Jeffery Emma Jane

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 256257 Inspection date 15 December 2005 Inspector Marianne Gascoyne

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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 was registered in 1993. She lives with her husband, one adult child and two children aged 14 and 11 in a village near the town of King's Lynn. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks or drives to the local schools to take and collect children and sometimes attends the local parent and toddler group. The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding ten children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. She has a dog and two guinea pigs.

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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 satisfactory. Children are protected from the risk of cross infection as parents are asked to keep them at home if suffering from an infectious illness. Individual nappy changing facilities also ensure there is no such risk to children. Children are aware of the correct way to dispose of used tissues after wiping their nose. They receive appropriate treatment following accidents when the childminder uses the knowledge gained on the first aid course she recently attended. Their welfare would be safeguarded in a medical emergency as parents have given their consent to seek emergency treatment. Children's health is promoted in the clean environment and by using hand washing gel prior to eating their lunch. They are not learning of the necessity to always eat with clean hands as they do not wash their hands prior to snack time. They have daily access to fresh air and exercise as they walk to school or are taken to

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Helping children to be healthy

Sandringham to run and play; the childminder ensures they always have warm clothing or blankets on the pushchair to keep them warm in winter. Children enjoy their meal, sitting in appropriate chairs at the table. They eat meals and snacks provided by their parents and the childminder discusses the provision of healthy meals with the parents before the minding arrangements start. The choices they make for their children are respected. Children attending after school are offered snacks of fruit to promote healthy eating. Their welfare is safeguarded by the childminder's knowledge of food hygiene gained through attendance on a course.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children feel welcome and secure in the child-centred room used for childminding with toys easily accessible to them. Toys are organised in crates for the younger children and games and other equipment for older children are stored in cupboards to ensure they are only able to access developmentally appropriate items. Space is organised to enable children from a wide age range to play in comfort and safety, for example, older children play games on the dining table out of reach of the children under two for whom the small pieces may not be appropriate. Older children are also, therefore, able to play without disturbance. Children who are anxious at sleeping in a travel cot are able to use alternative comfortable sleeping facilities. The childminder is able to offer overnight care having met the requirements of the Fire Officer and an emergency evacuation plan has been devised and practised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn how to keep themselves safe when walking to school through explanations given by the childminder, which are constantly reinforced. They follow clear procedures when being taken out in the car to ensure they remain safe. Younger children learn how to use the stairs safely with the support of the childminder and are unable to access the staircase unsupervised. Risks in the home

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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 and garden are assessed and action taken to minimise danger, for example, the large trampoline has been sunk into the lawn to prevent a child falling when jumping. Clear guidelines and rules are also in place to enable children to play with this piece of play equipment safely. Children are protected by the childminder who has attended additional training to update her knowledge of child protection procedures. She ensures all the necessary information is easily accessible in the event of any concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy, confident and secure in the childminder's care and good relationships are in place with the childminder and each other. Children play well together and are learning to share through developmentally appropriate behaviour management strategies used by the childminder. They are able to easily access a range of toys and play happily with the childminder's support and guidance. The childminder does not use the 'Birth to three matters' framework to raise her awareness of how to promote the development of the youngest children attending. The value of providing opportunities for the very young children to explore and investigate a variety of materials is, therefore, not fully recognised. The children under two attending use their imagination and are well-occupied as they play with the doll. The pretend to feed her with a bottle and put her to bed. They are provided with challenges as they count the wheeled vehicles and small world play

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

toys and through questions asked by the childminder. Children enjoy looking at books with the childminder, completing puzzles and playing games. They are helped to communicate by the childminder's interaction with them and very young children are able to make their needs known by non-verbal means. The childminder is responsive and sensitive to their requirements. Using the computer and constructing with magnets provides the older children with challenges on their return from school and they enjoy limbo dancing and also using their imagination as they play in the indoor tent. They are supported in completing their homework sitting quietly at the table and play cooperatively together as they take part in board games. They enjoy undertaking creative activities such as potato prints, cutting out the shapes themselves, and cooking. They also like to help with tasks such as washing-up after their meal. Children are given opportunities to develop their physical skills as they play on a

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

variety of equipment in the garden and are taken on outings to widen their experience. They also enjoy moving to music, using the dance mat, which provides them with physical exercise when the weather is inclement.

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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 The individual needs of children are established through discussion with parents during the gradual introduction to the childminding arrangement. This makes children and parents feel secure. Children are all equally able to play with the toys and they feel valued and supported. Children with special needs would be welcomed in the childminder's home. She would give careful consideration to her ability to provide for any extra needs in addition to caring for the children already minds. Children are well-behaved in response to the caring role model provided by the childminder and appropriate techniques used to modify their behaviour. Their self-esteem is enhanced as they receive praise and encouragement, for example, when helping to tidy away the toys. Parents express their satisfaction regarding the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

care given to their children and the liaison which takes place benefits the children. Their well-being is, therefore, enhanced by the positive relationship the childminder enjoys with parents and informal communication which takes place. A log to record any complaints which they may wish to make about the care their children receive has not yet been set up.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from the additional training the childminder has undertaken to develop her knowledge and understanding of childcare and child protection. She has a high regard for the well-being of all the children and organises her time and resources to ensure they receive appropriate care. Children are secure in the routine of the day. The childminder ensures all adults having access to the children are suitable and a support system is in place to ensure children would receive appropriate care in an emergency. Children's well-being is safeguarded by the documentation providing information regarding the children which is easily accessible. The current method of recording accidents and the administration of medicines contributes to children's welfare but does not ensure confidentiality. Overall, the needs of the children attending are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to develop her selection of play materials to ensure they provided positive images of different cultures and promoted children's all round development. The childminder has organised her resources to provide for the different ages and stages of development of children attending and purchased some resources promoting positive images of people from other cultures and other equipment. She is continuing to develop these resources. She was asked to ensure the hazards from bricks in the garden were minimised and the bricks have now been used to construct the conservatory. She was also asked to make sure she was familiar with the local Area Child Protection Committee guidance and procedures. Since that time the childminder has

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Improvements 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 attended updating Child Protection training and ensures all the necessary information is easily accessible.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection. 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 good hygiene procedures are in place at all times • improve outcomes for children from birth to three by using an approach in line with 'Birth to three matters'.

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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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