Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY364583 Unique Reference Number 10 April 2008 Inspection date Felicity Gaff 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 two school-aged children in Crawley, West Sussex. The whole house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has three cats. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. She is currently caring for two children under five years. In addition, two children over five years attend during school holidays. Some of the children attend part-time. The childminder drives to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local carer and toddler groups and a childminder support group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children learn to keep themselves healthy because the childminder teaches good personal hygiene routines and ensures children understand why they are important. She protects children from illness and infection by keeping the home clean, and there are good arrangements for minimising health risks associated with pets. There are good arrangements for children to rest and relax as necessary. Most of the documentation to support children's welfare is in place.

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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 The childminder understands her responsibility for the management and recording of minor accidents, and maintains records of medication administered to children. Children receive a well balanced diet and the childminder works with parents to ensure any dietary requirements are fully understood and met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in an attractively decorated environment with sufficient space for them to play in safety. There are good arrangements for preventing children reaching unused areas of the home. The childminder provides a good range of play materials suitable for children of different ages. Children select what they use from an accessible cupboard, where toys are well-organised to protect younger children from unsuitable items. The childminder helps them to understand how to keep themselves safe by explaining why they need to tidy unused toys away to prevent accidents. Children learn to keep themselves safe on outings because the childminder teaches good road safety routines. She ensures children use correctly fitted safety seats when travelling by car. The childminder has a good understanding of child protection issues and recognises how to safeguard children by recording and reporting any concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy a good variety of interesting planned and spontaneous activities. They take part in regular creative and messy play opportunities as well as active outdoor play, and also enjoy times for relaxation and stories. Young children learn to recognise their own names as they self-register on arrival. The childminder supports their learning well. While playing matching games, such as dominoes, she uses incidental opportunities effectively to develop their understanding of number. The use of good quality, age-appropriate toys means that children are eager to participate and achieve success, which boosts their confidence and self-esteem. The childminder displays children's creative work prominently, which shows them they are valued. She organises interesting activities such as sowing and tending seeds so that children can eventually enjoy harvesting foodstuffs such as tomatoes that they have grown themselves.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children behave well at the setting and the childminder manages unwanted behaviour effectively. For example, she skilfully introduces new games and activities to redirect children's attention and plays with children to give them the attention and support they need. She liaises closely with parents, which enables them to work together in order to provide consistent care. She uses incidental opportunities, such as taking turns when playing games, to help children understand and respect other people. The childminder recognises the importance of working in partnership with parents to meet the individual needs of children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She makes sure there is time to exchange information informally with parents on arrival and departure. She provides daily diaries to ensure that parents of very young children are fully aware of the care their children receive. The childminder's understanding of the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

requirements for handling parental complaints lacks detail. This limits her ability to respond effectively and to improve the care she provides.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She is proactive in ensuring all members of her household undergo appropriate vetting procedures to ensure their suitability. She has successfully undertaken the required training and undertakes further training to improve her professional skills and support her practice. The childminder maintains an accurate record of the hours children attend and most of the documentation required to support their welfare is in place. Children's personal details are stored discreetly to protect their privacy. However, children's records are not sufficiently clearly organised to ensure they are complete. Authorisations for medication lack clarity and parental permission for emergency medical advice or treatment is not sought for all children. This limits the childminder's ability to meet children's needs promptly.

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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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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 knowledge and understanding of the procedures to be followed should a parent make a complaint • improve the organisation of documentation to ensure that required authorisations for medication and emergency medical advice or treatment are in place for all children and completed in full

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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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