Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY153203 Unique Reference Number 04 March 2008 Inspection date Ann Lee 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 was registered in 2002. She lives in Aughton, West Lancashire with her adult son and two younger children aged 12 and eight years. Minded children have access to a playroom, kitchen, one bedroom and bathroom. An enclosed rear garden is available for outside play. The family have two pet cats.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children under eight years and she is currently minding five children who all attend on a part time basis. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and the local childminding group. The childminder takes children to and from local schools and visits parks, toddler group, library and other places of interest.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children benefit from being cared for in a clean and well maintained environment where the childminder takes good steps to keep them free from infection and cross contamination. She uses anti-bacterial spray to wipe work surfaces, changing mats and tables and follows hygienic

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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 procedures when changing nappies. Children learn the important of good personal hygiene and healthy eating because the childminder talks to them about the issues and encourages them to wash their hands appropriately.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has an up to date first aid certificate and a fully stocked first aid box. She completes all of the necessary documentation relating to accidents and medication and follows her comprehensive accident and medical emergency procedures. These measures help her to safeguard children in the event of accidental injury or sickness. The childminder has a good understanding of healthy eating and provides a varied, nutritional diet for children which includes home cooked meals and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Drinks of water are available to children throughout the day.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are daily opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. The garden contains a good variety of interesting and adventurous play equipment so that children of all ages can climb, swing and slide. They also play ball games, ride wheeled toys and dig in the sand. The childminder regularly takes children out to local parks and toddler groups where they have space to run about and exercise on different equipment. Indoors, children practise their small motor skills when building with construction, painting and making models and when manipulating small world toys, shape sorters, puzzles and dough.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are eager to enter the welcoming environment. They are safe and secure in the childminder's house because she ensures that all necessary precautions are taken to minimise the risk of accidental injury. For example, safety gates, socket covers, cupboard locks, fire blanket and smoke alarms are in place and all dangerous substances are out of children's reach. Children learn how to keep themselves safe because they regularly practice the emergency evacuation procedure and they learn about road safety. The children visited the local fire station and the fire safety officer has called at the house to check the smoke alarms and talk to the children about fire safety. The childminder is trained in health and safety and she is aware of the need to supervise children closely at all times and identify potential hazards. She checks the house and garden for possible dangers before the children arrive and follows her procedures

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

to ensure that they are safe and secure.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The areas used by the children are extremely warm, welcoming and child friendly so that they feel comfortable, safe and secure. They develop an excellent sense of belonging in the setting because the childminder recognises their achievements and decorates the walls of the play room with their art work and with photographs of them having fun on outings with the childminding group.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The large, bright and airy playroom is filled with a superb range of interesting and stimulating toys and equipment to meet the needs of all ages of children. The toys and equipment are stored in well designed, low level containers and on shelves within easy reach of the children so that they can choose their own activities and become confident and independent. There is a large and very well equipped play kitchen, dressing up clothes, small world toys, a variety of construction equipment, dolls house, dolls hospital and garage. Children enjoy purposeful play which helps them to make good progress in all areas of development. They also have access to other areas of the house and garden and this ensures that they have plenty of room to explore their environment and become confident and independent.

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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 Children are very well protected because the childminder has completed training in safeguarding children and has a clear understanding of her role and responsibilities. She keeps all of the relevant information, such as emergency telephone numbers, in an easily accessible file. Information about the child protection policy is shared with parents, so that they understand the regulations which safeguard children and this ensures that the childminder and parents work in partnership to protect children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder develops very close, loving relationships with the children which helps them to feel happy and secure in her care. Children benefit from her enthusiasm and good communication skills as she talks to them, reads stories, sings songs, listens carefully and helps to extend their vocabulary. Children are relaxed, friendly and confident. They engage in conversation, give opinions and ask questions. The childminder is friendly and approachable and she has begun to use the 'Birth to three matters' framework to devise activities which improves the outcomes for children. However, she does not yet use observations of the children in order to plan activities which help them to move to the next stage of development in order to improve their outcomes. There are also limited opportunities for children to explore natural materials

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have many opportunities to be creative because the childminder provides an excellent range of toys and equipment for role play. They love to dress up and play house with the dolls, prams, kitchen and play food and the childminder also helps them to extend their play by providing other items, such as packets of food so that they can make a 'shop'. There is also a wide range of small world toys, such as a hospital and dolls house, complete with appropriate figures, to encourage children's imaginative play. Children enjoy painting, drawing and making models. In the garden they love to chalk pictures on the flags and 'paint' the walls using a large brushes and a bucket of water. The childminder helps children to learn colour, shape and number recognition through play and everyday activities. For example, they have fun playing a board game which helps them to learn shapes and colour and they enjoy cooking activities and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

examining bugs through a magnifying glass.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder takes children out regularly, so that they can learn about their local community and the wider world. They visit the toddler group where they can meet other children and adults, borrow books from the library and have fun in the local swimming pool. They also enjoy walks to the park where they feed the ducks and collect leaves to make leaf pictures. During the school holidays the childminder often joins other childminders for outings to theme parks, the zoo, farms and the beach.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are made very welcome and their needs well met. Parents provide information about their children so that the childminder can care for them according to their individual needs. She follows her equal opportunities policy and provides a good range of resources to help children to learn about and appreciate different cultures religions and disabilities. For example, there is a range of books, puzzles, dolls and small world toys which provide children with positive images of different cultures and disability. The childminder has a positive attitude towards

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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 inclusive practice and making her service welcoming to all. She makes sure that all children are included in the activities and recognises that children have different ways of learning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder acts as a good role model to help children to recognise right from wrong. Children are friendly and well behaved and they show care and concern for one another. The childminder uses praise, encouragement and stickers to reward good behaviour and achievement, so that children develop good self esteem. Children are confident and independent and they learn to share and to take turns.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is friendly and approachable and she develops good relationships with parents. They are invited for introductory visits with their children when they complete the necessary documentation, provide information and look at the policies and procedures. This helps to reassure parents and ensures that children settle in quickly. She keeps parents informed about their children's progress and development during daily conversations.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is committed to providing a high quality service to ensure that the outcomes for children are good. She has a thorough understanding of how children learn and develop gained from her experience and training. For example, she has completed an National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 3 in childcare and she is committed to continuing development in order to improve the outcomes for children.

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Organisation

Children are protected in the setting because the childminder makes sure that they do not come into unsupervised contact with people who have not been vetted. They are further safeguarded since the correct adult to child ratios are always maintained. This ensures that children are always fully supervised and supported. The setting provides a warm, welcoming and very child friendly environment where children feel comfortable and at ease. They gain in confidence since they have plenty of space to move around freely and explore and they can choose what to play with from the low level storage in the inviting playroom.

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Organisation

All of the necessary records, policies and procedures are in place for the efficient management of the setting and to promote the welfare and safety of children. The records, policies and procedures are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are in line with current guidance. Good relationships with parents ensure that they share information about the children during daily conversations. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has improved the safety of children because she now obtains written parental permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment and to transport children in a vehicle.

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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 require 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): • continue to use the 'Birth to three matters' framework to provide opportunities for children to explore natural materials, improve the outcomes for children and keep parents informed about their children's progress and development.

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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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