Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY355502 Unique Reference Number 31 July 2008 Inspection date Sarah Fletcher 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 registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and two children aged two and six in Bletchley, close to Milton Keynes. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden 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 and is currently minding three children under five all day, part time and one child over five after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children and attends the local parent/toddler group. The family has a small dog.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay healthy because the childminder follows current and appropriate environmental health and hygiene guidelines, policies and procedures. They understand simple good health and hygiene practices, such as washing hands before eating and after handling pets or using

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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 toilet. The childminder is a good role model for children, washing her own hands often, such as after nappy changes and before preparing food.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished, eating a variety of healthy meals and snacks. They are becoming aware of healthy eating from an early age, asking for fruit options, such as grapes. Children are encouraged to develop their independence during meals and learn to feed themselves, with help from the childminder. They have their health and dietary needs met because the childminder works well with parents, consulting together on dietary issues, children's preferences, and parent’s wishes. The childminder takes steps to ensure she is reminded of any allergies, keeping the information confidential.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are aware of their own bodies; for example, being hungry before lunchtime and asking the childminder for more grapes. They learn about healthy living through talking with the childminder about their needs and what effect the weather may have on them, such as needing appropriate clothes when the weather is hotter or colder outside. Children enjoy physical play and activity, attending local groups such as stay and play or music and rhyme sessions. They are able to rest and sleep according to their needs and parents’ wishes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are safe and secure in their surroundings. They are cared for in a comfortable family home where they can move around freely. The childminder gives priority to keeping children secure and helping them to understand how to be safe, ensuring they are within her sight or hearing at all times. Children receive close supervision as the childminder reduces most risks and hazards and minimises dangers indoors and outside. However, the childminder has not ensured there are smoke detectors fitted on each floor of her home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn independence through being able to select from the wide range of toys, resources and equipment available. The childminder carefully supervises children to ensure they have appropriate choices for their age and stage of development. She ensures she meets children's individual needs by talking to parents and observing children at play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a developing understanding of child protection issues and understands the importance of recording information to promote children's welfare, although she has not yet recorded pre-existing injuries to children. The childminder has access to appropriate contact numbers for the authorities, but she has not developed a child protection policy to inform parents of her role and responsibilities to protect children in her care and she is not clear about the procedures to follow if an allegation is made against her or her family.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle well in the childminder’s home, enjoying each other’s company with all aspects of their care, learning and play benefiting from their high level of interaction with the childminder. Children develop confidence and self-esteem through the childminder encouraging children to try new activities to express themselves and their ideas. Children enjoy a variety of activities, such as messy play, construction, role play and reading stories. They enjoy playing in the garden under supervision and going for walks in the local area.

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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 The childminder finds out what children know and can do when they first attend by talking to parents and observing children when they are playing. She takes time to settle children into her care gradually, over a period of several days or weeks, ensuring they are confident in her care and parents start to build trusting relationships. Children receive good support from the childminder in their learning and development. She takes time to help children extend their vocabulary and develop their ideas through play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children play happily with the childminder and each other, using resources suitable for their age and stage of development. Exploration with messy play activities such as cooked spaghetti and playdough helps children represent their experiences, feelings and ideas in a variety of ways. Children respond to challenge, improving both their physical and language skills and overall development through the wide range of interesting activities available.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children become aware of our wider society and understand the wider world through the developing range of toys and resources that reflect positive images of culture, gender and disability. For example, the childminder provides a range of books from differing cultures and beliefs, dolls of different skin colours, dressing up clothes, and small world play figures. Children feel a sense of belonging in the relaxed family atmosphere. They are content and show their confidence during play, talking with each other and adults. They learn about their local community through walking around the neighbourhood and visiting local stay and play sessions and music and rhyme sessions. Children make choices and take decisions in their play; toys and equipment are accessible to all children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children receive appropriate support and all children are valued as individuals. The childminder meets each child's individual needs and follows their own routine after careful discussion with the child's parents. She ensures she includes minded children and her own child equally during play. The childminder takes time to talk to all the children and asks them open questions, developing their vocabulary. Children enjoy role play together and share the resources with little reminder from childminder. They are aware of their own needs and the needs of others, as the childminder encourages children to respect one another’s needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children understand responsible behaviour, knowing and understanding the house rules decided by the childminder. Behaviour is generally good and children share and take turns well. They are kind to each other and play harmoniously together with the childminder, responding well to her positive praise. The childminder uses positive strategies for managing behaviour, which she shares with parents, encouraging children to learn to understand self-control. Children benefit from the developing two-way communication system between parents and the childminder, which enhances children’s care, learning and play. They are cared for according to their parents’ wishes, ensuring continuity to meet the child’s needs. Daily information exchanges take place through individual discussions with appropriate parents, with additional text messages and newsletters to share information.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a high regard for the welfare and well-being of all children and children feel at home within the well-organised environment. They play happily in the childminder's care, which contributes to them feeling confident to initiate their own play. The childminder

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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 organises time well and provides a good balance of indoor and outdoor play, which extends children's learning and development. Children are developing confidence in the childminder's care, knowing routines and showing they are content, happy and settled in the warm and welcoming atmosphere.

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Organisation

Children’s welfare, care and learning is promoted through the childminder's effective policies, which form part of the welcome pack given to parents at induction. The childminder keeps parents informed about care practices and their children's activities through both documentation and discussion. Children have continuity of care, which develops from the relationships between parents and childminder; however, the childminder has not yet obtained all the required permissions from parents and she has not recorded each child's records individually.

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Organisation

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 childminder's first inspection since registration.

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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 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 documentation for individual children to ensure all required consents are obtained from parents and ensure each child's information is recorded appropriately • develop a child protection policy to inform parents of the childminder's role and responsibilities to protect children in her care; ensure children's pre-existing injuries are clearly recorded and the childminder has clear awareness of the procedures to follow if any allegations of abuse are made against her or her family • ensure there is an appropriate smoke detector fitted and working on each floor of the childminder's home

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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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