Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY330566 Unique Reference Number 25 June 2008 Inspection date Ferroza Saiyed 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 has been registered since 2006. She lives with her partner and their child aged five in the village of Great Eccleston, near Preston in Lancashire. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group and takes children to the local park.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. The bathroom is available on the first floor. There is an enclosed garden for outside play. The family has two cats and tropical fish.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time. She is currently minding five children under the age of five on a part-time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children's health is promoted because the childminder has an understanding of simple hygiene practices. This ensures children can play in a clean environment and prevents cross-infection.

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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 Children learn the importance of personal hygiene through daily routine, such as washing their hands after using the toilet. The childminder ensures the nappy changing routine is effective, clean and pleasant for the baby by using anti-bacterial wipes for the changing mat. Children's well-being is maintained because appropriate documentation is completed and obtained, such as the accident records and consent for medication and emergency medical treatment. However, parents have not countersigned the medication administered records and this compromises children's welfare.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities to exercise their growing bodies, such as outdoor play and frequent walks and outings to the parks and shops, to promote their physical development. The childminder has an understanding of a balanced diet. For example, the childminder introduces new food to develop children's taste for healthy options. Children are encouraged to sit together and feed themselves and this helps promote independence. They demonstrate good manners during snack and meal times, which are sociable times for them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The home is made warm and welcoming for children, which provides them with a sense of belonging. The lounge allows children to move about freely and safely as they explore their surroundings. Children access a selection of age-appropriate toys and activities in a safe home environment. Children's safety is promoted because toys are well organised in containers so that they are able to access these freely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder helps children to understand how to keep themselves safe by discussing the need to hold hands when outside. She further promotes safety when children are on outings by using appropriate restraints. Consent for taking children on outings is obtained from parents and all documents relating to transporting children are in place. Young children are taught to keep safe by simple instruction, for example, during tidy up time the childminder asks children to pick things up. The children’s risk of accidental injury is minimised by the childminder being conscious of hazards and by putting safety features in place. Opportunities for children to learn about fire safety through practising the emergency evacuation procedure are provided. However, records of the evacuation are not made, therefore, the practice is not evaluated and this jeopardises children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a working knowledge of child protection, for example, signs and symptoms of abuse. She also understands how to report a concern using the child protection procedures. The policy is shared with parents. However, the childminder does not fully understand what to do if an allegation was made against herself or a member of her family.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled in the generally welcoming environment. A mostly sufficient range of toys and resources is available for children to independently choose from, for example, books, musical toys, treasure baskets, café and home corner. This encourages children to make decisions in their play. The childminder routinely involves children in real life experiences, such as visits to the park, the library and other social groups. This gives children the opportunity to be part of their local community and to develop their social skills.

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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 Children have sufficient opportunity to develop their language when they sing along to nursery rhymes. They sit on the childminder’s knee at story time. She reads to them and points to relevant pictures, reinforcing specific words to extend their vocabulary. This facilitates good interactions and allows children to develop their communication skills. There are opportunities for them to explore sound, movements and their sense of touch, for example textures, as they access the treasure basket. Young children form strong bonds, which promotes their emotional well-being and contributes to their sense of belonging and happiness.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are becoming confident to make decisions, explore and investigate when they sit on the floor with the childminder and pretend to make burgers for the her. A favourite toy is the robot which can move in various ways. Children have sufficient opportunity to draw pictures. They take some of them home to show parents the progress they have made. Children gain self-esteem when their artwork is appropriately displayed. Children normally respond positively to the childminder, and most of their individual needs are met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are sufficiently included and involved in most activities. Children are learning about human differences in the wider community through books and resources. There are positive images of disability and culture, which develop children’s understanding of diversity. There are adequate systems in place to provide for children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children effectively learn about good behaviour through positive reinforcement and good role modelling by the childminder, who is calm and caring. The childminder is teaching the children to begin to show concern for each other and to share. Consequently their understanding of other people’s feelings and needs are developed as they learn to share and to be kind. The childminder makes use of praise and encouragement to assist the children's developing behaviour. She has developed a reward chart to promote good manners, on which children receive a star for using manners.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder ensures documentation and information are obtained from parents prior to the child attending. She makes parents feel welcome within the setting and spends time discussing their child with them. The childminder encourages parents to contribute to their child’s development and well-being by informal discussions, and this fosters positive relationships.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a clear sense of purpose and a general commitment to continued improvement by obtaining and reading relevant literature. She has a satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the National Standards and appropriate skills to sufficiently contribute towards children's care, learning and play. Time, space and appropriate deployment contribute to children’s health, safety and enjoyment.

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Organisation

The childminder has most required documentation in place. However, the attendance register does not reflect the dates of when the children are being minded. This means children's welfare is compromised.

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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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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

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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 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): • ensure records of medication administered are countersigned by parents • keep detailed records of the fire evacuation so the procedure can be evaluated, for the well-being of children • amend the child protection policy to include the action to be taken should a member of the family be implicated in a child protection issue • make sure the attendance register reflects the dates of when children are being minded.

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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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