Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY350106 Unique Reference Number 23 June 2008 Inspection date Catherine Hill 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 three children aged 10, and eight year old twins. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She is currently minding five children, four of whom are under five years, at various times throughout the week. The downstairs of the childminder's house is used for play and upstairs for sleep only. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. Local parks, shops and schools are within easy walking distance. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children develop an understanding of hygiene practice through daily routines. The childminder wipes very young children's hands and faces after eating to ensure they remain clean and comfortable. She also wipes their nose and her procedures include ensuring older children wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. Children play in a clean home environment and take their shoes off indoors to ensure floors remain clean for children to sit and play on.

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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 has suitable policies and procedures in place to ensure children are protected from illness and infection. She has, for example, a written sickness policy, which she shares with parents, and children have individual towels and flannels for their personal use. Children receive appropriate care if they have an accident as the childminder holds a current first aid certificate and maintains first aid kits for use both indoors and for outings. Accident and medication records are maintained, although some medication records lack a little detail. For example, children's full names are not recorded and not all entries have been acknowledged by parents or clearly dated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have very good daily opportunities for exercise to develop and maintain a healthy body. They move freely around the indoor environment and have daily access to outdoor play in the fresh air. Young children excitedly run around. They carefully negotiate the steps up to the slide, sensitively supported by the childminder, and happily slide down. They independently choose to sit and use their body to make the rocker move back and forth and have fun as they run around the perimeter of the trampoline surface whilst securely enclosed by the safety net. The childminder ensures children can rest or be active according to their individual needs and settles children for a nap when they tire. Children have independent access to their cup of drink and drink when thirsty. The childminder works closely with parents to ensure children's individual dietary needs are met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a welcoming, family environment. They are totally at ease in the home and happily explore the good range of play resources set out at their level. For example, they play with inset puzzles and sponge letters. Children keep safe within the home as the childminder has identified and minimized most hazards. For example, safety gates are in place and safety catches are on kitchen cupboards housing hazardous materials. However, not all unused low level sockets are covered and the outside swings have not been securely anchored after being moved when the lawn was cut. Children are closely supervised during play and the childminder is vigilant in keeping them safe. She straps young children into a highchair whilst they eat and gently reminds them not to climb on toys as they could slip and hurt themselves. Toys are checked for safety as used and the childminder maintains a monthly equipment checklist of

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

items to be repaired and cleaned. She also maintains written records of her safety checks. Children learn how to keep themselves safe as they take part in regular recorded fire drills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is well safeguarded as the childminder understands her role and responsibilities within this area of practice. She has attended specific training regarding safeguarding children and has a written policy to support her practice, which is shared with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children play very happily at the childminder's where they are allowed to follow their own interests which reduces the incidents when they may feel frustration. The childminder is very attentive to their needs and continually interacts with them to help develop their learning and skills. For example, she reinforces shape names as children play with shape sorters, and colours, as children put different coloured plastic coins in a piggy bank. Children develop in independence as they are encouraged to try and do things for themselves, such as putting the lid back on a tub of letter shapes. They respond positively to the childminder's request and also reinforce

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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 their own learning by repeating actions. For example, they reinforce their hand-eye coordination as they put some play food into a small box, take it out and then repeat the action several times over.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have fun at the childminder's and young children jiggle contentedly as they babble away whilst playing with different toys. They smile broadly as they gaze with interest at a book and glove puppets shown to them by the childminder. The childminder asks them questions about the animal figures in the book which match the glove puppet figures, reinforcing a link between the spoken word and real object to aid children's language development. Children are able to develop their knowledge of the wider world on outings with the childminder. She keeps individual folders for each child with some examples of their artwork. In readiness for the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage in September, she has records in place to chart children's learning journeys.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children develop in self-esteem as the childminder praises and encourages them during play. They have established secure trusting relationships with the childminder and readily run to her for a cuddle and to sit on her lap. The childminder has a good understanding of children's individual needs and the toys and activities they enjoy. Children behave very well as they are sensitively supported and purposefully occupied. The childminder has an equality and specific requirements policy in place to support her practice in providing equal opportunities for all children in her care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has established good relationships with parents. They receive daily written and verbal feedback about their child's minded day and all written policies and procedures are shared with parents. Policies are generally well detailed, although the complaints policy does not include Ofsted's contact address. Testimonials on file from parents confirm they are happy with the care provided for their children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises her practice well to provide children with a secure home environment for their play and learning. Children have fun and enjoy themselves in her care. The childminder is proactive in furthering her knowledge and skills by attending training related to her practice. She has attended initial training regarding the Early Years Foundation Stage and has identified areas for future training. A range of documentation is in place to support her practice with most containing all the necessary detail. The childminder assesses her practice on an ongoing basis, reflecting on daily activities and discussing issues with both parents and other childminders. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Not applicable: this is the first inspection since registration.

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Improvements 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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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): • enhance existing safety procedures by ensuring all low level unused sockets are covered and by securely anchoring garden play equipment, as appropriate to its use • improve detail in medication documentation by including children's full names, clear dates of entries and acknowledgement by parents of all medication administered and include Ofsted's contact address within the complaints 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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