Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY321311 Unique Reference Number 30 June 2008 Inspection date Suzanne Joyce Stedman 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 two adult children in Leigh on Sea, Essex. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house excluding three bedrooms on the first floor 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 six children at any one time and is currently minding one child aged 11 months two days a week. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group. The family has two rabbits.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. 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 play and learn in a clean and hygienic home environment which promotes their good health. The childminder has a good understanding of hygiene issues, such as washing hands after changing nappies and cleaning the changing mat. The childminder has developed a comprehensive range of well-written ‘healthy child’ policies and procedures which underpin the childminder’s good working practice with the children. For example, clear procedures to be followed if a child becomes ill whilst at the childminder’s home.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s good health is promoted well because the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of all the documentation required. For example, allergies and medical conditions are recorded. The childminder is currently updating her first aid training and has a suitable first aid kit.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of healthy snacks, such as fruit and water to drink. The childminder has a good understanding of nutrition and encourages parents to provide healthy meals for their children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy good and varied opportunities to develop their physical skills. For example, they go on outings to the local park and woods where they feed the squirrels and visit the horses at the stables. The outside play area is well equipped with a range of resources to promote the children’s physical development. These planned activities encourage children to enjoy exercise and promote a good understanding that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children separate easily from their parents because they feel welcomed into the childminder’s comfortable home. Children play freely and safely in the home because they feel secure and relaxed. The childminder takes all the required precautions to ensure the home is safe for the children to be in. A wide range of safety policies and procedures are also available in the parents' prospectus which provides them with reassurance that the childminder considers the children’s safety to be a priority.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play with a good range of clean and safe toys and resources easily accessible to them in low-level storage boxes in the home. A further range of equipment is also stored in the home and garden which enables toys to be rotated to offer variety and challenge. Children are provided with opportunities to explore their senses through some activities and resources, such as play dough, sand and water. However, the range of resources to help children appreciate and value each other’s similarities and differences is limited.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is well aware and confident of the procedures to follow with any safeguarding children issues.

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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 enjoy a varied and wide range of activities and experiences provided in and out of the home. They benefit from the childminder’s understanding of the importance of ‘learning through play’ and how this promotes children’s all-round development. The children have great fun watching and participating in their favourite television programmes, such as The Night Garden with Igglepiggle, Makka Pakka and three Tombliboos, and any toys that make sounds, such as the dolls house which has a computer, telephone, baby and toilet that make sounds.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s language development is promoted well as they are constantly encouraged to make sounds by the childminder. They have good opportunities to use their imaginations and be creative through a range of resources and activities. Children benefit from visits to local woods, the library and parks where they develop an understanding of their local community and the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are cared for in an environment where the childminder promotes equality of opportunity for all children. Children’s individual needs are well met because the childminder gets to know the children well. Children learn about the wider world from visiting venues in the nearby vicinity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works closely with parents to enable the children to settle well and to ensure children are cared for with consistency. The childminder makes time each day to speak to parents to share information about their child’s day so that they are well informed and has started to use a handover book which records activities, food consumed and a photograph of the child participating in a variety of activities. The childminder's excellent prospectus ensures that parents are fully informed about the childminder's working practices.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are protected from non-vetted persons because the childminder ensures that all persons in the household are vetted and that non-vetted persons do not have unsupervised access to children. Children’s needs are met very effectively because the childminder ensures that the required adult to child ratios and training requirements are met.

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Organisation

The childminder organises her time effectively to enable her to spend most of her day being actively involved with the children. She is well aware of the requirements of her registration and she keeps documentation and records in very good order to promote the children’s welfare.

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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

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): • consider providing resourses to help children appreciate and value each other’s similarities and differences.

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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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