Childminder in Devon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY259227 Inspection date 20 January 2006 Inspector Anne Legge

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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 lives with her husband and two children aged 8 and 6 years, in the village of Craddock, near Cullompton. She has been childminding since 2003, has worked in pre-schools and has a relevant child care qualification. She is a member of a local childminding network and has joined a Quality Assurance scheme. The childminder is registered to care for up to five children under 8 years of age and currently has 8 children on roll. She uses the ground floor of her home for childminding, including a designated play room and the upstairs bathroom. There is a large garden, which is used for walks and physical play under close supervision.

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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 have no pets.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy plenty of physical exercise, helping to promote their fitness and skills, and to develop a positive attitude to being active. They attend local toddler groups, where they engage in physical activities, such as music and dance. They go for walks in the garden, play on the swings or use a wide range of wheeled toys. Indoors, they enjoy crawling through tunnels, or using the play house for energetic games. They benefit from eating healthy snacks, comprising of fresh fruit and fruit juice. The childminder also works with parents to encourage healthy choices for lunch boxes. They have plenty of fluids as the childminder encourages them to drink regularly. Special dietary needs are known and met. Children receive good care when they are ill or injured. The childminder has recently renewed her first aid qualification. She ensures that children's care is consistent, by maintaining appropriate records of accidents and medication. However, medication

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Helping children to be healthy

records are not always shared with parents, after administration. Children are extremely well protected from infection. This is due to the childminder's meticulous attention to cleanliness and her excellent routines for ensuring that her home is clean. Children learn good hygiene routines, as they wash their hands appropriately before food and after using the toilet.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children enjoy the facilities of a large house, where the space is used very well to provide an excellent variety of play opportunities. They choose from an outstanding range of appropriate toys and resources and have the use of a specially designated play room. All toys and resources are clean and in good condition and the childminder checks them regularly for damage. Children play in a safe and secure environment, as doors are always locked, and the childminder has a good understanding of all safety issues. She has completed risk assessments for the premises and addressed all potential hazards in the house. For example, she usies fire guards and socket covers to improve children's safety. The garden is currently used only for outings, as the childminder is aware of dangers relating to the ponds and greenhouse, which are soon to be addressed. Children are safe on these outings, as they respond to the childminder's clear routines, such as

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

holding hands as they walk to the area where they play. They learn to be aware of danger as they discuss the care needed when near water. Children are safe in emergencies as the childminder has clear evacuation procedures which she regularly practises with them. They are well protected from abuse or neglect, due to the childminder's good understanding of child protection issues and

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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 procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy an outstanding variety of interesting activities. These are appropriate for their ages and help to promote their development in all areas. They choose freely from an extensive range of toys, books, games and resources, which are carefully arranged so that they can select independently. For example, they choose from different sets of dolls or small world toys, dress up for role play, or ask to play with the tunnel and tent. They go for walks in the garden where they learn about the natural world, as they look at the habitats of fish, birds and squirrels. They develop a love of books as the childminder regularly shares stories with them, and they learn to socialise with other children, by attending toddler groups. They extend their creativity in an excellent range of art and craft activities, such as cutting out butterflies or making and using dough. The childminder successfully promotes children's progress, as she talks and plays

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

with them enthusiastically, using her considerable expertise and clear understanding of their development. They develop their language and imagination, as she supports their role play, using questions and discussion very effectively. They respond to new challenges, such as to play a tune on a xylophone or sing familiar songs. Older children make excellent progress in developing an understanding of letters and numbers as they use puzzles and play appropriate games.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children behave very well as they respond to the childminder's positive strategies for managing their behaviour. They enjoy copious praise for their efforts, such as in tidying up and for good behaviour. They respond to the clear rules and high expectations of the childminder. For example, sharing toys or not bouncing on the furniture, which are gently explained and enforced. They enjoy very warm relationships with the childminder and are happy and settled in her care. All children are welcomed and included, and their individual needs are known and met. They learn about cultural differences through the use of good resources, such as small world people, books and puzzles, which reflect positive images of diversity. No children with special needs attend, but the childminder takes part in annual conferences about inclusion and is confident that she could meet the additional needs of any child. Children's care is consistent as the childminder develops close

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Helping children make a positive contribution

working relationships with parents and exchanges information with them daily. She explains her written policies and procedures when children first attend and keeps photographic records of each child's achievements, which she shares with parents.

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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 The organisation is good. Children are cared for by a well-qualified childminder who is committed to constantly updating her practice through attending relevant courses and taking part in a Quality Assurance scheme. They play in a safe, comfortable and child-friendly home, enjoying an excellent variety of activities and resources. They benefit from good individual attention, as the childminder cares for no more than three children at a time. She devotes her time to playing with them and meeting their individual needs. Children's care is securely underpinned by all the required documentation, including written policies and procedures. Records are well-organised and almost all of them are shared appropriately with parents. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, the childminder has improved children's safety, by practising emergency evacuation procedures, using systems instigated by her childminding network.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since April 2004. 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): • improve the consistency of children's care, when they are unwell, by sharing medication records appropriately with parents.

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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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