Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY352955 Unique Reference Number 30 April 2008 Inspection date Jacqueline Allen 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 outstanding. 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 registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and four children aged 11, seven, six and three in Taunton. She may provide care for a maximum of three children under eight years of which two can be under five years. The whole house may be accessed by children and there is a large, enclosed rear garden for outside play. There are toilet facilities on both floors. The family have one guinea pig and keep chickens. The childminder is a trained nursery nurse.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children's health is exceptionally well promoted as the childminder has particularly good knowledge and understanding in this area, which ensures that the premises are clean, fridge temperatures are checked daily and good systems are in place to prevent cross infection. Children routinely wash their hands before eating and after toileting, using liquid soap and individual towels. There is a comprehensive sick child policy to ensure such children do not attend and excellent systems to ensure the childminder has parents' permission to seek

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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 emergency medical advice or treatment, as required, and that their medication needs are known. Children's minor accidents are appropriately recorded and shared with parents to promote continuity of care. The childminder holds a valid first aid certificate and restocks the first aid box as appropriate.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are actively encouraged to eat healthily as the childminder is an excellent role model and encourages children by the use of stickers. Children are provided with a wide range of healthy foods throughout the day, such as wholegrain breakfast cereal, yoghurts, toasted muffins, smoothies, fresh fruit and raw vegetables. Children greatly benefit from the range of homemade meals, such as tuna and courgette lasagne, pasta with cheese and broccoli and shepherds pie, which ensures that their nutritional needs are very well met. Children are offered milk and have free access to their own water cup at all times. Children's individual dietary needs are collated as required.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children spend time outside in the fresh air every day, which greatly benefits their health. Children have use of the large rear garden to explore, where they play with sand and water, have space to run around and enjoy ball games, use large and small climbing apparatus and have a specific area for digging. This ensures that children have lots of opportunities to extend their physical skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children have a very safe and spacious area in which to play, which is very well organised, clean and welcoming. Children use a designated play room, where they have full access to a fantastic range of interesting, good quality, age appropriate resources, such as books, dressing-up clothes, a dolls' house and accessories, puzzles, small world and large role play equipment, which encourages them to self select independently.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are exceptionally well protected in the care of this vigilant childminder. Their safety is given the utmost priority as the childminder risk assesses the house every morning before children's arrival to ensure that all electrical sockets are covered and the equipment is clean and safe for children's use. Written risk assessments show her excellent knowledge and understanding of potential hazards and the steps she takes to minimise these, which includes procedures to follow to ensure children are safe on outings. Children regularly practise the emergency evacuation procedures, which are clearly recorded. The childminder routinely discusses potential dangers with children to increase their own awareness and understanding. There is a very comprehensive policy on the use of large garden equipment, which ensures it is safe, well supervised at all times and used appropriately. Well organised documentation

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

ensures that children are collected by authorised carers.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is protected through the excellent knowledge of the childminder. There is a very comprehensive policy in place with additional information available for referral to ensure that the correct procedures are followed if she has any concerns about a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are provided with exceptional care, support and attention by the highly professional childminder. There is a designated play room which ensures that children have access to a superb play environment where they are actively encouraged to explore and access resources

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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 independently. Children are routinely encouraged to make choices in their play and receive ongoing praise and encouragement. As a result, children are very happy, settled and chatty to the childminder, as they feel assured of a positive response. The childminder interacts well with children and skilfully extends their play through the use of open ended questioning to further children's thinking and communication skills, as she encourages children to complete activities. Children are encouraged to be independent, such as when hand washing, selecting toys and choosing food for snack time.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children relish their time exploring a wide range of musical instruments with enthusiasm. The childminder expertly encourages children's maths development by asking children to count how many times they hit the xylophone and through her use of language, such as 'same' and 'similar'. Children are encouraged to listen closely to the sounds and explore what they sound like. They learn to keep time to a beat as they play whilst listening to a musical tape and are praised when they join in with actions to the songs. Children's learning is adeptly linked to their own daily routines. For example, when children play with the doll and want to put it down to sleep, the childminder asks what their bedtime routine is, which then leads to a bedtime story.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enthusiastically explore the water tray, which has a range of interesting objects, such as boats, crabs, crocodiles, plastic tubing and plastic bottles. They help to fill the tray with water by filling up their own container from the outside tap and carefully walking to the tray. The childminder allows children time to explore items before suggesting a boat race as she clearly explains what they could do. Children are enthralled as they start to blow their boat across to the other side. When children move on to the sand tray, they lift the lid off and get out the foam pieces to sit on as they start to fill a bucket to make a sandcastle. There are photographs of children enjoying their play for them to reflect on, which includes, trips to the fire station, a visit to Fyne Court, cooking, feeding the animals, acting out stories, squelching in the mud, collecting eggs from the chickens and making flags. The childminder does regular

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

observations on children to record their development and achievements, which are shared with parents to ensure they are involved in planning a range of exciting learning opportunities based on their children's interests.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children's individual needs are very well known and met through positive sharing of information with parents. Children are respected as individuals and encouraged to be tolerant, respectful and kind to others through good role modelling by the childminder and ongoing discussions through play activities. Children have excellent opportunities to increase their understanding of diversity through the fantastic range of resources which reflect positive images, such as play people, puzzles, books, dolls and posters. Although no children currently attend who have additional needs, the childminder has excellent previous experience in this area and good awareness of the wide scope covering learning difficulties and disabilities. She is knowledgeable on how activities can be adapted to ensure they are fully inclusive and the level of support which may be required.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is exceptionally well managed by the clear, calm and consistent childminder. She uses very positive behaviour management techniques, such as being attentive and praising and encouraging all children's efforts routinely. Children are given stickers for sharing a toy or playing well together to further encourage positive behaviour. An excellent behaviour

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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 management policy clearly explains the methods used if children act inappropriately, which shows the childminder's excellent knowledge.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are considerably advantaged by the abundance of information shared with parents. The childminder has written personal policies and procedures which are shared with parents, daily dairies for each child to ensure parents are fully informed and a scrapbook of photographs to share with them. Parents have written glowing references about the excellent care provided for their children and how much their children love to attend.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides care. Children greatly benefit from the childminder's exemplary knowledge and understanding of the National Standards and vast experience in childcare. Children's daily routines ensure lots of variety as there is a continual range of interesting activities on offer, both inside and outdoors. Children's daily attendance is accurately recorded and policies are available for lost and uncollected children, which are shared with parents.

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Organisation

The organisation of documentation is superb, which underpins the childminder's outstanding practice. She has a clear vision for improvement, has attended training for the new framework and is already implementing this in her practice. This ensures the standard of care for children is of a very high standard.

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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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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 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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