Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY292959 Unique Reference Number 30 January 2008 Inspection date Heidi Wilton 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 2004. She lives with her husband and three children aged seven, nine and 11 in a house in Camberley. 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 five children at any one time and is currently minding three children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. Minded children have access to the whole of the ground floor of the property. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have a pet dog, three cats and a goldfish.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is NNEB qualified and has an NVQ Level 3 qualification. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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. The childminder ensures children are protected from cross contamination as she cleans all work surfaces and eating areas with antibacterial cleaners. Children wash their hands before meals and after going to the toilet but dry their hands on the same hand towel. This does not ensure children are fully protected from the spread of infection. The childminder shares a sickness policy with parents at the outset and this is included within the parents prospectus. This ensures parents can refer to the information at home and are fully knowledgeable about incubation periods should their child contract an infectious illness.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has well stocked first aid kits and marks the date when she checks the stock. This ensures the first aid supplies are within their sell by date and children are treated appropriately in the event of an accident. The childminder records all accidents and administering of medication appropriately and parents sign to acknowledge the event. However, the childminder has not obtained written parental permission to seek or gain emergency medical advice or treatment for all the children. This does not ensure all children will be treated without delay in an emergency.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides all foods for the children. They enjoy a healthy snack of fruit and a homemade lunch and/or dinner of meat, potatoes and vegetables. The childminder gains information about children's allergies and dietary requirements to ensure she is well informed. Children have many opportunities to engage with physical activity. They have fun at the local inside play area where they play on the soft blocks and jump into the ball pool. Children enjoy taking the childminder's dog for walks in the local woods where they enjoy collecting leaves, stones and twigs. They have fun at the local park as they play on the equipment and enjoy playing ball games on the field adjacent to the park. Children love to listen to familiar songs and rhymes and move their bodies to the actions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder keeps children safe and secure by ensuring all doors are secured when not in use. In addition, she ensures the garden area is fully enclosed and has bolted the shed and gate to keep children safe. The childminder has robust procedures in place to ensure children are collected by their designated person. The childminder interacts at child level continually and explains to the children the reason for putting safety measures and rules in place. This ensures children develop the tools to keep themselves safe and free from harm.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder carries a list of children's contact numbers and written information detailing that she is a childminder when on walks or during outings. This ensures children are identified and parents contacted in the event of an emergency during an outing. Children wear name badges on outings to ensure they are identified should they become separated from the childminder. The childminder has a lost child policy in place which she shares with parents at the outset. This ensures appropriate procedures are followed should such an event occur.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder conducts formal risk assessments of the inside and outside areas every six months. In addition, she informally risk assesses the environment daily to ensure hazards are identified and minimised. The childminder has a good understanding of child protection

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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 procedures and has a child protection policy in place. She shows a good knowledge about where to make referrals and how to record signs and symptoms.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely happy within the childminder's home and confidently talk to each other, the childminder and the visitor. The childminder completes monthly plans for the children to ensure all their needs are extremely well met. She plans an extremely extensive range of activities for the children such as free-play, music and singing, dancing, arts and crafts, role-play, puzzles and educational television. Children are able to independently self select activities and resources from the low level storage and are able to free-flow independently around the downstairs areas of the childminder's home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder knows the children very well and uses her exceptional skills to extend and consolidate children's learning through their play. She takes the time to listen to them and observes where they are with their individual development and identifies their next steps in learning. Children demonstrate a very good understanding of the routine and show great levels of respect for the environment. They independently tidy toys and resources away before choosing the next activity they wish to play with.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have amazing fun as they help the childminder to fix together the poles to build the pop-up tent. They giggle excitedly as they hide inside the tent and become absorbed in imaginary play as they pretend to hide from the imaginary dinosaurs. They have a wonderful time selecting outfits from the role-play box and immensely enjoy being pirates, fire fighters and princesses. Children thoroughly enjoy weekly trips to the local toddler group, inside play zones and have great fun at 'rhyme times' at the local library. Through discussion the childminder states the importance of taking the children to these sessions to ensure they interact with their peers and develop excellent socialisation skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have a wonderful time creating a wide range of arts and crafts and love to participate with cooking activities. They have a fantastic time on outings to the beach where they explore the environment with a whole range of senses and have great fun making sandcastles and paddle in the water. They sleep where they feel most comfortable; in a buggy, on the sofa, in a cot or in a bed. Children have many opportunities to rest and relax as they sit on the sofa to read a book, snuggle into the childminder or watch some television.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder treats all children as individuals and shows them equal respect. She talks to them at their level and encourages them to share, take turns and show respect for each other. The childminder celebrates cultural festivals with the children and plans these on her monthly plans. Children have access to a range of books and foster an understanding of other cultures and different job roles. The childminder has cared for children with English as an additional language but has not currently cared for children with learning disabilities and/or difficulties. She works effectively with parents and signposts them to different services within the community such as other cultured communities and outside agencies. Through discussion the childminder states how it is essential to work in partnership with parents and states she is happy to work in conjunction with outside agencies to ensure consistency is achieved for the children.

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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 behave well. They demonstrate a good understanding of the routine and independently put their activities away before getting the next activity out. The childminder uses lots of positive praise and encouragement for the children's good behaviour and achievements. She continually reminds children of the rules and explains why the rules are in place. The childminder communicates verbally with parents about their child's behaviour to ensure consistent methods are used between the home environment and the childminder's.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are happy with the provision provided from the childminder and some parents have expressed their thoughts within letters to the childminder. They state 'she was very honest and straightforward which immediately made me feel comfortable and that she was someone I could trust' and 'she is very conscientious with the daily report she writes in his book, noting his activities, his reaction, his food and toilet habits… she has been supportive of his growing needs and changing habits and offered useful suggestions to us'. She completes daily diaries for all children and speaks verbally to parents about their child's day. This ensures parents are well informed and they can refer to the written information at home. The childminder meets with parents at the outset, shows them all the policies and procedures and discusses the provision she offers. This ensures parents are well informed. In addition, the childminder gives parents

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Helping children make a positive contribution

a prospectus which includes some of the policies and other essential information. She ensures parents are fully aware of the complaints procedure should they have any concerns and has a complaints log in place should any concerns arise.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She has formed strong bonds with the children and their parents. The childminder is organised and observes the children each day to ensure she is fully knowledgeable about their current needs and their next steps in development. The childminder has recently completed her National Vocational Level 3 and is keen to attend further training. She has an up-to-date paediatric first aid qualification which ensures children are treated appropriately in the event of an accident.

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Organisation

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibility to ensure all adults living within the household are suitable and vetted to be around the children. She has maintained an attendance register and records the actual times of arrival and departure of the children. This ensures all children will be accounted for in the event of an emergency. The childminder stores all documentation securely to ensure confidentiality is maintained. She has a good understanding of the National Standards for childminding.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection the childminder was asked to address four recommendations. She was asked to ensure the safety of the children continues to be maintained whilst work is undertaken in the garden. The childminder no longer has work being undertaken in the garden. The garden is fully secured and the childminder has removed all poisonous plants. This ensures children are safe and secure when playing in the garden area.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was asked to extend resources to reflect positive images of disability and ensure that children have an appropriate range of activities that promote equality of opportunity and learning about the wider world. The childminder now has resources such as books and dressing-up clothes which foster an understanding about positive images of disability, gender roles and other cultures around the world.

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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 The childminder was asked to develop knowledge and understanding of child protection issues by obtaining the local Area Child Protection Committee procedures and 'what to do if you're worried a child is being abused' booklet. The childminder now has a good understanding of child protection issues and has obtained the procedures and booklet. This ensures children's welfare is safeguarded.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was asked to review and update documentation to ensure that the attendance register is recorded accurately, and to provide parents with written information to ensure that they are fully aware of policies and procedures, including details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint. The childminder now ensures the attendance register is recorded accurately. This ensures children are accounted for in an emergency. She discusses her policies with parents verbally and also gives them written policies and procedures which they can refer to at home. In addition, she includes the complaints procedure within the policies. This ensures parents are well informed about the childminder's provision and they are fully informed about routes to follow should they have a concern.

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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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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 children dry their hands with separate hand towels after hand washing • obtain written parental permissions to seek emergency medical advice or treatment for all children.

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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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