Childminder, Out-of school day care in East Sussex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY251241 Inspection date 29 September 2005 Inspector Susan McCourt

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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 registered, in January 2003, to provide care for 4 children under 8 years, of whom not more than 3 may be under 5 years. Of these, not more than 1 may be under a year old. At present, the childminder cares for 8 children on a part-time basis. The childminder lives with her husband and 3 school-aged children, in a residential area of Eastbourne. Local shops, schools and parks are within walking distance. The whole of the property's ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully-enclosed garden available for outside play.

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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 childminder has an NVQ3 in Childcare and Education. She also works in a local school. The childminder's household is non-smoking. The family has a hamster.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder teaches good hygiene routines and the children have access to liquid soap and paper towels to prevent the spread of infection. They understand the importance of good hygiene and spontaneously wash their hands before cooking activities. The children enjoy a good range of worthwhile activities that promote their understanding of good health. They create, for example, group collages of hospitals, which helps them understand how different parts of the body work. Children participate in outdoor activities such as cycling or going to the park. They also devise their own dancing games, ensuring that they regularly enjoy exercise as part of their lifestyle. The children eat healthily and take part in cooking activities, where they learn about the benefits of a healthy diet. They do this through discussions with the childminder. Drinks are always available to ensure that children are not thirsty or dehydrated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children benefit from playing in a home which has a good safety standard. They take part in fire drills and learn why it is important to keep exit routes free from obstacles. They also take part in projects about safety issues, such as sun-protection and crossing the road. This promotes their independence in keeping themselves safe. The childminder creates a spacious environment for the children to play in. She ensures that play materials, particularly arts and crafts, are easily accessible. The children can choose from a good range of activities and games, and the childminder encourages them to devise their own games, thus promoting their imagination and self-reliance. The childminder has a written child protection policy, which is shared with parents. She knows that the children's welfare is paramount. This helps to safeguard the children's best interests.

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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 children describe the time that they have with the childminder as fun. They take part in a good variety of activities that encourage them to observe closely. They walk, for example, to the nearby downs, where they paint or look for animal tracks. The childminder plans activities in advance and includes an educational slant to them, such as a quiz. This ensures that children think about what they do. The children join in enthusiastically and have other activities to choose from if they want to do something different. This ensures that their choices and preferences are respected. The children enjoy a friendly relationship with the childminder and they regard the setting as a home away from home. The children's work is on prominent display in the hallway, which is good for their self-esteem and sense of belonging. They have developed friendships with each other and benefit from the contact with other children of different ages.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children learn about the wider world through making different foods and through having art activities and festivals. Their self-esteem is fostered by activities such as making a self-portrait with speech bubbles, which they can update to reflect what they think and feel at the time. The children also learn about how they can care for the environment and for their community's local wildlife. The childminder has experience of children with special needs and works closely with parents to ensure that the children's needs are met consistently. The children behave well and develop co-operative, thoughtful relationships with each other. The childminder creates a positive and encouraging atmosphere, which enables children to feel good about themselves. The childminder has a folder, which is given to each parent, containing her policies, values and methods. This ensures that parents are informed well about her practice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

It also contributes to the children's consistency of care.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She maintains her professional development via courses and contact with other professionals. She is able to organise space to maximise the children's supervision,

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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 in order to ensure that they are secure. The childminder maintains her records accurately. However, the storage of children's personal information does not guarantee confidentiality as it is not locked away. The childminder uses plans and evaluations to ensure that time is spent directly with the children in productive and enjoyable ways.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were 2 recommendations, to do with the attendance records and with parental consent, made at the last inspection. The childminder has addressed these issues and now maintains an accurate attendance record. She also has parental consent to take children on outings in a vehicle and for applying sun-cream.

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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): • maintain confidentiality by keeping records secure.

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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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