Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY361222 Unique Reference Number 13 August 2008 Inspection date Judith Harris 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 was registered in 2007. She lives with her partner in Bideford in North Devon. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding five children under five at various sessions each week. The childminder attends the local groups and takes children to the local library, the park and beach and to local places of interest. The childminder has experience of supporting children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are gaining an unmistakable understanding of the importance of good personal hygiene. The childminder actively encourages highly effective daily routines; she talks to the children about washing off the germs. Children wash their hands after having their nappies changed, before eating and after play. The childminder ensures that children maintain the effective hygiene routines at all times both in the home and on outings. The childminder uses good

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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 nappy changing routines and appropriate health and hygiene guidelines are carefully followed at all times. Children play in a clean environment and an excellent level of hygiene is maintained at all times in all areas. In order to effectively prevent the spread of infection the childminder has a sick child policy that is shared with parents at admission.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in an exceptionally imaginative and versatile range of daily outdoor activities. Children go to the Burrows for nature walks and to explore the river, they go to the beach to play in the sand and investigate the rock pools and to the park. At the childminder's home children play with outdoor toys and equipment in the garden. Children are relishing practising and developing their physical skills in the childminder’s home. They move around from room to room with exceptional confidence and ride on the train and tractor in the passage. The range of activities is effectively supporting the children to gain good control of their bodies and allow children to experiment with movement. Children’s individual rest and sleep needs are effectively met within the daily routine and in agreement with parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with a broad range of healthy, balanced meals and snacks. The childminder works in a highly effective way with parents to ensure that children's individual needs are met and children are developing healthy eating habits. The childminder gives the parents daily information about what the children have eaten each day. The childminder ensures that food hygiene standards are maintained at all times.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has completed a first aid course, which ensures she is able to give appropriate care if there is an accident.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The play space is imaginatively organised to effectively provide children with versatile and adaptable areas for different types of play. Children have a play room with clear floor space for play and child sized furniture. This is a bright and comfortable room where children have safe access to an extensive range of age appropriate play equipment and resources. Children move safely and confidently from the play room to the sitting room and kitchen/dining room. The space is organised to ensure the childminder can give excellent levels of supervision to the children at all times whilst ensuring children develop appropriate levels of independence. The childminder uses a monitor to ensure safety for sleeping children. Children have direct access to the garden where they can play safely with ride-on toys and the sand.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A comprehensive system of risk assessments is in place to keep children safe in the home and on outings. The childminder carries out a risk assessment of each outing and regular risk assessments of her home. The effective systems for safety are clearly encouraging children to learn about keeping themselves safe and to risk assess for themselves. The childminder successfully provides children with a balance of safety and the ability to develop new skills. Children regularly practise the emergency evacuation procedures and the childminder keeps written records of each incident.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have safe access to an extensive range of toys and equipment. Games and resources for the older children are only accessible to them. The younger children have their play equipment and resources in the play room all stored at child height. There are very efficient systems for checking that toys are safe and clean and the childminder and childminding assistant closely monitor the children's choice of toys.

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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 Children are safeguarded because the childminder is familiar with the paperwork and procedures for recording and reporting child protection issues.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are exceptionally confident and unmistakably settled in the childminder's care. The childminder has a clear knowledge of how to plan appropriate activities and experiences and a sound understanding of how children learn. All play is child led and the range of activities unquestionably encourage children to explore and investigate. The childminder's enthusiasm is infectious and clearly inspires children's play and effectively supports them to become competent learners. Children have a sticking activity that is linked to their visit in the morning. They are making pictures of fish swimming in the seaweed. At the train set children are using imaginative skills to develop their play; they are excited and animated with extraordinary levels of concentration. The childminder sits with children supporting their play but ensures she allows them time and space to develop the game.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children’s development is consistently nurtured by the childminder who makes optimum use of all planned and naturally occurring situations to extend the children’s learning. The childminder makes highly effective use of all interaction with the children to extend their language and communication skills. The childminder talks with the children describing what they are doing and using a wide range of language to support and extend them. The childminder talks about shapes and colours; she talks with the children about what they saw on their outing in the morning and at the sticking collage activity she talks about the size and texture of the materials they are using. The children are confident and motivated, they make purposeful, independent choices about what they will play with and how they will develop their play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder effectively organises the day to ensure the children have time and space for different types of play and to take part in a comprehensive range of activities and experiences. The planning includes daily outdoor play and an exceptional and inspiring range of outings. Children go to the beach, to the park and to the Burrows and to local places of interest. They go out in all weathers with appropriate clothes and often have a picnic lunch. Children have an extensive range of activities that help them learn about the natural world. Children have grown sunflowers from seeds, they go for nature walks and explore for natural objects. The childminder takes a comprehensive range of information from the parents to ensure she knows each child well and is effective in meeting their individual needs. The childminder keeps a daily record for each child in an individual book.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children’s emotional well-being is carefully and consistently nurtured by the flexible, warm and trusting relationships they have with the childminder. Children are happy and at home with a clear sense of belonging which enables them to feel secure and valued as individuals. Children are taking part in a highly effective range of learning experiences that help them to gain an understanding of the wider and natural world. The childminder has a range of play equipment and resources that promote positive images and different cultures. The childminder is confident about caring for a child with learning difficulties and disabilities. She takes a comprehensive range of information from parents to ensure she is aware of children's individual needs.

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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 Children are busy and engaged and the childminder's extensive understanding of children's individual needs ensures she can identify when children are becoming upset or frustrated. To effectively support the children's positive behaviour the childminder sets realistic boundaries for the children that are suitable to their ages and abilities. The childminder is a very positive role model and uses effective behaviour management strategies that creatively support the children to develop skills for self control. The childminder is extremely consistent about the way in which she manages the children's behaviour and is meticulous about ensuring that behaviour management strategies meet children’s individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a very professional approach to her partnership with parents. She is working very effectively with parents to ensure children have all their individual needs met. The childminder shares all records and policies and procedures with parents and shares daily information of children's ongoing needs. The daily individual records are very successfully shared with parents and parents are actively encouraged to add their comments and information about the child.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children’s care is highly effectively supported by the exceptionally well organised service provided by the childminder. The highly effective organisation of the play space and daily routines provide children with flexible access to all activities and time and space to organise and develop their play. The children have optimum levels of comfort and safety which allow them to move around independently. They know where the toys and resources are and are able to make independent choices.

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Organisation

The childminder has comprehensive policies and procedures that have been written by her and are individual to her provision. The excellent levels of organisation ensure that all relevant information is shared with parents and that all records are in place. The childminder has daily informal discussions with parents to ensure she continues to meet individual needs.

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Organisation

The childminder is committed to improving her ability to offer an excellent provision and attends regular training courses to support her continuing professional development.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides care.

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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 records 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 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

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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