Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY367933 Unique Reference Number 07 August 2008 Inspection date Jan Healy 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 lives with her partner in the village of Stibb Cross, near Torrington. She holds a level 3 childcare qualification. She registered in 2008 to care for six children under eight years old; there are currently two children under eight on roll. She may care for two children overnight. The ground floor of the premises is used for minding. One upstairs bedroom is used for overnight care only. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder has the use of a car to transport children to and from the local school if necessary. The family has a pet cat.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder takes appropriate precautions to ensure the children in her care remain healthy and free from cross-infection. Suitable washing and drying routines take place before mealtimes and after playing in the garden, with the children discarding their paper towel after a single use. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and is confident to deal with an accident should one occur. The first aid box is replenished when necessary and all accidents are recorded and are shared with the parents. The home is maintained to a high standard of hygiene, with

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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 cleaning taking place in the absence of the children, so they receive the attention they deserve. Children who are sick are not permitted into the home, to protect the good health of the children in attendance. If a child becomes ill during their stay, they are swiftly reunited with their parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children have the benefit of eating a healthy and nutritious mid-morning and afternoon snack. They have the advantage of eating a home cooked lunch if this is required. However, the childminder is happy to store food provided by the parents adequately, to prevent items from spoiling. Age appropriate crockery and cutlery aid the children's independence, as they feed themselves. The younger children are able to join the older children at the dining room table, because highchairs are provided. This not only aids the children's social skills, but also helps to further their vocabulary, as they chat to each other about events that are important to them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children arrive to rooms which are set up for their benefit, as the childminder takes the time to organise each area according to the children's needs, for example, their age and their stage of development. Jigsaws, games and messy play are set out, ready for the children to participate. All rooms are maintained at a comfortable temperature, so children can play in comfort and contentment. A fully enclosed outdoor play area allows the children to further their strength and stamina, as they use the climbing apparatus with confidence.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Furniture, equipment and resources help to create an accessible environment, where the children are able to self-select the toys of their choice as they are stored within their reach. There is a booster step and seat located in the bathroom, enabling the children to make use of the facility without the aid of an adult. Travel cots and beds allow the children to sleep and rest comfortably and all equipment is checked for any hazards before children's use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder takes appropriate measures to ensure the children in her care remain safe and free from harm. A fire evacuation procedure is in place, which the children take part in, so they learn how to leave the premises swiftly in the event of impending danger. The smoke alarms are regularly tested and a fire blanket is easily accessible. A risk assessment of both indoors and outdoors takes place and sleeping babies are checked at regular intervals. Car seats and restraints are in place and the children are protected from adults who are not vetted. The parents are kept up-to-date about the procedure that will take place in the event of a child becoming lost or a child being uncollected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder shares a written policy with the parents, with regard to her responsibility to protect the children's welfare. She has a good understanding of the procedure to follow in the event of witnessing a concern and about the possible signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect. Contact details for the relevant authorities to contact in the event of noticing a concern are stored within easy reach, to prevent any delay in the children receiving the support they require.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children have the opportunity to take part in a broad range of activities, which are interesting and provide challenge. A selection of pop-up, picture and story books enhance the children's love of literature and help their understanding about the meaning of print. There are materials

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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 which aid the children's creative thinking, such as paints, pencils and junk modelling, enabling the children to express their artistic freedom. The children are learning to use scissors with confidence and enjoy mathematical games. Baking activities help the children to further their mathematical understanding, as they weigh and measure the ingredients. Basic understanding of symmetry is gained with the use of printing, for example, butterfly pictures. The children take part in physical play, such as riding wheeled toys when they learn to avoid bumping into each other.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder treats the children with respect and with equal concern, whatever their age, level of understanding or background. They are encouraged to celebrate one another's birthdays, and to respect their own and other cultures. There are a range of resources, including books, jigsaws and dressing up clothes, that reflect positive images of diversity. The children are taught to respect similarities and differences through a range of games and stories. Both girls and boys have equal access to all the resources available and the childminder is careful not to use stereotypical language.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a reasonable understanding about learning difficulties and disabilities, but she needs to update and clarify her knowledge in this area. She aids the children in selecting the activities of their choice, by taking photographs of the play available, to enable them to make a choice about the play they wish to participate in.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children behave well, as they are happy to be in the care of the childminder. They enjoy her company and feel valued and secure. They participate in activities that interest them and no child is excluded from an activity, as each play opportunity is adapted if necessary. Children displaying undesirable behaviour are distracted and are redirected to more suitable play and the parents are kept up-to-date about any incidents that occur. The noise level remains low, so all the children are clearly heard and their concentration span is not disturbed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder and the parents work in partnership for the benefit of the children. A welcome pack contains relevant information about the provision and the childminder meets the parents and the children before attendance begins. This not only aids the transition from home, but also allows the childminder to obtain a good understanding about the children's individual needs, so she is able to plan for their care. Written contracts are shared and are updated when changes occur. A notice board contains information about the childminder's records of achievements and the conditions of registration are clearly visible, for the parents to view. A clear procedure to follow for the event of a parents wishing to raise a concern is readily available, to prevent a delay in a problem from being resolved.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She holds a qualification in childcare and is knowledgeable about child development and about how young children learn. She keeps herself up-to-date about the changing of legislation and about current thinking, as she attends a range of training courses. An attendance register contains details of the children's times of arrival and departure, so they are accounted for in an emergency. The adult: child ratio is maintained at all times, so the children receive the adult attention they deserve. The children are appropriately supervised at all times and their records are stored

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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 confidentially to protect their personal details. All documentation is readily available for inspection, so historical checks can be made, and the childminder is aware of the times to contact Ofsted, for example, in the event of a change of circumstances.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Not applicable: this is the first inspection since registration.

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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): • increase knowledge and understanding about learning difficulties and disabilities

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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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