Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY358842 Unique Reference Number 22 May 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 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 was registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and their two sons aged 10 years and 12 years in their three-bedroom detached home in Aspatria. The whole of the house except the childminder’s bedroom and front garden is used for childminding. There is a secure rear garden available to children for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding eight children on a part-time basis. The childminder has use of her car to take children to toddler groups and outings. The family own a dog and two cockatiels.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a range of activities which contributes to their health and well-being. The childminder organises her daily routine to ensure that each day there are outdoor activities to

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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 help children develop control of their bodies, for example, as they dig in the sand or visit the local park. 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

Children are cared for in a warm, welcoming and well-maintained environment. The childminder implements appropriate strategies to ensure children stay healthy, for example, by excluding the dog from areas used by children. Children are developing an age-appropriate understanding of health and hygiene through the childminder’s encouragement and modelling, for example, by encouraging children to wash their hands before food. She has established effective systems for recording accidents and generally effective systems for recording the administration of medication. However, she has not obtained parental signatures to acknowledge the entries in her medication record book.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has established effective systems to plan varied menus in accordance with the child’s needs and parental wishes. 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 recording 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 satisfactory. Children are cared for in a secure and spacious home where most risks are identified and minimised, for example, through a daily visual risk assessment. The cockatiel cage is accessible to children and is not sufficiently guarded to prevent children placing their fingers into the cage. The childminder uses a range of appropriate equipment in order to meet the needs and ensure 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, 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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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 relate well to each other and socialise with other children through a good range of opportunities, for example, through regular attendance at local toddler groups. Children enjoy their time with the childminder and enthusiastically participate in a good range of indoor and outdoor activities. The childminder uses the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework to adapt activities such as story telling, to promote younger children’s learning.

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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 are developing independence as they chose between a planned variety of resources and activities which appeal to all. The childminder uses a good range of sensitive and age-appropriate strategies to support children’s learning and promote their independence and self-esteem. For example, when showing children how to blow bubbles and then allowing them to do this independently.

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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 years 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 satisfactory. The childminder provides an appropriate 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, during a story the childminder talks about different foods eaten by people around the world. Children are learning about their local community as they participate in a range of activities, for example, when going for walks and visiting local 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 appropriately as they follow their normal daily routine as discussed and recorded with their parents. The childminder has a generally effective partnership with parents and shares a range of written information about her childminding routine. She does not have written consent from parents to take children on walks or to use the local park.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are at ease in the childminder’s appropriately 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 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 a range of policies and procedures to promote the welfare, care and learning of children. Individual children’s records are stored confidentially and shared appropriately with parents to keep them informed about the childminding service and 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 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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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

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 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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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 that parents sign the record of administered medication to acknowledge the entry • ensure that hazards to children on the premises are minimised, with regard to preventing children being able to place their fingers between the bars of the bird cage • ensure the childminder has a written agreement with parents which sets out the expectations of both parties as to the care of the child and activities provided, with regard to obtaining written consent to take children on local walks and to use the park.

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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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