Setting

her car to collect and take children to schools if required. She attends toddler and activity groups with minded children. The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time. There are currently four children on role of whom two are under eight years, both attending part-time. The childminder has experience of supporting children with special educational needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm, clean home where they are happy and settled in the welcoming setting. Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their own needs, because the childminder acts as a good role model and offers clear explanations. This is supported by maintaining individual personal hygiene items encouraging children to independently take responsibility for personal hygiene throughout the day. Children enjoy a wide range of activities which contribute to their good health. Each day there are indoor and outdoor large physical activities to help them develop control of their bodies, for example as they develop large physical movement with slides and balls, or explore natural materials such as sand, water and leaves. Children's health is promoted and they are protected in the event of illness or accident due to thorough procedures adopted and put in place by the childminder.

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Helping children to be healthy

For example, they include procedures to follow, policies agreed, information obtained and supplied to parents from outside agencies such as 'Fire services', emergency routines and updated training for the childminder. Children are very well nourished and offered healthy snacks and meals promoting their growth and development. Parents receive detailed information about the vegetarian menu plans supported by weekly deliveries of organic boxed vegetables. Children are encouraged to try new tastes and experiences broadening their range of foods and drinks ensuring that they receive a suitable and quality diet.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are learning to keep themselves safe due to clear explanations and safe routines during play and when on outings. However, the potential risks from external factors or surroundings that may be faced when on outings could present a risk to children due to not yet having a clear plan for such occasions. Children benefit from premises that offer access to play activities and space enabling them to explore freely and learn to avoid accidental injury. Children understand the importance of returning items to storage to prevent accidents and take responsibility

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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 for play equipment. They eagerly participate in tidying away and sort toys according to type. Children's safety is well promoted because the childminder takes steps to prevent accidents and to plan for emergencies, for example through written plans shared with parents and detailed plans prepared for emergency evacuation from the home. However, children have not yet practised the emergency evacuation procedure due to care beginning only recently which could compromise their safety in the event of fire or emergency. Children's welfare is protected because the childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities and procedures to follow in the event of concern or child protection. They are protected from risk of cross-infection and learning to keep themselves safe due to clear explanations by the childminder during everyday play

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and routines. Health and safety arrangements that include agreed policies as well as information leaflets obtained from appropriate professional bodies support and protect children's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children become engrossed in a wide range of purposeful and developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor activities which provide high levels of challenge appropriate to their age and stage of development. Children develop and sustain interest in activities, even at a very young age, including the childminder in their play where she uses open-ended questions to develop and deepen their understanding. Children become independent as they freely choose from high quality play materials where sufficient supply ensures that they may develop their play alongside others before reaching the level of co-operative play. Children have opportunities to take part in imaginative activities as the childminder carries out thorough planning for activities to foster development across all areas, and shares those plans with parents and carers. Children benefit from the 'Birth to three matters' framework because the childminder has a thorough understanding of

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

both this and its links to the Foundation Stage. It has been fully implemented and used to support children's learning through a holistic approach with consistent attention to ongoing development. Children benefit from detailed evaluation of all activities to assess the value and suitability of ongoing development. Children relate well to each other and socialise with other children through regular attendance at local toddler groups. Their personal development and self-esteem are very well promoted through sensitive support and interaction from the childminder. Children are supported, from an early age, to find methods of expressing their wishes and feelings, for example through the 'sing and sign' system introduced with babies to support the spoken word. Children are demonstrating the beginnings of communication and early attempts to gesture indicating that they are developing the ability to express themselves.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Their needs are very well met as they follow their normal daily routines as discussed with their parents, thorough and detailed written feedback is offered in a personal diary to ensure consistent care. Children feel a strong sense of belonging and that is supported by the use of questionnaires with parents, this ensures ongoing links with home and working in partnership with parents and carers. Children have good opportunities to understand responsible behaviour and recognise the needs of others due to consistent boundaries being maintained by the childminder. They discuss appropriate behaviours with the childminder and recognise when their behaviour or actions have an effect on others around them. This is demonstrated and supported by the use of written house rules for which children are encouraged to take control and ownership.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are developing an awareness of other cultures, equality and a broad view of the world through play. Children benefit from resources and activities using various mediums to promote multi-cultural awareness and diversity as shown within detailed planning and topic works. However, further resources that promote children's understanding of diversity and the world around them would improve the overall play provision.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children are secure within the surroundings where they develop a firm sense of trust in the childminder. They feel at ease in this exceptionally well-organised environment leading them to confidently initiate play, explore their surroundings and respond to conversations led by both the childminder and visitors. Play opportunities are enhanced by the creative organisation within the home which allows freedom to access all play activities both indoors and outside. Children have independent access to personal care facilities and develop good awareness of their personal space and care through example and routines. These include personal hygiene, care for surroundings, and responsibility for play materials and personal belongings. This clear organisation enables the children to feel confident in initiating their own play and learning. Children's care, safety and welfare is promoted through the childminder's

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Organisation

commendable practical, daily implementation of detailed policies and procedures across all areas of care. For example, through the use of reviews of policies, written information provided to parents regarding regulations, and seeking and providing parents with updated information such as the fitting of children's car safety seats. Information held ensures that the childminder is able to act appropriately at all times. The childminder has a clear knowledge and understanding of the Children Act and associated regulations ensuring that she addresses her responsibilities and

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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 demonstrating to parents that she meets the National Standards through a detailed file and discussion. Children's progress is clearly tracked through ongoing assessment and parents are kept fully involved in this. The childminder ensures that she uses such information to assist in the future planning to continue to meet the needs of all children. The addition of regular questionnaires with parents is of particular value to ensure that continuous information sharing aids the planning to ensure optimum and advanced development rates. The provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Not applicable as this is the first inspection.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints since registration.

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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): • develop procedures to include assessments for outings taking into account risks and emergency plans to protect children's safety • develop the emergency evacuation procedure to include regular practice improving safety for children • extend provision to develop children's understanding of diversity through access to appropriate play resources.

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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:

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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 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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