Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY334179 Unique Reference Number 21 July 2008 Inspection date Janette Elaina Lockwood 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 2006. She lives with her husband and one child aged two years in a residential area of Benfleet, Essex. The whole of her 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 two children under five years, one over five years and two children over the age of eight years. She walks or drives to the local schools to take and collect children. The family keep a rabbit and fish.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder provides a very clean and hygienic environment for children and ensures they have their own bedding and hand towels to help minimise the spread of germs between them.

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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 The children learn to wash their hands properly at key times and are reminded to shield their mouths when they cough to enable them to begin to understand how they can keep themselves healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has effective systems in place to manage administration of medication and knows the importance of obtaining written permission and of recording any medication given. She has a current first aid certificate and records accidents clearly, obtaining parental signatures. As a result, the children are cared for properly if they are ill or have an accident. Although the childminder has permission to seek emergency advice or treatment for most children, these are not all individually named and the dates are ambiguous appearing as if the permission has expired which may be confusing in the event of an emergency.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with very healthy snacks and meals with the childminder offering them good choices with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. The childminder encourages children to eat healthily so they are well nourished and ensures they always have access to their drinks throughout the day so they can help themselves and respond to their own thirst.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular access to outdoors and enjoy jumping up and down on the trampoline building their stamina and large muscle skills. They enjoy practising their manipulative skills through a range of interesting activities such as using tools to make junk models or by making playdough themselves; mixing and kneading the dough.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder provides a welcoming environment for children which she has made very safe by using clear written risk assessments and checking daily all the areas. Children have plenty of space to play both inside and out in the fully enclosed garden and have access to a wide variety of good quality, safe equipment to meet their needs. The childminder has devised a list of toys so she is aware of what is available for children and can show them the pictures that accompany the list so they can make some choices in what they want to do.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder takes steps to keep children safe on outings by ensuring she has all their contact details with her in case of an emergency. She keeps a record of visitors to her home and has thought carefully about unexpected situations and how she would manage them, for example, emergency evacuation of the premises. This foresight enables the childminder to help keep the children safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder understands her responsibility to safeguard children and has relevant information to refer to if she has concerns about a child. The childminder would ultimately seek advice from the relevant authority if she was worried about children's welfare in order to safeguard them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder provides a calm and happy atmosphere for children by being very positive with them and managing their different needs extremely well. She creates an environment where children interact easily with one another and she knows their individual personalities and cares for them accordingly. The childminder plans the activities carefully, skilfully using the time available to her, for example, providing specific activities for older children when the younger

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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 ones are having their nap. She keeps intuitive records of what the children have done through observations and photographs so she can show the parents and recognise herself what children need to do next in their development so they continue to enjoy and achieve.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder takes children out to interesting places to help them learn about their environment and what is around them, for example, to a fruit farm where they can pick the fruit and see it weighed or to recycle the rubbish. They like to design and make things from scrap materials such as paper planes make predictions as they compare which one can fly the furthest.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are plenty of excellent activities for the very youngest children as they use their curiosity as learners discovering what hidden treasures lay inside a basket, or acting out simple role play scenarios with dolls and buggies. The childminder uses her imagination to create different areas of play that will inspire them, for example, putting a selection of books inside a tent in the dining area so they can crawl inside and be cosy.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder is committed to helping children recognise that all people are different and her resources reflect this. She weaves some festivals into her planning so that children can learn to appreciate diversity, for example, making crafts for the Ramadan Festival. The childminder also finds out about children's home lives so she can care for them accordingly to meet their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has experience of caring for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and has undertaken some specialist training. She understands that when minding children she needs to work closely with parents and other specialists in order to help their development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder demonstrates that she has realistic expectations of children's behaviour and knows how to manage them as individuals. She gives them praise and encouragement and allows them the necessary time they need to complete an activity or to sleep for example, so she does not put pressure on them to rush, helping maintain the calm atmosphere.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are kept very well informed of what their child is doing during their time at the childminder's house as she takes plenty of time to talk to them everyday and keeps key information for children under two years such as what they have eaten and how long they have slept for. Before children are left with the childminder she finds out relevant information through the parents so she feels able to care for them properly and in accordance with the parents' wishes. She provides a wealth of written information for them to help them to make an informed decision about her service. To ensure she finds out parents' views regularly, she sends them evaluation forms and gathers their comments to make changes to her practices. In this way parents are directly able to influence the care she offers. The childminder draws up contracts with parents, however, it is not clear when these need to be updated.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is very organised in the service she offers and is committed to providing good quality care for children as well as interesting and exciting activities to help with their development. She uses her qualifications and experience in childcare to present herself

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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 professionally and ensure she manages her time, space and resources very well for children to help them enjoy and achieve, be safe, healthy and make a positive contribution. Overall children's needs are met.

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Organisation

The childminder has one registered assistant who helps her occasionally and parents are aware of when the assistant is present and have given their permission for her to care for their children.

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Organisation

The childminder has very good policies and procedures which are available to parents and help her to focus on her practices and continue to improve so she can offer good care to the children and an effective service to parents. She keeps her records in accordance with the National Standards.

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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): • obtain written permission to the seeking of any necessary emergency advice or treatment (for each individual child) • ensure written agreements with parents are reviewed regularly and up to date.

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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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