Childminder in Manchester

Inspection report for early years provision

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500557 Unique Reference Number 18 July 2006 Inspection date Sheila Iwaskow 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. At the time of the inspection there were no children on roll. Ofsted judges that the provider remains suitable to provide care.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1990. She lives with her husband and two adult children in the Northern Moor area of Manchester. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding which includes a lounge, kitchen/dining area and toilet facilities. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time; currently there are no children on roll. 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. The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of how children's good health is promoted. She has systems in place to gather information from parents regarding medical needs, dietary requirements and allergies. She describes how children would learn about their personal hygiene through their normal daily routine, for example, by washing their hands after toileting, messy play and before eating. The childminder has a valid first aid certificate and a fully stocked first aid box which ensures that children receive appropriate levels of care in the event of an accident or emergency. To provide continuity of care, the childminder is aware that routines for young babies should reflect those established at home.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder's garden provides children with a safe and secure environment in which children can play. A good range of outdoor play equipment, such as slides, bikes and wheeled toys, is available to allow children to develop their physical skills whilst having fun. The childminder describes how the children would be involved in regular walks to Wythenshawe Park where they would have the opportunity to feed the ducks and visit the animals that live on the farm.

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Helping children to be healthy

From discussions, the childminder shows a clear appreciation of the benefits of a healthy diet to children's health. She recognises the needs to have drinking water available at all times to allow children to quench their thirst. When caring for children she provides them with a range of well-balanced meals which include beans, fishcakes, vegetables and salad.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder provides a welcoming and spacious home that enables children to play freely and without restriction. Playrooms are well ventilated and benefit from lots of natural sunlight. The childminder recognises the need to provide older children with space where they can simply relax or do their homework. Children have access to a good range of toys and equipment that meet all their learning needs. The childminder explains that toys are rotated to maintain stimulation and those selected are laid out so that they are easily accessible to children, giving them freedom of choice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All reasonable steps have been taken by the childminder to ensure that children are cared for in a safe and secure environment. Entrances and exits to the premises are secure and safety features, such as smoke alarms and a fire blanket, are securely in place. When childminding she implements effective procedures for the safe collection of children at the end of the day. She describes how she would get out of the house in the event of a fire, however, she does not practise these procedures with the children, which compromises their safety. The childminder discusses how she teaches the children to keep themselves safe by encouraging them to follow the Green Cross Code when out walking.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected because the childminder shows a clear awareness of child protection issues and procedures.

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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 satisfactory. The childminder, through discussions, displays a good understanding of the need to provide a balanced range of activities across all areas of children's learning. She recognises the importance of providing children with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities, including; taking children to toddler groups to develop their social skills, using everyday routines to enhance mathematical development, and language activities to promote their communication skills. Photographic evidence demonstrates that the childminder provides a range of creative and imaginative activities which allow children to develop their ideas and express them freely.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder talks about developing children's self-esteem and confidence by providing a supportive environment in which they feel happy and secure. She demonstrates a growing awareness of the Birth to three matters framework, however, this needs to be further developed to ensure the needs of younger children are totally met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder demonstrates a sound awareness of how to promote children's perception of diversity and their understanding of others. She uses resources, celebrates some cultural festivals and gives children the chance to taste food from other countries, increasing their awareness of the wider world. Visits to the shops and local schools help to develop children's knowledge of their local community and the diversity of the people who work and live there. The childminder recognises that children with special needs should be welcomed into a sharing and inclusive environment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

From discussions, the childminder indicates that she works closely with parents to ensure that children are happy in her care. Regular sharing of information provides her with an understanding of children's needs, enabling her to establish a routine that is familiar to children. However, parents are not made aware of Ofsted's telephone number and the childminder is insecure in her knowledge of recent changes to the National Standards regarding the logging of complaints.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder shows a good awareness of behaviour management issues. She spoke of using distraction for very young children and providing age appropriate explanations to older children. She recognises the need to encourage children to be kind and respectful to each other, to share and to take turns as they play.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. There were no minded children present during this inspection but, from observation and discussion, children have the opportunity of benefiting from an environment where they receive sufficient adult support to help them feel confident and secure. The childminder is committed to improving her practices and has completed a number of courses to enhance her professional development. When childminding she organises her space to provide children with a balanced range of experiences.

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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 Evidence examined highlights that the childminder has a clear understanding of the legally required documentation that is needed for childminding purposes. Overall, evidence suggests that the provision would meet 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 address some issues regarding documentation and resources. All the relevant parental consents from parents are now in place and a range of musical instruments are available for the children. These improvements ensure that all aspects of documentation are in place and that the resources available encompass all aspects of children's learning.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report 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. At the time of the inspection there were no children on roll. Ofsted judges that the provider remains suitable to provide care.

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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 develop an awareness of the Birth to three matters framework • practise fire evacuation procedures with the children • ensure that parents are informed of Ofsted's telephone number • increase awareness of procedure to log complaints or concerns expressed by parents in line with recent changes to the National Standards.

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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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