Childminder in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY291026 Inspection date 25 May 2005 Inspector Sonjia Nicholson

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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 2004, she has previous experience as a childminder when registered for 17 years with the local authority. She lives with her husband and their 15 year old son in High Wycombe, close to local amenities. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, with rest facilities available upstairs. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have three cats. The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding four children, all of whom attend on a part time basis. The registration does

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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 not include overnight care. The childminder attends a number of local carer and toddler groups on a regular basis. She has a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ3) in childcare gained when managing a local pre-school.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a range of activities both inside and outside that contributes to their good health. There are daily opportunities for them to develop their physical skills, exercise and have plenty of fresh air. Children enjoy and benefit from visits to the soft play centre and local parks to further enhance their physical skills. Children are cared for in a warm, clean, child-friendly environment where they are beginning to learn the importance of good hygiene. They wash their hands before meals and use wipes to clean their hands and faces afterwards. Children are becoming independent in their personal care; they access tissues to wipe their noses and know the importance of disposing of them in the bin after use. Good nappy changing procedures ensure children are not exposed to the cross-infection of germs. Children are developing their social skills through eating meals together at the table.

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Helping children to be healthy

They are beginning to be aware of their bodies needs and gain nourishment from the healthy food and regular drinks provided by the childminder. She takes account of children's likes and dislikes and the wishes of parents when offering drinks and snacks. Food and drinks are stored appropriately and this reduces the risk to children's health.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children feel safe and secure in their surroundings. They are cared for in a spacious home where hazards have been identified and minimised; this means they can move around freely and safely both inside and outside. Children remain safe as the childminder provides supervision at all times. Children make independent choices from a range of suitable and safe toys and equipment. The childminder safeguards and promotes most areas of children's welfare, however she has a limited knowledge of the local child protection procedures and does not share the child protection procedure document with parents. All required documentation is in place to ensure children's safety, for example, emergency contact details, health records and parental consents.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled. They have ample opportunities to make choices about their play and learning, for example, whether to play inside, explore outside or take part in an activity to decorate and ice cakes. The childminder uses photographs well to help children in their decision making and as part of their activities, for example, she has made "snap" cards of familiar people, activities and toys. The daily routine is led by the children that ensures they feel valued and develop their confidence. Displays of children's artwork within the home adds to their sense of belonging and feelings of self-esteem. The childminder offers a range of activities to develop children's learning such as, planting vegetables, painting and cooking; this extends beyond the home environment to include walks, attendance of toddler groups and visits to local attractions such as Booker Airfield and "Moonbase" soft

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

play centre. Children feel at ease with the childminder; she is aware of their individual needs and supports them well, for example offering cuddles to a younger child feeling tired and offering an alternative comforter to child who has left hers at home. Children are beginning to play together; they communicate freely but most play is parallel at this stage. They enjoy sharing books with the childminder which develops their language and listening skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are included and valued. The childminder is aware of their differing needs and stages of development and works closely with parents to ensure these are met. Children's personal routines are followed ensuring they can eat, sleep and rest accordingly. Children are learning about their local community as they go for walks and outings. The childminder respects the cultural needs of the children in her care, however, children have limited access to activities and resources which reflect diversity and promote positive images. Children behave well; they receive lots of praise and encouragement from the childminder and understand the simple house rules in place. Children benefit from the parental involvement in their care and learning; the childminder shares pertinent information with parents on a regular basis and provides good written information in the form of a daily diary.

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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 Children feel at home within the comfortable, well-organised environment. Good use is made of space; this allows children the freedom to move and play freely, both inside and outside. Children benefit from the knowledge and learning the childminder gains from attending regular training courses, which she then implements into her practice. The childminder maintains all the required documentation accurately, along with a number of written policies and procedures which form part of the welcome pack for parents; this ensures they are fully aware of the service provided and continuity of care for children is offered. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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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): • increase the selection of toys and resources that promote positive images and reflect diversity. • obtain a copy of the local Area Child Protection Committee procedures, develop an understanding of them and ensure they are shared with parents.

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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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