Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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308105 Unique Reference Number 02 August 2006 Inspection date Janet, Elizabeth Singleton 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 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 was registered in 1993. She lives with her son and daughter within the town of Clayton-Le-Moors, near Accrington. The whole of the ground floor of the childminders house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding nine, all of whom attend on a part and full time basis, some of whom are aged over eight. The family have a pet cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is a member of the National Childminding Association and has undertaken further training to update and improve the child care practice.

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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 stay healthy because the childminder encourages good hygiene practices. The children are aware of the need to wash their hands and the need to keep them clean and free from germs. They readily discuss how they need to wash their hands after playing outside and taking part in sticking activities. The childminder acts in the children's best interests when they are ill and their welfare is protected as she has all the necessary documentation in place and maintained to a good standard.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children show a good awareness of the need for a healthy, balanced diet and they discuss the need for five portions of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. They delight in choosing from fresh apples, orange and melon at snack time as they all sit together and engage in lovely social conversations. They help themselves to a drink of water so that they can monitor their own needs for a drink.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a very welcoming and very safe indoor and outdoor environment, which is clean and well maintained being planned to allow them to move freely and access the resources. Children confidently move through the home and choose the toys and equipment as they access the necessary craft materials and plan a sticking activity. They delight in playing both on the floor and on the table as they access different topics. They enjoy building car tracks and construction models on the floor and playing matching card games on the table. Children make good choices from a wide range of very suitable and appropriate equipment including books, crayons, dolls and building materials. They know what they can access and what they need to ask for, as they explain some things are too dangerous to be left out, for example, scissors.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from harm and can play in a safe home because the childminder has all required safety features in place. She talks to the children about safety and they remind each other of the rules as they play. The children demonstrated a good awareness of safety as they explained the procedure to follow should they need to evacuate the home. They discussed the action to take should the childminder become ill, this being ring 999 and contact the childminder designated to cover in this type of situation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s safety is monitored well because the childminder has a good understanding of her role in child protection and is able to put appropriate procedures into practice when necessary, based on national and local guidance.

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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 enjoy and achieve as they are provided with good activities and make good choices from the wide selection of play materials. They are very interested and occupied as they delight in making sticky pictures and playing the 'Happy Families' card game. They work well together as they play matching dominoes and concentrate when building complex structures from the construction materials. They laugh and giggle as they demonstrate their dance routine and look forward, with excitement, to the karaoke planned for later in the day. The older children make buns for the party, planned for the afternoon, to celebrate one of their birthdays.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy a routine which gives them a good balance of structure and free play including quiet times to read or watch television. They develop their physical skills as they run in the park and climb the equipment. They visit the library and choose their own books to read when at the childminders. The childminder fosters a very close and caring relationship which develops children's self-esteem and increases their sense of well-being. She makes sure that learning is fun and varied for all the children who attend.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are able to make a positive contribution as they are highly valued and respected by the childminder. They enjoy learning about other cultures as they explore books and celebrate their own and the festivals of others as they gain a sense of their own identity. Children are fully included as she has an understanding of learning difficulties and disabilities and is aware of the action to take to enable appropriate assistance to be sought to meet their individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are beginning to take responsibility for their behaviour as the childminder sets appropriate and consistent boundaries and guidelines which include, no jumping on the furniture and being kind to each other. She uses praise very frequently and offers good explanations as to why behaviour is unacceptable. Children remind each other of the rules as they play as they tell each other of the need to share and to be kind. The children discuss with the inspector the need to listen to the childminder, hold hands and stay within her sight when visiting the park.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder fosters good relationship with parents by sharing information which contributes to the children's well being. She provides daily opportunities to discuss the children and provides a flexible service to accommodate parents working patterns.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises her practice to maximise children's enjoyment. She makes good use of time, space and resources to enable them to make beneficial choices about their play. The children enjoy a flexible daily routine which incorporates indoor and outdoor play and visits to places of interest.

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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's needs are met because the childminder has all regulatory documentation in place which is extremely well maintained and organised. The documentation includes all contact details with individual folders for children's personal information. However, the complaints policy has not been updated in line with recent guidelines. The childminder has undertaken further training to develop her knowledge and skills to improve the care provided for children.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure parents are provided with the name, address and telephone number of Ofsted and to make the garden safe before children play outside. The childminder now provides parents with the name, address and telephone number of Ofsted as part of the information given at the time their child starts with her. The childminder has replaced some fencing panels to make the garden area secure. The above action enables parent to contact Ofsted should they need to do so. The replacing of the fencing panels enables children to play safely in a secure outside area.

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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 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): • ensure the complaints policy is in place and is in line with recent guidelines.

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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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