Inspection report for early years provision
Unique Reference Number: 160507
Inspection date 28 February 2007
Inspector Joanna Scott
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 1991. She lives with her husband and two adult children in West Horsley in Surrey. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding, with sleeping facilities provided upstairs. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding seven children, some of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks or drives to local schools and nurseries to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group, and takes children to the local library and park. She is a member of the Surrey Children Come First Childminding Network.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION
Helping children to be healthy
The provision is outstanding. The children are learning about the importance of good personal hygiene. They independently wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet, and are beginning to understand that doing this helps them to stay healthy. Even very young children take part in this with a lot of support from the childminder, and this helps them to learn expected routines. The childminder has consistent practices in place to prevent cross infection, such as cleaning the table thoroughly before eating. She encourages the children to help her, and with discussion this develops their awareness. A child confidently wipes the table before laying it for lunch.
Children have daily opportunities to play actively, promoting their fitness. When the garden is too wet to access the children enjoy trips to the park or walks in the woods. The children enjoy dancing and playing musical instruments in the sitting room where they have space to move more freely. Younger children develop their balance as they move from foot to foot and spin.
The children have a regular routine, where younger children have time to sleep which promotes their health. There are plenty of opportunities for children to rest if they need, for instance they snuggle up with the childminder on the sofa and read a book together.
The children are making strong links between healthy eating and good health. The childminder provides healthy meals and snacks, which the children enjoy. Children are able to choose from a selection of fruits at snack time, such as a colourful mix of red and white grapes, tangerines and kiwi. The children try all of the fruits, even though they have their favourite. This sparks a lively conversation about when fruit is not good to eat, such as when it is not fresh. They follow the five a day program, and charts and stickers are in use with the children and act as a very good incentive. The childminder has a very thorough understanding of safe food handling and the nutrition requirements of young children as she has attended training in these areas.
Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe
The provision is outstanding. The children play in a home which is extremely child orientated and well organised, and where any risks are minimized. The childminder checks the environment and equipment regularly to ensure that everything is in good condition, and ensures that children play with toys and resources that are suitable for their age and stage of development. In addition to mentally checking the environment is suitable when she is at home and out on visits, the childminder completes a detailed written risk assessment of the premises which helps to highlight any areas of potential concern.
The children play with a broad range of very good quality toys and resources. They are supervised very well by the childminder, who is very observant of the children as they play. Systems are in place for the arrival and departure of the children, and the childminder keeps the doors locked to ensure that children cannot leave unsupervised. Children are beginning to learn about keeping themselves safe, they talk about road safety when they are out and about, and learn about travelling safely in the car. The children are aware, they talk about putting the baby in the car seat during role play. They practice evacuation on a regular basis, and this ensures that they are confidently able to leave the building quickly in an emergency.
The children's welfare is safeguarded because the childminder has a thorough understanding of child protection issues, and she is proactive in updating her training. She has a clear procedure to follow if she has a concern about a child. Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do
The provision is outstanding. The children have many opportunities to play and learn as the childminder plans an extensive range of exciting and interesting things for them to do, using the Birth to three matters framework, and the foundation stage to ensure that all areas of development are included.
The children are cared for in a relaxed and homely atmosphere. They are surrounded by colourful posters and art work, and the playroom is organised to allow children to self select the toys they wish to play with freely. A child sets out the low level chairs, to make a car. She turns the electric piano on to act as the radio, lines some dolls up at the back, and encourages a younger child to join her as a passenger. She has been playing with a small plastic figure using crutches, and now she decides that one of the dolls has hurt her arm and she must take her straight to the hospital to see if it is broken. This is a very stimulating environment, and she plays imaginatively with resources that are readily available to her and inspire her play.
The children take part in planned activities which are linked to the theme planned by the childminder. They are learning about colour and patterns, and the childminder provides activities ranging from finding items around the room in a particular colour, to re-creating some paintings by well known artists such as Monet.
The children enjoy very good relationships with the childminder, and freely approach her for cuddles during the day. They are very self-confident. The childminder is warm, nurturing and encouraging which promotes their self esteem. The children are very happy and secure here.
Helping children make a positive contribution
The provision is outstanding. The children behave very well. The childminder has a kind and caring approach, and treats the children with due regard. She has consistent boundaries which leaves the children very clear about expected behaviours, such as being kind, and not too bossy. This means that the children are co-operative, and treat others with the respect she shows them.
The children are treated with equal concern. The childminder takes into account each child's individual needs. She ensures that activities are accessible, for instance when painting pictures for the celebration of Holi the younger children enjoy the tactile experience on hand and finger painting, and the older ones are encouraged to flick the paint to get a more true to life effect. The children play freely with resources which promote diversity and help to develop their awareness of the wider world, including a rail of bright and appealing dressing up outfits. Where children speak English as an additional language the childminder provides books and posters in their own language. All the children are learning that other languages are spoken around the world.
The children benefit because the childminder works closely with parents. She shares information about their general care and routines, and provides detailed information relating to their development in individual reports each term. She uses newsletters to share information with parents about issues relating to the provision, and has a comprehensive set of policies and procedures which reflect her childminding business. She encourages parental feedback by using feedback questionnaires, and uses these to influence the service she provides. Organisation
The organisation is outstanding. The childminder provides a highly professional and extremely well organised service. She is proactive in accessing training, and this has resulted in her updating her knowledge and developing her skills. She has a detailed knowledge of the National Standards, and demonstrates that she meets them well in all areas. This results in very high standards of care. All regulatory documentation is in place. She has a thorough set of policies and procedures which she shares with parents that accurately reflect all area of her practice.
The childminder has organised the environment exceedingly well, and provides a child friendly environment where they can play and rest safely. Her organisation of toys and resources is successfully managed to ensure that children are able to self select, and this promotes their independence. She plans her day carefully to ensure that the different needs of the children are met. The children are protected because she supervises them very closely in and out of the home. Required adult to child ratios are maintained. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.
Improvements since the last inspection
At the previous inspection there were no areas identified for improvement.
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