Childminder in Derby

Inspection report for early years provision

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205947 Unique Reference Number 19 September 2006 Inspection date Alison Edwards 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?

This childminder registered in 1997. She lives with her husband, adult son and younger child aged 13 years in a house in the southern suburbs of Derby. Minded children use the ground floor of the house. There is an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. There are currently seven minded children on roll, of whom six are under eight. A cat, rabbit, guinea pigs and gerbils are kept as family pets.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a clean and well-maintained family home so helping to maintain their health. Careful arrangements are in place to ensure that care and feeding arrangements for

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 family pets do not pose a hygiene risk. From an early age, children begin to learn about simple routines to help them care for themselves, for example as the childminder helps a toddler learn how to use a tissue to wipe his nose. Records of children's personal and contact details are clearly recorded and include information on their care and health needs, so helping the childminder ensure these are met. Sound arrangements are in place to deal with any accidents, including maintenance of current paediatric first aid qualification and parental written permission to seek medical advice in the event of any more serious emergency.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's physical development is well supported. Mobile children enjoy use of an extensive range of sturdy climbing and balancing equipment in the rear garden, where they also make use of a range of wheeled toys. Visits to local soft play areas, parks or toddler groups provide further opportunities for them to extend their large movement skills. A younger baby is enabled to develop her early sitting skills by use of a shaped cushion to provide additional stability and support. Babies and toddlers are encouraged to develop their hand-eye coordination by provision of a wide range of readily accessible activity and tactile toys such as 'feely' books or shape sorters. Older children are able to develop their dexterity through use of a variety of creative materials such as crayons or modelling materials, or activities such as puzzles or construction.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are good arrangements for the childminder and parents to share information on children's dietary needs and preferences so that these are met. Meals and snacks provided by the childminder are usually home cooked using fresh ingredients, such as salad, fruits and cooked vegetables, so helping to encourage children's healthy eating. Drinks such as water or milk are frequently offered to younger children, whilst older children can independently access water from a chiller unit, so helping to ensure sufficient fluids are taken.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are confident when freely moving between accessible areas of the welcoming and child-friendly premises. Use of the ground floor of the house provides easily supervised space for them to safely participate in varied activities. For example use of the table in the breakfast kitchen enables them to eat or undertake creative activities in safety and comfort, whilst use of two other rooms enables some children to rest or relax quietly whilst others are engaged in more active play. Careful attention is given to maintaining children's security in the house, and with regard to ensuring that the neighbouring property's right of way through the fully fenced and gated rear garden does not compromise children's safety. Children enjoy use of the garden which is organised effectively to provide areas for different types of play. For example, a gated paved area is used for wheeled toys and for imaginative play in two play houses, whilst clearly

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

defined areas further up the garden include an extensive range of climbing and balancing equipment safely sited on bark chippings and separate area in which a trampoline is sited. However, arrangements for use of the trampoline are not yet fully effective in ensuring that all relevant risks are appropriately assessed, for example with regard to insurance cover.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have easy access to a wide selection of interesting toys and play materials which are safe and suited to their stage of development. For example, a baby enjoys handling a variety of shape sorters and tactile books which are well within her reach, and shows interest in investigating the shapes and textures of a range of clean and safe household objects such as

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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 a wooden brush or small metal kitchen utensils presented in a 'treasure basket'. Older children readily use a further selection of resources, such as construction and pretend play resources which are safely stored within their play areas.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is generally promoted well. The childminder offers good levels of supervision to children taking account of their levels of maturity, whilst providing appropriate equipment to help them develop their independence. For example she encourages the supervised use of a small step stool to enable a toddler to safely reach the wash basin. From an early age she helps them think about everyday safety issues by simple discussion and explanation, for example when talking with a toddler about safe use of the slide. A good range of safety precautions, such as secure storage of household chemicals and use of gates to control children's access to specific areas of the premises such as the kitchen, helps minimise potential hazards to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is aware of what child abuse and neglect mean and recognises her responsibilities to follow up any child protection concerns in line with current national and local guidance in order to safeguard children's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young children are happy and settled because their individual preferred care routines are known and respected, for example with regard to where a baby likes to sleep, or a toddler's preferred comfort objects. They readily develop confidence and independence in choosing their activities, for example as a baby investigates the different textures in a basket of safe household items or as an older child, or as the childminder readily agrees to a toddler's suggestion of playing in the garden. The childminder spends time talking and playing with the children, so helping them feel their activities and play are valued, as when she spends time talking with a baby about the different surfaces in a 'feely' book, or shares a story with a toddler.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's daily routines are flexibly planned to include activities inside and outside the home to support their overall development. For example, walks to local shops and parks, or regular attendance at local toddler groups, helps them learn about their neighbourhood and socialise with others. Use of resources such as sand, water or paint helps them investigate different materials and express their creative ideas. Younger children begin to explore different shapes as they post items in a shape sorter, whilst board games and puzzles enable older children to develop their thinking skills. The childminder is familiar with aspects of the 'Birth to three matters' framework giving guidance on provision for younger children, so helping her to offer responsive and stimulating care to this age group.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children readily settle in the childminder's care, aided by her calm and affectionate approach and responsive awareness of their needs and level of understanding. The childminder helps children learn what behaviour is appropriate by acting as a good role model, and by using simple explanation and praise to reinforce her expectations. For example she talks to a toddler about

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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 why she is washing her own hands and encourages him to wash his hands before lunch. From an early age the childminder helps children begin to develop independence, for example in learning to put on their own shoes, or in encouraging them to move confidently between activities in accessible areas of the house. The childminder is taking active steps to develop her understanding of how to manage a wide range of behaviour through attendance at relevant training.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's individuality is recognised because the childminder works actively with parents to ensure children's specific care needs, such as special diets, are met, and because she takes account of her own observations of children's preferences, for example with regard to their preferred rest routines. Children make use of a selection of resources and activities to help them recognise and respect diversity, such as dolls with different skin tones and clothing styles. The childminder is aware of the value of working with parents to ensure the requirements of any child with identified special needs can be met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Arrangements to work in partnership with parents to support children's needs are good. Information about children's health and care needs is shared between parents and childminder before placement, so enabling these to be met. A folder of written policies and procedures, together with use of written agreements helps ensure parents and childminder have shared expectations for children's care. Good use is made of captioned photographs and notes of younger children's experiences and activities to provide parents with information about their individual child's care and to supplement informal daily discussion of events and routines.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are very settled and contented in the welcoming environment. The childminder takes positive steps to reflect on and develop her provision for children, for example through planned attendance at local training and use of self-assessment and quality assurance materials. Required documents, such as attendance registers and children's contact details, are readily accessible and methodically maintained, so helping to underpin children's care. The childminder makes good use of additional information, for example photographs and written policies, to help parents gain a good understanding of their children's care. However, at present arrangements are not fully effective in ensuring that relevant checks are undertaken promptly to ensure that all adults in the household are suitable to be in children's proximity. Overall, children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure that a record of any complaints was maintained and that resources reflected positive images of diversity. Systems are now in place to record any complaints and resources include a selection of items such as dolls and books reflecting aspects of different culture, lifestyle and ability so improving arrangements for children's care.

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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. The provider is required to keep a record of all 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): • improve systems to ensure that suitability checks are undertaken promptly for all adult household members • review arrangements to fully assess and minimise risks arising from children's use of the trampoline, with particular regard to provision of relevant insurance cover.

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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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