Smith, Julia Terry

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 201610 Inspection date 27 March 2006 Inspector Christine Lynn Williams

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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 1994. She lives with her husband and three children aged fifteen, thirteen and nine in Hampton Magna, Warwick. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding plus an upstairs bedroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding five children who attend part-time. She walks to local schools to take and collect children.

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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 learn the importance of good personal hygiene through carefully considered routines that help them to understand that washing their hands before meals and after they have been to the toilet helps keep them healthy. They are provided with their own hand towels and gentle prompting helps to remind toddlers about good hygiene routines such as always flushing the toilet and to regularly wipe their nose. Good hygiene practices are followed in the kitchen, bathroom and when preparing food, and the childminder takes positive steps to care for children should they become ill while in her care. For example, she takes their temperature every half hour, telephones parents to ask them to collect and monitors, nurses and cuddles the child until the parents arrive. Children's medication needs are carefully recorded and the childminder talks to parents daily to share health information and observations.

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Helping children to be healthy

Effective paperwork is in place to record accidents and the administration of medication and there is a well stocked first aid box that is kept close to hand. Children develop an awareness of a healthy lifestyle as they enjoy regular exercise and fresh air. They go to the park, walk around the village, play in the garden and look forward to weekly visits to play barns and soft play centres. They learn to use their bodies in various ways through using sit and rides, balls, slides and playing football in the garden, while soft play sessions and using large apparatus at the park help them to develop and extend their physical skills. Mealtimes are relaxed, social occasions when children sit together around the table to enjoy their food and each other’s company. Babies and toddlers are encouraged to feed themselves through finger food and training cutlery, while older children learn to cope with their own lunchboxes in readiness for school. A good variety of nutritious

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Helping children to be healthy

snacks are provided to help children learn to make healthy choices. For example, children choose from a range of different fresh and dried fruits and also enjoy breadsticks and cheese. Drinks are always available and the childminder constantly prompts young children to drink and monitors their intake to make sure they are drinking sufficiently throughout the day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a warm and comfortable atmosphere where they are made to feel at home. They move freely and safely around the childminder's home and garden due to the close attention they receive and enjoy using a stimulating range of toys and play things that are laid out attractively in the lounge and playroom to allow them to easily choose what they want to play with. Children play safely due to the steps the childminder has taken to ensure all safety features are in place. For example, safety gates are fitted to the stairs, there is a fixed fireguard in the living room and safety film has been added to all low level glass.

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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 An upstairs bedroom has also been made safe for sleeping babies by fitting a listening device and stair gate to the bedroom door. Children have practised the fire drill and learn to keep themselves safe through constant reminders and careful explanation. They know not to run or throw toys or balls in the house and are reminded to be careful when walking up the stairs. They are protected when on outings and trips because they understand road safety rules such as to stop, look for cars and look again before crossing the road. Toddlers and young children are kept safe in a buggy or on reins and all children know to stay close to the childminder at all times. The childminder is aware of the signs and symptoms of possible abuse, although she is not confident in the procedures or routines to follow should she need to report any

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

concerns she may have about a child. As a result, children's overall well being is not fully protected.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy their time with the childminder who encourages them to learn and develop through a variety of different experiences. They show they are happy and settled and develop good, warm and caring relationships where they chat easily with the childminder and play together well. Young children are well cared for because the childminder has a good understanding of their individual needs and routines and organises her time to allow her to hold, cuddle and play with them. The daily routine is altered to meet their individual moods, energy levels and interests and the childminder has begun using the 'Birth to three matters' framework to further extend their development and learning. For example, young children often develop their natural curiosity and senses by playing with different household objects or crawling in a tent filled with different textured toys. They are encouraged to speak clearly as they hear the childminder repeat the things

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

they say and they learn new words as she clearly explains new things and experiences to them. Children are confident and often become absorbed in what they are doing. They act out making tea with the play kitchen, laugh as they play with a sound mat and often sing spontaneously as they make up their own games or help themselves to different play things. They extend their experiences of their local community as they meet new people during weekly trips to the soft play centre and parent and toddler group and also visit the local pre-school, watch school assemblies, go shopping and enjoy trips to local parks, the zoo and countryside centre.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are confident, behave well and have good self-esteem. They make close relationships with the childminder and each other and gain the confidence to try new

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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 things because of the support and encouragement they receive. Children benefit from using books and toys which help them to acknowledge the diversity of our society, are valued, included and have their individual needs met by the childminder who works closely with their parents. Detailed information about their likes, dislikes, favourite toys and what they can do is carefully recorded and used to plan ahead to meet their individual needs, interests and personalities. They learn right from wrong through praise and distraction and are helped to learn to share and play well together through positive explanation. A close, informal relationship with parents contributes to children's well-being and helps them understand the childminder's aims and practices. They know how to raise

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Helping children make a positive contribution

a complaint or concern on behalf of their children if they wish to and share in what their children have been doing through seeing lots of photographs and taking home the pictures and crafts their children have made. Parents of babies are provided with a daily diary which records such things as what they have eaten or how they have slept, while daily chats at arrival and collection times ensure there is a two-way flow of information between home and the childminder for parents of older children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from the childminder's warm and attentive approach and the way she organises her time and daily routine to meet their individual needs. She is experienced, appropriately qualified and keeps up-to-date with current good practice issues through close relationships with her local childminding support network and learning from other early years professionals. Records and documents are used well to support the care of the children and to comply with regulations. Records are clear, up-to-date, easily accessible and stored securely. Overall the childminder meets the needs of the range of children in her care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children's safety has been improved since the last inspection by ensuring they are fully aware of how to leave the childminder's home in an emergency and have regularly practised this.

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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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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): • further develop knowledge and understanding of local child protection procedures and share details with parents of what action you will take if you have any concerns about a child.

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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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