Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 127906 Inspection date 24 January 2006 Inspector Alison Reeves

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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 outstanding. 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 1995. She lives with her husband and 3 children aged 13, 16 and 18 years in a small village near Ware. The whole of the ground floor and part of the first floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends a toddler group, takes children to the library and to the park. The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding nine

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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 children some of whom attend on a part-time basis. She works with two other childminders who work at her premises on a part time basis. The childminder has a dog and a cat. The childminder supports children with special educational needs. She is a member of the National Childminding Association, runs the local childminder support group and is an active member of the local childminding buddy scheme.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children's health, nutritional and physical needs are met through a number of highly effective procedures which are implemented thoroughly to ensure children thrive. They are cared for in a warm, clean and hygienic home, where their understanding of health and hygiene is developed to excellent effect. The exceptional adult support and guidance helps children gain an excellent understanding of hygiene and a real desire to become increasingly independent in their personal care. They use their own individual flannels to wash their faces and learn good hygiene practice as part of their daily routine. Children explain clearly why they need to wash their hands when they are dirty or they have used the toilet. Children are engaged in purposeful activities in which they participate with eagerness and enthusiasm. For example they develop control of their bodies and increase their

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Helping children to be healthy

coordination skills as they walk and run outside, use wheeled toys and climb on the challenging equipment at the organised activity sessions and soft play centres. Spontaneous physical play is welcomed and everyone joins in. For example a box becomes a train when they are tidying up. It is pushed around the floor stopping at the station so the small boxes can be loaded on to it. Children are confident to try out new skills, ask for help when needed and set their own limits within the safe environment. For example, young children are thrilled as they successfully climb up on to the chairs at the breakfast bar. The praise and encouragement from their childminder helps them to persevere and achieve success. Children help themselves to easily accessible drinking water throughout the day. They have their own cups and know which is which. Children enjoy fresh and dried fruits with breadsticks for their mid morning snack. A cooked dinner in the early

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Helping children to be healthy

evening provides children with a balanced and nutritious meal that they enjoy together with children willingly trying new foods. Children's preferences for particular foods are always considered when planning the menu. Older children are able to talk about which foods are good for their bodies. High levels of parental consultation ensure children's good health is maintained. Recording of accidents and medication is clear and detailed, all entries are shared with parents and the relevant consents and signatures are obtained.

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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 The provision is outstanding. A safe and stimulating environment ensures children's opportunities for exciting, well planned and supported play are always possible. Risks of accidental injury to children are minimised because the childminder is extremely vigilant and regularly reviews the use of space to reduce potential hazards. Her excellent understanding of how to achieve a balance between freedom and setting safe limits, and how to involve children effectively in organising their environment helps them to develop their understanding of safety issues. Children learn some sense of danger and knowledge about how to protect themselves from harm. Children use high quality equipment appropriate to their age and stage of development. Those children with additional needs are safely and fully included

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

because of the sensitive adult support and well-planned adaptations to resources and activities. Regular communication with parents contributes to children’s safety. Children are very well protected by a childminder who has a very clear understanding of child protection policies and procedures and gives top priority to children’s welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy their time with the childminder. An extensive range of interesting and imaginative activities, planned with individual children in mind helps to promote children's learning through play. Children achieve well because the childminder is highly skilled and use her exceptional understanding of early years guidance, such as Birth to three matters to provide high quality care and educational opportunities. All children are happy and eager to participate. Their individual needs are met with sensitivity to enable them to feel comfortable in an environment where they can thrive. The youngest children make excellent progress because the childminder recognises the uniqueness of each child. Close and caring relationships increase children’s sense of trust and help them develop a strong sense of self. High quality adult-child interactions are extremely supportive of early communication skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children begin to make sense of the world and express their ideas as they join in a diverse range of exploratory and sensory experiences. For example, they cook and are involved in some meal preparation where they can see the changes that occur when ingredients are combined and cooked. They love to be outside watching the wildlife and observing the many seasonal changes. Children are captivated and often inspired by an extensive range of stimulating, relevant activities related to their needs. They access an extensive range of good resources, which support their learning through play across all areas of development. All children are eager to get involved, are self assured in their play and confident to try new experiences. They listen intently to stories and conversations. Older children readily use their creative and writing skills to represent their ideas, make gifts for others and to create individual art work. Children are highly imaginative, using

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

available resources to represent their ideas. They make sense of the world around them in the inviting garden and surrounding countryside. Children work well together.

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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 For example, younger children learn how to make the wooden train track with the support and guidance of older children. Children gain confidence in using numbers in their play and enjoy singing number rhymes. Right from the start, the childminder finds out about children’s skills, interests and needs and builds on this information effectively to help children achieve as much as they can. She plans some activities and regular outings whilst ensuring time is given to children so they can decide what they would like to do. This excellent balance between adult and child-led activities allows children to learn at their own pace. Adults are perceptive to children’s interests during self-initiated play and use questions very successfully to challenge children’s thinking and language skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. All children are welcomed and play a full part in the childminder's home because she values and respects their individuality and the family context for each child. Their behaviour is exemplary. Younger children receive support in sharing and turn taking. The high expectations and consistent boundaries help them to learn how to negotiate with others and take responsibility for their own behaviour and actions. Children’s understanding of right and wrong is developed through sensitive discussions and they respond to gentle reminders to care for their surroundings, the resources and each other. Following regular routines and discussing individual care helps children to become increasingly independent and knowledgeable about their own needs and how these can be met. The children have extensive opportunities to learn about themselves, each other and the world around them through planned activities, walks and visits to local towns and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the countryside where there are many places of interest. The children love to watch the light aircraft taking off and landing at a nearby airstrip. Children are involved in celebrating festivals from around the world and thoroughly enjoyed the glass painting of their diva lamps for Divali. Resources reflect diversity and positive images of gender, these are part of the regular range of toys freely available to children. This ensures children are able to ask questions and to regard diversity as something positive and valuable. Children make choices and take decisions about their care and play. The childminder respects their opinions and believes that this helps them to be confident about making decisions and to listen to others when they make choices. Children with special needs are fully included because the childminder has a detailed knowledge of child development, she understands how to assist children in making

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Helping children make a positive contribution

progress and is able to adapt activities to ensure all children are able to participate. An excellent partnership with parents contributes significantly to children’s well-being. Parent have access to all policy documents including the complaints procedure. Their views about their children’s needs and interests are actively sought before the child starts at the setting, and on a regular basis throughout their time there. Children's progress and development is shared with parents frequently so they are kept fully informed. Children benefit greatly from the involvement of their parents in ensuring the move from home to childminder each day is as smooth as possible, ensuring they

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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 feel secure and ready to participate in the days activities.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children's care is greatly enhanced by the exceptional quality of organisation of time, space, documentation and resources. Children are recognised as individuals and their characters clearly understood by a childminder who values their uniqueness. An inclusive environment means all children are welcomed. The childminder attends frequent training which she uses effectively to inform her childminding practice.

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Organisation

The premises are well organised, bright and colourful with indoor and outdoor space laid out to provide a variety of exciting and engaging play opportunities. All legally required documentation which contributes to children’s health, safety and well-being is in place and is regularly reviewed. Children benefit from a highly qualified and skilled childminder who is able to put her training into practice. The comprehensive policies and procedures are consistently applied. The childminder is committed to continuous improvement and development through training, further reading and sharing practice with peers. She regularly reflects, monitors and improves the quality of the care and development as part of an accredited quality assurance scheme. The provision is of high quality. Overall the children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to ensure that all entries in the accident book are confidential, to make all potentially hazardous substances inaccessible to children and to seek permission for emergency medical treatment and advice. All have been addressed. The recording of accidents has been modified to ensure confidentiality, storage arrangements ensure no hazardous substances are accessible to children and consents for emergency treatment and advice are in place for each individual child.

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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

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 quality and standards of the care are outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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