Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY232669 Unique Reference Number 06 July 2006 Inspection date Christine Myerscough 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 2002. She lives with her husband and two children aged ten and four years. They live in a house in the south of Manchester. The whole of the ground floor and an upstairs bedroom is used for childminding. There are gardens to the front and rear of the house which are available for outside play. There are currently two children on roll.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has two dogs, a cat and a bird. The childminder walks to a local school to collect children. 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 satisfactory. Children learn about appropriate hygiene practices through daily routines. They develop their independence as they use a step to gain easy access to the sink to wash their hands. Risk of cross contamination is minimised as the childminder implements hygienic nappy changing procedures. There are suitable arrangements in place with parents if children become ill. This enables the childminder to act in children's best interests and prevent the spread of infection. However, omissions in record keeping pose a potential risk to children's health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop healthy eating habits as a variety of nutritious foods are on offer. Fresh produce is available daily and homemade meals, such as curries and pasta dishes allow children to experience a range of tastes. Children quench their thirst and help themselves to their drinks which are accessible to them at all times. They enjoy refreshing chilled water from a water cooling machine.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children engage in activities to contribute towards a healthy lifestyle and keep them fit. A weekly trip to a toddler group provides a good amount of play space for them to experience the fun and freedom of running around. Visits to the local park help children to build their muscular strength and develop control over their bodies. They eagerly climb up the frame and play on the swings and slide. Children practise their physical skills as they push their trolleys and play tennis and skittles in the childminder's garden. Comfortable furnishings within the childminder's home provide for children's relaxation. They rest on the sofa and unwind which ensures their well-being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are always within the childminder's sight or hearing to help them feel reassured and keep them safe. They play in comfort and the furniture is effectively organised so they have space to move around without the worry of injuring themselves. Toys and equipment are well maintained and conform to safety standards. All resources are stored at child height on low-level shelving or in suitable plastic boxes. Children enjoy choosing their favourite items and freely select resources which stimulate their curiosity.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate preventative measures around the childminder's home prevent accidental injury. For example, there are gates on the access to the stairway and covers in low-level sockets. Regular risk assessments are carried out and yearly checks are undertaken on gas and electrical items to ensure they are in good working order. There are carbon monoxide detectors in place which provide a warning if there are potential hazards relating to gas appliances. Children join in with evacuation practices so they gain a clear understanding of the procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. However, the childminder does not seek written permission from parents to transport children in her car. There is also a poisonous plant in the front garden which poses an element of risk to children's safety.

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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 Children become knowledgeable about road safety matters and understand the need to stop at the crossing. They look left and right to check for any oncoming vehicles before they step from the pavement. Young children wear reins so they remain close to the childminder at all times to avoid dangers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy playing fun games with the childminder, such as hide and seek. She sits on the floor at their level and follows their interests. They laugh out loud as they push cars along the mat and bump them into one another. Playing closely together builds children's confidence levels and helps them to feel secure.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop their imagination as they pretend to iron the dressing up clothes and pour drinks in the home corner area. Music and sounds of play materials captivate their interest. They listen intently to songs and particularly enjoy the childminder repeating familiar rhymes. As they engage in play, the childminder consistently talks to them to promote their language and communication skills. As a consequence, they develop their vocabulary and understanding. Children take an interest in books as they point to different animals and make good attempts at remembering the sounds they make. Younger children take part in some opportunities to promote their sensory development, such as playing with sand and paint.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Older children enjoy making their own decisions about what they want to play with on their return from school. For example, they make models from junk and play with dough. The childminder restricts the amount of time children watch television by making it available only for a short period before their parents arrive to collect them. This encourages children to play and chat with one another so they learn to become friendly and sociable.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children feel at ease in their surroundings and freely express themselves as they play. They are treated with respect which helps them to feel valued. The childminder discusses similarities and differences with children so they learn to develop a positive attitude towards others. Awareness of the local environment is developed through trips within the community to places of interest, such as farms and parks. The childminder demonstrates a commitment towards providing an inclusive service and recognises the importance of working with parents to meet children's specific requirements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn right from wrong. The childminder discusses with them what is expected of their behaviour and the reasons why. The use of verbal praise supports children's efforts. They smile with delight as the childminder claps her hands together and tells them how clever they are.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A friendly approach with parents helps to build positive relationships. Time is spent chatting together at the end of the day to enable relevant information to be shared. This keeps parents suitably informed and provides consistency of care for children to ensure their individual needs are met.

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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 satisfactory. Children benefit from a good amount of individual attention and a relaxed atmosphere. This helps them to build positive relationships with the childminder and settle in quickly. The childminder keeps her first aid training up-to-date so she is in a position to administer treatment to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded.

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Organisation

The childminder shows a commitment to improving her practice to promote positive outcomes for children. Since the last inspection, she has attended training on managing children's behaviour. She has also booked a place on a short course to learn about the Birth to three matters framework to develop her knowledge and skills in this area.

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Organisation

Documentation is well-organised and stored in a filing case to ensure confidentiality. However, some records lack the required detail to maintain a safe and efficient service. 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 childminder agreed to take positive steps to maintain children's safety, keep records accessible and in order, ensure resources promote equality of opportunity and provide activities to support children's development.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A guard is now fastened to the wall over the fire and a mirror is secured above the mantle. Low level glass is covered with safety film and a rug no longer poses a trip hazard. Records are available for inspection. Parents give prior written consent before medication is administered and for the childminder to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. A daily register is kept which includes the arrival and departure times of children. The childminder has a sufficient understanding about her role with regard to child protection. Existing injuries are recorded and the necessary contact details are in place if procedures need to be followed in the event of identifying a concern. These improvements keep children safe. Good links are made with a local toy library. Children access a variety of resources to reflect diversity, such as musical instruments from a range of countries and multi-cultural books. This helps them to develop a positive view

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Improvements since the last inspection

and understanding of the wider world. A clear routine is established for the day with opportunities for free play and structured activities. This supports children's learning and as a result, they make steady progress in their development.

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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 made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaint record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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Complaints 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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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): • request information from parents about any special dietary requirements and ensure parents sign the record book to acknowledge the entry when medication is given to children • ensure the poisonous plant in the front garden is inaccessible to children • ensure written consent is gained from parents to transport children in the car • develop sensory experiences for young children, by using the Birth to three matters framework.

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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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