Childminder in North Yorkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY261497 Inspection date 28 November 2005 Inspector Mandy Black

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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 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 has been registered since 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged 9 and 11 years. The family home is a bungalow, in a cul-de-sac in Bedale, North Yorkshire, with an enclosed rear garden. The property is within walking distance of Bedale Primary School. Minded children have access to all rooms with the exception of the master bedroom. The childminder is registered to care for six children and is currently caring for four children under eight, and five children over eight, on a part time basis. The family have a pet rabbit. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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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 outstanding. Children are extremely well supported to stay healthy, because the childminder provides all parents with a very comprehensive written sickness policy, which is rigidly adhered to at all times. This effectively safeguards the health of all those attending. Children are cared for in a very clean and well maintained environment, where they are clearly learning about simple good health and hygiene practices. For example, with a high level of support and guidance from the childminder, all children clean their teeth before going to school. They wash their hands thoroughly and properly, using their own colour coded face cloths and towels. Children are very well nourished and learn very successfully about healthy living. They are provided with exceptionally healthy and nutritious meals which they help to choose from recipe books. The childminder is currently actively encouraging children

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Helping children to be healthy

to extend their limited dietary preferences and try a vast range of interesting, different fruit and vegetables, such as aubergines. Children use the information about their likes and dislikes to complete a chart to help the childminder plan their future meals. Jugs of juice on the kitchen worktop ensures children can access drinks at all times; a younger child clearly indicates his choice of drink by pointing to the jug. Children also access healthy drinks such a carrot and orange, or celery and orange, which the childminder blends for them. The childminder ensures that children enjoy plenty of physical activity, which means that their need for fresh air and exercise is very well catered for. For example, they always walk to school each day, taking different routes which can be shorter or longer, depending on available time. A bag of bats and balls is regularly used on the local playing field, so that children can effectively develop their throwing and catching

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Helping children to be healthy

skills whilst playing rounders, French cricket and bowling. Children very enthusiastically refine their trampoline skills as they bounce safely on the garden trampoline, under excellent supervision from the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children thrive in a warm, welcoming, safe and secure environment. The attendance register is very successfully maintained with full details of all children's arrival and departure times; it is signed and acknowledged by parents and all emergency contact numbers are always kept with the register for fire safety purposes. Children develop a very good sense of road safety as they practice crossing the roads on their way to school. They are closely supervised by the childminder, older children walk sensibly in pairs and small children are securely strapped into a pushchair to keep them safe and secure. The childminder understands her role in child protection and feels she is able to put appropriate procedures into practice, when necessary to suitably protect children.

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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 However she does lack confidence in this area and would definitely benefit positively from further knowledge and understanding of child protection. Children access a very good range of toys, games and resources because the childminder cleans and maintains them well. They are stored in an organised manner, on shelves and in clear plastic storage trays. This enables children to easily see what is available and access equipment easily.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children develop high levels of confidence, self-esteem and respond positively and affectionately towards the childminder, because she consistently boosts their confidence with her praise and encouragement. She demonstrates close and caring relationships as a young child falls asleep, very contentedly, on her lap. Older children acquire new knowledge and skills and respond well to challenge. For example, they access a very interesting range of creative activities, such as making personalised mugs and Christmas cards. The childminder provides an excellent range of resources to support this and encourages children to create and design using their own individual ideas. Young children show great interest in what they do, as they play enthusiastically with a small world train set. The childminder is actively involved and plays alongside them. She supports children's language development well as she repeats words back to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children, talks to them frequently, asking questions and introducing new vocabulary.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are well cared for by the childminder who works consistently with parents to meet individual children’s needs and ensure that they are fully included. She implements very good settling in arrangements so that children feel happy to attend. Parents are provided with very good information about the care their children receive, but arrangements for making complaints have not yet been updated in line with recent changes to requirements. All children feel a strong sense of belonging because the childminder delegates jobs to them and values their cooperation. She encourages older children to support the younger ones by helping them to take off their coats and shoes after school, and supervising them washing their hands correctly. All children take turns with chores such as setting the table for snacks which promotes a good sense of responsibility. Children clearly understand responsible behaviour and are involved in developing

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Helping children make a positive contribution

rules. The childminder has a firm but fair approach and she uses appropriate methods of managing behaviour. She encourages children to consider the feelings and needs of others, and play harmoniously with them.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children feel extremely comfortable and very much at home within the exceptionally well organised setting. For example, space and resources are very well presented to maximise play opportunities for all children, they can eat and play successfully at the kitchen table, and have lots of room to play and relax in the lounge. The childminder plans activities in advance to ensure that time spent with the children is productive and worthwhile. The number of small children currently cared for by the childminder is very low. This enables her to offer a consistently high level of support and means that children are secure and confident as a result. The childminder's policies and procedures work very successfully in practice to promote good outcomes for children. She ensures that all parents receive excellent, professionally presented written information about all aspects of her service, which is frequently updated.

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Organisation

Very well maintained documentation confirms that the childminder is highly organised, up to date and has a significant regard for confidentiality. Overall the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom care is provided.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, the childminder has been continually looking at ways to improve her practice. She involves the many older children she cares for, in her discussions about how she can develop her childminding service. For example, she discusses the importance of a healthy diet with children. They agree about different fruits and vegetables they can try as well as selecting healthy options from a recipe book. The childminder is very keen to extend her knowledge through additional training, such as further NCMA childminding courses, which will enable her to enhance the good service she already offers to children.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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

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 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): • develop knowledge and understanding of child protection issues • revise the complaints policy for parents and introduce a complaints record in order to meet new registration requirements.

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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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