Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY264580 Unique Reference Number 22 January 2008 Inspection date Lisa Ellis 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 their two children, who are both aged under eight years, in a house in a residential area of Fleet in Hampshire. The property is close to local schools and amenities and there is a park nearby.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children at any one time and is currently minding eight children who all attend on a part-time basis. Of these children, only two are aged under eight years. Minded children have access to the whole of the property. Sleeping facilities are available on the first floor and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and the local childminding network. She attends the local carer and toddler groups on a regular basis and has achieved Quality First status, which is valid until April 2009.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health and hygiene are given a very high priority with many systems in place to promote them. For example, children have colour coded towels to reduce the risk of cross contamination after they wash their hands. Even very young children are familiar with the daily routines of washing their hands after messy activities and before and after eating. Surfaces are cleaned with anti-bacterial wipes before children eat and the childminder thoroughly washes her own hands after changing nappies and before preparing food. The childminder wears gloves and thoroughly cleans the changing mat between nappy changes to reduce the risk of germs spreading.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are protected from the spread of infection as the childminder has clear guidelines about caring for children who are unwell. They are treated appropriately following accidents as the childminder keeps clear records, has an accessible first aid kit and holds a current first aid qualification. The administration of medication is also clearly recorded to promote children's health. Written consent has been sought from almost all parents for permission to seek emergency medical treatment, although this is not in place for all children, which impacts on the care they may receive following more serious incidents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children greatly benefit from healthy and nutritious meals and snacks which the childminder provides. She ensures that children get their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, by providing them with balanced meals to promote a healthy diet. The childminder works to a two week menu, which shows a good balance of meals. She provides hot lunches and dinners as well as some sandwich meals. She is willing to cater for children with special diets and provides vegetarian options within her menu. Children have constant access to their drinking cups to ensure they remain suitably hydrated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities to practise their developing physical skills, as they are often taken out in the fresh air to walk and play at the local parks and to indoor play centres where they practise skills such as climbing and balancing. They also have access to the childminder's fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from being cared for in a welcoming environment which is decorated with brightly coloured educational posters. The house is secure, which prevents children from leaving unnoticed and visitors entering unannounced. Safety precautions have been taken to minimise the risk of accidents, for example, stair gates are in place and hazardous items, such as cleaning products, are inaccessible.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children choose from a good selection of resources that are developmentally appropriate and encourage learning in all areas. As the childminder puts toys out and helps children to pack them away, she checks them for safety and cleanliness to ensure they remain suitable for children's use. Toys are kept in boxes within children's reach so they can freely access them. The childminder helps children to remain entertained and stimulated by changing the boxes if they become restless.

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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 receive good levels of supervision from the childminder, who keeps them within her sight to monitor their safety. Children are also learning good safety procedures for themselves, such as practising safe evacuation on a monthly basis, so they know what to do in the event of a fire. The childminder has identified several other registered childminders to the parents, who act as her back up should she need to leave the children in an emergency situation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's wellbeing is promoted as the childminder has a good understanding of child protection procedures and has undergone training in this area to help minimise the risk of harm to children. She keeps clear records of existing injuries and provides parents with a written child protection policy, which outlines how she safeguards the children in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children benefit from very good interaction with the childminder. She has a good understanding of child development and provides activities that are appropriate to children's age and stage of development. As a result the children are happy and relaxed in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

As the children play, the childminder talks to them about what they are doing to increase their understanding and aid them in their learning. For example, when doing a puzzle with very young children, she talks about the animals in the pictures and the noises that they make. When children are doing arts and crafts she talks to them about shapes and colour and gives them choices about what they are doing, for example, asking them if they want to do hand painting or paint with sponges.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have regular opportunities to interact with their peers as the childminder is an active member of the local childminding groups and often meets up with other childminders to arrange events such as sports days and Halloween parties. Children spend time in and out of a home environment on a daily basis as they visit local attractions, such as parks, duck ponds, railway station, library and the nearby town. Activities in the home include arts and crafts, opportunities for imaginative play and time to catch up on sleeps and meals.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children's progress is recorded in individual scrap books which are shared with the parents. At the moment, this is in the form of photographs and examples of children's art and craft work. Parents receive information about the Birth to three matters framework and development charts are kept in the scrapbooks to show how it is used, however, these are not currently being completed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated as individuals and their particular needs are met following discussion with parents. The childminder has some resources that reflect diversity and promotes equality and uses the local library to add to her own equipment, to help children understand about the wider world. Some activities are planned to reflect different cultures, such as making Rangoli designs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are fully integrated into the setting, with the childminder doing her own research as well as asking parents questions to help her meet their individual needs. Children benefit from having basic house rules in place, which help them to understand the behavioural boundaries. Older children can remind themselves of the guidelines which are displayed on a poster and the childminder speaks to younger children to

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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 help them learn right from wrong, for example, she reminds two young children to share and not to snatch the toys from each other. Positive behaviour is recognised and encouraged with positive phrases such as "well done" and "clever boy". Children are thanked for helping the childminder to tidy up and are rewarded with stickers for their efforts.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

New parents receive a lot of good quality information about the childminder and all aspects of her childminding business. She provides them with a copy of her policies and procedures and ensures they are kept informed of any updates, asking them to sign them to acknowledge and agree to them to help ensure consistency of care for the children. There is a notice board in the hallway giving parents information, such as how to contact Ofsted if they wanted to make a complaint and displaying certificates of insurance, registration and first aid qualification.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are encouraged to visit with their children to help them to settle into the childminder's care and home routines are followed as closely as possible to promote continuity of care. Parents receive verbal feedback on a daily basis to keep them informed of what their children have been doing and how they have been.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides care. She shows a real commitment to childminding by frequently attending training and workshops to increase her childcare knowledge and improve her practice. She completed her NVQ level three last year and is a member of an accredited network, which means she gets regular unannounced visits from a network co-ordinator who identifies areas for improvement that the childminder has acted upon. This shows a pro-active approach to her childminding business.

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Organisation

Ratios are maintained at all times and accurate records are kept of the children's attendance, to promote their safety. Children are protected from un-vetted persons as they are never left unattended. All of the regulatory paperwork is in place, although one aspect has not been carried over to all children. Paperwork is stored confidentially and is shared with parents as necessary to meet the needs of the children.

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Organisation

The childminder has devised her own polices and procedures which are relevant to her setting and are used as in practice, to promote positive outcomes for children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection one action and six recommendations were raised. The action was to keep a written record, signed by parents, of medicines given to children. The childminder has addressed this by keeping full records in her medication book to help promote the health of the children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The recommendations were to ensure that the Area Child Protection Committee procedures and the 'What to do if you're worried a child is being abused' booklet are obtained and available; to keep within the adult:child ratios as stated on the certificate of registration at all times; to make sure that the litter tray and cat food is inaccessible to the children; to provide a suitable range of toys and resources, in order to meet the developmental needs of all children and ensure that all children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice; to review and update documentation; to ensure the attendance register is maintained accurately and signed by parents; to ensure

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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 written parental consents are held for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment; to keep a written record of existing injuries when a child arrives at the setting and to review safety to make sure that low-level glass panels are safe or inaccessible; to make sure the boiler cupboard is inaccessible to children; to make sure that electric sockets in areas accessible to children are fitted with socket covers.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has addressed the recommendations by updating all of her paperwork to bring it to an acceptable standard to promote the welfare of the children. This includes her child protection policy, recording of existing injuries, maintaining an accurate record of attendance and seeking parental consent for permission to seek emergency medical treatment. However, this last aspect is not in place for all children, so remains an area for future improvement.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Safety has been improved as low glass tables have been covered with safety film, a lock has been fitted to the boiler cupboard and socket covers are used in all areas accessible to the children. The childminder no longer has pets so the issue around feeding them is no longer relevant. Children now have access to a good selection of resources, some of which promote diversity and reflect equality.

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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

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 that written consent is sought from all parents for permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment

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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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