Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY359154 Unique Reference Number 29 May 2008 Inspection date Suzette Butcher 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 eight month old son in Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and the bathroom and small bedroom on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor activities. The family has a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently four children on roll, of whom, one is over eight years old. Children are taken and collected from nearby schools. Younger children are taken to local toddler groups. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Positive attitudes towards a healthy diet as part of a healthy lifestyle are strongly promoted by the childminder. Aspects are introduced informally during conversations or play activities. For example, children find different fruits to put in their basket during a shopping game or discuss which healthy foods they like to eat. Snack times are relaxed, social occasions where

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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 children sit together at the table and enjoy each other's company. They choose healthy options, such as bananas or breadsticks, and comment that they enjoy eating 'yummy snacks'. The childminder uses fresh ingredients to provide nutritious home cooked meals. Children's awareness and experiences are enriched and consolidated in practical activities. They have fun helping to plant seeds and cultivating items, such as tomatoes or cress, in the childminder's home. Children's dietary requirements are carefully recorded and taken into account at all times. Drinks are freely available throughout the day and children help themselves to fresh drinking water when they are thirsty. The childminder discusses the importance of hydration with children and especially in hot weather or after exercise.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are regularly encouraged to develop independence in all their self-help skills with appropriate support and guidance from the childminder. Consequently, older children confidently manage their own personal care. Younger children begin to understand the importance of following good health and hygiene routines as they wipe away germs before handling food. They learn to recognise their own colour coded towel in the bathroom and benefit from effective toilet training programmes in the childminder's care. Good health and hygiene practices are followed by the childminder to reduce the risks of cross-contamination and infections for children. The childminder is especially vigilant in aspects concerning her cat. All areas are cleaned regularly and animal food bowls are kept out of young children's way.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a wide range of activities to develop their physical abilities and promote a healthy life style. They learn to value and understand the benefits of exercise and enjoy many healthy walks throughout the year. For example, they put on wet weather clothes to walk to the local shops on a rainy day. Children enjoy testing out their skills and using their bodies in different ways when they play on bikes or scooters in the garden. Younger children have fun manipulating different consistencies, such as sand or play dough, as they develop their fine motor control.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children and their families are warmly welcomed into an inviting, comfortable environment. The home is well-maintained and children move around between areas on the ground floor with ease and confidence. Photographs, children's art work, informative signs and posters are clearly displayed round the room. This creates a strong sense of identity and belonging for young children. Toys are plentiful, safe, clean and meet the needs of all the children who attend. Play materials, such as musical instruments or building bricks, are well organised in attractive baskets or boxes. Resources are clearly labelled with words and pictures and stored at low levels around the room. Some of the labels are created by the children themselves. This enables children to make informed decisions about their play. Younger children's safety is considered by, for instance, fastening strong, laminated labels to treasure baskets. Areas are well organised

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

so that children have space to play their games in comfort. Children learn to follow good routines as they methodically tidy away their toys and decide what to play with next.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Close attention is paid to safety and all steps have been taken to ensure that children are cared for in a safe and secure environment. Young children sleep safely and comfortably in a relaxing environment where they are carefully monitored. Children are encouraged to learn about what is dangerous and how to keep themselves safe with appropriate support from the childminder. They follow good procedures when crossing roads and practise emergency evacuation procedures with the childminder. Children are encouraged to understand the importance of listening to instructions and following directions.

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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 welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of her role and responsibilities with regard to protecting children. A written policy is in place and the relevant contact details for the Local Safeguarding Children Board are close at hand, should the childminder identify a concern.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home where they are helped to achieve. They write about how much they enjoy their time with the childminder and say that 'it is fun' and 'I like playing outside in the sand and on the scooters with everyone'. Children eagerly choose their own games and activities from the inviting opportunities that surround them. Young children are offered choices with photographs to provide visual cues. This enables children to develop active, independent learning and strong self-motivation. Children play together happily and develop imaginative games with small world toys. They share ideas with each other and the childminder as they create shopping games. Children enjoy dressing up as firemen or princesses and develop their own role play games.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is aware of allowing children time and freedom to plan, initiate and practise their own play as she steps back and observes. She knows when to interact to encourage or extend children’s learning as she asks open ended questions that extend their experiences and learning. The childminder knows children well and she builds on what they already know and can do. Individual children's progress is recorded in written observations and photographs. Next steps in learning are identified and used to plan future activities. For example, young children share their interest in a toy tractor or look at their own feet when they make a noise walking on pebbles. The childminder develops and reinforces their learning by providing opportunities to experiment with different natural sounds or walking to a nearby farm to watch a tractor at work in the field. However, children's overall progress is not clearly recorded in

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

planning and assessment systems. Consequently, their development is not consistently monitored.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Informal learning opportunities are maximised during play activities and everyday activities. A fishing game with magnetic rods provides an opportunity for children to count the fish they have caught or recognise big and small fish. Young children happily persevere and concentrate well when they complete a large floor puzzle with guidance and support from the childminder. They eagerly follow instructions as they find pictures of objects and begin to link letters to sounds. The childminder skilfully organises activities to actively involve every child. For example, babies are supported on large floor cushions or the childminder's knee as children enjoy pressing buttons on a pretend till. Spontaneous games with treasure baskets or musical instruments provide opportunities for all the children to experiment with different everyday objects. They have fun playing with sand, water, paint or play dough and enjoying mixing materials, such as

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn more about their environment and the natural world on regular visits to the zoo or walks in the country park. They find different countries on a map of the world and visit places in their local neighbourhood. An outing to buy cress seeds and plant them later provides an opportunity to learn about growing things.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are well-mannered and considerate towards adults and each other. They behave very well and reflect the childminder's calm, consistent and respectful example. Children are actively involved in discussing and agreeing their own house rules. These include 'always be kind' or 'no running in the house' and are clearly displayed for everyone. This helps them to understand that rules and boundaries are required to enable everyone to have fun in a fair and safe environment. Consequently, children respect each other and take time to listen to everyone's opinions. Children develop confidence and positive self-esteem as the childminder offers regular, enthusiastic praise and encouragement. Individual achievements are enthusiastically celebrated by everyone. Young children happily share, take turns and play together cooperatively with discreet supervision from the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Every child is valued as an individual and very warmly welcomed by the childminder. They enjoy many opportunities to learn about themselves and the wider world and have free access to good quality resources that reflect the wide range of positive images of society. This helps children to develop a good awareness of our diverse society. The childminder recognises the importance of working in partnership with parents and appropriate support agencies. She has previous experience of supporting children with learning difficulties.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The effective partnership with parents is trusting, friendly and professional. A comprehensive information pack and detailed records ensure that all relevant information is shared. Parents are informed about their child's day through informal chats, a diary, photographs and regular reviews to discuss any possible changes to the children's care needs. The daily chat or written diary provides a two-way flow of information about individual children's diet, activities, celebrations or concerns. This promotes good continuity of care for children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a clear sense of purpose and is experienced in caring for children. Her good knowledge and awareness of how children progress at different rates and according to their individual needs underpins her good childminding practice. This enhances the overall quality of care that she provides for children. The childminder's enthusiasm, energy and humour creates a lively, friendly environment where children thrive. She attends training on a regular basis and she is strongly committed towards continuing her own professional development. For example, she is currently completing an Open University degree on early years care and education.

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Organisation

The childminder's policies and procedures are available for parents. These are reviewed and updated on a regular basis to include any amendments or changes in regulation. Parents and carers sign their acknowledgement of these policies. The childminder is well organised and keeps clear records to share information with parents and safeguard the children in her care. These include an appropriate complaints procedure. A clear weekly timetable is followed to facilitate the dropping off and collection of children from local schools. The childminder makes good use of local facilities, such as the library, country walks or parks. Young children regularly join their friends at toddler groups where they adjust to being part of a large group with discreet support from the childminder.

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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): • build on existing good practice by developing planning and assessment systems to monitor the progress and development of the 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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