Childminder in Shropshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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223749 Unique Reference Number 14 August 2006 Inspection date Margaret Webster 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 1994. She lives with her husband and three grown up children in a small village in Shropshire. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children when working alone and 10 when working with an assistant at any one time and is currently minding eight children under five part time and 12 child over five before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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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 environment that children use is clean, tidy and well maintained. Children are encouraged to be aware of their own personal hygiene, for example, through routines for toileting, keeping hands, faces and teeth clean after eating and discussions about the importance of keeping clean. This practice helps to keep the children healthy and prevent the spread of cross infection. There are appropriate procedures in place for ensuring that parents are informed about administration of medication and about any accidents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good access to outdoor activities, fresh air and light. They can access the garden as they wish in the better weather and enjoy using the wide selection of good safe equipment that is available. In addition, they walk frequently to and from school, have access to local parks and participate in sports activities. These activities ensure they have opportunities to run, balance and climb on more challenging equipment to help to develop their physical skills. Children are motivated and interested in a broad range of purposeful and developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor activities which provide good levels of challenge appropriate to their age and stage of development.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder talks and encourages the children to eat and be aware of healthy food that will enable them to grow and be healthy. She provides all the meals and she makes her own bread. All the meals have a balance of vegetables, protein and carbohydrates. The childminder's good awareness of likes and dislikes and any special dietary requirements helps children eat well and in line with parents wishes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The space that the children use is organised effectively in order to allow them to move around safely both indoors and outdoors. Children enjoy a good range of resources and equipment which are stored in boxes and on child height shelves in the playroom.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are good procedures in place for ensuring that children remain safe and secure in this child-orientated environment. For example, regular fire drills are carried out and recorded, most of the rooms that children use are safe. However the fireplace is accessible, this is a safety risk to the younger children. The outdoor area is secured and there are clear procedures for keeping children safe at all times on outings. Children are supervised very well whilst being given the independence they need to develop and learn.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety and welfare is promoted well through attending child protection training. This helps to ensure that the childminder would know what to do if she had a concern about any child in her care. Child protection and accident policies are clear, detailed and available within the policy pack, thus enabling parents to have a clear understanding about procedures within the setting. She is aware of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board procedures (LSCB).

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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 happily access a good range of toys, activities and resources within an environment that encourages them to make choices about what they want to do. They enjoy visiting places of interest, for example, park trips, walks in the local country side, sports activities and trips to the theatre. Language and mathematical thinking is promoted through songs, rhymes, counting everyday objects, introducing simple addition and subtraction, reading and story books. Children's overall development is promoted very well through appropriately structured activities, in addition to plentiful opportunities to engage in valuable child-initiated play with positive encouragement and interaction from the childminder. The younger children's social activities are extended by attending local toddler groups. The introduction of the 'Birth to three matters' evaluation system will enable children's progress to be formally monitored and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

keep the parents informed of the child's progress. Children are comfortable, happy, confident and content in the childminder's care. They have a good relationship with her and play well together.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have access to a range of resources, toys and activities which helps them to develop an understanding of diversity and the world around them. Examples include books, posters, dolls and jigsaws which are all freely available to them on a daily basis. Trips out in the local environment and wider community ensure that children develop a sound awareness of the world around them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Currently there are no children with special needs attending the setting but the childminder has experience and she would work with the parents and other professionals to meet each child's individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Behaviour management techniques are age-appropriate, developmentally appropriate and are used in a way that children can understand. The clear policy outlines this for parents and rules are developed with the older children which helps to ensure that they know and understand them. The childminder is very aware of children's likes and dislikes and accommodates children's individual routines and specific needs well within the routine of the day.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents is very good. Procedures are effective in ensuring that children are cared for in line with parents wishes and in a calm and consistent manner. Clear and detailed policies, clear written and verbal information for parents is available at all times. These procedures ensure that parents know what their children have been doing whilst in the childminder's care and are aware of any issues.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Paperwork is well-organised and maintained in line with requirements. This allows children's individual details to be readily available to enable consistency of care. Policies and procedures

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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 are extensive and regularly reviewed. These outline clearly the care provided for the children and how the childminder ensures that they are safe and secure whilst in her care. Parents have good access to these.

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Organisation

The childminding space is very well-organised so that children have use of rooms which are child-orientated, comfortable and homely. Children have good access to age-appropriate toys and resources.

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Organisation

The childminder keeps up-to-date with current childcare issues and good practice guidelines by attending regular training. This, in turn, allows children to be cared for in an environment which is interesting, stimulating, exciting and child-orientated whilst still remaining welcoming, homely and comfortable.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure policies were made available to parents and that they should include all elements of the National Standards.

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Improvements since the last inspection

She has provided a comprehensive booklet that includes all her policies and procedures that are in line with the requirements in the National Standards. This provides the parents with all the relevant information and safeguards the children's welfare.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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 fireplace is inaccessible to the children.

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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 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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