Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY347820 Unique Reference Number 28 April 2008 Inspection date Alexandra Brouder 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 satisfactory. 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 2007. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight and five, in a residential street within the district of Oadby and Wigston, Leicestershire. Within the home children have access to all areas. Children also have access to an enclosed rear garden.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five minded children at any one time. Currently there are five children on roll between the ages of two-and-a-half and six years old. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children, attends local pre-school groups and takes children to the local library and parks.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. A well-maintained and comfortable family home provides children with an environment in which their health is well-supported and maintained. For example, children know to wash their hands

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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 before meals and have gentle reminders from the childminder as and when required. Children begin to talk about why cleaning their hands is important, for example ‘to wash the germs off’ and have good facilities to maintain this practice. Children’s risk of cross-contamination is limited as they access liquid soap and individual towels and all food preparation areas are cleaned before each use, protecting them from harm. Arrangements to deal with accidents and the administration of medication are satisfactory. For example, the childminder has completed a relevant first aid course and has a fully stocked first aid kit and records show that these are recorded appropriately. However, children’s welfare is compromised as the childminder has not sought consent from parents for emergency medical advice or treatment, which may delay

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Helping children to be healthy

appropriate intervention being obtained in the event of an emergency.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s physical skills, both large and small, develop well as they access a range of resources, for example a ball pool, construction toys, puzzles, threading and a range of craft materials. They have daily access to the garden and local amenities, enabling them to practise their skills in climbing, running and peddling. Children really enjoy using the ball pool within the lounge, taking great pleasure in climbing in and out and laughing out loud as the childminder gets in with them. Facilities exist for children to be able to rest and sleep undisturbed according to their individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s diet is healthy and well-balanced. The childminder provides all meals for children and talks to parents about the types of food she offers, as well as what children’s likes and dislikes are, recording these as needed. Children today were offered a sandwich, cut-up vegetables, fruit and a drink. The childminder recognises the need for children to have regular drinks and encourages them to do so to ensure they remain adequately hydrated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children show confidence in accessing the safe and welcoming child-centred environment. Suitable organisation of toys and resources ensures that children of all age groups are able to be actively involved in a range of play experiences. For example, children present happily play with the track, cars and dinosaurs together and are able to take further resources from accessible boxes to use alongside this play, promoting their decision-making skills and confidence. Children request toys that they cannot see, which are provided by the childminder. Toys and equipment are checked regularly by the childminder to ensure that they do not present a hazard to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s safety is promoted in the main and potential risks and hazards have been identified and minimised as required. For example, low-level sockets are covered, stair gates are in place to deny children’s access to specific areas and smoke detectors have been fitted as required. In addition to this, children learn how to keep safe as the childminder reminds them not to climb or go behind furniture and all children have practised the evacuation procedure. However, children’s safety is compromised as consents required to protect their safety and welfare have not been sought from parents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s welfare is protected as the childminder has a sound awareness of local safeguarding children procedures and how to act upon concerns that she may have. A written policy, shared with parents and carers, ensures that all are aware of her procedures should she have concerns for a child’s welfare. She is aware of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse and to fully record any concerns that she may have.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and well-cared for and enjoy their time at the setting. They receive a good level of adult support and have formed good relationships with the childminder, enabling them to feel secure and confident in all that they do. Children play well with the range of toys and resources on offer and are able to play independently and imaginatively. For example, children were observed to play with the cars and track adding dinosaurs around the track and talking to the childminder as they did so, explaining why the dinosaurs were there and what they were doing. The childminder ensures that play opportunities meet the needs of the children and that when children bring resources from home she tries to match these up with what she has. For example, a child brought some cars with them today and therefore the childminder got out the cars and track to support and extend their ideas.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s activities and experiences are effectively extended beyond the home. For example, the children have regular visits to the local library and 'stay and play' sessions to ensure that their awareness of the locality grows and that they learn to socialise with a variety of ages. The childminder is familiar with the 'Birth to three matters' framework to improve outcomes for younger children and is beginning to refer to this when planning for the needs of individuals.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are supported well in all that they do and the childminder ensures that they are able to make decisions in their play as they freely access a sound range of toys and equipment. She ensures that children feel relaxed in the environment, which in turn helps them to feel settled and explore the environment in ease. For example, children today were observed to play behind the curtains, hiding from one another and the childminder, and took great delight in being ‘found’ each time.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s counting and colour recognition skills are developing well as the childminder takes time to ask children how many red, green and blue balls are in the ball pool. A child was observed to select each colour required, discarding those that did not match, line them all up and count them, up to 13.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children’s individual needs are obtained through good working partnerships with parents and carers of all children. This enables the childminder to have an insight into the children’s wants and needs before they begin, helping them to gain a sense of belonging. However, records that relate to children’s individual identity are not always recorded in full and required consents have not been obtained, which impacts on children’s safety and well-being. A range of information is shared with parents and carers before children begin in her care, enabling them to make an informed decision about her provision. However the address and contact details for Ofsted are not in place, which may delay parents seeking advice should they have a concern.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder ensures that children’s individual needs are met well and that they are treated with equal concern. She has some resources that reflect other cultures and lifestyles, however, these are limited and do not positively reflect disability or a broad spectrum of lifestyles or cultures. As a result, children's awareness of the wider world is not effectively promoted. The childminder is aware of the information she would need to obtain to ensure appropriate care could be provided for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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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 are beginning to understand responsible behaviour and what is right and wrong. The childminder uses clear and consistent strategies to ensure children understand, for example, she asks children not to go behind the furniture as they may get hurt. She has developed a policy that she shares with parents and carers to ensure that they are clear of her methods in place. For example, she talks to parents about simple ground rules, such as children needing to share and take turns as well as being kind to one another. Children were observed to behave well and they relate well to their peers and begin to play together, sharing and taking turns as necessary. For example, both children wanted the same toy at the same time. The childminder suggested that they take it in turns and gave a time limit for this. After this time had passed

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the child gave the toy easily to the other child, being praised for this as they did so. Children’s confidence and self-esteem is enhanced through the childminder offering regular praise and encouragement when they behave appropriately, and they begin to learn how to behave well as most negative behaviour is ignored.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are secure and happy in the welcoming environment, enabling them to play freely and build good relationships with the childminder and their peers. Resources are suitably organised to enable children to make free choices in their play, however, resources are limited that promote children’s knowledge of other cultures, lifestyles and disabilities. Policies and information regarding the childminder’s business supports children’s care, safety and health. However, there are gaps in the information recorded on children’s individual needs, contact information on Ofsted and consents needed to support children’s welfare and well-being, for example outings and emergency medical advice or treatment.

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Organisation

The childminder has completed the required first aid training and 'An Introduction to Childminding Practice' (ICP), enabling her to promote the needs of all children effectively.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This is the first inspection since registration.

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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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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 satisfactory. 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 obtained from parents to the seeking of any emergency medical advice or treatment • ensure that the address and contacts details of Ofsted are provided to parents and that all consents required to support children's safety and well-being are in place • ensure that there is a sufficient range of activities and resources available to all children that promote positive images of diversity • ensure that all records relating to childminding include all required information to support children's care and welfare, for example, dates of birth.

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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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