Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY355480 Unique Reference Number 16 April 2008 Inspection date Andrea Caroline Snowden 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?

This childminder registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and one adult son in a house near Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. The ground floor of the house is used for childminding whilst the first floor is excluded at the childminder's request. There is a secure area in the garden for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children under the age of eight years at any one time and there are currently six on roll attending on a part-time basis. She also cares for children over the age of eight. Although the childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, there are no children on roll at the moment who have specific needs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

A cat is kept by the childminder although children rarely have access. The childminder takes children for walks to the park and local places of interest. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

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 to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is effectively promoted. The childminder seeks information about allergies, dietary needs and health issues before care commences. She ensures she has clear instructions on how to administer any medication and records this appropriately so that parents remain informed. She is able to respond to accidents because she has the necessary knowledge and equipment to do so. Additionally, she has obtained consent to seek emergency medical treatment or advice ensuring that children's welfare can be maintained if parents can not be contacted. The recording of accidents meets the required standard. The spread of infection between children is reduced because the care of sick children is minimised to those with day-to-day ailments rather than those with contagious childhood illnesses. The childminder encourages effective daily routines to ensure children's health is maintained and so that they begin to take

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Helping children to be healthy

responsibility for their continued good health. For example, children remove their outdoor shoes when they come in, wash hands at appropriate times and use separate hand towels in the bathroom. When children question 'why do we have to wash our hands so often?', she responds helping them to understand about germs which collect on their hands.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children eat healthily whilst in the care of the childminder. Some eat food which has been provided by their parents, whilst others have food from the childminder. She provides healthy options and ensures children are always offered fresh fruit at snack time. Children drink regularly to ensure their thirst needs are met. Children enjoy cookery activities, for example making batter for pancakes and they learn about the hygienic preparation of food. Children will soon have the opportunity to grow their own vegetables in the garden, helping them to understand where food comes from. The childminder encourages children to try new tastes and by growing, harvesting and preparing their own foods, they are keen to try.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have frequent opportunities for outdoor play, helping them to develop positive attitudes towards fresh air and exercise. They play in the childminder's garden, enjoy country walks or playing football at the park. Children can use the apparatus at the park to refine skills. They are able to rest as they need to and recognise when their bodies feel tired. The childminder has provided cushions and quilts so that children can be cosy and warm when resting.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are settled in the safe environment. The childminder provides a homely, warm setting where children are happy and have access to a range of resources which meets their needs. They are able to act independently and the layout of the home and garden ensures children can be well supervised and cared for. Children have access to quite a broad range of play equipment which meets their developing needs. The equipment is clean and well maintained by the childminder who rotates toys to ensure children experience variety and to ensure the play space does not become cluttered, impacting on safety. Children are encouraged to rummage in the large store boxes for play equipment of their choice, ensuring that their preferences are respected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A good awareness of safety issues by the childminder means that children can explore their indoor and outdoor environment without fear of hurting themselves. The appropriate safety equipment is in place and the childminder continuously checks the children's environment to

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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 ensure they are safe. Children are well supervised when using the local park and the childminder helps them to begin to learn about their personal safety. She talks to them about the dangers of traffic and also about not speaking with strangers. The childminder and children have spoken about how to evacuate the house in an emergency. She is able to keep children safe on outings as she carries emergency contact details with her, along with first aid equipment. However, written consent has not been obtained from parents for children to go on routine outings, to travel in the childminder's car or use public transport. As a result children may not be being cared for according to parents' wishes if they do no realise that children are regularly taken off the premises.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected by the childminder who has a good awareness of child protection issues. Parents are informed of the childminder's duty to refer concerns through the clear safeguarding children policy. She recognises potential signs of abuse and is able to act on her concerns, placing the welfare of the child as top priority. The childminder has further considered children's safety and welfare, by devising procedures to follow should a child become lost or is not collected at the end of the day.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children arrive at the childminder's home and enter with confidence. They take a few moments to rest after their time at school. The childminder respects children's choices and recognises their need to be quiet for a little while, and then begins to encourage children to play. She gently asks 'what would you like to do' and encourages them with a selection of suggestions to whet their appetite. The interaction from the childminder is lovely. She is calm and gentle with children and shows them kindness and patience. She offers children a lap to sit on or cuddles when they are tired or upset and as a result a warm rapport has developed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder asks children questions to promote their problem-solving skills and to foster their intellectual development. Puzzles provide a great source of enjoyment for children and they have four or five from a boxed set on the table. They select pieces together for individual puzzles and children use their recognition of colour to assist them. The childminder tests children's learning by asking questions such as 'can you remember…' encouraging children to draw on their skills and knowledge to complete the activity. Children are encouraged to learn how numbers are formed and when they look at the television channel the childminder explains that the number seven and one together is 71.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are involved in planning activities for the forthcoming week. The childminder ensures they are asked what they would like to do and that their choices are valued and acted upon. Additionally if parents like to suggest activities the childminder is happy to try to accommodate these if possible.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued as individuals by the childminder and she seeks detailed information from parents to help her meet their needs effectively. She is beginning to know the children and their families well and ensures she provides care which is appropriate to their needs and welfare. Children benefit from individual attention which helps the childminder learn more about their specific needs. Although children have some opportunities to discuss similarities and differences there are too few resources to ensure children's awareness of diversity, including disability, is

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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 raised through their normal play routines. The childminder has not cared for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, but she demonstrates a positive attitude towards this work. She explains how she would consider the needs of all the children in her care and through working with parents and liaising with other professional agencies, with parental permission, she would be more equipped to meet children's individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder adopts a positive approach when dealing with any unacceptable behaviour from children. She respects the children and acts as a positive role model in order for children to understand her expectations. She ensures that any methods used to tackle behavioural issues are appropriate to the age and level of understanding of individual children to help them to begin to learn right from wrong. For example, very young children are reminded to be 'nice', whilst older pre-school children receive explanations about why certain behaviour is unwanted. Children's self-esteem is appropriately fostered as the childminder praises them for their achievements and encourages other children to praise them also.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children benefit from the effective working partnership which has developed between the childminder and their parents. She adopts a flexible approach in order to meet parents childcare needs and offers appropriate support when needed. Parents are provided with comprehensive written information so that they are well informed about how the setting works for them and their child. The policies and procedures are clear and presented in a professional manner. The childminder has a complaints procedure which she discusses with parents and the system is effective to address any concerns or complaints raised. Parents remain informed about what their children have been doing, because the childminder ensures she updates daily when they collect.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is suitably qualified and vetted and ensures that all household members have also been appropriately vetted in order to be with young children. She further ensures children's safety by not leaving them with other people. The childminder has begun to review her practice through self-evaluation and will continue to use this in order to ensure her practice contributes positively to children's good health, safety and welfare.

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Organisation

Space in the home is used effectively to provide facilities for children. They can access the toilet independently, use the table for meals and activities or enjoy floor play in the lounge. The lounge doors pull across so that sleeping children can rest quietly. Almost all of the required record-keeping is in place and maintained to a high standard. It is organised professionally ensuring that children are generally cared for according to parents' wishes.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it 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. 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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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 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): • ensure written consent is obtained from parents in order to transport children in the car, or by public transport and for routine outings • continue to develop resources and activities which raise children's awareness of diversity.

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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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