Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY351320 Unique Reference Number 30 July 2008 Inspection date Marian Bvumburai 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 2007. She lives with children aged 13, 15 and three other adult sons aged over 16 years, in Hull. The ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding, and children do not access the first floor for any reason. 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 seven children, six of whom all attend a variety of sessions. The childminder walks to a local school to take and collect children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is a member of an approved childminding network, and 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. The childminder provides a clean and welcoming environment and children’s good health is nurtured well. Children show awareness of ways to keep themselves healthy. For example, children were observed to approach and politely ask for a drink, saying that they were hot, following outside play. They readily rub some sunscreen lotion on their skin when the childminder sprays some on. The childminder is conscientious and ensures that children are not exposed to the hot sun without protection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s individual dietary needs are catered for. For example, children enjoy a healthy diet, regularly having a choice of fruits for snacks, cooked balanced and nutritious meals or cold light meals, which are all provided by the childminder. Drinks are water, milk or sugar-free diluted juice.

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Helping children to be healthy

The daily routines and planned activities reflect the childminder’s careful consideration of individual children’s needs, and incorporates the 'Birth-to-three matters' framework. Children enjoy regular outside play and a wide variety of equipment is available. For example, they have swings, a trampoline, balls, number mats, a see-saw, pop-up tents and a sandpit. They engage in physical activities which help them to use their different muscles as well as develop control of their bodies while exercising in fun ways.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children, including babies benefit from good relationships between the childminder and the parents. Relevant information which helps to promote the child’s welfare is shared verbally as well as through a daily diary. For example, discussed feeding times, rest and sleep patterns are followed, which helps children to settle well.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn the importance of keeping themselves clean. They show awareness of this through practicing simple good health and hygiene procedures. For example, without being reminded, three-year-old children ask to have their hands washed prior to having meals. Children are also protected from infections through well-thought-out policies. Children who are ill with infectious illnesses do not attend, and equally, the childminder informs parents of any such situation in her home. This helps to minimise the spread of infection

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder ensures that children are kept safe at all times. For example, doors are kept secure at all times and callers are identified first before being granted access into the home. The big trampoline is fitted with high level netting to ensure children’s safety and parents are consulted about them using it. Children learn to keep themselves safe. For example, they say that only two people at a time can play on the big trampoline otherwise someone can get hurt. Children also know that fire is very hot and it burns. They say that they would get an adult if they saw a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children enjoy freedom of movement and freely select activities and resources for play. They are cared for in a homely environment where safety standards are well maintained. However, although it can be opened from outside, the bathroom door sometimes gets stuck and does not always open easily which can cause distress to a child. Children have access to an enclosed garden which is kept free of hazards and is regularly checked to ensure their safety.

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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 Children’s play and learning is supported by safe, good quality and suitable, toys, resources and equipment. These are regularly cleaned and checked for safety. The furniture in the rooms used for childminding is placed carefully to ensure provision of safe, free play space. Children feel at ease and independently and freely choose what they want to do. They are readily supported by the childminder, which makes them feel happy and safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder holds a first aid certificate and she follows her own well-thought -out procedures. For example, she ensures that any accident or medication administered is recorded. However, parents' signatures in acknowledgement of being informed about the record are not always obtained, with regard to the accident record. Sleeping children are physically checked regularly. She has attended a course on safeguarding children; she demonstrates a good understanding of her responsibilities and if concerned about a child being harmed, she is fully aware of reporting procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children's enjoyment and achievement is paramount and their welfare is promoted well. The childminder is dedicated and organised. She continues to improve and provide a good service through attending relevant training and is aware of the forthcoming changes. The children are happy, confident and able to form good relationships with others as well as adults. They play well with other children and help each other with tasks. They enjoy talking to one another which helps them to build social skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children respond well to the childminder and they understand that rules are necessary to keep everyone safe, and they also understand what happens if they behave inappropriately. They are beginning to distinguish right from wrong and learning to care. For example, children including three-year-olds say that they lose a point on the behaviour chart if they do something wrong. The simple rules and instructions are applied fairly and consistently by the childminder which helps children to know what is expected of them and makes them feel secure.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are provided with, and enjoy a variety of meaningful and interesting activities and play opportunities to help develop their emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities. The childminder keeps photographic evidence of children at play, involved in varied activities. Some of the children’s work is displayed and some is kept in their individual files. Children feel valued which makes them become confident learners. Children including three-year-olds show curiosity and willingness to try new challenges. For example, the childminder has recently helped some three-year-olds to overcome the dislike of writing and are now able to write their own first names.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

A periodic note is made of children’s developmental observations and this information is used to make sure that areas of need are addressed for each individual child. The 'Birth-to-three matters' framework is incorporated well, for example, babies’ home routines are followed and a note is made of the child’s mood, feeds, activity, sleeps and nappy changes, and this information is shared with parents daily.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are happy, confident and at ease in the care of the childminder. The childminder keeps a record of developmental observations for younger children, and keeps a work file for older

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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 children. She is able to use these records as reference when she is thinking of activities and learning opportunities. This helps to ensure that individual children’s needs are met and children are able to look at their own files and talk about what they did. The good working relationships with parents enable easy communication and this further enhances her effective planning for individual children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All children have equal access to the wide range of activities and play opportunities. The use suitable toys and resources which also include and positively reflect society at large. Children learn to develop and understand equality and diversity through seeing positive images. For example, the childminder has dolls of ‘people who help us’. These depict positive images of gender, such as female fire safety officers and male nurses. She also has other resources, such as books about different religions including Christianity, Islam and Hinduism which are also in use. None of the children attending have been identified as having learning difficulties or disabilities. The childminder has some experience and is willing to care children who may have learning difficulties or disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children are well behaved and play well together. The childminder skilfully and purposely ensures that activities include those that encourage playing together with others and helping each other. All children develop self-esteem and feel a sense of belonging, for example, they help to set the table in preparation for meals, just as if they were in their own home.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for by a dedicated and organised childminder. Standards of hygiene and safety are generally maintained. However, although it can be opened from outside, the lock to the bathroom door does not always open easily which can cause distress to a child. The environment is carefully planned to ensure provision of safe and free play space, and easy access to resources, enabling children’s independence.

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Organisation

Children’s personal details as well as other documentation required to efficiently and safely manage the provision are maintained and kept up-to-date. However, times of arrival and departure may not be accurate as the childminder completes the register at the end of each day rather than as children arrive and depart. This was discussed and safety implications were also highlighted. The accident, incident and medicine records, are in place and these are shared with parents, who sign in acknowledgement in turn. However, parents’ signatures are not consistently obtained with regard to the accident record.

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Organisation

The policies and procedures followed to promote children’s welfare are shared with parents. The Certificate of registration is displayed. The childminder maintains a valid first aid certificate as required.

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Organisation

Children are confident, happy and have a sense of belonging. They know the daily routines and are aware of the boundaries, which helps them feel secure.

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Organisation

They know their carer well and are able to express their feelings. Good relationships between the childminder and children are apparent.

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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 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): • ensure that an accurate and up to date record of children’s attendance is maintained at all times • ensure that parents’ signatures are obtained consistently in acknowledgement of being informed of any accident record • ensure that the lock on the bathroom door is made safe.

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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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