Childminder in Wiltshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY218682 Inspection date 05 January 2006 Inspector Charlotte Jenkin

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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 in a four bedroom detached house in Westbury. The whole house is used for childminding, as well as a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for five children under the age of 8 years, and currently cares for four children part time. The family live close to the local primary school and a play area.

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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 are cared for in warm, clean premises. They learn about the importance of good hygiene. The childminder encourages them to wash their hands before eating and after going to the toilet. Hand drying arrangements also help to prevent the spread of germs. Therefore, they are not at risk from cross infection. Children's welfare and safety in the event of an accident or when taking medication is fully safeguarded. This is due to the childminder keeping accurate records of accidents, medication administered and having an up to date first aid certificate. She also gains consent for seeking emergency treatment to ensure children are well cared for in the event of a serious accident. Children are not exposed to illness, as the sickness policy is well shared with parents and sick children are not cared for. Children bring their own healthy snacks and lunches to the childminder's house, as

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Helping children to be healthy

she liaises with parents to promote healthy eating. As a result, the children contentedly eat fruit and dried fruits for snack and have balanced meals. These are appropriately stored in the fridge to protect the children's health. The children have access to drinks at all times and help themselves when they are thirsty. Their dietary needs are well respected and catered for as the childminder gains information from parents regarding this. Older children learn about the importance of foods that are good for their development and help them become a 'superhero' through fun cooking activities, for example decorating pizzas with vegetables. Children have regular opportunities to engage in physical activity. They have a good range of equipment in the garden that promotes their physical skills, for example tunnels, ride on toys and balls. The children walk to school daily. They begin to develop a positive attitude towards this, preferring to walk then to sit in the buggy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children often visit the park to play on the large equipment. They also participate in a good range of physical activity indoors, including dancing, hopscotch and jumping games.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in welcoming and child friendly premises where the toys are well organised for them to access. Furniture is child sized to encourage the children to sit and draw or engage in quiet activities at any time. They appear comfortable in the childminder's home, knowing where to access toys and equipment when they wish. The children have easy access to a very good range of safe and stimulating toys, that are age appropriate and help promotes their development in all areas. This allows the children to develop confidence in selecting toys and initiating their own play and learning. Children are cared for in an extremely safe, risk free, environment as the childminder prioritises their safety and ensures that potential hazards are minimised. Children are

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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 able to move around the premises freely and with confidence and play in safety. The premises are secure, as the childminder is vigilant about letting visitors in the house during childminding hours, which protects the children from strangers. Children's welfare in the event of an emergency is fully safeguarded as she has a clear plan in place should an emergency occur. Children learn how to use equipment safely with gentle reminders from the childminder, for example about not putting pencils in their mouths. However, although the children respect and care for their toys and environment, they are not always encouraged to keep their environment free from hazards, for example leaving lots of toys on the floor. The childminder tidies these away without always explaining to the children the consequences of leaving them or

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

encouraging them to help. Children's welfare is safeguarded due to the childminder's good knowledge of child protection issues and the procedures to follow in the event of concerns. Her duties are formally shared with parents and she continues to up-date her knowledge in this area through attending training.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children have access to an excellent range of activities planned by the childminder that stimulate their interests and helps promote their development in all areas. They frequently engage in role play, learn about other cultures, develop their creativity and join in with singing and dancing. They also have regular opportunities to explore various toys and equipment, allowing them to make choices in their play and learning. The children display a positive attitude towards new learning experiences, for example colour mixing with play dough and learning new songs. The childminder supports the children's free play well, sustaining their interests and encouraging their development, including maths and language skills. Therefore, they are eager to explore the toys and activities on offer, spending long periods engaged in these, for example drawing, puzzles and role play. The childminder values and respects the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children, engaging them in high levels of conversation during activities, for example encouraging them to talk about what they are drawing. This promotes their self-esteem and language development successfully. The children form excellent relationships with one another and the childminder. They readily approach her for assistance, or to request activities, which she quickly responds to. This develops the children's good levels of self-confidence. The children benefit from positive relationships with good levels of adult support and guidance. This enables them to form a strong bond with the childminder, as she motivates and encourages both their self-confidence and their development. Her good knowledge of the Birth to three framework enable her to plan activities that promote the children's progress in all aspects of the framework. For example, music and dance sessions, which help children to work co-operatively, encourage their

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

physical development, use their creativity and express their feelings. She responds well to younger children's attempts to communicate, encouraging them to make meaning of language and to be confident in their communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal. The children begin to make connections, for example when playing

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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 doctors, they use the scissors and pretend to cut one another's nails. The childminder gets down to the children's level at all times and encourages appropriate use of equipment, role models new language and promotes maths skills. For example, during puzzle play, she encourages the children to look for different sizes and shapes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children's individuality is well respected and their individual needs well met. The childminder knows them very well and ensures she gives children individual support with specific areas of development, whilst including them in all activities and routines. She is also able to support the children with changes in their lives, through stories and talking to them about certain events, for example a new baby in the family. Children have free access to positive images of diversity in their daily play. This enables them to make sense of the wider world around them and to respect the lives of others, for example pictures of different countries and cultures through role play in a travel agents. Children develop good levels of independence and choose their snack and help themselves to drinks. They form positive relationships and begin to show concern for others, for example offering one another a drink. The children have

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Helping children make a positive contribution

regular opportunities to go out in their local environment, for example to the library and walks in the outdoors. This enables them to socialise with others and become part of the community. Although the childminder has not cared for children with special educational needs, she is aware of how to support the differing needs of individual children. Children's behaviour is good, this is because the childminder uses sensitive and age appropriate methods for managing this. She is an excellent role model and is calm and respectful to the children. They form good relationships with one another and begin to share, take turns and show respect. The childminder works consistently with parents to ensure children receive consistent messages, have clear boundaries and learn right from wrong. Children benefit from the extremely positive partnership with parents as their care needs and routines are respected and catered for in line with parents' wishes. The

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder has daily exchanges of information with parents which enables them to know what their child has been doing throughout the day. It also allows for feedback on their progress, as well as any changes in routines, which offers the children continuity of care. Parents receive good information on the childminder's policies and procedures, as well as information on Birth to three matters, which she incorporates into the children's play activities. They are able to feedback to the childminder on their views of the service she offers and work together to identify areas for the development of their children. Children are able to share their day with their parents through photos of them engaged in activities.

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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 childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. Children are cared for by a well qualified childminder who has recently gained an NVQ4 qualification. She also continues to update her knowledge and skills in the early years and is enthusiastic in implementing new ideas into her daily practice. This enhances the children's care and learning opportunities greatly and enables the childminder to develop the children's skills further. The childminder keeps to the required adult to child ratios. This means that the children receive good adult support, as the childminder is able to spend long periods supporting them during their play. The children appear relaxed and at ease in the comfortable and child friendly environment, where they can confidently explore the toys and engage in purposeful

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Organisation

play. The childminder gains all necessary consents form parents for routine activities which safeguards children's welfare fully. All policies and procedures are consistently implemented, therefore children's care and learning is well promoted and all required documentation is kept. The childminder also regularly evaluates her provision and the service she offers by giving questionnaires to parents, asking for their opinion of the care their children receive. This enables her to continually monitor, evaluate and improve the care and learning opportunities she offers to children in line with parents' wishes.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure a first aid box is in place before childminding and to ensure medication and accident forms are in place before childminding commences. The childminder now has all accident and medication forms in place, and these are up to date, accurate and well shared with parents to protect the children's health. A first aid box is in place for if the children have minor accidents whilst in her care.

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Complaints 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. There are no complaints to report.

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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

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • consistently encourage children to keep their environment safe, and learn how this impacts on them during their play

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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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