Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY363716 Unique Reference Number 11 June 2008 Inspection date Christine Snowdon 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 their two children aged one and seven years. Their home is in a residential area of York City and there are shops, schools and other amenities close by. The whole of the ground floor area is used for childminding purposes and toilet facilities are on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed area for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She is currently caring for one child under five years on a full-time basis and five over five years for part-time care. The childminder holds a National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) certificate and has a degree in early years.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay healthy and thrive because they are cared for in a warm, very clean environment where priority is given to their health and well-being. Older and more able children independently

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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 wash their hands on arrival from school in readiness for their snack. They use liquid soap and individual paper towels to reduce any risk of cross-infection. The signs in the toilet remind children to flush the chain and wash their hands. However, babies' hands are not always cleaned before they have their snack. There are effective nappy changing routines in place with each child having their own mat. These are then cleaned down with anti-bacterial spray after use. All floor areas are extremely clean to ensure they are suitable for crawling babies.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children benefit from the healthy and nutritious snacks the childminder provides. After school the children help themselves to a good selection of fresh fruit and the younger children have organic baby snacks. They learn about healthy eating as they take part in activities such as making fresh fruit kebabs. Children are encouraged to drink regularly and water is cooled in the fridge for them. When playing in the garden they help themselves from the water dispenser which is taken outside. Children are aware they have to drink lots of water or they will get dehydrated. The childminder works closely with the parents who provide their own children's main meals. All dietary needs are discussed and adhered to.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy an excellent range of activities that contribute effectively to their physical good health. They walk to and from school and have fresh air on a daily basis. They love to be outdoors in the extremely well-equipped and child-orientated garden. They practise their football skills, play basketball, croquet and golf. Younger children play in the ball pool and enjoy throwing the balls out onto the grass. The childminder bounces the younger children on the small trampoline and they laugh and giggle and want to do it again. Children rest and sleep comfortably according to their individual needs and routine.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are kept very safe in a homely, spotlessly clean environment that is warm and welcoming to everyone. There is plenty of space and all areas are used effectively to enable children to maximise their play and learning in safety. For example, the lounge area is mainly used for the very young children and is carpeted so they can roll and crawl comfortably. The dining room with washable flooring is used for all creative activities and older children. This ensures that resources are appropriate to each room and are safe for the varying ages and stages of development. The children benefit from the excellent range of good quality, clean resources and these are regularly supplemented by additional items loaned from the mobile toy library. The childminder ensures the non-mobile babies' toys are changed frequently as they play, whilst other children independently self-select their own. The childminder ensures resources

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

are safely stored at child-height in the different areas and boxes are clearly labelled with the contents. Additional toys are stored in the garage and circulated periodically. The childminder has produced her own catalogue of resources in picture form so that children can ask for any additional items if they wish.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for in a safe environment where all risks are clearly identified and minimised effectively through regular risk assessments and the childminder's vigilance and supervision. The childminder is very proactive in helping children to understand how to keep themselves safe both on and off site. They learn how to evacuate the premises in an emergency through regularly practising the fire drills. When out and about in the community they know to hold on to the pushchair and each other's hands as they cross the busy roads. Children are effectively safeguarded because the childminder has clear and robust procedures in place. She clearly understands her role in child protection and is fully aware of the steps to take should a concern

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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 arise. She has attended training to keep her skills and knowledge up-to-date, this ensures children's safety and welfare are promoted effectively.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are exceptionally settled and happy in the childminder's care. They are confident in their surroundings and are enthusiastic to participate in the wide range of well-planned activities. The childminder has a calm and caring manner and is very attentive and sensitive to each child's individual needs. Babies and young children particularly benefit from and enjoy the close physical contact, cuddles and interaction they receive. As a result, children have a very close relationship with the childminder which increases their sense of trust and helps them develop a strong sense of self. The childminder actively engages with the children, encouraging them to join in the activities and have fun. For example, babies enjoy the different sounds and noises as the childminder shakes the musical instruments. They reach out and grasp them and shake them too. They watch as she taps on the drum and they copy this action by banging their hand

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

on the drum. They smile as the childminder claps her hands together and says 'well done'. They snuggle up on her knee and enjoy looking at the tactile book together as she reads them a story. They are developing excellent hand-eye coordination and spend a good deal of time concentrating as they try to move the coloured beads around the frame. There are lots of chuckles and happy gurgling as the childminder bounces them up and down on her knee and they indicate they want more through their body language and gestures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

All children benefit greatly from the lovely activities in the garden area. They learn about nature through finding and identifying bugs and insects. The posters around the fence and the magnifying glasses promote this very well. They tell the inspector they have found a spider, a ladybird and a bee. They develop their writing skills as they use water and paintbrushes to write their names on the paving flags. They count whose name has the most numbers and whose has the least. Children of all ages have excellent opportunities to develop their creativity and imagination through a variety of crafts and activities. They enjoy painting and experimenting by mixing the various colours. They have regular baking sessions when they make pizzas, pancakes and buns and decorate Easter biscuits. Photographs show them smiling happily as they enjoy eating the finished products.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children and their families are warmly welcomed and made to feel part of the childminder's home. Children's artwork and photographs, both on the walls and in the scrapbook, give personal meaning to every child. Consequently, children feel extremely valued and have a real sense of belonging. Children develop a very positive awareness of diversity, they celebrate different festivals including Chinese New Year and Easter. The posters on display and the globe of the world extend their understanding of the wider world in which they live. This is supported with resources such as books, dolls and small world play. Children learn about the community in which they live when out for walks and through attending the various pre-school groups. The childminder has valuable previous working experience in supporting children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is very good. The childminder provides a positive role model for children, her attitude is courteous, respectful and caring. Sensitive and consistent boundaries are

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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 maintained in a gentle and appropriate manner. Older children have discussed and written their own house rules and these are actively reflected in their positive attitude to one another as they play harmoniously together, taking turns and happily sharing the resources. They all benefit from the positive praise and encouragement they receive from the childminder, acknowledging that their efforts are valued and appreciated.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit greatly from the excellent working relationships the childminder has established with the parents. The childminder encourages and welcomes their views as she strives to develop her very good practice. Their responses from the recent parent questionnaires are extremely positive and refer to her professionalism and the quality care their children receive. They are kept fully up-to-date on their children's care and development, verbally and through daily diaries and development files for the pre-school children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is exceptionally well-organised and efficient in all aspects of her provision. The children are warmly welcomed into a safe and well-resourced environment that benefits their well-being. Space and resources are used effectively, promoting purposeful play opportunities for all children. The childminder is extremely motivated and enthusiastic and strives to continue to improve and develop her practice. For example, in addition to attending training she is currently working towards York City Council's quality assurance scheme 'Steps to Quality' and receives regular visits from her mentor.

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Organisation

Comprehensive well-written policies and procedures ensure her service operates smoothly and efficiently. In addition, parents are given a copy of her prospectus containing information on the routines and activities along with her mission statement and other relevant information. The policies and procedures are robust and relevant to her setting and used to promote the care, learning and welfare of the children in her care. These are all discussed with the new parents and are retained in her parent file. However, there may be too much information for parents to adsorb during the visit and they do not have copies of the main policies to refer to at home. Records of attendance, contracts and children's personal details are all up-to-date and stored securely to ensure confidentiality. The childminder openly displays her registration certificate along with the Ofsted poster, complaints procedure and other relevant information

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Organisation

for the parents' benefit. 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 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 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): • improve hygiene practice for the very young children by ensuring their hands are cleaned prior to snack time • further enhance the current good practice so that parents are able to have ongoing reference to the main policies and procedures.

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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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