Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

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202666 Unique Reference Number 25 April 2006 Inspection date Anne Daly 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 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 1997. She lives with her husband and two children, aged 10 and 7 years, in the residential area of Galleywood in Chelmsford, Essex. The whole of the childminder's home is registered and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to provide care for five children at any one time, currently minding two children under five years and three children over five years, all part-time. In addition, she cares for five children aged over eight years. The childminder walks to the local school to take and collect children and attends a local parent and toddler group with them. She regularly takes children to the park, the shops and the library, in addition to taking them to local educational facilities during school holidays.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 about health and hygiene, because the childminder has a secure knowledge of appropriate procedures. Older children learn the importance of personal hygiene through daily routines and by following the childminder’s good practice to ensure that they understand the need to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. Children are protected from the spread of infection by the childminder’s written sickness policy being shared with parents, to ensure that they know when to keep their unwell children at home. Children receive a good standard of care and are kept comfortable when taken ill or have an accident as the childminder follows first aid guidelines in line with her written procedures.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy eating nutritious, balanced meals and snacks supplied by their parents or the childminder. Older children have a good understanding of the importance of a healthy diet, because the childminder talks to them about what they eat and why certain food, such as fruit, is good for them. They have a good understanding that some people require special diets for medical reasons. Older children do not become dehydrated as they can freely help themselves to a drink at any time, while younger children’s drinking cups are always readily accessible to them. Children’s individual needs are effectively met by the childminder gathering information from parents about any allergies or dietary requirements.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in daily physical exercise to contribute to their good health by walking to and from school. They regularly visit the park or play in the garden for opportunities to jump, climb and balance when using a range of equipment. Children are allowed to rest and sleep according to their individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Younger children are developing their physical and emotional independence, acquiring control over their bodies, while learning new physical skills. The childminder has a good understanding of younger children’s needs, providing appropriate activities and resources to support their physical and emotional development. The ‘Birth to three matters’ framework is used as reference to provide suitable and stimulating physical play opportunities for children to enable them to grow and develop.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children use a varied range of safe toys and equipment to support their enjoyable activities and to stimulate and challenge them. They can independently access resources appropriate for their individual needs. The childminder regularly cleans, checks and repairs equipment and toys to ensure that they remain safe for children’s use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Regular visual risk assessments undertaken by the childminder help to safeguard children from some potential hazards. She ensures the use of safety equipment, such as socket covers, while safety gates prevent children having unsupervised access to her kitchen and upstairs. However, insufficient steps have been taken to minimise the danger of hazardous garden materials.

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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 The childminder gives priority to helping children understand how to keep themselves safe. They learn how they can keep themselves safe by practising the Green Cross Code during their walks to and from the school and the park. The childminder shows them how to safely use equipment to avoid accidents, such as the correct way to carry and handle scissors. However, children do not practise the childminder’s evacuation procedure to ensure that they understand where to go if smoke alarms sound.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Younger children are able to safely investigate and explore their surroundings, while beginning to understand the rules and boundaries to keep themselves safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded by the childminder being aware of the need to ensure that they are only collected by authorised persons. She is aware of and understands her child protection responsibilities. She shares her written child protection statement with parents, although it does not reflect current Government guidance or include the various agencies’ contact details. Therefore, children are not fully protected and parents are not made fully aware of her child protection role and responsibility.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle well with the childminder, who provides many worthwhile activities to allow them opportunities to play and learn independently. They learn through their experiences, because the childminder purposely asks them questions about what they are doing, listening to what they say, to find out what they know. She extends their understanding by talking about activities, such as reinforcing their knowledge and understanding of quantities by using mathematical language when baking.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children can freely choose from the toys and activities on offer. Younger children enjoy being close to and interacting with the childminder through sharing books and singing songs. They are learning rhyme and rhythm, while developing a love of books. Children's achievements are regularly praised by the childminder to develop their confidence and to maintain their self-esteem. They have many first hand experiences to allow them to build on their natural curiosity, such as when making bread.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children acquire new knowledge and skills, such as the use of the computer search engine. They enjoy working with a varied range of creative materials, such as drawing, sticking and play dough, to enable them to express their experiences, feelings and ideas in a variety of ways. Toddlers are acquiring social confidence and competence as the childminder provides many opportunities for them to ‘snuggle’ in when responding to their individual needs. Toddlers appreciate books as the childminder regularly takes them to the library. They thoroughly enjoy her reading and talking to them about their books, such as ‘My Granny’s favourite things’. They use their developing physical skills to make social contact, such as babbling and smiling at the childminder when playing with her. The childminder listens to their sounds and responds appropriately to encourage early conversations.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. The childminder and parents work together to share information to ensure that children’s individual needs are met. Older children have a sense of importance as they self-register in and out of the childminder’s care. Children are developing increasing independence in organising their play, supported by the childminder's effective arrangement of routines, materials and equipment. Their self-confidence is encouraged and fostered by the childminder having clear and consistent expectations and trust in their abilities. Their desirable behaviour is encouraged by the childminder giving plenty of praise and by responding positively to their good behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have many opportunities to learn about the wider world through everyday activities and experiences, such as sharing books and conversations, in addition to trips to local educational facilities during school holidays. They are learning to appreciate and value each other’s similarities and differences by the provision of books and resources. The childminder raises their awareness of other cultures and customs by celebrating many festivals, such as the Chinese New Year and St Georges Day.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the childminder’s friendly partnership with parents and carers, who are kept informed of their experiences through a daily exchange of information. Pre-school aged children have informative daily diaries completed by both the childminder and parents to ensure that both parties are fully informed about their well-being. The sharing of information with parents contributes to the continuity of children’s care and to the promotion of their welfare and learning. Complimentary children’s and parents’ letters confirm that are very happy with the activities and care provided.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children feel at home and enjoy the space to move freely between rooms and garden. The childminder plans and organises her time to ensure that she spends most of her working day completely involved with the children, who all evidently enjoy each other’s company and their time together. The day is organised to give children the opportunity to experience a wide range of both inside and outside activities. The childminder is committed to providing quality care, recently attending first aid training to influence her practice for the benefit of the children.

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Organisation

Records are maintained for each child to enable the childminder to act in their best interests. Children benefit from their parents receiving some policies and procedures, although the complaints procedure requires review to ensure that they are fully informed how to make a complaint. The policies and satisfactory procedures in the childminder’s information leaflet ensures the children’s health, safety and well-being.

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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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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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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 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): • practise fire evacuation procedures with minded children • assess the risks to children in relation to the hazardous garden materials and take action to minimise these • review the policies and procedures to ensure that they meet the revised National Standards and associated guidance.

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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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