Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY356132 Unique Reference Number 12 June 2008 Inspection date Susan Janet Lee 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 was registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and three children aged six, seven and 13, in a semi-detached property in Tyldesley, Greater Manchester.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The lounge, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding purposes. There is a rear garden available for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently caring for three children. She is able to take children to and collect them from the local primary school and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children are cared for in well maintained premises. They stay healthy because the childminder actively exercises good hygiene practices to minimise the risk of cross-infection. The children develop an understanding of hygiene practices and personal care routines as they wash their

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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 hands after using the bathroom and before eating. They know they need to wash their hands to make sure they are clean. The sick child policy ensures effective measures are in place when children are ill.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children are well nourished and develop an awareness of healthy eating because the childminder provides a menu that is well balanced and wholesome to aid children's growth and development. Fresh drinking water is readily available and the children are able to independently quench their thirst. The children enjoy a snack at their leisure. There is an apple tree and a plum tree in the garden and the children help to pick the fruit and wash it before enjoying as a snack. They are also growing a variety of other fruits and vegetables in the garden.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder follows babies’ individual daily routines to provide a secure and familiar environment. The youngest children are able to move around freely and develop their large physical skills, such as sitting, crawling and walking. The children have lots of opportunities to enjoy and develop their physical skills. For example, they play in the garden, visit the park, feed the ducks and the swans and visit a soft play centre. All these activities contribute to the children's good health and physical development. Photographical documentation shows the children enjoying playing in the garden on a rocking horse and twirling hoops, and playing on the swings and slide in the park. The children have fun playing in the garden. They relax and look at books and play in the sand.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children are cared for in a welcoming and homely environment. Children's artwork and posters are on display to make the environment bright and stimulating. There is lots of space available allowing the children to move around freely and extend their play. There is a good selection of equipment and furniture available allowing the babies and older children to play, rest and eat in comfort. The childminder provides a wide range of resources to meet the needs of the children being cared for. She rotates toys to add variety to children's play experiences. The childminder sets up resources to look interesting and inviting before the children arrive. Other toys are stored at child height and this enables the children to freely select what they want to play with, helping them to develop choice and independence.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a record of visitors at the entrance of the home. The childminder has a good understanding of safety. She uses risk assessments and takes all reasonable steps to ensure that the environment in which the children are cared for is safe and secure. The childminder keeps children safe on outings as she takes a first aid box, a mobile telephone with children's contact details, spare drinks and clothes to cover any eventuality. The childminder supervises the children well enabling them to play safely and independently. She encourages children's understanding of keeping themselves safe through the use of boundaries, daily routines and explanation. The childminder has developed an emergency evacuation procedure. This is practised with the children on a regular basis and the childminder records her findings. As a result, the children develop an awareness of what to do in the event of an emergency such as

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All required documentation is in place and the childminder has a clear understanding of child protection matters and procedures. As a result, children are protected and their welfare is effectively safeguarded.

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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. The childminder has a god understanding of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and she provides a wide range of activities to help the children develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially. The children also benefit from lots of activities outside the home as the childminder utilises local amenities to help widen children's play experiences and give them opportunities to socialise with their peers. These activities include visits to the library, the park, parent toddler group and a childminder drop in session. Photographical documentation shows the children enjoying a variety of play situations in the home and on outings.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder observes the children as they play and uses this information to chart children's development and to plan next steps in their play and learning. She has developed children's records which include written observations, examples of the children's artwork and photographs to illustrate the children's development and enjoyment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder dedicates time with the children and sits at the same level as them as they play. She supports the children well in their play and exploration. The children are able to initiate their own play and pursue their interests. The childminder shares warm relationships with the children, who are happy and secure in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies find a voice and begin to listen and respond as the childminder listens when they babble and responds in gentle tones to help reinforce early speech patterns. The childminder interacts with older children at every opportunity to extend their language, challenge their thinking and to introduce new concepts. The children develop good language skills and use language well to explain what they are doing.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies have access to a good range of toys that are colourful, tactile and make noises; helping them to explore and investigate using their senses. Older children develop hand-eye coordination and their fine manipulative skills. They use the tissue paper to wrap up cardboard cylinders and use tape to secure the paper. They are able to express their own thoughts and ideas as they draw and colour pictures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy a quiet time with the childminder. They all sit on the sofa and the childminder reads the children a story. They listen carefully and look at the pictures. The childminder encourages the children to anticipate what will happen next as they turn the pages and the children join in with the storyline.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder gathers information from parents about their children's individual needs to enable her to be in a position to best meet these needs. She provides an inclusive environment and helps the children to make a positive contribution. The children gain an awareness of their community through trips out to local amenities. They have access to a good range of resources that reflect positive images of other cultures, gender and disability and this helps them to learn about the wider world. The children also celebrate their own festivals and those of others, helping them to value similarities and differences and develop respect for other people's cultures and traditions. The childminder demonstrates a positive attitude towards children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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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 The childminder acts as a positive role model to the children. She is calm, sensitive and patient, uses 'please' and 'thank you' and encourages the children to share. Consequently, the children receive a clear message of what is expected of them and they are polite and behave well. The childminder praises and encourages children's positive behaviour and their efforts and achievements. As a result, the children feel valued and develop confidence and self-esteem. The childminder encourages a gradual settling in period to help children feel secure. The children develop a good sense of belonging. They enter with ease, wave to their parents and go happily to play. They are able to make decisions as they choose what to play with and what they would like for their snack. The children show care and concern for other living things and they plant

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Helping children make a positive contribution

seeds and water them to help them grow. The children clearly enjoy their time with the childminder and they thrive on her interaction and attention.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder shares good working relationships with parents, who are greeted warmly on arrival. She has developed a portfolio that includes a full range written policies and procedures. This is shown and discussed with parents at the introduction meeting. Parents are given copies of the policies and procedures and they sign to confirm they have understood. This helps to forge good working relationships and a shared understanding from an early stage. Parents have provided written references for the childminder. These show that parents are happy with the service provided, levels of care and activities afforded. Parents feel that the childminder provides a flexible service to meet the needs of working parents, that she is sensitive to children's needs and that she provides a stimulating range of play experiences for the children in her care. The childminder maintains children's daily diaries to keep parents informed about their children's

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has developed a personal training and development plan. She has high regard for children's well-being as she attends training to further develop her childcare practices. The childminder has a valid first aid certificate, ensuring she has up-to-date knowledge of what to do in the event of an accident or minor injury. She keeps herself up-to-date with changes in legislation and is currently working with another childminder to plan the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Organisation

The record of children's attendance is up-to-date and shows that ratios are maintained to promote children's care, learning and play. Effective measures are in place in relation to emergency cover as the childminder works with another registered childminder. The childminder has informed parents of this and they have given written parental consent. The childminder organises space, time and resources to effectively meet children's needs.

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Organisation

The childminder has developed a range of written policies and procedures and these work in practice to positively promote children's health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. However, the complaints procedure does not include Ofsted's contact details. All required documentation is in place. The childminder maintains children's individual records to ensure confidentiality.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements 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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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): • ensure the complaints procedure includes Ofsted's contact details.

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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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