Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY365825 Unique Reference Number 28 May 2008 Inspection date Michelle Tuck 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 has been registered since 2007. She lives with her husband and three children aged three, 10 and 13 years, in the town of Gillingham in North Dorset. Minded children have access to all areas within the home, which include the conservatory which is set out as a playroom. The family have a pet dog. The childminder is registered to care for up to five children. There are currently six children on roll. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children's health is given top priority. They are protected from the risk of cross infection due to the extremely effective practices followed by the childminder. She actively encourages children to wash their hands well, and provides appropriate resources such as paper towels and liquid soap. The childminder shares with parents her policy regarding the exclusion of children with infectious illnesses, which helps to prevent children from passing on infection. Children's

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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 health is protected in the event of a minor accident as the childminder ensures she has a current first aid certificate. She also maintains a well stocked first aid kit.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy physical exercise, and frequently engage in a wide range of fun and challenging activities to keep them fit and healthy. They have regular opportunities to go on local walks, play at the park and use a range of play equipment in the garden.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are developing an excellent understanding of healthy eating. They are offered an appetising selection of nutritious snacks, which includes lots of fresh fruit. They have regular drinks which helps to ensure children are well hydrated, and their dietary requirements are recorded and any individual needs are always met by the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from being cared for in a well-maintained home, with child-friendly play spaces available to them, both indoors and out. Premises are secure because doors and garden gates are kept locked. Exceptional care has been taken with ensuring that children have access to a superb range of play resources and equipment; for example, toys are safe, clean and extremely appropriate for the ages of children being cared for. Extremely careful thought has been given to ensuring young children are safe, for example, additional safety measures have been taken to protect young children playing on the floor. For example, resources that contain small items which are a choking hazard are stored out of reach. Risk assessments are exceptionally comprehensive and steps have been taken to minimise any hazards identified. Meticulous attention is given to ensuring that children are safe and supervised at all times. When children

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

are sleeping they are regularly monitored and checked. Children's safety is supported by the excellent attention given to ensuring that necessary documentation and written parental permissions are in place, for example, to travel by car or apply sun cream. There are clear, written procedures for emergency evacuation of the premises. The procedures are practised regularly and a written record of this is maintained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are very well protected from possible harm or neglect because the childminder is knowledgeable about child protection. She has written policies and guidance in place to ensure that children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are happy and content and form excellent relationships. They are confident in the familiar routines, which take account of their individual needs. They thrive in the welcoming and stimulating environment. Children receive lots of good quality interaction and physical contact from the childminder, which helps them to feel settled and secure. Children develop a strong sense of belonging. They enjoy looking at the photographs the childminder has taken of them, and the art work they have created which is displayed in the play room.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are making rapid progress in their learning and development. This is due to the childminder's excellent understanding of the children's individual needs and of child development in general. Children are eager to take part in the wide range of exciting and fun activities that the childminder plans for them. She observes what they can do and uses this information to plan future activities. For example, children plant sun flower seeds in the garden, then they record on a chart the rate of growth to see who's is the tallest.

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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 Children are developing high levels of independence and explore activities for themselves. They are confident to give new challenges a go as the childminder offers appropriate levels of support to each of them. The childminder spends all her time talking and listening to the children and is very sensitive and caring towards the children's needs. For example, when a child gets upset she picks them up and rubs their back to comfort them. She encourages learning through all activities, such as identifying the different animals in the farm, or the colours of the crayons when drawing pictures. Children's learning is very well supported by an extremely wide range of excellent quality resources, which have been thoughtfully selected. Resources are well labelled with photographs on boxes for easy identification.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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 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 make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children's individual needs and characters are clearly understood and respected by the childminder. Children are welcomed. They benefit from the provision of a very meaningful range of activities and resources to promote a positive view of the wider world, for example, the childminder has sourced 'small world' play people representing a range of disabilities; she has provided very appropriate books and play resources to represent the multi-cultural society. The childminder has some experience of caring for children with learning disabilities and difficulties in her role in a day care setting. She has good knowledge and understanding of how she would use this experience to support children in her childminding role.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Excellent attention is given to ensuring that behaviour management techniques encourage children to be sensitive to the needs of others. The childminder provides an excellent, caring role model to children and uses her effective skills to encourage children to share and take turns. Children are gently placed to rest and read a story to lull them to sleep. They are regularly monitored and checked whilst sleeping.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers is excellent and contributes very effectively to the children's care and well-being, for example, the childminder respects parents' wishes about sleeping arrangements for children, to ensure they sleep well at night time as well as during the day. Excellent systems are in place to share the extensive information the childminder has prepared to give information about the service offered. Extensive, daily written feedback is given to parents on their children's care and achievements. Older children write their own diary about what they have done and this is enhanced with lovely photographs of the child partaking in the activities, to share with their parents.

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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 outstanding. The children are settled and confident to explore within the very well organised environment. There is plenty of clear floor space for them to play freely. Resources are positioned and labelled extremely well to ensure children can access them easily by themselves or with minimal adult support.

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Organisation

Children benefit from the childminder's commitment to ongoing training. She actively seeks courses and workshops to update and learn new skills. This enables her to continually improve the care she offers to minded children.

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Organisation

Positive outcomes for the children are assured through detailed written policies and procedures that support and reflect the childminder's excellent working practice. These are shared with the parents to ensure that they are kept fully informed about the provision. The childminder keeps all necessary records accurately and securely and uses these to fully support the children's care. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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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

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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