Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY355989 Unique Reference Number 08 April 2008 Inspection date Linda Tomkins 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 2007. She lives with her husband and one child aged two years in Staffordshire. The whole of the ground floor, one bedroom and bathroom on the first floor of childminder's house are used for childminding and 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 three children under five and one child over five on a part-time basis. The childminder drives to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends pre-school groups. The family has a dog.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has an appropriate Level 2 early years 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 outstanding. Children are cared for in a welcoming, comfortable home where the childminder follows exemplary hygiene practices and ensures children are helped to understand why and how they wash their hands before food and after using the toilet. Children prepare for their snack food by visiting the bathroom and chanting 'we wash our hands'. They have individual paper towels to use in the bathroom. This means that children are not exposed to cross-contamination and are beginning to understand how germs spread.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has verbal arrangements and written statements for managing illness. She does not care for sick or infectious children which helps to prevent the spread of infection. Procedures for managing accidents and giving medication are effective, they are clearly recorded and explained to parents when children are settled into the childminder's home. The childminder has attended training in first aid and discusses and records the children's individual health and dietary details which ensures their needs are met. Written parental permission for seeking emergency medical treatment or advice has been obtained. This means that children will receive appropriate treatment in the event of a medical emergency.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder demonstrates an informed understanding of how children's health is promoted. Children are provided with a varied range of activities which contributes to their continued good health, such as regular outside play in the rear garden, walks to local parks and to a nearby area of natural beauty. Children have regular quiet periods of rest and sleep in accordance with their individual routines and preferences.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides snacks of fresh and dried fruit and toast. Children have free choice and eagerly choose to eat apples. They have drinks of water and juice and their cups are always visible so that they help themselves to a drink when they are thirsty. Children are provided with hot and cold meals, such as spaghetti on toast and chicken sandwiches. Menus are varied and operate on a four week rota. The childminder organises her routine so that children eat at regular times at the dining table.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are provided with safe, clear play space within the home which enables them to move freely from room to room. They select activities from a range of toys and equipment stored on shelves in the conservatory and in an outside shed. The childminder supervises children's selection to ensure children can safely access the resources. She provides toys that are appropriate for the children's age and stage of development and regularly checks the condition for safety and cleanliness. The children play outside on the decked area of the rear garden on bikes and cars. However, there is a quantity of discarded construction material at the bottom of the rear garden. Risk assessments indicate this is a hazard and therefore children's enjoyment of the grassed area of the garden is restricted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Written procedures and equipment are in place to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted. Children are helped to begin to understand how to keep safe, for example, they are securely strapped into pushchairs and car seats. In addition, the childminder explains road safety and has established protective routines, such as the younger children using wrist straps

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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 and always holding hands and older children walking a short distance in front. The childminder has fire detection and safety equipment and has devised an emergency evacuation plan which she practises and records with all children on a regular basis. This helps to keep children safe in an emergency situation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected because the childminder understands her duty to protect children in her care and has detailed knowledge of signs and symptoms of abuse and recording existing injuries. She has sound knowledge of the Local Safeguarding Children Board's policies and procedures to report any concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder is experienced and knowledgeable. She ensures her resources suit the age of the children she cares for and provides a varied range to allow for choice of activity. For example, painting self-portraits linked to a topic of 'Myself, me and my family', jigsaws, books and skittles. The children are taken to pre-school groups, toy library and library to interact and socialise with other children. Children enjoy visits to the supermarket to identify and find their fruit for snack-time.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children demand and expect attention, they confidently initiate conversation and excitedly point to pictures of their family in photograph albums and say 'that's me'. They include the inspector in their play and make each other laugh as they hide under their aprons and say 'boo'.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder constantly praises and congratulates the children on their achievements. The children's level of development is good because the childminder organises her routines and activities to suit each child. The children are lively and eager to try new experiences and persevere with tasks. For example, laying the table with their own place mats made from handprints and counting how many eyes they have. They are constantly encouraged to communicate and interact and enjoy periods of reading books with the childminder. This allows children to progress and increase their confidence and independence in their play and learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder discusses children's individual routines with their parents so that children have time to be active and to rest. Children have regular opportunities for physical development as they frequently play in the rear garden and have opportunities to climb and use large equipment in the park.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All children's activities and progress are shared verbally with parents when they are collected. The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of how children learn and value a degree of independence. The children are very settled and have formed close relationships with the childminder and each other.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. They enjoy individual attention and have conversations with the childminder who encourages them to freely express their views. For example, choosing favourite activities and food. The childminder and children interact together using interesting resources, such as books with positive images of other nations such as 'Tessa the teacher'. They watch short periods of children's television to begin to discuss different cultures and minority groups. Children have frequent outside visits to the park, nature trails

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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 pre-school activity groups. This helps to promote a positive view of the wider world and helps children to learn to appreciate similarities and differences in others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is aware that some children have learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is clear on how to take appropriate action to ensure support is given to children and parents to promote the welfare and development of all children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are positively encouraged to behave well and make themselves at home to develop a strong sense of belonging. There are clear boundaries and displayed rules which ensure children are encouraged to respond to the high levels of good behaviour demonstrated by the childminder. Children are expected to say 'please', 'thank you', share and take turns. Their good behaviour is rewarded with smiles and verbal praise. The childminder celebrates good behaviour with the children which enhances their sense of self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are invited to attend a number of introductory visits prior to placing their child. The childminder provides parents with written policies detailing her organisation and service. Information is shared verbally with parents each day when they collect their children. This ensures parents are involved and contribute to the quality of care their children receive. Children take their pictures and collages home to help parents to be involved in their learning and development. The childminder ensures parents are provided with information on how to contact Ofsted in the event of a complaint.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Good practice, written policies and procedures ensure that children are secure and relaxed in the childminder's home. This means they are confident to initiate and extend their own learning and play. The childminder promotes the welfare, care and learning of minded children with a varied range of activities and routines. The childminder employs her experience to provide opportunities to develop children's skills and independence. She enthusiastically attends training to update and increase her skills and ensures certificates are available for parents, for example, first aid.

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Organisation

The childminder maintains all the required records and ensures they are up to date, stored confidentially and available for parents and inspection. This enables the childminder to monitor and improve the quality of her care and contributes to continuity in the children's care. She ensures the children's daily attendance records clearly show the actual times of arrival and departure. The certificate of registration is clearly displayed for parents to check conditions of registration. Overall, children's needs are met.

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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 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): • review and continue to protect children from stored construction materials in the rear garden.

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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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