Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY357772 Unique Reference Number 14 April 2008 Inspection date Ann, Theresa Flynn 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 outstanding. 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, who is known as 'Little Acorns' childminding service, lives in the Chorley area of Lancashire and shares her home with her husband and two children both aged over eight years.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The main areas used for minding are the ground floor, including the playroom, living room, rear garden and middle courtyard.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of six children at any one time. Presently, she is caring for seven children whose ages range from seven months to six years.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is qualified to level 3 in childcare and 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 outstanding. Children enjoy a wide range of activities, which contributes to their good health. They benefit from regular walks, visits to the park and play in a well resourced garden. Children enjoy planting as well as music activities indoors. Children gain new skills and develop their confidence because the childminder has an excellent understanding of appropriate activities and the level of support individual children require.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are healthy due to the excellent practice followed by the childminder. She teaches children the importance of strict hand washing routines and provides all the equipment they need to wash their hands independently. The process is understood and managed by even the youngest of children, thus enhancing children's independence skills. The childminder remains alert to reinforce good practice as necessary; for example, ensuring children have washed their hands thoroughly prior to eating snacks, to give children a thorough understanding of good hygiene.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are very well nourished as they are provided with healthy, nutritional snacks and meals, including a variety of fruits and vegetables. Drinks are freely available to children from age appropriate containers, which children access themselves. Children develop their social skills through eating together at the table, during which they receive individual support from the childminder who enhances learning by discussing healthy foods during snack time.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's understanding of healthy eating is promoted because the childminder enters into discussion about healthy foods, using posters of fruit and vegetables, which are displayed within the playroom, thus helping to raise children's awareness about good foods and thereby promoting their understanding of how to maintain their good health.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are very well cared for in a well maintained, and welcoming environment. Toys and equipment are organised within the playroom into various areas of learning, which means that children can move around safely to enjoy the very good and varied range of toys. For example, a well resourced role play area, dressing up clothes, craft, books, puzzles, small world figures and resources, such as sand, water and paint. Storage boxes are housed at children's height and children freely access them. The childminder rotates resources regularly to develop new interests and skills. The resources provide ongoing interest, stimulation and enjoyable worthwhile experiences for children, providing many excellent choices for their play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder conscientiously preserves children's wellbeing by continuously monitoring safety issues in and around the home, and by supervising children closely. Children's safety is very well maintained because measures are in place to minimise hazards. For example, safety gates, cupboard locks, smoke detectors and the childminder undertakes regular ongoing risk assessments of the premises, which are recorded, ensuring children remain safe and secure. The fire department visited the premises to provide further safety advice. The regular practising of emergency escape procedures ensures children are kept safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare and safety is promoted by comprehensive policies and documents that include highly effective child protection procedures and risk assessments. The child protection policy

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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 shows a strong regard for children's welfare and meets the guidelines of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The risk assessments ensure high levels of safety, both inside and outside the home, are maintained.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children very much enjoy their day; they flourish as they have many stimulating experiences that promote all aspects of their learning and development. They receive attention and genuine affection from the childminder and they are very secure. Children participate in a huge range of activities both at and away from the setting. For example, children plant seeds, are involved in various stimulating activities, such as baking, sand, water, painting, junk modelling, paper mache making, and heuristic play involving the use of lights and various natural materials. Away from the setting, children visit places, such as story time at the library, the sensory room at a local playgroup, and the park, providing wide ranging and excellent experiences for the children, which helps to develop children's knowledge and understanding of the world in which they live.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder's skilful planning following the 'Birth to three matters' framework and the Foundation Stage curriculum provides increased challenges to help children make all-round progress. Assessments and observations of children ensure the childminder remains alert to children's developmental progress and individual learning needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children participate enthusiastically in practical activities and are eager and excited to become involved. For example, playing with dressing up clothes, helping to piece together jigsaw puzzles and concentrating very well as they confidently discuss their knight's outfit, for which they receive praise and recognition of their efforts from the childminder, thus ensuring children's confidence and self-esteem are skilfully nurtured.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Throughout, the children remain interested, challenged and extremely involved in their own play choices. Excellent resources are varied, interesting and provide appropriate challenge to children to help them to develop new interests and extend their knowledge whilst having fun.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children all have equal access to toys and activities and they receive equal attention from the childminder. They begin to learn about differences within society as they have access to an excellent range of resources reflecting positive images, such as dressing up clothing, books and small world figures. Children learn through discussions and very good activities. For example, Eid, which involves children in making and displaying moons and stars, and Diwali involves children in making clay lanterns. Children's awareness of diversity is further developed through practical experiences as they are involved in creating displays of, for example Easter, and playing with small world figures which have disabilities and discussing the disabilities, thereby heightening children's awareness of diversity and the needs of others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All children are valued and cared for according to their individual needs, which are recorded within individual care plans. They learn to share and take turns and thus play together in a harmonious group. Children learn about acceptable behaviour through explanation, praise, encouragement and through the use of sticker charts. As a result, children's behaviour is

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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 exemplary. Adults and children form good close relationships, which results in children being calm and very well settled.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has excellent strategies for building good relationships with parents and carers, which contributes significantly to children's wellbeing. She ensures records of activities, children's achievements and procedures are comprehensive and clear, and religiously shares information to ensure consistency and help parents and carers feel actively involved in their children's development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents receive very detailed information packs, which include excellent policies and procedures and are kept very well informed through the use of a parents notice board, including information about for example, snacks, outings and activity planning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The compliment record includes a parent's comment about the high quality service provided by the childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The children flourish in a setting where there is exceptional organisation of resources, outstanding planning, effective assessments of children and clear and comprehensive policies, which help to keep children safe, provide consistency and help children progress. The childminder organises her paperwork very effectively, and meticulously keeps all the detail required by regulation. She works extremely well to provide outstanding high quality care for children.

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Organisation

The childminder improves and develops her practice through identifying her own training needs and then accessing and attending training, which she feels will enhance her practice. To date the childminder has completed various training in first aid, safeguarding children, health and hygiene, behaviour, working with parents and activities for older children and has used this training to develop highly effective procedures and practice. She has a high regard for developments in early years and successfully follows an approach in line with the 'Birth to three matters' framework and the Foundation Stage curriculum, thus ensuring children are fully supported in reaching their potential.

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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

This is the first inspection since registration.

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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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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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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