Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY272110 Unique Reference Number 26 February 2008 Inspection date Timothy Butcher 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 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight and 15 in Mount Hawke near Truro in Cornwall. The whole of the ground floor and a rear bedroom and bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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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 four children under five and four children over five but under eight years; all of whom attend on a part time basis. The childminder also looks after children over the age of eight years. The childminder walks to the local school and has use of a car. She takes children to the local park. The family has four cats, one rabbit and goldfish.

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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 is a member of the Cornwall Childminding Network an accredited childminding network and currently provides funded nursery education to four children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is effectively promoted because the childminder has good procedures in place to meet their individual physical, nutritional and health needs. Children benefit from the good physical care. Information about a child's food intake, naps and activities are shared with parents through a comprehensive daily diary book. Children follow the sensible hand washing procedures as routine and they receive very suitable supervision to develop these self-care skills. Children have individual paper towels to dry their hands and happily use these themselves.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are robust procedures in place to record accidents and for the safe administration of medication. Parents are consistently asked to sign in acknowledgement that the information has been shared. Permission for such things as photographs, use of transport, sun cream and emergency medical treatment or advice is consistently sought and recorded, with just one omission. Children are protected from the possible spread of infection. Kitchen and other surfaces are kept clean and wiped down.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities, usually each day, for active play and fresh air. Children relish the opportunity to go outside. They learn to control large muscles on the slide. They practise their coordination skills as they begin to make the swing go higher for themselves. They thoroughly enjoy the use of the sit-on equipment and successfully negotiate space and each other as they practise scooting, pedalling and steering, with increasing skill. Photographic records show children engage in many stimulating activities outside, including regular visits to the park and to a woodland stream, and as a special treat, to the ice rink at the Eden Project.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder effectively consults with parents to ensure that the dietary needs and preferences of children are closely met. She is flexible in what she provides and is equally happy for parents to provide lunches if they wish. The childminder places strong emphasis on healthy eating and provides a balanced and nutritious diet. Children learn about the benefits of healthy eating through activities that stimulate their interest in food and develop their tastes. For example they sometimes buy, wash, prepare, cut and eat a variety of fruits at snack time and grow cress from seed. The childminder provides a wide range of different fruits, some new to children, for them to experience. A child comments that eating fruit is 'good for your tummy'. Drinks are regularly offered to children throughout the day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a very safe and secure environment. They are protected from potential hazards because the childminder has carried out a very thorough risk assessment of the premises and has control measures in place to minimise risks to children. A stair-gate is in place to prevent children from straying into areas unsupervised. Smoke detection equipment is in place to each

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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 floor and records show that the fire drill is undertaken regularly. Children are provided with simple explanation about keeping themselves and each other safe, for example, children are reminded about using the swing safely. Parents report positively that children are reminded about road safety when out with the childminder. There is a clear evacuation plan displayed in several rooms. The childminder has carried out a risk assessment of the large trampoline in the garden and has a separate permissions slip for parents to sign.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play in a warm, welcoming and child-friendly environment where their needs are put first. A good range of toy resources and other equipment support their learning and development. Boxed resources are on display in the playroom and are made readily accessible to them. Many are labelled with names and pictures to aid easy identification and access. Craft resources are well organised in the utility room. The playroom in particular is made very attractive to children with bright posters, low-level resources and photographs showing the many activities that children have undertaken. The childminder organises the available space well so that children play in comfort. They move freely between the rooms during play. Children are free to be active or to rest as they choose. A child chooses to briefly rest snuggled up under a blanket before returning to the active floor play. Children strongly benefit from the wide range of

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have their welfare safeguarded. The childminder has a clear understanding of her responsibilities in regard to the protection of children. She has a good understanding of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse. She is clear about the procedure that she would follow should she have a concern and has suitable documentation to support her practice.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are well cared for and strongly benefit from the warm and supportive relationship with the childminder. The childminder provides good levels of praise and encouragement to children for their efforts and this contributes to their rising confidence and to their positive attitude towards learning. At inspection there were no children present under the age of three years. Documentary and other evidence shows that children are very well supported and settle quickly with the childminder. A detailed daily diary provides comprehensive information about each child's day and this contributes to the good continuity of care for children. All children benefit from the family environment and the childminder promotes a sense of belonging through such things as the self-registration system, photographic displays of children at play and through the celebration of each child's birthday.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of learning and teaching is good. The childminder has a secure awareness of the Foundation Stage curriculum. She makes a weekly written plan for each child that covers each of the areas of learning. She knows how to record observations clearly and links these to the areas of learning and to the stepping stones of the Foundation Stage curriculum. To her credit she is in the process of introducing the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum however, she has stopped using the learning profile to help her track and record children's overall progress. As a result a clear overview of each child's overall progress is no longer held. Weaknesses in

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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 the observation process mean that some planning lacks sufficient detail. Even so the children make good progress. The childminder has a good understanding of child development and achieves a well-balanced range of activities for children. She has a clear awareness of each child's current abilities. Reasonably well-targeted play opportunities generally provide enough challenge for children and follow their interests. Their learning is effectively supported through skilful interactions and a sound knowledge base.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are at ease in the well organised environment and are confident enough to initiate their own play and learning. There is a balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities. Children are encouraged to exercise choice. Children experience a wide range of activities and play opportunities that capture their imagination, encourage their creativity and support their all round development. They freely use the dressing up materials in the play room and enthusiastically engage in role-play. They have good opportunities to take their play outside and thoroughly enjoy the experiences. The garden is well equipped and good resources are thoughtfully made available in the play house for children. They are able to make marks, dress up, use play food and the play kitchen. Such things as a cash register, money, and paper and pencil further enhance the learning environment of the play house as children count and make

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

lists in meaningful ways during their role-play. Photographic and other documentation shows that children have good opportunities to explore paints, play dough and to use a range of other creative materials.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop their communication, language and literacy skills. The childminder prompts responses, asks questions and sets simple counting and naming challenges for them. They are keen to tell the childminder and other children what they do and what they know. They sometimes practise letter recognition and letter sounds during activities such as when they use magnetic letter shapes. Children become confident in recognising their written names. They begin to recognise their name labels at the start of the day during self-registration. The childminder makes good use of natural opportunities during everyday events to support children's development. She encourages them to name colours and to count cars when out. Children clearly enjoy the opportunities to look at books and to handle them. They begin to realise that print carries meaning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have numerous opportunities to speak, to express feelings and to talk about their experiences. Children talk about healthy eating during snack time. They explore textures of fruits and spontaneously describe what it feels like to touch and to taste. The childminder sensitively supports children to grow in confidence and in self-esteem as each child's contribution is valued and acknowledged. They thoroughly enjoy singing their favourite nursery rhymes and action songs during that part of the session and dance spontaneously at other times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are prompted to count in a number of situations throughout their day. Some do so spontaneously such as when they build with construction blocks, they count the lines of coloured bricks. Children with more ability are asked to count further and those just learning to recognise numerals are sensitively supported to do so correctly. Concepts of 'taller' and 'shorter' are introduced and children count when using the computer. The childminder makes good use of the visit to the supermarket for children to develop their counting skills through their specific use the self-service checkout.

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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 Children have good opportunities to learn about the use of information and communication technology. They use the computer and develop their coordination and mouse control as they follow simple programs. They learn how to operate programmable toys such as 'beebot' and have a number of electronic toys to operate.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have good opportunities to learn about the wider world, growth and nature. Most children now recognise dandelion leaves when feeding the rabbit. They thoroughly enjoy going to collect leaves on walks to the stream. They make maps and follow a route. On their return they use what they have collected to make a collage or other art work. They grow such things as marigolds from seed. Children fill containers with compost and bury the seeds. They carefully water the pots as they know that water is needed for the seeds to grow.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder values children highly, treats them as individuals and builds supportive relationships with them and their parents. Children clearly benefit from the warm interactions with the childminder and the friendly and emotionally secure environment that she creates for them. The childminder provides positive attention and is sensitive to children's emotional well-being. Children are helped to feel secure and learn to relate well to each other and to share. The childminder uses simple explanation and short periods of time out to set sensible boundaries and to modify behaviour. There is a behaviour policy in place and the childminder consults closely with parents to ensure individual children are well supported. Children respond well to the childminder, for example, they are alerted to the forthcoming change of activity and cooperate when it is time to put toys away.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has yet to care for a child with learning difficulties and/or disabilities but has a suitable procedure in place to identify with parents how best to meet the care needs of all children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have a good range of toys and other resources that promote a positive view of the wider world and help develop their awareness of diversity. The childminder makes resources available such as books and small world figures that reflect diversity. All children have equal access to all toys and activities. The choices they make are respected. Planned activities around the celebration of festival days such as Christmas, Australia day, the Chinese new year and Diwali, contribute to children's growing awareness of different cultures and beliefs. They learn about the local community around them through such things as visits to the local park. They learn about local folk legends such as 'Giant Bolster'. The childminder supports children's transition into the local school with preparatory visits. The range of experiences foster children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents is good. Children benefit from the good exchange of information with parents and carers. It contributes directly to the good quality of care and they have their individual needs closely met. Good information is provided for parents and carers who are new to the setting. The childminder gets to know children well and ensures that parents and carers are fully consulted. Their consents and permissions are routinely and comprehensively gained, with just one omission. Parents are kept well informed about their child through a daily diary.

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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 This provides useful information about the child's day and some limited information about developmental progress. Parents are invited to view their child's individual learning folder but have little opportunity to discuss future learning within the setting. Time is set aside for informal and friendly discussion with parents at the end of the day. A complaints procedure is in place.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has taken the trouble to canvass parents on the care that she provides. They report very positively on the care that she provides and on the developmental progress that their children make. They comment positively on the friendly and relaxed atmosphere that she creates for children and on her flexibility. They appreciate the information provided through the daily diary and feel well informed about their child's day.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is very well organised. She organises her time, space and resources well to meet the needs of children. Suitable policies, procedures and other documentation are used effectively to promote the welfare, care and learning of all children. She has a clear understanding of the National Standards and interprets these in the best interests of children. Records contribute to the safe management of the provision. Parents and carers are fully consulted and kept well informed about care issues, however information for parents about the good progress that children make is some what limited.

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Organisation

Children are well cared for. Flexible and adaptable routines follow children's interests in a well planned day. Children experience a stimulating range of activities and play opportunities, in a welcoming and supportive environment. The childminder has a good understanding of how children learn through play and of their developmental needs. She skilfully interacts with children and this has a positive effect on their attitude to learning. Her knowledge is securely rooted in the Foundation Stage and as a result they make good general progress. Observations are not always used to be fully effective within the assessment process and an overview of children's progress is not sufficiently held. This impacts on the systematic planning for children's next steps in development. The childminder shows a strong good commitment to the development of her practice as shown through the training courses that she has undertaken

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Organisation

and through the introduction of a new curriculum framework.

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Organisation

Children are settled, happy and enjoy their time with the childminder. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection of care it was agreed that improvements would be made to the organisation of the toy and other resources. Since the last inspection the provider has re-organised many of her toy resources and some are now stored in labelled boxes. As a result they are made readily accessible to children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This is the first inspection of Nursery Education.

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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

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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): • obtain written permission from parents to seek any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment for each child.

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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): • evaluate and develop children's assessment and development records further to ensure that they are used to closely inform the planning of children's next steps in future learning.

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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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