Childminder in Hampshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY291468 Inspection date 24 October 2005 Inspector Carol Patricia Willett

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 has been registered since 2004. She lives with her two children who are of pre-school and primary school age. They live in house in Church Crookham near Fleet. All areas of the property are being used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. Local parks, shops and schools are within walking distance. The childminder is registered to care for four children under 8 years. She currently cares for two children on a part time basis.

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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 The family has a large dog. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children play and learn in a comfortable, child friendly home where effective hygiene routines and procedures ensure the areas where they play and sleep are clean and safe. Children develop a very good understanding of personal hygiene as they are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times such as after walking the dog and before eating. They confidently explain why they must wash their hands and use separate towels because of germs. Good hygiene procedures around the dog ensure the risk of infection to the children are minimised. Children enjoy a wide range of activities to develop their physical skills and promote good health. These include garden play, visits to the park, long walks with the dog in the local wooded area and trips to the swimming pool. Children develop good manipulative skills whilst playing with dough, jigsaws and construction toys, painting,

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Helping children to be healthy

drawing and craft activities. Children eat a varied selection of healthy meals and snacks choosing milk, apples and biscuits for their midmorning snack. They have regular access to drinks throughout the day and take their own water bottles when walking the dog. The childminder has a good understanding of how to keep children safe and healthy and prevent accidents. She has good procedures in place if children are unwell. She has not yet completed an approved first aid course to ensure appropriate procedures are followed should there be an accident.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play freely in a comfortable, child friendly house which is clean and safe, developing their confidence and independence. They select from the wide range of good quality play materials which are kept in boxes within easy reach around the living room and in the bedrooms which children freely access. The children explore and develop safely as the childminder has organised the environment well and there is ample space to meet their needs. They enjoy making the train track go through the hall and round all the rooms. Children play safely as the childminder has a sound knowledge of hazards and checks the home and garden to ensure children's safety, taking good measures to minimise risks; for example, sockets are covered and stair gates are in place. However fire safety recommendations are not fully followed as the fire blanket is not sited according to instructions. The dog is well controlled and is

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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 Children are carefully supervised throughout the day as they enjoy the freedom to play throughout the house. The childminder is very attentive and listens closely as the children play. Children develop knowledge of their own safety as the childminder talks about house rules including not running in the house or jumping on the furniture. The childminder has all the required documentation in place to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded. She has a sound knowledge of child protection procedures and is completing an NSPCC distance learning course to further increase her knowledge. She records accident and incident details appropriately and she has appropriate insurance cover in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy, confident and secure as a result of the childminders warm, caring, attentive manner. The children play well together as the childminder informally plans an interesting range of activities which develop their interests, skills and knowledge using her skill to ensure all ages are involved. Children enjoy interesting art and craft activities as they make outfits for Halloween. They show high levels of interest and concentration as the childminder sits on the floor with them, joining in with their play with the train track, using good interactive skills to extend their play, language and thinking. Children have the freedom to explore and really enjoy their play as they independently access a range of toys and activities as they move between the living room and the bedrooms. They dress up for the disco and as firemen, play mummies and daddies and spontaneously start singing Bob the Builder

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and Peter Rabbit. Children benefit from regular outings to the local toddler group, park, library and daily walks to the woods with the dog which promotes their learning, develops social skills and stimulates their interest in the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are confident, secure and develop a sense of belonging as the childminder has a good understanding of the children's needs and personalities. Children receive good care and attention as parents share relevant information at initial visits and on a daily basis. The good exchange of daily information ensures children's needs and parents' wishes are known and met. The childminder encourages all children to join in and play together and share resources. Children learn about each other and the world around them as they play with a suitable range of toys and learn about their own and other cultures. They make masks and hats and sculpt a pumpkin for Halloween for example. There are few resources to develop children's awareness and understanding of disability. The children are polite and behave very well as the childminder has very good behaviour management skills. The children respond well to her firm, consistent

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Helping children make a positive contribution

approach with unwanted behaviour. She acts as a good role-model using positive

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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 language and please and thank-you when talking to the children. Children respond well as the childminder praises them, encourages sharing and good manners and respect for each other.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are comfortable, happy and secure as the childminder is friendly, caring and attentive. She organises the environment, resources and documentation well to enable their needs to be effectively met. Children are able to play safely and select resources freely to develop their confidence and independence skills. They receive very good support from the childminder. The childminder is keen to increase her knowledge and skills by completing a correspondence child protection course and is waiting to start a course in first aid. The childminder maintains a good range of documentation to ensure she has sufficient information about the children. She develops very good relationships with parents and keeps a folder with her registration certificate, information about her family, policies and practices which she shares with them. They share information daily to make sure the children's needs are well known. This ensures she is able to

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Organisation

effectively promote the welfare, care and learning of the children. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report. 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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WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT?

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • increase the range of resources to further develop children's awareness of diversity including disabilities • fit the fire blanket according to the instructions to make sure children are fully protected in an emergency • complete an approved first aid course to ensure children are protected in the event of an accident

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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