Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY356906 Unique Reference Number 17 April 2008 Inspection date Gail Groves 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 two children aged 11 and two-years-old in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. The whole of the childminder’s house is 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 six children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent and toddler group, takes children to the local library and to the local park. The family has a pet cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She also supports children with English as an additional language. 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. Children are carefully protected from infection and are well taken care of if they have an accident or become ill because the childminder follows current and appropriate environmental health and hygiene guidelines, policies and procedures. For example, she holds a current Food Hygiene certificate, uses gloves when changing children's nappies and ensures that the cat is wormed regularly and that its food bowl is inaccessible to children. She also fully completes any required accident and medication records and obtains all of the necessary written parental permissions relating to children's medical and health needs. Children learn to understand simple, good health and hygiene practices and are developing good hygiene routines for later life. They wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet and are encouraged to blow their nose on a tissue and to dispose of it in the bin when they have finished.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well-nourished. They enjoy a variety of nutritious meals and healthy snacks and water is available at all times for children to help themselves to independently if they are thirsty. Children's health and dietary needs are discussed with their parents before they begin to attend and the childminder is careful to ensure that these are met at all times. They have some opportunities to learn about healthy eating and healthy living through discussions with the childminder but these are limited. Consequently, their good health is not fully promoted because they are not developing a sound understanding of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in regular physical activity both indoors and outdoors. For example, they play with sit and ride toys, scooters and a slide in the garden. They visit the park to use large scale apparatus such as climbing frames, slides, swings and see-saws and to play ball games. Inside they enjoy dancing and singing sessions, visit indoor play areas and regularly attend a music and movement group. As a result, they are developing good physical skills and coordination. Active play is carefully balanced with less energetic play so that children can rest or sleep according to their needs and do not become overtired and fractious. Young children's sleep routines are discussed with their parents and the childminder ensures that she follows these in order to provide continuity of care.

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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 welcoming, secure and safe indoor and outdoor environment in which the risks to their safety are minimised. For example, the smoke alarms are tested each month to ensure that they are in working order, low level glass is covered with safety film and fire guards, stair gates and cupboard locks prevent children from reaching areas containing dangerous items. As a result, children can move around and access resources safely and independently. In addition, children use good quality, suitable and safe equipment which is well-maintained and meets their differing needs. The childminder inspects resources and equipment on a monthly basis and records that she has done so on a check list. As a result, they are able to take part in activities safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate procedures ensure that children are kept safe on outings. Older children walk holding on to the pushchair and young children are required to wear wrist straps or reins. All children walk on the side of the pavement away from the road. Children learn to keep themselves safe through discussions and practical experiences within their everyday routine. For example,

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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 they learn road safety rules when they are out walking with the childminder and always use the school crossing patrol when crossing the road outside the school. They also practise the emergency evacuation procedure each month and the childminder ensure that they do so on different days and at different times to take account of their varied patterns of attendance.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are also safeguarded because the childminder clearly understands her role in child protection and is able to put appropriate procedures into practice when necessary. For example, she is aware of the importance of keeping written records of any concerns she may have about a child's welfare and has the necessary contact details readily to hand should she need to report any such concerns. In addition, she asks that parents provide her with a password if their children are going to be collected by someone who is unknown to her.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle well and are happy in the setting. Consequently, they eagerly join in with all of the play and learning opportunities provided for them and confidently make decisions and explore and investigate their environment to extend their thinking and learning. For example, young children show high levels of involvement and concentration as they explore how to make a toy train travel over a bridge or investigate how quickly a toy car can move down a ramp in the garage. Before they begin to attend, the childminder seeks detailed information from parents about their children's likes, dislikes and attainments and this allows her to understand and meet their individual needs. For example, young children are encouraged to develop independence and self-esteem. They learn to feed and dress themselves and enjoy clearing up spillages and wiping their high chair with a cloth.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are involved in a broad range of planned activities and spontaneous events, which support all areas of their development and learning. For example, they develop an understanding about numbers as they count how many fire fighters they can see in a picture or look at a number chart on the wall. They develop small muscle skills and hand and eye coordination as they thread straws to make necklaces and roll playdough into sausage shapes to make snakes. They develop their imagination as they sing 'Happy Birthday' and pretend to blow out the candles on the cake that they have made with playdough or dress up and push dolls around in the toy buggy. They explore paint, glue, crayons and chalk, make models, cook and decorate cakes and play musical instruments to develop their creative skills. They learn about the world around them when they visit the farm, go for walks to feed the ducks or watch the dustmen

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

emptying the rubbish bins. They mix with other children to develop social skills when they visit parent and toddler groups or go to a weekly music and movement group.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children respond well to the childminder who is always interested in what they do and say. She spends all of her time playing with the children and develops and extends their speech and language skills throughout her interactions with them. As a result, they are eager to involve her in what they are doing and readily ask questions and communicate their thoughts with her. This helps them to develop good communication and social skills and encourages them to relate well to others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and included and feel a strong sense of belonging because the childminder treats them as part of her family and forms affectionate relationships with them. In addition,

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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 they have opportunities to make choices and take decisions throughout their daily routine and this allows them to develop confidence and self-esteem. For example, they decide if they would like to use chalks or crayons when they are drawing and choose whether they wish to eat a bread stick or a rice cake at snack time.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn to respond well to high expectations for their behaviour because the childminder consistently uses a range of age-appropriate techniques to develop their understanding of what is expected of them. For example, they are actively involved in devising the house rules and are encouraged to think about the effect that their behaviour has on others. Sharing and taking turns is expected from children of all ages, politeness is valued and they are encouraged to help to tidy away toys before they get any more out. As a result, they are becoming aware of their own needs whilst also learning to respect the needs of others and to work harmoniously together. Children benefit from access to some resources which reflect positive images of culture, gender, and disability. However, these are limited and as a result their opportunities to extend their understanding about the differences between people are also restricted.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have their individual needs met because the childminder works in close partnership with parents and carers. For example, she provides new parents with a comprehensive booklet about her practice and routines and writes a detailed daily information sheet for them about what their child has been doing with her. She also discusses children's progress with their parents on a regular basis. However, the written complaints procedure does not fully reflect the relevant legislation with regard to parents' right to have access to a summary of any complaints. As a result, parents cannot be fully informed of factors that potentially impact on their children's well-being. Bi-lingual children are well-supported and dual language books are shared with their parents so that they can read them with their children at home. The childminder understands the requirement for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to be

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Helping children make a positive contribution

offered appropriate help and liaises closely with their parents in order to meet their children's particular needs.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a high regard for the well-being of all children, a clear sense of purpose and a commitment to continuing improvement. For example, she regularly attends training courses to update and enhance her skills and has recently attended courses covering a range of childcare issues such as observation, planning and assessment, phonics and child protection. Her policies and procedures generally work well in practice and are consistently used to promote children’s health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. Record keeping systems are used well to meet children’s needs and most documentation is comprehensive and very well-organised.

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Organisation

The childminder's effective use of her time and the available space contributes significantly to positive outcomes for children. For example, the childminder prepares and freezes meals in advance where possible and completes mundane chores such as washing up when the children are sleeping. This allows her to use her time to interact with and support children's play, learning and development. In addition, she plans activities and prepares resources in advance so that children remain stimulated and interested in what is available because they are not kept waiting for activities to be changed. The premises are well-organised and the indoor and outdoor space is laid out to maximise play opportunities for children. As a result, children enjoy a stimulating environment in which they are able to play and learn effectively.

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 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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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): • promote the good health of children by developing their knowledge and understanding of healthy eating and healthy living • ensure that parents are aware that a summary of the record of any complaints, any action taken and the outcome of any investigation is available to them on request • increase the amount of play materials which reflect diversity and show positive images of boys and girls and men and women from a variety of cultural backgrounds and with varying needs.

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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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