Walsh, Linnet

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY102466 Inspection date 02 November 2005 Inspector Anne Georgina Phillips

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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 became registered in 2002. She lives with her husband and 3 children aged 4 months, 5 and 9 years old. They live in a house in a residential area on the Kidderminster side of Stourport-on-Severn. It lies within easy walking distance of the town centre, local schools, nurseries, pre-schools, parks and play areas. Most of the ground floor and the rear enclosed garden are used for childminding. The first floor is used for children to rest and to access the bathroom for toileting and hand washing. A vehicle is available to transport children. The family do not have any pets. The childminder is registered to care for up to 4 children under 8 years at any one

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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 time. She is currently minding 5 children each week. One child attends on a full-time basis, the rest are part-time. At the time of inspection she is permitted to care for a child under 1 as well as her own baby and may work with an assistant. She belongs to the National Child Minding Association and a local child minding support group. There are frequent outings to activity groups, indoor and outdoor play areas, as well as daily walks to take and collect children from nearby schools.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a wide range of activities that contribute positively to their good health. There are daily opportunities for children to be active and gain control of their bodies. They play in the garden, and visit local parks and play areas including indoor soft play zones for energetic active exercise. They walk to and from local schools and carefully compose bonfire pictures from coloured paper, leaves and twigs. Children join in readily because the childminder has a good understanding of their developmental needs and provides activities that encourage them to acquire new skills. For example, younger children learn to manipulate jigsaws and move to songs and action rhymes. Children benefit from a very clean, bright, well kept and warm home. They use good quality hand washing facilities and are protected from illness and cross infection by effective daily practices such as hygienic nappy changing and frequent cleaning of

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Helping children to be healthy

baby toys and equipment. Children are well nourished, enjoying flexible, well balanced snacks and meals that meet their individual dietary and needs and parent's wishes well. They have ready access to drinks throughout the day and have opportunities to try fruit and other healthy foods at snack times. Even the youngest children enjoy cooking activities such as pizza making using fresh ingredients, which increases their enjoyment of different food and tastes, and contributes to their understanding of a healthy lifestyle. Children are able to rest and relax in comfort when they are tired.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a well thought out, safe and secure environment. The available space is in good order and well organised so that children can move around freely making choices and accessing toys and resources at floor level or on low shelving. Children are very well supervised and are developing a growing understanding of how to think and act safely. For example, they practise emergency drills monthly and act out what they would do in role play activities. They learn to walk safely with the childminder on daily trips to and from local schools. Children benefit from access to a good range of resources that are bright, colourful and attractive. A high priority is given to ensuring that these are varied 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 interesting to children with good access to craft and creative materials. All equipment is clean, in good condition and suitable for children's ages and stages of development. Children are well protected. For example the childminder holds a current first aid certificate, a food hygiene certificate, has a secure understanding of child protection procedures and has developed comprehensive emergency plans.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are making good progress. They are happy, settled, and secure. They are comfortable and confident in the childminder’s home. They relate well to the childminder, her family and other children. They have a warm, friendly and responsive relationship with the childminder who uses her experience of children’s development to plan and provide a variety of activities and opportunities to promote children's progress effectively, such as creative play and cooking. Children are interested and involved in the activities provided. For example, they persist until jigsaws are completed, make individual bonfire pictures, move spontaneously to songs and rhymes, and show pride in their achievements. They enjoy challenging outdoor play at the forest centre. The childminder consistently and positively interacts with the children to extend their learning and encourage their thinking. For example, by talking to younger children

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

about the colours they see, listening to the sounds that shakers make and naming the animals in the jigsaw. Children are purposeful in their play and are developing independence by managing their own clothes, shoes and personal care, and are able to access resources for themselves.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. The childminder has a positive attitude to including all children and communicates effectively with parents to ensure that their existing and changing needs are met. For example, the childminder works in partnership with parents when working to provide for children after medical care. The childminder has a good understanding of the need for children to become aware of the wider society and provides resources that reflect diversity and many opportunities to meet and socialise with others. Children behave very well in response to warm, patient care and clear, consistent handling and praise. They have warm and trusting relationships with the childminder and each other, showing concern, sharing and playing well together. They learn to respect the needs of others, for example, they are observant and caring when playing near babies. Children are well settled, they confidently make choices about

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Helping children make a positive contribution

their play, accessing drinks and their personal care. They have time to relax as well be active.

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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 good. Children are happy and make good progress because the childminder is an enthusiastic, caring and very capable child carer. She has a very positive attitude to developing her childminding practice by attending training such as ‘Birth to three matters’ and by undertaking and achieving an NVQ level 3 qualification in childcare. This enables her to provide a broad, interesting, and stimulating range of activities for children in her care. She organises her home and time very effectively. She works directly with the children so that they are well supervised and positively supports their care, learning and play, which ensures that children are happy, relaxed and comfortable. For example, she plans ahead and is well prepared for when children arrive home from school. She encourages their involvement in activities and makes time to work directly with them supporting their relationships and play.

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Organisation

Nearly all the required documentation is in place, well presented and accessible for inspection. There are comprehensive written policies and detailed information for parents about childminding practices. Children’s attendance is promptly and accurately recorded but medication records are not always complete. Child protection agency contact details are not up to date following a recent change. Overall the needs of all children that attend are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to improve: the arrangements for recording children’s arrival and departure; the procedures for ensuring that the adult to child ratios are maintained at all times; the obtaining of prior written permission for emergency treatment of children from parents; children’s access to positive images of diversity. A daily record of children’s attendance is now very accurately maintained and up to date contracts with parents are in place which include prior permission for emergency treatment from parents. Children’s welfare and safety is now effectively promoted by well thought out emergency procedures including the availability of an assistant to ensure that ratios are met and maintained. Children’s understanding of a wider community is improved by better access to resources reflecting diversity, with positive images readily available in books, resources and games.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 1 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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Complaints since the last inspection

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

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 all medication records are completed promptly and that contact details for child protection agencies are up to date.

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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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