Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY251826 Unique Reference Number 14 January 2008 Inspection date Sue Taylor 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 satisfactory.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2002. She lives with her husband and two children aged five and ten in Eastbourne, East Sussex. At times, she works with two assistants, one of whom is her husband. The ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding, with supervised access to the bathroom and toilet on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder has one rabbit.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time, and is currently minding nine children, the hours of whom vary throughout the week. She also cares for children aged over eight years. She is registered to care for two children overnight who use the bedrooms on the first floor. The childminder attends the local toddler group and takes children to the local park.

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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 who have English as an additional language. She has the Nursery Nurse Examination Board (NNEB) qualification, obtained in 1994. The childminder is an accredited member of the Eastbourne Childminding Network and currently provides funded early education for one child.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in clean premises. They learn about the need for personal hygiene from explanations given by the childminder. For example they learn that dropped food should be thrown away, not eaten. The childminder checks that children wash their hands after using the toilet and they regularly wash hands before eating or activities such as cooking. However, children all use the same towel for hand drying and this is less effective at helping to prevent the spread of infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Healthy snacks are given to children, such as various fruits or bread sticks. Some children bring packed lunches and the childminder ensures that perishable items are stored in the fridge to prevent them spoiling. She provides a balanced meal for other children. Menu examples are shared with parents. Children have milk at snack and meal times, with drinking water available throughout the day. This helps them control their own thirst needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities for physical play. They use the large play equipment such as the swings and climbing frame, at the local park, to develop their gross motor skills. Their hand and eye coordination is promoted through a range of activities and resources. The childminder encourages interaction with the child as they share a book about the body. This helps children gain an awareness of the need for a healthy body.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The premises are secure, ensuring children can not leave unsupervised. The childminder has a good understanding of safety and ensures risks are minimised. For example, the use of safety gates enables children to explore their play environment safely. The childminder is not using the garden currently, as she is aware of additional hazards to the wall caused by recent high winds. Children use the kitchen when with the childminder and risks are reduced as cupboard catches in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is aware of fire safety and has a written fire evacuation plan. Smoke detectors are in place and the childminder is checking the positioning of the alarm covering the ground floor. Children learn to keep themselves safe from discussions with the childminder. They are kept safe when out and about, for example, they walk sensibly along roads and learn how to cross them safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Toys and equipment are in good condition and of good quality. There is a wide range of play materials available to the children of all ages. The playroom is welcoming and safe for children.

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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 The new storage boxes are secure and well organised. The childminder plans to label the opaque boxes clearly, enabling children to make easier, safe choices about their play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good awareness of child protection issues. She understands that she has a responsibility to safeguard children’s welfare and shares this with parents. She has relevant guidance available and is aware of the process to follow should she have any concerns about a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder has a very good relationship with the children. She actively listens to them and provides activities which engage their interest, ensuring they are occupied and stimulated throughout the day. The broad range of toys provide balance and challenge. A varied day is planned and includes opportunities for children to develop their social skills, as they mix with other children of varied ages. Children are confident and relaxed. The childminder spends her time involved with the children and their play. She plans interesting activities for the nursery education funded children that all children are able to take part in. The younger children benefit from this as they learn from the older children, for example, they explore pasta, coloured rice or cornflour and water.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Younger children have a good range of play materials to interest them, such as musical instruments, appropriate toys, small world play and books. The childminder is sensitive to the needs of the children and offers warm and affectionate care. Outings include trips to the park to feed the ducks, walks in the woods or visits to the farm or beach. The older children are able to do their homework and relax, get involved in arts and crafts or watch television. Although the childminder is not keeping any written records of the non-funded children’s development or progress, she knows the children well and they benefit from the opportunities they have and from the care and attention they receive.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of teaching and learning is satisfactory. The childminder is gaining familiarity with the Foundation Stage. The planning is developing and links well to the areas of learning and aspects. However, the assessment process is less effective and is not up to date with showing individual children’s progress through the stepping stones, towards the early learning goals. As a result, it is not clear if the identified learning intentions offer children the appropriate challenge or support to meet their individual learning needs. There are limited written observations available to show how children are meeting the stepping stones. However, children are making progress and the planned activities offer challenge and interest. Children are able to initiate some activities, for example, a child asked to make a treasure map that they had enjoyed doing at another setting.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are confident and curious. The childminder motivates children by offering activities in an enthusiastic manner. She asks good questions of the children that help them develop their thinking and express their own ideas and thoughts, for example, a child asks what noise a butterfly makes after using a toy that makes the noise of a frog. There is a good range of

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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 books and children enjoy sharing their choices with the childminder. Children learn that print provides information as they and the childminder follow a recipe to make bread. They have access to pen and chalks to practise pre writing skills. Easy access to other tools, such as, scissors depends on the age of other children present for safety reasons.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn about measuring and numbers as they weigh out the bread making ingredients. They get to explore the effect yeast has on the mixture and explore textures as they mix the dough. An activity that involves children measuring growing sunflowers develops as the other children measure themselves and compare the differences. This helps develop an interest in mathematics.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children visit places in the local environment and look at different buildings on the computer. This develops as they use play dough to create their own images, such as the Tower of Pisa. During art and craft activities the childminder values what children do. She allows them to use their own ideas and imagination. There is an interesting range of musical instruments that include some from different countries. Children enjoy using these and explore the different sounds. The childminder develops this as she gets them to try to play them softly as well as loudly.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children gain a sense of belonging as they settle easily in the child centred playroom and are aware of the daily routines. The childminder knows the children well and ensures that their individual care needs are met. The childminder has an understanding of equal opportunities, ensuring all children can take part in the activities if they wish.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are resources that positively reflect other cultures and the childminder is developing those to reflect disability. The play materials are used to help children gain an awareness of the wider world, for example, a child chose a book in another language to read. As there were no English words the childminder and child made up their own story based on the pictures. Through discussion with parents, the childminder supports children who have an additional home language or culture.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well and respond positively to requests from the childminder. She uses effective behaviour management that is appropriate to the age and individual needs of children. Distraction is recognised as a beneficial technique. Children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is fostered.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A good relationship develops with parents. They receive an informative leaflet from the childminder. This details the childminders practices and policies, for example, it includes areas such as child protection, complaints and sickness. In general, verbal discussion at the end of the day informs parents of their child’s day. The childminder is happy to provide written information for young children as they settle in.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents of nursery education children is satisfactory. There is some basic detail about the Foundation Stage in the information leaflet. Planning for the week is displayed

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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 and the childminder is happy to discuss, with parents, what activities their child is involved in and what the learning intentions are. As the assessment profiles are not up to date this limits information sharing about a child’s progress towards the early learning goals. Parents are not routinely involved in supporting their child’s learning at home. The sharing of information is further restricted as the childminder is not receiving information about children’s progress if they attend other early years settings.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from being cared for in an organised setting where they receive good adult attention to help them feel secure and confident. The childminder employs two assistants and parents give consent to them having occasional sole charge. The childminder agreed to ensure that their times of working were clear.

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Organisation

All of the mandatory and required records are in place. The accident and medication records are well maintained and parent consent obtained, as necessary, before medication is given. The records help ensure parents are aware of the care their child has received, in the event of an accident or sickness.

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Organisation

The childminder evaluates her planning for the children who receive funded nursery education and notes any child initiated activities. She integrates learning through play with meeting children's care needs well. The childminder keeps herself informed of current childcare practices by attending relevant workshops such as Inclusion, Healthy Eating and the Top Start training. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Good progress has been made since the last care inspection when three recommendations were made. The childminder was asked to ensure there are no potential hazards to children in the garden and home. Potential hazards to children in the home are minimised and the garden was changed to create a secure and safe play area for children. She has increased her range of activities and resources to reflect and promote a diverse society. This helps children gain a positive and inclusive attitude towards the wider world. As requested she has obtained the required written parental consents. These now include consent for emergency medical treatment.

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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. 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 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 satisfactory.

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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): • improve children's hand drying routine to lessen the risk of cross infection • ensure it is clear when childminding assistants are working and/or left in sole charge of children.

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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 the assessment process is kept up to date to show children's progress towards the early learning goals and used effectively to plan for children's individual learning needs • encourage parent involvement in supporting their child's learning at home and in sharing what their child may be learning at another early years setting • continue to develop planning to ensure that learning intentions meet children's individual learning needs and identified next steps.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

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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