Childminder in Surrey

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY305952 Inspection date 19 April 2006 Inspector Hilary Knight

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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 2005. She lives with her husband and 2 children, aged 7 and 5 in a house in Guildford, Surrey. The whole of the downstairs is used for minding and upstairs is used for sleeping children. There is a garden available for outside play with local parks and shops nearby. The family have a cat as a pet. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She is registered to care for not more than 4 children under 8 years of age at any one time. She is currently minding 3 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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children have a good understanding of how to keep themselves healthy through regular routines and brief explanations by the childminder as to the importance of hygiene procedures. For example, children consistently wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating and the childminder gives a simple explanation to babies as to the importance of washing their hands. Children walk to and from school with the childminder, which ensures that they have daily exercise and if the weather permits, they visit the local park on the way home. Nutritious food and discussion promotes children's understanding of a balanced diet. The childminder provides home cooked evening meals and children enjoy a choice from a wide range of healthy options. These options include roast dinners with a variety of vegetables, stews or pasta dishes, such as spaghetti bolognese. For snack time, children eat three different types of fruit to ensure variety and to cater for their

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Helping children to be healthy

individual preferences. Children also have access to drinks as they sit together at the table enjoying each other's company and eat and drink at their own pace. Children's health is further promoted through regular quiet time for relaxation as they rest according to their own needs. Younger children enjoy a story before bedtime in the travel cot upstairs and older children spend time undertaking arts and crafts with the childminder whilst they sleep.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are content and settled in the setting. Children have adequate opportunities to choose from a varied range of toys and equipment as the childminder selects resources out of a toy cupboard for the children to play with. Children also go to the resource cupboard with the childminder to select other games, such as puzzles and arts and crafts. Children play safely as toys are regularly checked for damage and are discarded if broken. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and has a satisfactory understanding of the procedures to follow if she has concerns about a child in her care. Children practise an emergency evacuation plan with the childminder, which is supported by a fire safety policy; however, there is only a smoke alarm on the ground floor. On outings, the childminder safeguards children's welfare by teaching them about the dangers of talking to strangers. She also ensures that children cross the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

road at traffic lights with her and do not cross until all the cars stop and she reports that it is safe to cross, even if the green man is showing.

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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 The provision is good. Children are motivated and interested in a broad range of purposeful and developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor activities, which provide good levels of challenge appropriate to their age and stage of development. For example, children enjoy using a wide selection of arts and crafts materials to make pictures with. The childminder is careful to balance assisting children with sticking and cutting materials to the card so that they will not get frustrated and letting children have a go for themselves. Children engage well with the childminder who passes resources to them if they cannot reach and promotes social skills at the same time as they converse about the picture. Children experience a varied range of activities, which contribute to their

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

development outside of the home. They benefit from regular outings to the park and local farms, which promote their learning and stimulates their interest in the wider world. Regular visits to toddler groups also develop the children's ability to relate to a wider group of adults and peers. Children play and learn together with the childminder using resources such as small world toys, transport and outdoor equipment. They spend their time purposefully and their learning is extended effectively through childminder interaction. For example, the childminder extends children's knowledge by talking about the colours of the traffic lights when playing with small world transport and she explains to children what the colours mean to the cars.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children develop caring and co-operative relationships and are given clear guidelines regarding expected behaviour, because of this children behave well. For example, siblings are reminded not to get cross if their younger baby sister takes their trains absentmindedly. The childminder explains to children that they must not get cross and they should ask for the train back and replace it with another toy. All children are treated with equal concern and the childminder ensures that time is allocated to older children when younger children are asleep. The childminder has a collection of books and resources to support positive images and awareness of other cultures. This ensures that children are beginning to learn to develop a positive attitude towards others. A good partnership between the childminder and parents ensures that children receive continuity of care as the childminder works closely to follow home routines.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

She also fills out a daily diary sheet to inform parents of their child's day as well as giving verbal feedback at the end of the day. This ensures that any concerns could be raised quickly with parents as the childminder also demonstrates a sound understanding of issues surrounding caring for children with special needs. The childminder shows parents a copy of her policies, which details her responsibilities and business arrangements at the initial interview and keeps these in a folder in case a parent wishes to view them again at a later stage.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children feel at home and at ease in the environment as there are good opportunities to extend learning and initiate play. Children have regular resting and active periods during the day. The childminder has sufficient knowledge to protect children, promote their well-being and support them to develop their potential. The childminder maintains a suitable system for recording and storing documentation confidentially. Information is shared in writing and verbally at the end of the day to parents to keep them informed about their child's day. All regulatory paperwork is in place to protect children's welfare; however, the attendance register does not accurately reflect individual children's arrival and departure times. 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 have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration. 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 that individual children's arrival and departure times are recorded separately • ensure that there is a smoke alarm at every level of the house

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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 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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