Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY348502 Unique Reference Number 06 May 2008 Inspection date Kerry Iden 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 one child aged nearly two years. They live in a house in a residential area of Rustington, West Sussex. Local facilities such as shops, parks, pre-school groups and schools are nearby. The ground floor of the house is used for childminding, including sleeping facilities. There is a garden for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered for a maximum of five children aged under eight years. She is currently minding one child, who attends on a part-time basis. The childminder regularly attends local parent and toddler groups.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. There are good levels of hygiene throughout the home and good hygiene practices used throughout the day, for example the use of disposable gloves during nappy changing and all areas washed down with an antibacterial spray after use. Children are encouraged in their personal hygiene as they receive little reminders about washing hands before eating, the

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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 childminder encourages them to make lots of bubbles with the soap making it fun. Children are protected by the childminder's policy about keeping sick children at home reducing the risk of cross infection. The childminder has a clear understanding of recording accidents that happen to the children in her care and parents are kept informed of these and asked to sign the entries made in the accident recording.

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Helping children to be healthy

Lunch time meals are taken at the kitchen table, the children sit safely in the booster seats which are attached to the chairs. The childminder presents the food on a plate that is out of their lunch box that their parent has supplied. She encourages the children to eat their sandwiches before offering them other items. Independence is promoted as the children enjoy feeding themselves their lunch including the yoghurt. The childminder sits with the children while they eat their lunch, they chat quietly whilst enjoying their meal and the childminder promotes good table manners reminding the children of their pleases and thank you's.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children's physical development is promoted every day though a range of activities including many groups they attend in the mornings enabling them to run, skip, jump, play with balls, hoops as well as some opportunities for bikes and sit and ride toys. Children develop their fine motor skills as they participate in activities such as play dough, painting and puzzles in the afternoons.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in an environment which is relaxed, uncluttered and spacious, they have access to different areas of the home for different activities. The play room accommodates most of the general playing while the dining table in the kitchen lends itself to craft activities, children can also use the lounge for relaxation time and some television. Access to the garden is through the lounge and conservatory giving children opportunities for outside play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children can freely access good quality play equipment within the playroom themselves as they are stored well, in pull out draw units, book shelves and storage containers around the room. All items of play equipment are well maintained and are of interest to the children. The childminder rotates the play equipment to keep the children's interest.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is promoted throughout the house and the childminder uses spontaneous opportunities to encourage them to keep themselves safe, for example, as she explained to the children that too many toys out on the floor could mean someone can trip over them. Many safety aids are in place to help the childminder maintain the safety of the children within the home such as the stair gate at the bottom of the stairs and the magnetic catches on all the cupboards in the kitchen. In the garden there is a barrel water feature and the garden gate has a low handle, however children are prevented access to both as the childminder supervises the children at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is protected by the childminder's clear understanding and knowledge of child protection and signs and symptoms to look out for that may cause her concern about a child's safety.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very busy throughout the course of the week, every morning they are out of the setting attending various groups or activity led sessions. Here the children can socialise with other children and develop their physical skills well. Additional time away from the setting includes the childminder taking the children to the beach, feeding the ducks or playing at the local park.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have the choice about the toys they play with and the childminder allows the time within the home to be child led. When the children find a real interest for certain things the childminder encourages this, for example, recently the two children have developed a love for books and story telling. Therefore the childminder offers the children a large selection of books and incorporates a trip to the library.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children receive quality stimulation from the childminder as she uses incidental opportunities to develop the children's understanding of number and colour. On one occasion the children wanted to get the tea set out, the childminder used the opportunity to encourage the young children in colour matching the cups to the saucers. On another occasion she used numbers as the children stacked beakers high before knocking them over.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder promotes equality of opportunity and takes into account children’s individual needs. She is aware that some children may have special needs and endeavours to work closely with parents to know all individual information to offer the child and their family the best care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from a calm consistent approach to managing their behaviour, they are well occupied and interested in what is available to them, therefore the children behave well within the setting. They play well alongside each other as they share equipment and the childminder's time. They interact well as they start chasing each other up and down the hallway as they both giggle with excitement. Children are encouraged to remember their manners at different times through the day, for example, at lunch time as the childminder put different food items on the children's plates.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are fully settled within the home because there are well established relationships with parents. The childminder has a thorough portfolio available which explains the childcare service. The childminder is respectful of the parents wishes, for example, following their requests around day time sleeps. Parents are kept very well informed about their child's progress within the setting as the childminder writes a daily diary of events. All contracts are fully available and these show sound arrangements for the collection of minded children and written permission for all areas of care. Parents are well informed about the procedures for making complaints and the childminder is knowledgeable about how to record these.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for in a well organised home environment which has been carefully set up for childminding. Space is used efficiently so that children can move around the home safely

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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 and with confidence. While there are minor issues in the garden the vigilance of the childminder keeps the children safe.

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Organisation

A full portfolio of policies and procedures written by the childminder is available and the childminder encourages the parents to read these. The childminder shows through her contact with Ofsted, that she is aware of her responsibility to inform of any changes to the registration. All required documentation is in place, well maintained and up to date.

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Organisation

The childminder has a good understanding of the requirements of her registration and the inspection process, this ensures the children are kept safe and that overall she 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 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): • review safety arrangements in the garden with regard to the water barrel and side gate.

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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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