Older children extend their knowledge and understanding of the wider world through discussions with the childminder. Children benefit from the childminder’s commitment to working closely with parents: this ensures that children’s individual needs are well met. The childminder has a well-established settling in process for new children. She invites new parents to visit

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

as often as possible. Parents, children and childminder all get to know one another well before the childminding arrangement starts and this process continues with daily exchanges of information when the child is in the childminder’s care.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder’s many years of child-care experience and her high regard for

p.4

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 children’s welfare enable her to provide an environment where every child matters. Children’s enjoyment and learning are promoted by the well organised, child centred physical environment. Children receive lots of attention from the childminder, which, makes them feel valued and well nurtured. Effective working with an assistant further enhances the quality of care provided for the children. The childminder maintains basic record keeping and procedures, which meet requirements and safeguard the children's welfare. However, the documents are not fully developed in accordance with current practice and the Childminding Guidance to the National Standards. Overall, the provision meets the needs of all children who attend.

p.4

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.5

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.

p.5

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): • review and improve record keeping documents and procedures.

p.5

The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.5

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

p.5