Judd, Emma Victoria

Inspection report for early years provision

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152635 Unique Reference Number 26 November 2007 Inspection date Nicola Jayne Pascoe Inspector

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Integrated 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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2001. She lives with her partner and three primary school aged children, in the village of Frogpool, close to Truro, in Cornwall. The ground floor is used for childminding. In addition there is a separate building for play. There is a fully enclosed garden, woodland and fields for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder works with another registered childminder. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She is currently minding 12 children on different days throughout the week, of these eight children are under five and attend on a part-time basis. There are three funded children on roll. The childminder walks or drives to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. She visits the local park and Falmouth Resource Centre. The family keep chickens, hamsters, fish and a rabbit.

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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 The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is also a member of an approved childminding network. The childminder is accredited and provides funded nursery education sessions.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children benefit from following established and familiar health and hygiene routines. They remove shoes upon entering the premises, have use of clean and hygienic toys, equipment and resources and wash their hands regularly and at appropriate times, for example, before eating and after outdoor play and handling of animals. However, children use a shared towel for hand drying, which presents a risk of cross-infection. They enjoy their snack of fresh and dried fruits, followed by toast and spread, with the option of water or milk to drink. They discuss the value and importance of healthy eating and are developing an understanding of the positive impact this has on their overall growth and development. Food is stored, prepared and served appropriately and hygienically. Children sit with the childminder, her mother and other children to enjoy an enjoyable and social snack time, when they participate in lively discussion and

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from very regular access to the outdoor learning environment. They wear appropriate protective clothing, which enables them to use the outdoors on a daily basis whenever possible. For example, their Wellington boots are stored upside down on posts outside, ready to slip on with warm coats for winter walks. Children explore the extensive grounds to collect natural objects, enjoy imaginative role play and generally to run, jump and play in the fresh air. They have use of woodlands, fields and a newly constructed activity centre. There is evidence that children who are injured are treated appropriately. The childminder has completed paediatric first aid training and uses the accident record to share details appropriately with parents and carers. Children who are poorly are treated with concern and are made comfortable until a parent or carer can collect them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from use of a comfortable, safe and secure home environment. They also have use of a self-contained building in the grounds. The childminder carries out daily visual checks on the premises, toys and equipment prior to use, to ensure all are safe and in good condition. A written risk assessment is followed regularly to maintain a programme of comprehensive safety checks. Children are supervised appropriately for their age and stage of development and the childminder ensures children are very closely supervised when using the outdoor environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit from use of safe and suitable toys and resources. They use age appropriate equipment such as car seats and restraints to maintain safety when being transported by vehicle. Children's independence is promoted through free access to toys and resources, which are stored attractively in low, open boxes in the conservatory. Children have regular opportunities

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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 to practise fire drills to develop their confidence and familiarity. Children are safeguarded by the childminder, who demonstrates a good ability to follow child protection procedures if required.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are busy and occupied in a range of interesting, worthwhile and purposeful activities. They self-select their favourite toys from the age appropriate and enjoyable range available. The childminder sits with children and provides high levels of support and encouragement. She interacts appropriately with children, promoting conversation and language development. Children are keen to involve the childminder and other children in their play. They enjoy sharing their activity with others and celebrating their achievements.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children follow a familiar daily routine, which provides time for a balanced range of activities. They enjoy individual support from the childminder and working in a small social group. Snack time is a particularly enjoyable whole group time, when all the children come together with the childminder and her mother, who is also a registered childminder, to chat, eat and learn. Children benefit from the childminder's clear understanding and ability to promote learning through play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is good. The childminder follows the local authority planning documents to provide children with a balanced range of age appropriate and enjoyable opportunities to learn and to develop their skills. The childminder knows children's individual abilities well and interacts effectively to provide children with sufficient levels of challenge. Children's assessment records contain suitable levels of information to inform parents of children's achievements, but do not always detail individual 'next steps', in order to share and agree with parents and carers and to inform future planned activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from free access to books, which they use for both personal enjoyment and with the childminder and other children. They enjoy mark making with a range of suitable resources, they are developing an understanding of the purpose of mark making for communication, when they attempt to label their own work. They count regularly and use maths to solve problems when dividing fruit at snack time and sharing cups between themselves. They particularly enjoy singing about 'sausages sizzling' and reduce the number of sausages as they each go 'bang'. They enjoy outdoor exploration and play in the extensive grounds, investigating the changing seasons and weather. Children are confident to share and take turns with others, as they have developed the ability to negotiate and cooperate during play. As a result, children play happily and harmoniously.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children arrive at the setting enthusiastically and are able to separate from the parents easily, as they are confident, settled and happy. They have formed strong and trusting relationships

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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 with the childminder, her mother and extended family members living on the premises. Their individual preferences, interests and abilities are known to the childminder, who plans to ensure that favourite toys are freely available to them. Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are provided with high levels of support and are fully included. Children are developing a positive awareness of peoples differences and are encouraged to value their own individualities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children follow the good examples set by the childminder, who promotes high standards of behaviour through age appropriate and positive methods. Children are well behaved, polite and considerate to the needs of others. The partnership with parents and carers is good. The childminder recognises the value of liaising closely with parents and carers to establish children's individual needs and to share information regularly regarding children's progress. Parents are encouraged to be fully involved in their child's learning and they have access to a suitable range of written policies and procedures, which include good levels of information regarding the provision of nursery education. Children's social, moral, spiritual and cultural development is fostered.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from being cared for in a well organised environment, which offers safe and comfortable areas in which to rest and play. The childminder is experienced and enthusiastic, she demonstrates a high level of commitment to providing and maintaining high standards of care and education. She is aware of the importance of ensuring that children are protected from unvetted persons. Suitable contingency arrangements are in place in the event of an emergency. Children enjoy a familiar daily routine which provides times to be active and times to relax.

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Organisation

Children benefit from the opportunity to receive nursery education in the comfort of a home environment, surrounded by the childminder's extended family. Children have formed close relationships with the childminder's mother, her mother's partner who occasionally assists and the childminder's grandmother, who waves to the children from a window in her own area of the main house. The childminder organises her documentation well, all records are stored securely and are readily available for inspection. The childminder ensures that children's records are updated regularly and are shared appropriately with parents. The registration system shows the exact time of arrival and departure of the children attending. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of the children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection it was agreed that the childminder would develop a system to share information with parents that sets out the expectations of both parties as to the care of the child, including behaviour management and the care of a sick child, activities provided and business arrangements. The childminder now keeps comprehensive written contracts between herself and parents and carers. These contain details which have been agreed for the standard of care expected. As a result, children are happy, settled and well cared for. The childminder also agreed to develop her knowledge and understanding of child protection issues, including

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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 who to contact to report concerns about a child and procedures to follow if accused of abusing a child whilst in the care of a childminder. The childminder now demonstrates a very good awareness and understanding of the local safeguarding procedures. As a result, children are protected and appropriate procedures are followed in the event of any concerns. Finally, the childminder was required to make the outside play area safe for children by clearing overgrown weeds, nettles and brambles; and make sure that low-level glass panels are safe or inaccessible. The outdoor area now provides safe and suitable areas for children to play under close adult supervision. Children benefit from the extensive grounds of the property and they are always closely supervised when exploring the outdoors.

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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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

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 AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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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 that children are not at risk of cross-infection, through use of a shared towel, when hand drying.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure all funded children have a record of their identified 'next step' to share with parents and inform future planning.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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

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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