Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY268062 Unique Reference Number 09 June 2008 Inspection date Susan Janet Lee 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 2004. She lives with her partner and two children aged six and 10, in a semi-detached property in the Astley area of Tyldesley. The childminder holds a childcare qualification.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The lounge, dining room, conservatory and kitchen on the ground floor and the bathroom and one bedroom on the first floor are used for childminding purposes. There is a rear garden available for outdoor play. The family has a pet cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently caring for five children. She is able to take children to and collect them from the local primary school.

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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 satisfactory. The childminder exercises hygiene practices to minimise the risk of cross-infection and to help the children to stay healthy. For example, the children are cared for in clean and well maintained premises, the childminder uses antibacterial spray to wipe work surfaces and provides individual disposable tissues for the children to dry their hands. The children develop an awareness of hygiene practices and personal care routines as they wash their hands after using the bathroom and before eating. Effective arrangements are in place regarding the care of pets.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder works with parents to meet children's dietary requirements. The children develop an awareness of healthy eating as the childminder provides snacks and meals that are well balanced and aid children's growth and development. The children help to make scrambled eggs and make their own pizzas. The children have access to drinks so that they can quench their thirst independently. The childminder reminds the children to have a drink at regular intervals during warm weather. The children enjoy an apple for their mid morning snack.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children have lots of opportunities to enjoy themselves and develop their physical skills in the outdoor environment. They benefit from walking to school in the fresh air, playing in the garden and going to the park and other places of interest. The children also go swimming each week under the guidance of a qualified instructor. All these activities contribute to the children's good health and physical development. Photographic documentation shows the children feeding the ducks in the park.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The children are cared for in a welcoming and homely environment. Some of the children's artwork, photographs and certificates are on display and this helps to make the environment bright and stimulating. The space is organised and used creatively to meet children's needs. There is a good selection of furniture available allowing the children to play, rest and eat in comfort. The childminder provides a range of resources to meet the needs of the children being cared for. Toys are stored at child height and this enables the children to freely select what they want to play with, helping them to initiate their own ideas, extend their play and develop choice and independence. The childminder checks resources on a regular basis to minimise risks to the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that the environment in which the children are cared for is safe and secure. She keeps children safe on outings as she takes a first aid box, a mobile telephone with children contact details, spare drinks and clothes to cover any eventuality. The childminder has considered emergency evacuation and has practised this with older children. However, this has not been practised with the younger children so they do not develop an awareness of what to do in the event of an emergency such as a fire. The childminder supervises the children well enabling them to play safely and independently. She encourages the children's understanding in keeping themselves safe through discussion and explanation. For example, she reminds the children that the scissors are sharp and they need to be careful when using them.

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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 All required documentation is in place and the childminder has a secure understanding of child protection matters and procedures, helping to safeguard children's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The daily routine meets children's needs and promotes their welfare. The childminder structures each day to make it interesting for the children. They have access to a wide range of age appropriate resources and activities to help them develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. The childminder uses themes to help her plan activities for the children. They recently explored the lifecycle of a frog. The children looked after a tadpole which they named 'Gary' and watched as it grew into a frog.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children also benefit from lots of activities outside the home as the childminder utilises local amenities to help widen children's play experiences and give them opportunities to socialise with their peers. These activities include visits to the library, the park and other places of interest, swimming, arts and crafts sessions and play sessions run by Sure Start.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder dedicates time with the children. She sits at the same level as the children as they play and interacts with them at every opportunity to extend their language and to introduce new concepts. As a result, the children use language well to explain what they are doing and they ask lots of questions. The childminder supports the children well in their play and exploration. She shares warm relationships with the children, who are happy and secure in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children develop hand-eye coordination and their fine manipulative skills as they use glue, scissors, crayons and glitter to make a collage picture of animals that live under the sea. The children are able to name the animals which include a crab, jellyfish, sea horse and a dolphin.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy playing with an alphabet puzzle. The childminder supports them as they look at the letters and pictures. She introduces the names of the letters and the children are able to match the letter to the correct picture. They are engrossed in their play and when they complete the puzzle, it is over two metres in length.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder gathers information from parents about their children's individual needs to enable her to be in a position to best meet these needs. The children gain an awareness of their community through trips out to local amenities. They have access to a range of resources that reflect positive images of other cultures, gender and disability and this helps them to learn about the wider world. The childminder demonstrates a positive attitude towards children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder acts as a positive role model to the children. She is calm, patient and polite and listens when the children speak. Consequently, the children develop an awareness of what is expected of them and they behave well. The childminder praises children's efforts and achievements to help them develop their confidence and self-esteem. For example, she talks to the children about their collage pictures and admires their creations. When the children complete a puzzle, the childminder claps and cheers. The children are clearly very proud of themselves and they too clap and cheer. The childminder encourages a gradual settling in

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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 procedure to help the children feel secure. The children develop a sense of belonging and they move around with ease.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Written references from parents show that they are happy with the service provided, levels of care and activities afforded. Parents feel that the childminder is trustworthy and reliable and that she is sensitive and meets the children's needs well in a stable environment. The childminder shares information with parents at the end of each day to keep them informed about their children's daily activities.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder keeps herself abreast of changes in legislation. She is to attend a briefing session regarding the Early Years Foundation Stage later this month. She has a valid first aid certificate, ensuring she has up-to-date awareness of what to do in the event of an accident or minor injury.

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Organisation

The childminder records children's attendance in a diary. This is up-to-date and shows ratios are maintained to promote children's care. The childminder organises space, time and resources appropriately to meet children's needs.

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Organisation

All required documentation is in place. This is well organised for easy reference and stored securely to maintain confidentiality. However, the accident record does not include sufficient information regarding the location of the injury.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection actions were agreed in relation to improving knowledge and understanding of the requirements set out in regulations regarding documentation and notifying Ofsted of any significant changes to the premises. The childminder has notified Ofsted that a conservatory has been added to the ground floor of the property and she now requests written parental consent before medicine is administered to minded children.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection 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): • practise the emergency evacuation procedure with the younger children on a regular basis • ensure the accident record includes sufficient information regarding the location of the injury.

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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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