Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY271859 Unique Reference Number 11 May 2006 Inspection date Chris Scully Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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 2004. She lives with her husband and two children aged 8 and 13 years old. The family live in a three bedroomed property in St. Helen's. Children have full use of the ground floor of the property. An enclosed rear garden is available to minded children for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. She is currently minding three children aged 1, 2 and 3 years old at various times during the week. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local toddler groups, visits the park and other places of interest with the children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder holds the National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) qualification. She is a member of the National Child Minding Association and receives support from the local authority.

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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 cared for in a clean home, where they learn the importance of good hygiene practices. They are confident to clean their hands after art activities and before mealtimes. Children are keen to ensure that all traces of paint have been removed from their hands and show the childminder any bits of paint that have been missed. Effective nappy changing and toileting procedures ensure that the needs of younger children are met. The childminder reduces the potential risk of cross-infection as she washes her hands after nappy changing and before preparing meals. Children are developing an understanding of sun safety. They confidently tell the childminder not to forget their hat as they go outdoors, and talk knowledgeably about the need to wear sun cream "so we don’t get red and burn". This means that children's health and well-being is protected.

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Helping children to be healthy

Clear systems are in place for supporting children who may become unwell at the setting. This is supported by the detailed sick children policy, which is shared with parents. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate, which means that children's accidents or incidents are dealt with appropriately. The childminder seeks useful information from parents about the children's individual medical needs. Most required documentation is in place. Whilst consent is in place to take children to hospital if necessary, it does not include consent for administering first aid. Documentation is in place to record accidents and the administration of medication, although the current practice of naming other children involved in the accident book is not appropriate as it does not maintain confidentiality.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a variety of activities that develop their all-round physical skills and control. Children take pleasure in their daily trips to the park to use the large apparatus and to look for the squirrels. Older children are confident to use the swings and slide. They enjoy their weekly trip to 'Boogie Babies' where they explore music and movement in a relaxed and fun environment. Children's small skills are developing well; they are keen to paint, experiment with colour and handle small resources well, such as pretend food.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of healthy, nutritious meals and snacks. Information sourced from the parents enables the childminder to identify children's preferences, likes, dislikes and adapt the menu accordingly. Children are provided with freshly prepared home cooked meals; for example, cottage pie, vegetables and spaghetti bolognaise. They enjoy a relaxed social occasion as they sit together at the table for their meals and happily converse with the childminder and visitors. Children freely access a range of drinks in order to keep themselves refreshed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a welcoming environment. The whole of the ground floor is available to children, although the main playroom is the front room. Here children are confident to self-select their resources from the low-level storage units and to choose where to play. The organisation of resources appropriately fosters the children's independence. Some children's

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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 work is displayed in the room, which enhances their self-esteem and sense of belonging. Children are encouraged to tidy away their toys before putting out new resources. Children have access to a range of appropriate resources. There are some resources depicting positive images, although this is limited with regards to disability and culture.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risks are identified and minimised to ensure children's safety. Children have limited access to the covered pond within the rear garden and are never left alone outdoors. However, children's safety is compromised as the water butt does not have a suitable cover. Effective systems are in place for taking children on outings. Children understand the need to walk by the childminder's side and hold on to the pram. They learn to keep themselves safe outside through effective discussions with the childminder about stranger danger and road safety. Children are encouraged to inform the childminder as to when it is safe to cross the road and to always use the appropriate crossings. This effectively empowers the children and fosters their self-esteem. Discussions indoors help children to understand the importance of walking carefully up the stairs in order to keep themselves safe. Consents are in place for outings, although this does not include

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a sound understanding of child protection issues. She uses information from the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) to inform her practice and has local contact numbers to hand. A child protection policy is in place, however, it was unclear within the policy as to whom to contact in the first instance, which may result in a delay in suitable action being taken.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled at the childminder's. The children enjoy the company of the childminder who develops warm caring relationships with the children. They are keen to engage the childminder and visitors in their play. The childminder spends considerable amounts of time talking, listening and interacting with the children. This enhances the children's self-esteem and enables them to feel valued. Daily routines contribute to the children's sense of belonging, as children are aware of what happens each day.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses everyday activities well as an additional learning experiences for the children. When visiting the park they discuss what they may see, count the lorries and talk about road safety. The childminder asks open-ended questions, which enable children to think and solve simple problems, such as "What colour is the car?". The childminder plans activities to meet the needs of the children, however, she does not currently use the Birth to three matters framework to further enhance the learning opportunities for younger children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Younger children relish the opportunities to paint. They show great excitement as the paints are set out and eagerly hold their arms up for the childminder to sit them at the table. Once here they spend considerable amounts of time creating their masterpiece. The childminder talks to the children about their creations and the colours they would like to use next. Older children talk confidently about the different techniques that they are using to create their picture. They happily tell the childminder they are "splatting" the paint, splashing and now painting as they want their picture to be "fabulous". Children are proud of their achievements and happily seek

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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 approval and praise of the childminder and visitors. In turn, children show their appreciation by rewarding them with big smiles from younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued as individuals. Their individual needs and circumstances are known and acted upon by the childminder. Children are engaged in activities that promote their development and enable them to learn about their local community. For example, they walk to school to take and collect children, they access a variety of groups within the area, and regularly visit parks and other places of interest. Children have some opportunities to learn about the wider world when discussing festivals. There are some resources depicting diversity available to them, however, this is limited with regards to disability and culture.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and respond well to the childminder requests. They understand the need for suitable boundaries in order to keep themselves safe, such as holding the pram when out walking and coming down the stairs safely. Older children enjoy the responsibility of undertaking small jobs, such as collecting the mail for the childminder. These are presented to the childminder with a big smile. Children receive plenty of praise and encouragement for their efforts and are visibly proud of their achievements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder develops positive relationships with the parents. Daily verbal exchanges and written information for younger children ensures that parents are kept informed about their child's day. Most consents are in place, which means that children are cared for in line with their parents wishes.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a sound understanding of the National Standards. All persons over 16 years of age are vetted. Appropriate cover is available in an emergency in order to provide continuity of care for the children. All legally required records and documentation, which contribute to the children's health, safety and well-being, are in place, with the exception of written consent for children to use the trampoline and to be transported in a vehicle. The childminder has secured consent to take children to hospital if necessary, however, this does not include consent for her providing any necessary medical advice or treatment. Policies are shared verbally with the parents, but are not currently formalised.

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Organisation

Children feel at home at the childminder's and are confident to select their own resources. The childminder makes appropriate use of the space available. Daily routines are effective in practice and provide time for active and quieter periods during the day, which means that children's needs are consistently met.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children for whom it provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

Two recommendations were raised at the last inspection that have been partially met by the childminder. Additional resources depicting diversity have been purchased, however, these remain limited with regards to disability and culture. This limits children's understanding of the world in which we live. Changes in routines and additional resources means that older children are sufficiently challenged in their play and learning experiences. Written consent has been obtained for taking children to hospital. However, this does not encompass permission for the childminder to administer first aid to children. Clear information is now in place regarding children's individual medical needs. This has improved upon the children's health and well-being.

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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.

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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): • further improve upon the learning opportunities for younger children by implementing a framework, such as Birth to three matters • ensure children cannot gain access to water within the water butt • further increase the resources depicting diversity to enable children to learn about the wider world • ensure all consents are in place, maintain confidentiality within the accident record and formalise all policies and procedures.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) 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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