Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY261931 Unique Reference Number 17 December 2007 Inspection date Margaret Davie 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 registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged four and seven years in the Littlemore area of Oxford. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for minding and the first floor is used for sleeps and access to the bathroom only. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder may care for up to four children and is currently minding six children, one full time and the rest on a part time basis. The childminder occasionally works with an assistant.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is prepared to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are beginning to develop good hygiene practices because they receive effective support from the childminder. Her home is warm and very clean and she presents children with a good role model. This helps children understand the importance of cleanliness to maintain good health. Children use the bathroom independently with discreet help from the childminder who

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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 ensures they flush the toilet and wash their hands. However, children share the same towel to dry their hands which increases the risk of spreading germs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well cared for in the event of an illness or minor accident because the childminder has had recent first aid training and has all appropriate documentation in place for recording medication and accidents. This helps to support children's continuity of care.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy very nutritious and well balanced meals and snacks. Food is always freshly cooked with regard to the five a day principal to ensure children receive a healthy diet. Children are encouraged to try a variety of foods and involved in food preparation in accordance with their age and stage of development, for example by helping to prepare vegetables. Menus are shared with parents to ensure the childminder meets children's needs. All meals are served at the table, which encourages social interaction and helps to form good eating habits.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children explore and develop physical control through a variety of experiences. For example, resources such as books, play dough and art and craft materials help them develop their small muscles and dexterity. They develop spatial awareness and control of their large muscles in the garden on wheeled toys, slides and on the small trampoline. Young children have plenty of room to practise their physical skills in the childminder's home. Children gain an awareness of their personal needs when helping themselves to a snack from the fruit bowl or a drink whenever they are thirsty.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children play in an extremely well suited environment where great care is given to their safety. A range of toys set out around the home enables them to choose what they want to play with and access it themselves. Resources are stimulating and challenging and build on children's natural curiosity. They have supervised access to the childminder's computer with a range of child friendly games to develop their information technology skills. Toys and resources are safe and clean as the childminder checks them every week to ensure they remain suitable for children to use. Young children have plenty of space to develop their physical skills in a secure environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play in a very secure garden with resources that are safe and suitable for their ages and stages of development. The childminder gives high regard to the safety of children when they are playing outdoors. For example, outdoor toys such as trikes and slides are child sized and the trampoline, to which the access ladder is removed when very young children are present, has a safety net to protect them. Children are very carefully supervised on outings and either secured into buggies or holding hands to ensure their safety. Children learn about road safety on regular outings to local parks, shops and the library.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safe in the event of a fire because the childminder is very proactive in ensuring fire evacuation procedures are familiar and practised. For example they all know where to congregate and the childminder occasionally sets off the smoke alarms, so that they are prepared in the event of a fire. She has a clear plan for evacuating children from the first floor to safety if necessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder demonstrates a very clear understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse, and her responsibilities in relation to children's welfare.

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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 She has all up to date, relevant information in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board's to ensure she can take swift action should she have a concern about a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very happy and relaxed in the childminder's home. They choose resources and activities with confidence and according to their own preferences. Children learn through the wide variety of activities which the childminder offers and as a result make excellent progress in their development. For example, children were visited by the local fire service, and to make this exciting event even more interesting, they made fire helmets and created a block of flats that were coloured to look like they were a-flame, so that they could actually simulate putting out a fire.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop very good social skills as they play alongside other children of varying ages. Interaction between the childminder and children is superb, she is consistently nearby offering support and guidance to extend their play and learning. The childminder has a clear understanding of the Birth to three matters framework and demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the needs of young children, helping them to make excellent progress in all areas.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop excellent language skills because the childminder is skilful at extending language and thinking through dialogue and activities. She reinforces language by engaging with children in conversation and asks them questions that help them develop their ideas. The childminder provides parents with a wide range of information about their children, such as photographs, art and craft work and regular verbal feedback. This supports children's progress very effectively.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated with respect and equal concern. The childminder takes time to chat to parents to get to know the needs of the children. This means they soon feel at home and secure in the childminder's house and are confident to initiate and extend their own play and learning. Children develop positive attitudes toward those less fortunate than themselves. For example, under supervision, children organised a leaflet drop saying they would be collecting money for red nose day, then dressed up, pushed around a big red nose they made, and played musical instruments to encourage donations.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children celebrate festivals such as the Chinese New Year and investigate other cultures on the childminder's computer; however few resources reflect diversity of need. Children develop a sense of place and learn about their local community as they visit places of interest, such as the local park and library.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children know the house rules, which the childminder explains clearly, and children know what she expects of them. She uses appropriate strategies for managing behaviour and this helps children gain a clear understanding of right from wrong. Children respond positively and show respect for the childminder and she acknowledges them and praises their efforts, for example, by awarding them 'star of the week' certificates for being kind and sharing. Children's self esteem is very well promoted by good use of praise and encouragement.

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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's development benefits from the very good relationships the childminder establishes with their parents and carers. The childminder positively promotes parents comments on all aspects of their children's care through regular use of questionnaires and this contributes significantly to the good care they receive. Parents have access to children's folders containing details of their experiences while in the care of the childminder so they can keep themselves fully informed about how well they are progressing.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children play and learn in a well organised environment where they receive good adult support to help them feel secure and confident. Space in the childminder's home is well organised to provide a good balance of quiet and active areas where children can play according to their own needs. For example, they can play on the lounge floor, sit on the comfy sofas, or take part in an activity on the child sized table in the kitchen.

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Organisation

Children's welfare is promoted well because the childminder effectively organises records and information about the children to ensure they receive a high level of care. All documentation is in place, attendance registers are properly maintained and the childminder gives very high priority to keeping children safe. However, children's risk of spreading germs is not minimised as much as it could be, because they share a towel to dry their hands, and there are few resources to reflect diversity of need to help children develop positive attitudes.

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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 the childminder was asked to keep a written record, signed by parents of medicines given to children and to request written permission from parents to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. She was also asked to ensure first floor windows were made safe or inaccessible and to ensure good hygiene practices are in place regarding nappy changing.

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Improvements since the last inspection

To protect children's health the childminder uses comprehensive medication forms that record medication and times of administration that parents are always asked to sign and has written consent forms from parents, in place to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. To minimise the spread of germs the childminder now uses a designated disposal bin for nappies that is kept outdoors. To protect children's safety the childminder has fitted locks to doors, to prevent children accessing first floor windows.

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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 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): • ensure good hygiene practices are in place in regard to hand drying • improve children's access to resources which reflect positive images of disability

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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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