Childminder in Swindon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY291242 Inspection date 03 May 2005 Inspector Rachel Edwards

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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 lives with her husband and 16 month old daughter in a house, in Shaw, West Swindon. The whole house is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The house is within walking distance of schools, parks and shops. There are no pets. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. She currently cares for two children, who attend part-time. She regularly takes them to local parks, the library and a soft play area. She 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 are cared for in a warm, clean home, where even the very youngest children learn about the importance of personal hygiene such as blowing their noses and washing their hands thoroughly before eating. Toys and equipment are routinely cleaned which helps reduce the risk of cross contamination. The childminder shares a generally effective written sickness policy with parents to help protect children from illness and infection. The children benefit from a varied and healthy range of meals and snacks. These are social events, when children are encouraged to feed themselves and gently introduced to new tastes. The childminder takes account of children's preferences and parents' wishes so that the children's nutritional needs are well met. Parents may provide their own food if they prefer. Drinks are freely available throughout the day and children are regularly reminded of this.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children have a warm and trusting relationship with the childminder, they readily go to her for reassurance and support. She structures the day so that children's home routines for eating and sleeping are not disrupted and she discusses with parents the children's fears and sources of comfort. This helps children feel settled and emotionally secure. Children benefit from being outside in the fresh air when they go for daily walks but are not always sufficiently encouraged to develop their large muscles through physical play such as crawling, climbing, rolling or moving to music.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children are cared for in a welcoming, secure and safe environment. The childminder routinely checks her home for hazards, taking into account the children's stage of development, such as moving dangerous objects out of their reach and fitting safety gates as the young children in her care become more mobile. Highly effective fencing has been used to keep children safe in the split level garden. She plans outings carefully, for example keeping toddlers safely strapped into the buggy when near water. There are smoke detectors in the home but the childminder has not fully thought about how to evacuate the building, which could put children at greater risk in an emergency. The children can choose from a selection of good quality toys which are safe and appropriate to their age. The childminder is clear about her responsibilities regarding children's welfare. She has a good understanding of the procedures she must follow if she has concerns

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

about a child and shares this with parents. She holds a current first aid certificate and

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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 could act in the children's best interests if there were an accident.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder interacts very well with the young children she cares for, both of whom are under two years. She is very attentive as they communicate their thoughts and needs through gestures, facial expressions and early speech. This helps them to develop their language skills and her encouragement makes them confident to try new activities. The children begin to develop independence as they choose from a good range of toys and books. They enjoy listening to rhymes and music. The childminder observes what children can do and what they enjoy playing with and shares this information with parents. She plans how to help children progress, for example by gradually introducing more challenging toys. She clearly enjoys playing with the children and helping them learn, for example, children delightedly point at the ducks in the picture book whilst the childminder counts them. She does not yet

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

regularly provide 'messy' activities, such as paint, dough, sand and water so that the children do not benefit from these enjoyable, sensory experiences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder works closely with parents, sharing information about the children and the care she provides, for example by providing written daily diaries for each child, so that she can take account of children's individual needs and parents' wishes. Children begin to learn about caring for their environment such as by tidying away toys and to respect others' needs as they learn to share and take turns. Children's self-esteem and confidence grows as the childminder praises and encourages their efforts. A little boy beams as he is congratulated on finishing a puzzle. The children begin to learn about the wider world on interesting everyday outings, such as, looking at different foods on shopping trips or visiting the library. When the children are ready to benefit, the childminder will take them to local toddler groups, which will allow them to mix with a wider circle of people and help develop their social

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Helping children make a positive contribution

skills. Their awareness of others is not fully developed as there are only limited play resources in the home that reflect diversity.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children are totally at ease in the very well organised environment. They are confident to seek support from the childminder and to express their needs and choose toys for themselves. Policies and procedures are comprehensive and most are used effectively to promote the welfare, care and learning of the children. They are shared regularly with parents to keep them well informed about the service and

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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 their child's activities. The daily routine is well planned so that children's individual needs can be met and they are happy and settled in her care. For example, she does not attend the toddler group as this would disrupt children's sleep routine, instead she plans alternative outings to ensure children benefit from mixing with others. The childminder shows a strong commitment to improvement and development. She regularly reflects on the care she provides, reviews her resources and plans activities that take good account of what children can do and what they need to learn next. The childminder meets the needs well 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): • further enhance the already good practice of care for the under three's by following an appropriate framework for this age group, such as the Birth to Three Matters framework

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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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