Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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260771 Unique Reference Number 15 August 2006 Inspection date Diane Mary O'Neill 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 has been registered since 1998. She lives with her husband and their two children aged six and eleven in Wellingborough Northamptonshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and an upstairs bedroom used for sleeping children and overnight care. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of five children at any one time and two for overnight care. She is currently minding three under fives and two over five during term time and school holidays as well as two over eights during term time and school holidays. The childminder is within walking distant of local amenities and schools. The family has no pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder 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 and welcoming environment that is well maintained. Although some of the children being cared for are very young, they are beginning to learn the importance of good hygiene such as washing hands before meals and after using the toilet. They are provided with their own beaker, flannel and toothbrush to use in the setting. Children learn about good hygiene practices through good role modelling from the childminder. For example, she washes her hands regularly before snack and meal preparation and after changing nappies.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has good arrangements in place for children who may become ill whist in her care as well as protecting others and ensuring cross-infection is limited. The keeping of documents to record any administration of first aid or medication is all well recorded. Children’s health and well-being are well maintained because of the childminder’s good practice.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have a good daily routine that includes time for sleeping if required, meals, toilet training, outings and play time. Children are provided with healthy snacks and meals and they can help themselves to drinks provided throughout the day. This enables them to develop their independence which is apparent at snack time when they were peeling their own fruit. The childminder also makes available to parents information about foods she will be providing thus enabling everyone to be fully informed.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills through a variety of play experiences both inside and outside. The children move freely and confidently within the childminder’s home, where there are excellent opportunities to select play equipment independently, thus enabling their exploration, investigation, communication and imagination skills to be developed. Children’s outdoor play is further expanded within the local community by going on trips to the park, farm and woods.

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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 welcoming and safe environment as the childminder is aware of risks and has taken reasonable steps to minimise these. However, there are some areas of the garden that could compromise children’s safety. She carries out informal risk assessments daily and regularly checks the equipment to ensure children's safety whilst in her care. The childminder is aware of procedures to follow should she need to evacuate the premises. She has written procedures and regularly practises these with the children, helping to reinforce their learning and awareness.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have good opportunities to access suitable play space and play equipment both inside and outside. This contributes to developing their independence skills through a choice of activities and play materials which the children have available to them. Children are beginning to learn about the safety of boundaries and to develop their awareness of how far they can go,

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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 for example, when they are running in the park or at the farm. The older children also get involved in helping to teach the younger children about safety such as crossing the road.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has relatively good understanding of child protection procedures. She has devised a policy and is aware of most of the up-to-date guidance which helps to underpin her knowledge and understanding to help her care and protect children who attend. However, there is some guidance that is not in place and may comprise her practice in ensuring children’s overall safety and well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children are very settled and happy in the childminder’s home. They are secure and confident and have an excellent relationship with the childminder and other children attending. Children confidently talk about their needs and interests, likes and dislikes. They enjoying singing and playing with musical instruments and being involved in role play, such as, pretending to make vegetables from play dough and then cooking them for their dinner. There is excellent use of communication and effective interaction which enables the children to be relaxed in the childminder's care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s learning is very well supported by the childminder who provides a broad range of stimulating and challenging play experiences. Their independence is enhanced by being able to easily access play materials from within the childminder’s home. Children are able to freely make choices for themselves as well as having some activities planned for them, such as, trips to the park, making pictures and doing craft activities. The childminder engages extremely well with the children where they have conversations about the games they are playing. For example, making roads out of ribbons and then putting the cars on them and putting them through a pretend car wash.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Equally children are able to make choices for themselves such as playing together at a pretend café, singing their favourite nursery rhyme while playing musical instruments. The children have their physical play expanded by trips to the park, farm and playing out in the garden with the out door equipment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are beginning to learn about their community and the diversity of the world around them through activities such as festivals, cultures and customs and different kinds of people who they may see. This is achieved through the childminder’s positive attitude and use of resources that she provides to extend their learning, such as, looking through books, playing with play people and discussion. Trips out within the community also help to extend the children’s learning and knowledge of others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s needs are met very well as they follow their daily routine. The childminder has built up a good and trusting relationship with the children which enables them to feel confident and happy within their surroundings. The children are starting to foster good relationships with

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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 one another and this is promoted through positive contributions by the childminder. Children are beginning to learn and have an awareness of boundaries and rules such as sharing and taking turns.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s care is enhanced through the childminder having a good working partnership with parents and carers which impacts on the confidence and security of each child. Each parent has sufficient time to discuss their child’s progress on a daily basis with the childminder so they are fully informed about their child’s day. All parents read the childminder's polices and procedures and complete relevant paper work within the induction period.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a robust procedure in place for the sharing of complaints with parents, which is clearly outlined in her polices and procedures.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel relaxed, secure and comfortable within this well-organised environment. This enables them to be confident, energetic and engage well in their play together. They seek adult support when needed, clearly showing confidence within their surroundings and the good relationship formed with the childminder.

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Organisation

The childminder has access to extremely well-organised records and documentation. There are very good systems in place for the sharing of information on a regular basis with parents, so they are kept fully informed about their child's well-being, progress and achievements. This contributes to a trusting relationship which impacts positively on the children.

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Organisation

The childminder is keen to further develop her own knowledge and understanding of child care practices, by carrying out training and acquiring documentation such as, the 'Birth to three matters' framework, curriculum guidance to the foundation stage and firm foundations. This enables her planning of activities to empower the children to reach their developmental potential.

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Organisation

Children’s care and welfare is safeguarded by the childminders good practice and awareness of procedures to follow. Overall, children's need are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was required to ensure that methods for behaviour management are agreed with parents before a placement commences. The childminder has polices in place which are shared with parents and carers and signed by them. They are then kept in each child's individual files, enabling confidentiality to be observed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was required to meet any recommendations made by the Fire Safety Officer with respect to overnight minding. She has procedures in place which are to open the landing window and climb out, taking a duvet so can jump on car below and this will break the fall. She has endeavoured to protect children in relation to guidance given.

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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

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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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 that the garden is safe for children to play in • obtain the Department of Health booklet, 'What To Do If You're Worried A Child is Being Abused'- summary.

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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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