Childminder in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 252405 Inspection date 20 March 2006 Inspector Alison Putnar

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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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

This childminder registered in 1989 and lives with her husband and one of their grown up children in a semi detached house a residential area of Beeston. Their home is within walking distance of schools, parks and shops. This childminder is registered to care for 6 children under 8 years of age. There are currently 11 children under 8 on roll attending various times during the week. Children over 8 also attend. Minded children have access to the lounge, dining kitchen and a small conservatory for play and sleeping, with toilet facilities provided on the first floor. There is also an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. Julie is a member of the National

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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 Childminding Association and the local childminders support group, she holds an NVQ level 3 in childminding practice and a first aid certificate.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a clean and well maintained home. They begin to develop suitable hygiene routines, washing their hands after playing outdoors or using the toilet. Children recognise the need to have regular drinks; older ones serve themselves promoting their personal independence skills. Children are not always actively encouraged to make healthy drink choices; they often choose juice rather than water or milk to drink. Children are adequately nourished; systems are in place to ensure they are fed according to their dietary needs. Babies are fed meals provided by the parents, promoting continuity in their care. Older children have a variety of foods; meals after school generally include a high proportion of processed foods. Some fresh produce including fruits and vegetables are provided and these more effectively support the good health of the children. Children's medical health is generally well maintained as the childminder shares a

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Helping children to be healthy

written policy about the exclusion of sick children with parents, preventing cross infection. Suitable systems are in place for recording details of accidents and medication, although, the record does not include prior written consent for administering medication each time. The childminder has completed the required first aid training ensuring she is suitably skilled to deal with any accidents in an emergency. Children benefit from opportunities for exercise and to gain fresh air as they walk to and from local schools with the childminder. They sometimes visit local parks and use the garden for a wider range of physical activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Children's safety is adequately maintained in the home. Children are supervised generally well to ensure the risk of accidents are minimised. However, the high number of children attending at times, adversely impacts upon the childminder's and assistant's ability to supervise all children effectively. This potentially impacts on children's safety and at times restricts the amount of free space available to them. For example, some children's social skills are not effectively promoted at meal times; space at the table is limited for the numbers present. As a result some children sit on the settee and watch television, while others more appropriately engage in conversation at the table. Children develop their awareness of road safety through discussion and practise with the childminder on the walk home from school. The high number of children at times potentially impacts on the childminder's ability to keep all

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

the children safe during this time. A fire evacuation procedure has been developed, but is infrequently practised when children are present. Space is used generally well to ensure children sleep according to their needs. Children access a suitable amount

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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 of space during the day and choose from an appropriate range of resources and play materials. Equipment and toys available are maintained in a good state of repair and are safe for those accessing them. Children are encouraged to choose what they want to play with, fostering their enjoyment and interest. Children's welfare is safe guarded in relation to child protection, as the childminder has a sound understanding of related procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. For the majority of time children are well cared for by the childminder. She engages in play with the children, skilfully extending their language skills through using and repeating back simple words with the younger children. Children have good relationships with the childminder and her family and enjoy their play. At times an increase in the number of young children cared for, adversely impacts on the childminders ability to give all the children the in-depth levels of attention they require. Children experience play in the home and sometimes visit local community groups to widen their experiences, here they mix with others of similar ages, developing their social skills. The childminder is at a very early stage of using the 'Birth to three matters' framework to guide her practice in providing activities that help young children to make further progress as they explore through play. Activities in the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

home include a sufficient variety to enable children to make some progress in their development. For example, a young child develops physical skills of manipulating a pencil as he appropriately attempts random scribbles during a drawing activity. The childminder extends his enjoyment and learning as together they draw round his hand and the childminder models counting his fingers. A younger baby is able to safely take part as the childminder positions herself well, appropriately sitting with him. Time and resources are organised to enable older children to choose what they want to play with after a busy day at school. The choice frequently includes craft activities, outdoor play, playing on computerised games or relaxing watching the television.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are confident to initiate play and voice their needs, indicating they want a drink or asking for toys in the childminders home. Good relationships are evident between the minded children, childminder and her assistant. Younger children begin to work harmoniously together through the childminder's support. For example, children take part in activities together; the childminder helps a toddler to draw round a baby's foot. Both children smile at each other and enjoy the play, promoting sharing and turn taking skills. Young children behave well in response to the childminders sensitive handling. Younger ones learn about appropriate behaviour as she offers explanations of why they should not do something, for example, a child is reminded 'to not play with the door as he may trap his fingers'. The child responds appropriately and is distracted effectively by the childminder to play with a toy. Older ones are

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Helping children make a positive contribution

aware of expectations of behaviour in the home through discussions with the

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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 childminder. The childminder has a suitable awareness of systems to support children with special needs, but has limited practical experience of this area of work. Children are equally encouraged to access all resources. They take part in craft activities that help them to learn about special days and some festivals from around the world. A selection of toys promote positive images of the wider society, these begin to support children in positively exploring peoples similarities and differences. Children's individual details are appropriately recorded to ensure the childminder is aware of their needs. Communication systems with parents are largely informal; the childminder is available to verbally feedback at the end of the day and develops strong personal relationships with parents. She has developed few written

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Helping children make a positive contribution

procedures about the care she provides or her childminding practices, for example, there is no system for recording concerns or complaints.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. Frequently children have appropriate levels of support and supervision to enable them to feel secure in the childminder's home. They are generally active and interested as time is well organised on the whole. The childminder has a sound understanding of requirements of childminding and has attended required courses. She is committed to supporting the families and children she works with. However, her desire to meet parents' wishes and requests for childcare means that legal requirements of registration are breached. On several occasions too many children under 5 years are cared for, adversely impacting on their care, welfare and potentially their safety. At these times space is restricted and the amount of individual attention the childminder can offer is limited. While an assistant is available to offer support to the children and the childminder, a request to increase the permitted number of

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Organisation

younger children is not in place. Records relating to the children's personal details are completed generally well and stored in an organised and confidential manner. Some required records, such as the register of attendance, are not clearly or accurately completed. Overall, children's needs are not met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to improve her systems of recording children's attendance and to practice the fire evacuation procedures ensuring all children can evacuate safely. The childminder has made limited progress in these areas. A fire evacuation procedure has been practised, but, this is too infrequent to ensure all children are familiar with the procedure and can evacuate safely. The register now includes times of children's attendance, however, this is not consistently and accurately recorded and remains an area for improvement following this inspection.

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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 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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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, the registered person must take the following actions: • review the organisation of children to ensure that conditions of registration are complied with and that children's safety is maintained, in relation to the number of children present at anyone time • develop systems for keeping Ofsted informed of significant events, for example, any changes that effect registration conditions, in addition improve the organisation of the daily record of attendance to ensure it is accurate, includes the full names of children and hours of attendance and names of persons who look after them. These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

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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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