Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY265782 Unique Reference Number 31 October 2006 Inspection date Marian Bvumburai Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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 satisfactory. 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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and two children, both of whom are aged over eight years in Hull. The ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding. Children do not access the first floor of the house for any reason. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding three children who all attend a variety of sessions. The childminder walks to and from the local school to take and collect children. She takes the children regularly to the local library and play park.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is a member of an approved childminding network, and 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. The childminder promotes children’s well-being effectively through a range of activities, practices and clear explanations. They have regular physical exercise and are provided with healthy snacks and drinks which contribute to their good health. She ensures that they have varied opportunities and space to exercise in a safe environment. For example, children regularly exercise as they walk to and from school and play in the garden. She also takes the children to the ‘Big fun’ play park where they enjoy climbing, using slides, running around, and playing in the soft ball pool.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy being cared for in a very warm and welcoming, clean home. They know the importance of good personal hygiene and practice this through daily routines. For example, a three-year-old child was heard washing his hands after using the toilet, he commented on the piece of soap being hard, and then he said he would use his own towel to dry his hands. Each child has their own small towel and these are washed regularly and are hung separately, which helps to prevent cross infection. The childminder bags the used nappies immediately, and washes her hands with soap after nappy changing. She talks to children throughout, about what she is doing and gives clear explanations of why it is important. As a result, children become aware and routinely wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder effectively implements policies and procedures relating to health and safety and these are understood well by parents. For example, parents do not take children who are ill with infectious illnesses to the provision, which helps to prevent the spread of infection to others. Accidents to any child or medication administered are recorded by the childminder and signed by parents to acknowledge the record.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has forged good relationships with parents and they work closely to ensure that meals offered are healthy and enjoyable. She provides snacks and drinks only, the parents provide meals. Children’s dietary requirements and parents wishes are taken into account and any concerns about the food provision are discussed. For example, she says that if she notices that the baby does not like a meal, she informs the parents. Children are provided with fresh fruits, toast and an occasional biscuit. They drink plenty of milk, and water is readily available and kept within the children’s reach in their individual bottles. She talks to them about the benefits of eating well. Children understand that sugar is not good for their teeth.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. She provides a homely environment where safety standards are emphasised and maintained to ensure children’s safety. For example, she has a smoke detector on each floor of the house and has installed a carbon monoxide detector in the sitting room near the gas fire. These are checked regularly to ensure they are in working order. She has an emergency evacuation plan in place and generally talks to children about keeping themselves safe. For example, she says when

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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 they walk to and from school the children know not to walk past the ‘black bit’ on the pavement. The ‘black bits’, symbolise access for cars.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Furniture is placed appropriately to ensure provision of ample, safe play space in the spacious sitting/dining room. All the children enjoy freedom of movement and they easily reach their toys and resources which helps to build their confidence. For example, older children go into the conservatory area and select toys and resources from the crates. She puts a few cuddly toys and other age appropriate toys on the floor for the baby.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children independently choose what they want to do and are skilfully supported by the childminder. They are provided with a wide range of age appropriate good quality, safe equipment, toys, resources and activities. For example, during their chosen activity of biscuit icing, the childminder put up a child-size table on one end of the room. She ensured that the young children could safely and comfortably reach and enjoy the activity whilst making sure that the baby had enough space to roll on the floor.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are effectively learning how to keep themselves safe. They demonstrate increasing awareness of this and have an understanding of the consequences of their actions. For example, they move slowly and carefully to make sure that they do not step on the baby when he is rolling on the floor. They understand that the baby could get hurt if they stepped on him or her.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is knowledgeable about safeguarding children. She has attended a course on safeguarding children and knows the common signs and symptoms to be concerned about. She knows the reporting procedures to follow if concerned that a child is being harmed. She keeps her first aid box to hand, as well as important emergency contact numbers. However, the childminder’s first aid certificate validity lapsed in September. She has not maintained a valid first aid certificate as required which is a breach of regulation. She is aware of this and has already secured a place to attend ‘first aid training for child carers’ this December. The risk and impact on children’s safety is minimal due to the fact that she has previous knowledge and is an experienced childminder, however, this needs to be in place as soon as possible in order to comply with regulation.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder ensures that the children's enjoyment and achievement are central to the service she provides and has embraced the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework well. She is experienced and has a good knowledge and understanding of child development. For example, she ensures that feeding and sleep routines are adhered to for babies, and discusses the child’s likes and dislikes with parents for older children. She uses this knowledge skilfully to help children settle quickly. All children enjoy purpose-planned activities as well as free play. She provides good quality and age-appropriate resources which support and enhance children’s individual learning. For example, young children were observed enjoying preparing and mixing icing for the biscuits they had baked earlier. She used this opportunity to reinforce learning about colours and also challenge the children’s knowledge. ‘What colour is it’, she asked, ‘It’s

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 yellow’ said the children. ‘What else do you like eating that is yellow?’, ‘Bananas’ said the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's work and achievements are acknowledged and valued. They make decisions and are listened to. For example, following the biscuit decorating activity, the children asked if they could decorate their spider cuttings using glue and glitter in line with the Halloween theme. The childminder got this ready and the children were observed to enjoy this immensely. She keeps photographs of children enjoying play and some of their work is decorated in the room which makes them feel valued.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder knows the children well as individuals. She uses her developmental observations as a planning tool to ensure that each child’s individual needs are catered for. She takes into account all the areas of learning as well as the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework in her planning. She provides interesting activities to extend the children’s learning through daily routines. For example, all children including babies enjoy physical play regularly, young children discuss house numbers as they walk to and from school which helps their mathematical development, and they learn right from wrong through clear explanations. For example, when the children attempted to give the baby a biscuit, the childminder explained to them why the baby could not eat biscuits just yet. Each child has a daily diary and a work file. Parents have immediate access to their own child’s records on request, as these are kept in a secure place in order to

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are happy, confident, and well behaved. They play well together and are learning right from wrong. The knowledgeable and skilled childminder has simple ground rules in place which the children become aware of. They understand and follow the boundaries and routines and this helps them to feel safe, knowing what is expected. For example, children were observed going to wash their hands and sitting down to the table once the childminder announced that it was lunch time. They routinely help to tidy up and they put something away before getting more toys out.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents effectively contribute to their children's learning and welfare through the daily exchange of information. They work closely with the childminder to ensure that the children are happy and settled. For example, the childminder texts some parents at lunch time to let them know how the children are. She says that this helps parents to settle at work as they can not always call. All parents complete child record forms and contracts. They give the childminder the child’s personal details including any allergies, their own contact details and those of any other emergency contacts.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder promotes equality of opportunity effectively for all children through well thought out activities, discussions, and provision of toys and resources which reflect positive images of race, gender, culture and disability. For example, she has dolls that depict different races, books and puzzles showing different families and she celebrates a variety of festivals including those of other cultures. She supports and helps children to learn about the diverse world around them with interest and confidence. For example, she has attended a course on

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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 using Makaton to communicate and says that she intends to teach children this. She has started to introduce children to this through watching a television programme called ‘Mr Tickle’.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is mostly well organised and is skilled and experienced. She holds Introduction to Childminding Practice certificate, Diploma in Childminding Practice certificate and Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE) level 2 certificate for teaching assistants. She keeps most of the records, policies and procedures which are required for the efficient and safe management of the provision. These are maintained and kept up to date. For example, the daily attendance register is kept up to date and shows the exact times of children's arrival and departure and the registration certificate is displayed. However, the complaints procedure is outdated and does not show accurate contact details for the regulatory body and she has not maintained a valid first aid certificate as required.

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Organisation

Children's enjoyment and achievement are central to the service she provides. They demonstrate a sense of belonging and she ensures consistency with regard to a pattern of daily routines. They feel safe and are confident, knowing what to expect. They freely approach the childminder and are able to express their feelings. For example, they openly ask for their preferred activities or toys. Children move freely in the spacious and appropriately organised rooms, enjoying safe play space and independent access to resources.

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Organisation

The childminder has good relationships with parents. Parents are made aware of the policies and procedures, and information about their child's progress is routinely and effectively shared. Children benefit from the good working relationships as current information is regularly passed on which helps the childminder to understand the children well and address their needs. For example, as children are collected, the childminder briefly tells parents about what activities they have had, nappy changes, food consumption and the mood the child has been in. This helps the parent to determine the kind of evening they may have with the child and visa versa and the children are brought to the childminder.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the provision was issued with recommendations regarding organisation, staying safe and positive contribution.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The provision has addressed the issues raised. Children's attendance is now recorded in ink and shows arrival and departure times which helps to keep children safe. The childminder has expanded resources to promote positive images of disability which helps the children learn about society as a whole positively. The small wall heaters have been made inaccessible to children by fitting fire guards around them and the fencing between the childminder and the neighbour has been replaced with a four foot high fence to ensure children's safety.

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Improvements 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

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints 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

The quality and standards of the care are satisfactory. 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): • ensure that a valid first aid certificate is maintained at all times • ensure that the complaints procedure is kept up to date and provides parents with accurate details of the regulator.

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The quality and standards of the care

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) 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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