Patel, Nasreen

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY308741 Inspection date 23 March 2006 Inspector Ann Bamford

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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?

The childminder offers care from her home in the Queens Park area of Blackburn. The home is close to all local amenities. She has been registered since October 2005 and is a member of the National Childminding Association Children have use of the whole of the ground floor which includes toilet facilities. They are taken to a local park to play outdoors as the setting has no outdoor play area. All areas of the home are adapted to accept wheelchairs.

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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 Care is available from 08.00 until 17.00 each weekday during school term times. The childminder lives with her husband, one adult daughter and two other children. At the time of the inspection there were four children on roll.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children stay generally healthy as the childminder uses knowledge gained from training such as a food hygiene course when preparing food for children. The childminder encourages good hygiene routines and assists children with tasks such as blowing noses competently. Children are developing skills in caring for their own good health as they blow their noses with increasing independence. However, children's continued good health is not guaranteed as the childminder has not sought parental consent for any emergency treatment in respect of children present at the time of inspection. Children are nourished effectively. The childminder holds a good knowledge of what is included in a healthy diet. She uses this together with verbal information from parents to provide children with food which each child likes and that meets their individual needs. Children are developing an awareness of healthy eating as they

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Helping children to be healthy

enjoy fruit at snack time which is attractively presented for them. The childminder provides children with regular opportunities to go out to a local park. In addition the home is organised to allow children plenty of space to move around freely. Children are developing manoeuvring skills as they move around the room on a push along bike.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Children are cared for in an environment which is warm and clean but not safe. Although the childminder stays with children all the time they are being cared for, she has not effectively reduced all the risks in the areas of the home where children are cared for. This leaves children at risk of sustaining injuries. Children use suitable equipment as the childminder holds knowledge of how to select toys and equipment with regard for safety and the developmental stage of the children who are being offered care. The childminder's use of this knowledge when laying toys out for children to select, ensures that children can play safely. In addition children are developing an understanding of babies safety needs, as the childminder discusses with older children how they may have toys with smaller pieces out once the baby is not sat on the floor. Children are not fully protected as the childminder holds an insecure knowledge of

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

how to act in the event of an allegation about an adult or other household member. In

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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 addition, the childminder does not hold the local area child protection guidelines, nor does she know who to contact in the event of a child protection concern about a child. This fails to protect children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are purposefully engaged in activity during their time spent in the setting. The childminder has a knowledge and understanding of child development. She has begun to use this to plan activities which develop children's skill and enjoyment. Children are able to select their own toys and equipment from a range available. The childminder plays alongside children offering them additional information, such as why sheep have woolly coats. She assists children's development of concentration skills by asking children, for example, to repeat parts of a familiar story. However, the childminder does not fully focus on what children can already do which means that children do not experience much encouragement to take the next steps in their learning. Children are developing the ability to communicate effectively as the childminder encourages them to be aware of the likes and needs of others. Children are starting

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

to play collaboratively as the childminder encourages older children to offer toys to those younger than themselves.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are developing an awareness of the wider world as the childminder talks about how people in wheelchairs develop strong arms. In addition children play with toys and books which present positive images of race and gender. The childminder holds an adequate knowledge of special needs. She is clear how to gather information in order to asses how she could offer care to a child who had special needs. Children are developing responsible and considerate behaviour as a result of the childminder's clear encouragement of children to consider others needs. Children of mixed ages play harmoniously together as a result of the childminder's careful planning of equipment and her regular reminders to older children to share and offer toys to younger children. Children are polite and well behaved as a result of the specific praise they receive from the childminder for saying 'Please' and 'Thank you'

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Helping children make a positive contribution

to each other. Children are generally cared for in line with parents' wishes. The childminder discusses areas of care with parents and generally offers care using information gathered from parents to meet children's individual needs. Some use is made of a home/childminder diary but the lack of consistency in what is included in these diaries impedes a fully effective working in partnership with parents. There is a written

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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 complaints policy and record for parents which is available on request, however, this information does not contain contact details for the regulator.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. The childminder has begun to organise her home and her time to care for children. However, she has not made full use of her knowledge, to plan safe care for children. Children's well-being is adversely affected as the childminder does not fully and consistently complete the necessary documentation for the safe care of children. The inconsistency in keeping individual information such as contacts for doctors and health information fails to fully safeguard children's health. In addition the lack of parental permission for emergency treatment or for other aspects of care such as car travel fails to promote children's welfare. Although the childminder has begun to make records on children these are not consistently kept and were not available during the inspection. The childminder has yet to fully develop systems for regularly sharing these records with parents. The setting fails to meet the needs of all children who attend.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report. The childminder is required to keep a record of complaints, which must be shown to parents on request. This record may contain information on complaints other than those referred 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:

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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 • take steps to ensure that all hazards in the home are minimised (with regard to the fire surround and the kitchen) • increase awareness of action to be taken in the event of an allegation about an adult and who to contact in the event of a concern about a child. • keep the necessary records to promote the welfare of children ( with regard to individual information and permission for emergency treatment) 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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