Childminder in Warwickshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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201109 Unique Reference Number 21 August 2006 Inspection date Jan Burnet 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 1992. She lives with her husband and 2 daughters aged 13 years and over 16 years. They live in a residential area of Rugby, approximately 2 miles from the town centre. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and 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 care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding three children aged under five years and two older children, one aged under eight years, during school holidays. She walks to a local school to take and collect children and attends a local parent and toddler group. The family has a dog, a rabbit and two chickens.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds a Montessori Teaching Diploma. She is an accredited member of Warwickshire Childminding Association Network. The family has a dog, rabbit and chickens. It is a non-smoking household.

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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's good health is assured because the childminder's cleaning routines are very thorough and because the children are aware of good practice with regard to hand washing. Their best interests are served in case of accident because the childminder holds an in-date first certificate. The risk of cross infection is minimised because parents are aware that their child should not attend if he or she has a contagious illness or sickness and diarrhoea and that they will be contacted if the child becomes ill. Although in the past parents have been asked to complete forms for emergency treatment consent, potentially the well-being of children currently cared for is compromised because written permission has not been obtained.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are known and well met by the childminder and she provides three meals daily if requested. Health and nutrition are given a high priority and the childminder provides organic food and fruit and vegetables from her own garden. Lunch is the most substantial meal of the day and consists of fish, meat or a vegetarian alternative, a variety of vegetables or salad and pasta, potatoes, cuscus or rice. Children often make their own bread for sandwiches at tea time. Risk to children from unsafe food is very low because the childminder is fully aware of good food hygiene procedures.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's emotional well-being is addressed well by the childminder. She creates a very welcoming environment and children are happy and settled. The childminder encourages parents to spend some time settling their child in. Children are developing skills and confidence with a good range physical play activities at home and at the park.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play, eat and sleep in good, safe and healthy premises. Risks to children are minimal and they learn how to keep themselves safe, for example, why they should hold hands when out walking, look and listen when crossing the road and "who and who not to talk to". The childminder is alert to her responsibilities with regard to supervision at all times. She has identified and addressed potential hazards inside the home and in the garden. Children are aware of the fire drill because it is practised once per term.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The main playroom is the conservatory at the back of the house and it is well organised to encourage children's independence as they are able to choose and select their own resources and help to tidy away. Toys, activities and equipment are safe, clean and in a good condition. The combined kitchen and dining room adjacent to the conservatory has a large table used by children for meals and for play activities. The family sitting room and a ground floor bedroom are included in the registered space but are only occasionally used. Children are safe from unwanted visitors and could not leave the premises unsupervised because security is good.

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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 Children's welfare is safeguarded because the childminder has a working knowledge of the signs of abuse and neglect. She is aware of her responsibilities with regard to local referral procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children's intellectual, physical, emotional, social and cultural needs are comprehensively met by the childminder. They enjoy, interact and learn from an extensive range of activities. The childminder constantly offers excellent support and she extends children's thinking, learning and vocabulary by continually including open-ended questions in her conversations with them. She successfully uses her knowledge and skills to plan and provide excellent activities for children aged from birth to under eight years. Initially the childminder finds out as much as possible from parents about each child's interests so that she can use this to provide resources and activities that will engage children and aid their development. The childminder observes each child and discusses development with parents, a daily diary is then used to record achievements. The childminder then continues to observe and assess and brings in learning to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

activities chosen by the children, for example, developing manipulative skills with posting toys, puzzles and use of pencils and crayons.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are happy and settled and the childminder is pro-active in enabling children to become independent learners. Routines are very good and include activities inside and outside the home. Children choose books at the library and enjoy food tasting at the monthly farmers' market and outdoor market in Rugby town centre. Young children develop social skills at a local parent and toddler group. Children count, develop an understanding of number in different ways and are learning to recognise numerals. They enjoy nature walks and talk about different plants and birds and they gain an understanding of change as they plant and grow vegetables and take part in baking and cooking activities. Children develop writing skills and use phonics to link sound and letter. They benefit enormously from a range of creative activities, for example, movement to music and using their imagination as they "pretend to be", painting, printing,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

knitting, cutting and sticking, making their own jigsaw puzzles by cutting a picture into different shapes and mixing paints to create other colours. Children are sociable and polite and the childminder has developed excellent systems to ensure that all children are challenged effectively.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children’s individual needs are known and very well met by the childminder. Admission forms are thorough, parents always visit before care of their child begins and in order to address children's emotional needs, parents are encouraged to gradually settle their child in. Children are learning to appreciate and value each others’ similarities and differences. They learn about religious and cultural celebrations and have visited the local library to see displays as well as to borrow books for additional information. They choose from a range of resources that reflect diversity and the childminder supplements these with ones borrowed from a toy library. The childminder has experience of caring for children with special needs and has developed a policy

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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 which identifies that, "all children are treated as having their own special educational need as each child develops at different times throughout their developmental stages".

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from good communication between the childminder and parents that ensures consistency of care. Written information for parents is thorough and time is spent talking with parents at the end of each day. Children's self-esteem is given a high priority and the childminder continually offers support, encouragement and praise. Children are learning to share and take turns. They benefit from the childminder's consistent methods of behaviour management which include explanation and distraction. The childminder is a good role model and takes full account of different levels of understanding.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are settled and made welcome in the childminder’s home. Daily routines are consistent and activities are varied. Children's independence is developing well, activities are organised to meet different needs and thorough admission information and verbal communication with parents ensures that individual needs are met.

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Organisation

Documentation is well organised and information files have been developed for parents. These include qualification and training information, child protection procedures, previous Ofsted reports and the fire procedure. Written policies include ones on special needs, behaviour management, confidentiality, parental involvement, child protection and the complaints procedure.

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Organisation

The childminder holds a Montessori Teaching Diploma. She is an accredited member of Warwickshire Childminding Association Network and is registered to receive Government funding for nursery education for three and four-year-old children. This service is not required by the parents of children attending during the Autumn term 2006 however. The childminder demonstrates a commitment to improving her skills and knowledge. The organisation of resources and activities is good. Documentation is kept in very good order and all required records are kept up to date, however, accidents and medication are recorded in a book and parents are able to read information on other children when they read and sign information on their own child. Overall, children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection the childminder was asked to increase her knowledge of Area Child Protection Committee procedures and obtain written parental permission to administer medication. Children's best interests are served because both of these recommendations have been satisfactorily addressed. The childminder attended child protection training in 2003 and displays local referral procedures on a notice board for parents. Parents are asked to provide written consent when leaving medication for their child with the childminder.

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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

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 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): • obtain parents' written permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment • ensure confidentiality of records.

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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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