Inspection report for early years provision Inspection date 21 June 2007 Inspector Christine Powlesland Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding 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. 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. THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection: The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding. WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT? The childminder was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and adult son. They live in a terraced house in Launceston, within walking distance of schools and shops. Children have access to the ground floor of the house, including the new conservatory, with one bedroom used for babies to sleep. The front and rear gardens are enclosed for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding five children, all of whom attend on a part time basis. Two cats are the family pets. The childminder visits a weekly toddler group with children. Children can be taken and collected from local schools and pre-schools. The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and disabilities. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION Helping children to be healthy The provision is outstanding. The children thrive and their good health is extremely well supported because of the childminder's meticulous approach. All the necessary documentation such as accident, incident and medication records and consents, as well as information provided by parents, are carefully and clearly maintained. The childminder minimises the spread of infection and further promotes the health of children through very high standards of hygiene evident in the home. For example, the provision of liquid soap and disposable towels encourages regular hand washing. The childminder uses flash cards with the children to help them learn the correct procedures and there are picture instructions in the bathroom for them to follow, helping them learn to protect themselves from infection when toileting. Children are carefully protected from the sun by using the outdoor gazebo and sun block. Children with medical needs are closely monitored to ensure their needs are met. The childminder gives high priority to ensuring that children's individual needs are met. For example, the childminder has an excellent understanding of food nutrition, and she uses this knowledge to help children to enjoy their food. She regularly introduces them to new tastes through meals and cooking activities, such as making apple and mango crumble with custard. Drinking water is always available and babies are offered drinks at regular intervals. Sticker charts are used to encourage the children to eat healthily and to include five portions of fruit or vegetables in their diet each day. Children get plenty of exercise through daily walks to school, trips to the park and through regular use of suitable outdoor play resources in the safe gardens. Children also enjoy quiet times when they can rest or sleep according to their individual needs. Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe The provision is outstanding. Children at vigilantly supervised at all times by the childminder, who undertakes daily risk assessments to reduce potential hazards. A baby monitor is used when children sleep and the childminder records these times in a file and transfers this into daily diaries for parents to take home. She also uses the cooker timer to remind her to check on sleeping children at regular intervals to ensure they are safe. Fire safety is a clear priority. Procedures are well documented and drills regularly undertaken so that children are growing quickly in their understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Children can safely access the front and back gardens, which are thoughtfully organised with the safety of children in mind. The risk of injury to children is minimised due to the responsible and conscientious approach of the childminder, who carefully assesses and manages risks in the home, gardens and on outings. For example, she carries photographs of herself and all the minded children with personal contact phone numbers written on these in case of an emergency when away from home. Children play with an extensive range of good quality toys and resources that are age appropriate and regularly cleaned. Space is very well organised in order to provide free play, messy play and quiet areas, allowing children to move independently and safely. A file of leaflets on safety matters, including the child protection summary booklet and a leaflet about the new seatbelt requirements, is used by the childminder for advice and is available for parents to freely access. This helps promote safety in the minding setting and fosters closer links with safety provided in the parent’s homes. Children are very well protected by the childminder who has a clear understanding of child protection policies and procedures. She has recently attended a training course in child protection and gives top priority to children's welfare. Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do The provision is outstanding. The childminder provides a calm environment where children can thrive, and as a result children settle very easily and are happy in her care. Classical music plays quietly in the background as babies play. The childminder uses her knowledge of the Foundation Stage curriculum and the Birth to three matters framework with good effect to plan and provide a varied, interesting and purposeful range of activities. For example, they enjoy trips to local places of interest and photographs show their excitement when travelling on a steam train to visit a farm park where they cuddle rabbits and feed the goats. Children can freely access a wide range of developmentally challenging resources. The childminder extends activities, for example water play in small bowls with bubbles and in a large water tray outdoors with boats and lemon essence for the younger children, and coloured water with funnels and jugs to provide measuring and pouring activities for older and more able children. Photographs show children concentrating well as they play with jelly and with gloop, enjoying exploring the different textures. Babies are fascinated by the treasure box and carefully take out different items, exploring their shape and texture with hands and mouth. They help develop coordination as they carefully reach for the next item, such as a wooden spoon, net bath sponge or plastic comb. Activities are underpinned by the childminder's considerable knowledge of how children progress and as a result each activity becomes an opportunity to learn. For example, young babies are offered a smooth wooden brick and a Stickle brick with a bumpy texture and the childminder discusses how different these feel as the baby plays and chews them. Children's paintings are displayed on the walls and they put their own name onto a chart as they enter, giving them a sense of belonging and valuing their achievements. The childminder makes ongoing observations of children's participation in activities in order to establish what will best promote their further development. As a result, children have every opportunity to reach their potential. Helping children make a positive contribution The provision is outstanding. The childminder goes to a great deal of effort to ensure that the individual needs of all children in her care are met. This sometimes involves her in conducting research into medical conditions or attending training to ensure children with learning difficulties or disabilities receive very effective support. Children's individual needs and stages of development are carefully considered by the childminder. Their progress and development is recorded in individual books containing photographs and examples of their artwork and is also shared with parents in daily diaries. Children have excellent opportunities to learn about diversity and the wider community. There is a broad range of colourful books to help stimulate children's interest in other cultures and they enjoy playing with the multicultural dolls and small world people, which include wheelchair users. They have made a wall chart showing how children are all different and included children with disabilities in this. Photographs show the children celebrating Chinese New Year and each child has their own name written in Chinese, the childminder using the internet to research this. The childminder leads by example, showing kindness and consideration and giving clear instructions helping children settle in well. Her written behaviour management policy is closely followed as she rewards good behaviour, values children and sets realistic targets. An excellent partnership with parents contributes significantly to the children's well-being. Parents' views about their child's needs and interests are actively sought as the child starts. Parents have a written diary of their child's day and daily opportunities to discuss their child or any concerns which may arise. They are extremely well-informed about the daily routines and procedures in the informative parents' information pack. Organisation The organisation is outstanding. Children's care is greatly enhanced by the exceptional quality of organisation. Children enjoy high levels of attention and support as the childminder organises her own time effectively to ensure that she is fully available. The home is well organised with indoor and outdoor space laid out to maximise play opportunities for children. All legally required documentation, which contributes to children's health, safety and well-being, is in place and is regularly reviewed. The childminder's registration certificate, along with other relevant information, is displayed on the wall in the kitchen. Confidentiality is given high priority. Children benefit from a committed childminder who is continuously attending training to update her knowledge. She has achieved Introducing Childminding Practice, Developing Childminding Practice and is currently taking the Extending Childminding Practice course. She is able to reflect upon her own practice and bring about changes promptly, where required. The high quality of the provision means that the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. Improvements since the last inspection At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to ensure the cat food was not accessible to children and did not pose a health hazard. She has now moved the bowl of cat food from the kitchen floor and it is now kept in the entrance porch. It is kept high on top of the tumble dryer where young children cannot access. This means it is no longer a health hazard to young children. Complaints since the last inspection Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards. 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. THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection: The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding. WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT? The quality and standards of the care No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding. Any complaints about the inspection or the report should be made following the procedures 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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