Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY362074 Unique Reference Number 08 August 2008 Inspection date Jeanne Lesley Walsh 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 partner and one child aged three years. They live in the Hyde area of Tameside. Childminding takes place on the ground floor in the lounge, dining/kitchen and conservatory. The children have access to the front bedroom and the family bathroom upstairs. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and there are currently four children on roll. She is able to take and collect children to and from local schools for out of school care. She also takes children on trips to the local park, shops and to local child centred groups, with parental consent. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder discusses children's individual dietary needs with their parents and ensures that children's food is provided according to their wishes. Sample menus include a good variety of fruit and vegetables to contribute to a healthy diet. They also show that children eat a range of home cooked foods in the setting. Meal time is managed as a social activity as children sit

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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 together at the dining room table to eat. High chairs are appropriately used and the childminder sits with the children chatting and encouraging positive social skills. The children are beginning to learn where some foods come from as they attempt to grow some of their own. Photographs show them digging and planting in the garden. They recently planted some cress seed and made cress sandwiches for their snack. They also learn about food through creative activities as they choose their favourite foods to stick on a paper plate. They also make shopping lists and then find pictures that match the foods on the list.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children are learning about personal hygiene and self-care through daily routines. They use the bright, fun children’s products to wash their hands before meals, after visiting the toilet and after playing outside. The childminder follows hygienic procedures when nappy changing. She also keeps work surfaces and floors clean and the children are encouraged to take their shoes off before they come indoors. All these routines reduce the risk of cross-infection for children. Their learning is also extended through books, stories and activity topics, such as ‘our bodies’.

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Helping children to be healthy

There is a sick children policy in place, which includes exclusion periods. Accident and medication records are very well kept and are all appropriately signed by parents. The childminder has completed first aid training and has a first aid box available. She obtains written consent from parents to seek any required emergency medical advice or treatment for children. This means she is able to provide appropriate care in the event of an emergency arising.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children are beginning to discover that physical activity is also fun. They enjoy a range of opportunities both indoors and in the garden. They follow the obstacle course in the garden, crawling through the tunnel, climbing the slide, jumping over the bean bags and running under the steps of the slide. The children also make up their own games in the garden and as they climb up the slide the wrong way, they say 'it’s hard work this'. They jump on the trampoline asking 'how high can you jump'. The childminder supports all the children and helps even the youngest children to take part. She is clearly aware of their different developmental needs and adapts activities accordingly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children are cared for in a warm, welcoming and child centred home environment. The premises are spotlessly clean and well maintained and space is very well organised so that all children can play safely and comfortably. The playroom is well organised giving the children a wide range of activities to choose and explore. Their work is displayed along with pictures, posters and photographs that confirm the exciting range of activities that the children become involved in. This helps the children to feel a strong sense of belonging in the setting and boosts their self-esteem.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children can develop and progress because there is a wide range of indoor and outdoor play equipment available to support their learning in all areas. The toys and equipment are well presented and stored so that they are mostly in reach of children. This enables them to make informed choices of what they wish to do. The toys are in very good condition, they are clean and meet required safety standards. The good quality equipment supports the needs of the children and includes cots, buggies and safety equipment. The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of the importance of providing a safe environment and has made every effort to reduce hazards for children. Risk assessments are carried out and recorded for all areas of play and before outings. The emergency evacuation procedure is practised regularly and

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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 recorded. General safety within the home is good and children cannot leave the premises unsupervised. They are under the direct supervision of the childminder at all times. However, the washing line and the window blind cords can, at times, be reached by the children and are a potential hazard.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has completed Local Safeguarding Children Board training and is familiar with necessary procedures. She is able to keep children safe because she is very clear about her role and responsibilities in any child protection situation. She demonstrates that she is able to recognise possible signs and symptoms of abuse and she is aware of procedures to follow should she have concerns. Parents are made aware of her responsibility in line with the child protection policy. She demonstrates a clear understanding of the need for confidentiality. Children are also learning about keeping themselves safe when they are out in the community. They talk about road safety and they know they have to walk nicely and they do not run off. They are also learning about their general safety, for example, when using items, such as scissors they do not walk round with them and they hold them a certain way, so that nobody gets hurt. They

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

also talk about looking after each other and keeping each other safe. They visit the library regularly and borrow books to support their learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder follows a simple and flexible daily routine, which gives her time to ensure that all children’s individual care needs are met. Children receive opportunities for daily exercise and outings and a good range of stimulating activities. The main play areas are child centred and are ready set out to capture children’s interest and imagination. A good range of toys, activities and experiences are provided to support all areas of children's development. These are organised and guided by the childminder's knowledge and awareness of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework and links to the Foundation Stage curriculum. She keeps daily observations of the children’s progress and updates their individual record fortnightly. She uses this record to link activities to all the learning areas and to help her to provide appropriately for children’s individual needs. The activities also link to her monthly topics.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is supportive when the children begin to initiate their own play and she provides additional props so that they can get the best possible fun and learning from their activities. When the children decide to paint she makes sure they have aprons and a selection of paint and she helps them to secure the roll of paper to the easel. The children explain what they are painting and one child tells the childminder 'it's a spaceship'. With lots of praise and encouragement the children help to cut their completed painting off the roll and put it out to dry. They then pull the next sheet of paper down and secure it to the easel with magnets, ready for the next person to paint. They are developing independence and gaining a sense of responsibility. All the children love exploring the texture of the pasta. The older children sit at the table and younger children in the high chair. They love the feel of it and say 'it’s sticky and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

it feels like chicken and eggs' They giggle when they squeeze it and it pops out of their hand and plops onto the table.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are encouraged to choose and help themselves to the activities, thereby promoting independence. They are learning to share toys and the childminder encourages them by talking and explaining to them. They are developing good communication skills through the positive interaction with the childminder. She skilfully asks questions and helps the children to think for themselves. She encourages language and speech through stories, singing, rhymes and play. The children listen to the sounds made by the activity centre. The train track and station calls

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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 out all the sounds of the alphabet letters as the children press the buttons. The older children correctly respond as the childminder asks them to find the B for Bob and the D for Dog on the poster. They turn the clock fingers round and talk about the time. The baby joins in, experimenting with the alphabet abacus and then moves on to inspect the texture of the feely reading books. The childminder explains to the children what they are doing all the time. She provides the children with good, appropriate support but allows them to try things out for themselves. She celebrates their achievements and praises their efforts, constantly encouraging them to extend themselves to meet the challenges provided. She is very kind and gentle in her approach and the children are very responsive to her.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated with equal concern because the childminder discusses their individual needs with the parents. She obtains relevant information to ensure continuity of care and to ensure that children are valued as individuals. The children are helped to consider and value diversity as they celebrate different cultural and religious festivals. They celebrate things that are special to them and make them unique, such as their birthday celebrations. The childminder encourages them to develop a sense of their own identity through activities that include topics, such as ‘Our families, food and our bodies'. The children are beginning to learn about their local community and the world around them through visits to the park, childcare groups and shopping. Photographic evidence shows them enjoying visits to the local farm and working with people who help us, such as the police, fire and crossing patrol. Resources support children’s

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Helping children make a positive contribution

learning in relation to difference but very few of these raise awareness of disability or learning difficulties.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children’s behaviour is well managed. The childminder has high expectations of them and she follows a positive and consistent approach to discipline and works in partnership with parents. She maintains simple boundaries that ensure children’s safety and the children know what is expected of them. Simple effective strategies are used to encourage children to become aware of their own behaviour. Distraction, explanation and offers of alternatives begin to help children manage their own behaviour. Children receive lots of praise and reassurance and respond positively to the childminder. They also enjoy using the smiley face sticker chart, which rewards their good behaviour with opportunities to do their favourite baking or other popular activities of their choice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The positive partnership with parents is well promoted and significantly contributes to the children’s well-being in the setting. The initial settling in period is beneficial in helping the childminder to establish effective and consistent routines, in conjunction with parent’s wishes. The childminder shares information with parents daily, either through daily discussion or through the completion of the daily journal. Parents know they can phone or text the childminder daily whenever they want to. The childminder has a written agreement with parents and aims to provide care according to their wishes and according to the individual needs of their child.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are happy and settled in the setting and they confidently and freely explore the good activities available in the child-centred environment. The children often initiate their own play and learning and the childminder actively promotes spontaneity and flexibility in the setting.

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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 The children follow simple and consistent routines and they receive lots of encouragement, time and attention from the childminder. This promotes their independence and helps to develop their self-esteem.

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Organisation

A good set of policies and procedures is available and is shared with parents. These ensure appropriate procedures in all areas of children’s care. Effective procedures keep the children safe from persons who are not vetted and the childminder never leaves the children in the care or supervision of any person other than herself.

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Organisation

The childminder is experienced and well qualified and she constantly strives to further develop her own knowledge and skills by attending additional training. She uses her new knowledge and skills to further enhance the children’s learning and development opportunities. Documentation is in good order, appropriate to the setting and available for inspection. This is also appropriately shared with parents. The children are cared for in a secure environment where they can develop and achieve at their own pace. 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

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. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaint 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 children’s safety in relation to the washing line and the window blind cords • further develop resources that raise awareness of disability, learning difficulties and equal opportunities for 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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