Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY358527 Unique Reference Number 17 April 2008 Inspection date Stephen Andrew Blake 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 her husband and their three children aged four, seven and 11 years in their four bedroom detached dormer bungalow in the village of Scaleby, approximately eight miles from Carlisle. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding except the utility rooms. There is a large garden available to children for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time and is currently minding two children on a part-time basis. The childminder has use of her car to take children on nursery runs and outings. The family own a pony which lives on land adjoining the garden.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder 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 good. Children are cared for in a warm, welcoming and well-maintained environment. They are developing an age-appropriate understanding of health and hygiene through the childminder’s encouragement and modelling. The childminder implements appropriate systems to promote children’s individual awareness of health and hygiene for example, by encouraging children to wash their hands before food and providing individual flannels to minimise the risk of spreading infection. She has established effective systems for the recording of accidents but the system for administering non-prescribed medication is not robust.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of activities which contribute to their good health. The childminder organises her daily routine to ensure that each day there are outdoor activities to help children develop control of their bodies, for example, as they ride on wheeled toys, go for walks or use the climbing frame. Younger children participate fully in all activities because the childminder has an appropriate understanding of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework and implements this effectively

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder organises her feeding routine in accordance with the child’s needs and parental wishes. She has established effective systems to plan varied and interesting menus including a range of home produced cooked meals. Children have access to drinks throughout the day and this helps them to stay healthy. The childminder has an appropriate understanding of healthy eating and has established effective systems for the recording of individual dietary needs and for the preparation and storage of food.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a spacious home where most risks are identified and minimised, for example, through a daily visual risk assessment. There is low glass in the greenhouse and this is accessible to children when using the garden. The premises are secure and the childminder uses a range of appropriate equipment in order to meet the needs and safeguard the safety of all children. She gives high priority to maintaining children’s safety outside the home, for example, when conducting risk assessments and using age-appropriate car seats to transport children safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children independently select activities from an appropriate range of toys and equipment, which meet safety standards. The childminder carefully monitors and supervises children’s choice of toys to make sure they are safe and appropriate for their age and stage of development. The childminder has all the required procedures and documents in place to ensure children’s welfare is safeguarded and promoted. She has established effective systems to ensure that children stay safe, for example, through appropriate supervision ratios and by practising regular fire drills. Children are safeguarded because the childminder holds a current first aid certificate and has a secure understanding of child protection procedures in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle quickly at the childminder's house because she has created a well-organised and welcoming environment. They enjoy their time with the childminder and enthusiastically participate in a good range of indoor and outdoor activities. Children achieve well because the childminder has a robust understanding of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework and the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage to plan and monitor activities that promote all children’s learning and development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children relate well to each other and socialise with other children through a good range of opportunities, for example, through regular attendance at local nursery and toddler groups. They are developing independence as they chose between a planned variety of resources and activities which appeal to all. The childminder supports children’s learning through a good range of sensitive and age-appropriate questioning techniques.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children spend their time purposefully. The childminder draws upon her knowledge and experience of early year’s child development to implement effective systems to monitor the impact of her activities against children’s learning and development. The childminder has established effective routines to balance periods of activity with opportunities to rest.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder provides a meaningful range of activities and resources to promote a positive view of the wider world and increase children’s awareness of diversity and their understanding of others. For example, the childminder plans a range of activities to help children explore celebrations from around the world. Children are learning about their local community as they participate in a good range of activities, for example, when going for walks and visiting local nursery and toddler groups.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are valued and respected as individuals. They show age-appropriate care and concern for each other, and play together harmoniously. Children are well behaved. The childminder provides them with age-appropriate and sensitive support and enables them to relax as well as be active. Children’s individual needs are met well as they follow their normal daily routine as discussed and recorded with their parents. The childminder has an effective partnership with parents and shares a range of well-written policies and procedures relating to her childminding practice.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are at ease in the childminder’s well-organised environment, for example, in her use of available space and the pre-arranged accessible resources. The childminder has established an effective system for planning a good range of care, learning and play activities to support all children’s learning and development. Children are confident to initiate and extend their own play and learning because the childminder provides appropriate levels of support.

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Organisation

The childminder has established an effective range of policies and procedures to promote the welfare, care and learning of children. Individual children’s records are stored confidentially and shared regularly with parents to keep them informed about the childminding service and

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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 their child’s learning and development. This contributes to continuity in the children’s care. Documentation relating to the childminder’s daily practice and children’s routines is well-maintained and effectively organised. Planning systems are monitored and adapted to keep children safe and to enable them to make progress in all areas of their development. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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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. 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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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): • review the procedure for seeking parental agreement to the administration of non-prescription medication at times when it is required • ensure that the greenhouse is inaccessible to children.

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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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