Cattle, Ellen Louise

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY245259 Inspection date 01 August 2005 Inspector Marilyn Joy

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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 satisfactory. 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 2003. She lives with a friend in a town on the outskirts of Southampton. The house has three floors and the ground floor only is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children, or nine children when working with an assistant. She is currently working on her own and minding four children on a full and part-time basis. She regularly attends and helps to run a local parent and toddler group.

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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's health and dietary needs are met because the childminder has a sound understanding of what they are. Children's records include details of their individual requirements, although parental consent has not been sought should the childminder need to seek emergency medical care. A first aid course has been attended and first aid kits are available in the home and for outings although there are minimal contents to deal with an accident. Nutritious meals are offered that children enjoy. They make choices about their snack and the sandwiches they have at lunch time. Drinks are available throughout the day and treats, such as sweets, are agreed with parents. Children are encouraged to be independent and develop good hygiene routines, such as washing their hands and cleaning their teeth. Children use a variety of equipment to develop their physical skills when playing in the home and going to the park.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. A friendly home environment is offered where children can be easily supervised. They have ample space to move around as their play develops. Children's safety has been considered in most areas and potential hazards have been identified, although not all have been addressed. A suitable range of indoor and outdoor toys are stored in low units so children can access them easily. Resources are clean and in good condition. Children's welfare is safeguarded because the childminder is aware of her responsibilities regarding child protection. Consideration has been given to procedures for evacuating the premises in the event of a fire and appropriate equipment is in place. Children's information and useful contact numbers are kept near the telephone should they be needed in an emergency.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are interested and involved in a good range of activities. They make choices about what they want to play with. They develop independence as they select toys for themselves and help to put them away. They use their imaginations when dressing-up and acting out stories with the childminder. Children enjoy craft activities and they create collages to decorate the walls and windows. Children are proud of their work and are keen to share their achievements. They chat to each other and share the pens as they concentrate on colouring their pictures. A variety of outings widen children's experiences, for example, they visit theme parks and explore adventure play equipment. They learn to co-operate and mix with other children when

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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 attending the toddler group on a regular basis.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled. They demonstrate a strong sense of belonging in the confident and secure way in which they interact with the childminder. They form positive and sociable relationships with each other, learning to share and take turns. Effective behaviour management strategies are developed to suit individual children. Praise and encouragement, as well as clear house rules, help them to understand what is expected and learn to behave well. Relaxed and friendly relationships are developed with parents. Time is spent at the end of the day to exchange information about children's activities and experiences. Their individual needs are met because the childminder has a good understanding of parent's expectations.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. An organised environment is provided where children feel confident and at ease. Most of the required documentation relating to children's care and well-being is in place and updated. All aspects of the provision are discussed with parents during initial visits and form part ongoing discussions. This enables the childminder to respond appropriately to children's and parent's individual requirements. The childminder has, on occasions, exceeded the number of children that she can care for at any one time. A willingness to improve and develop the service provided contributes to positive outcomes for children. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to conduct a risk assessment on the premises and identify actions to minimise possible risks. Most potential hazards have been identified although not all have been addressed to ensure the risks to children are minimised. The front door is not secure and children can access upstairs, the garage and low level glass. The childminder was also asked to ensure all documentation is maintained appropriately and to provide a suitable range of toys and activities to meet children's developmental needs. Documentation has been updated and most records relating to children's details and regulations are maintained accurately. The range of toys and activities has also been developed so that children enjoy a wider variety of experiences suitable for their age and stage of development.

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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 satisfactory. 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): • request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment • assess the risks to children in all areas and take steps to minimise potential hazards for example, security of the front door and access to the garage, upstairs and low level glass • ensure that the maximum number of children that can be cared for is adhered to at all times

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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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