Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY346685 Unique Reference Number 12 June 2008 Inspection date Julie Larner 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 lives with her partner in North Shields, Tyne and Wear. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children aged under eight years.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Children have access to the whole of the ground floor. A rear garden is used for outdoor play but at the time of the inspection this was being renovated and children will not have access to this area until the work is completed. The childminder currently cares for one child who attends before and after school on a part-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder and her partner are both smokers; however, they do not smoke in the presence of minded children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from healthy snacks. They enjoy choosing fruits to eat, such as red or green grapes as the childminder allows them to make decisions. Whilst children attend after school

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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 childminder shows a satisfactory awareness of how to provide healthy meals as she devises a menu planner that shows her understanding of promoting healthy eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's physical development is adequately encouraged and promoted. The childminder considers ways in which children can benefit from fresh air, while her back garden is out of use. For example, she gains written parental consent from parents to allow children to play on the grassed area outside of her house.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a clean and hygienic environment where they play with well maintained toys and equipment. The childminder's regular cleaning routine helps to contribute to children's health and welfare. Children's personal hygiene is promoted sufficiently by the childminder as she reminds them to wash their hands before eating foods and displays posters in the toilet to encourage them to do this.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a setting where risks are adequately minimised, because of this their safety is sufficiently promoted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Fire drills are practised on a regular basis to ensure that children are aware of what to do in an emergency and smoke detectors are checked periodically to ensure they are in working order. Children move freely and safely around their environment due to the childminder having the necessary equipment in place to protect them, for example, socket covers and a stair gate preventing access to the kitchen.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play with a fair range of equipment. They are interested in what is available as they persist in their play for periods of time. Easily accessible equipment, stored in the dining room ensures that children can make decisions about what they want to do confidently, for example, as they go and choose construction bricks from the pile of toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is adequately safeguarded as the childminder shows a satisfactory understanding of child protection issues. She is aware of the signs and symptoms of abuse and understands her responsibilities about making the relevant agencies aware of any concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are settled in the childminder's care. The childminder shows a fair understanding of children's likes and dislikes showing that she has developed relationships with them to find out about their interests and what they enjoy.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children choose what they want to do at the setting due to the focus on free play, for example, as they construct schools from bricks and enjoy brushing the doll’s hair. The childminder plans some fun activities that allow children to explore their creative abilities, such as making puppets from different materials, which children are proud of as they show them to visitors.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is pro-active in finding out about how older children view her provision. She provides them with questionnaires and supports them in filling these in, to see what they like to do and to help them make decisions about what they would like to see improve. Children

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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 play happily with the childminder as they giggle while pushing a toy car back and forwards over the floor or ask for help to untie the hair bobble from the doll’s hair.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children behave well in the setting. They enjoy taking responsibility for small, appropriate tasks, such as tidying away the car mat before getting other toys out and putting rubbish in the bin, showing that they care about their environment. The childminder shows a satisfactory understanding of how to manage behaviour as she ensures that she adopts a calm approach and asks children to stop what they are doing. Children learn from the childminder's positive role model as she thanks them for passing her the plates when they have finished their snack.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnerships with parents are positive. The childminder gains satisfactory information from parents about their children to ensure that she can meet the child's individual needs, for example, by detailing, likes and dislikes on the children's information forms. Parents are informed about the care of their children verbally when they collect their children. This ensures that parents are sufficiently informed. Introductory visits and sharing written policies and procedures with parents ensures that they are well informed about how the setting operates. This also means that consistent information is shared with all of the parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder's adequate understanding of equal opportunities ensures that children play with a mixture of all of the toys available. However, resources to help them explore and learn about diversity are limited.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are comfortable and settled in their environment. They move around different areas to play with games and toys that interest them. The childminder plans a range of activities that suit the children's interests and ages and because of this, children enjoy their time at the setting. The childminder supports children adequately in their play as she offers suggestions and takes account of their decisions, for example, as she asks them if they are hungry and then prepares snack.

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Organisation

The childminder reflects on, and takes steps to, improve her practice. For example, she attends relevant training courses, such as child protection and ‘Birth to Three matters’ and has written policies and procedures to show how her setting operates. However, knowledge of these policies is not always consistent such as explaining how she deals with behaviour.

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Organisation

Paperwork and documentation is clear, well organised and confidentially maintained, which contributes to the children's welfare.

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Organisation

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

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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 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): • develop opportunities for children to explore diversity.

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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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