Childminder in Warwickshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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201136 Unique Reference Number 25 September 2006 Inspection date Angela Dyer 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 1996. She lives with her husband and two children aged 12 and 14 years in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The house is within walking distance of shops, parks and schools. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. 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 six children at any one time and is currently minding four children who attend on a part time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has a fish tank in the lounge.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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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, clean home, where they learn the importance of simple hygiene practices through daily routines and gentle reminders from the childminder to wash their hands after the toilet and before snacks and meals. Appropriate procedures are in place to minimise the possible spread of infection, including the use of anti-bacterial spray on kitchen surfaces.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and has a professional understanding of the required documentation in the event of administering medication or first aid. Parents are kept informed of their child's health and of all accidents involving their children. The childminder provides children with regular opportunities to have fresh air and exercise. Children enjoy playing in the garden and visiting the local park, where they are able to use larger play equipment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Currently children’s nutritional needs are met through parents providing appropriate food. The childminder provides various snacks throughout the day, including crackers, fruit and biscuits, and children are encouraged to make healthy choices. Children are also provided with drinks at regular intervals throughout the day and are able to independently access drinking water if they become thirsty.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children's risk of accidental injury is minimised because the childminder has a good understanding of health and safety. Potential risks to children have been identified and appropriate safety measures put in place, including a safety gate to prevent unsupervised access to the stairs and safety film on low level glass.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have a mature understanding of how to keep themselves safe because the childminder discusses safe practices with them. The childminder is clear about the evacuation procedure for in the event of an emergency and children have practised this so that they are familiar with the routine, however, the childminder has not maintained records of these drills to monitor their effectiveness and frequency. Children use high quality equipment appropriate to their age and stage of development. The childminder carries out regular checks on items of equipment used to ensure they are suitable for the children to use safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected because the childminder has a professional understanding of the child protection procedures and is fully aware of her role and responsibility to protect the children in her care. The childminder has attended additional training to enhance her knowledge of child protection issues.

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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 are extremely happy and settled in the childminder's care. Planning is very flexible as the childminder responds daily to the children’s moods and individual requests for their favourite activities and toys. Children become absorbed in their play as they are given time and space to explore the toys and resources and the childminder's gentle questioning during their play further promotes their learning and development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children engage in a rich and stimulating range of activities including painting, reading books and junk modelling. The childminder supports all activities by offering interesting resources and involving herself in their play. During activities the childminder values children's contributions and takes time to listen to what they have to say. She gives them opportunities to problem solve and offers them appropriate assistance when they look to her for help. For example, when making a rocket from junk modelling the child recognised that he needed more tape to stop it from wobbling and enrolled the help of the childminder in cutting the tape for him to stick. The childminder offers consistent praise and encouragement for children's efforts and achievements, which in turn promotes their confidence. Children's artwork is also displayed to further promote their self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children enjoy their time with the childminder and benefit from her valuing and respecting their individuality. Children make themselves at home, confidently moving around the room selecting their own toys. The childminder has an appropriate understanding of equality issues and children have access to resources reflecting the diversity of society, to promote their understanding of the wider world. Although the childminder has no experience of caring for children with identified learning difficulties or disabilities she is aware of the importance of working in collaboration with parents and other professionals to meet the needs of the child.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s efforts and achievements are praised and valued by the childminder. Encouragement and praise are given consistently through the day, which in turn develops children's confidence and self-esteem. The childminder has a detailed knowledge of all the children in her care and she takes pride in seeing children develop to their full potential. The childminder has a good understanding of appropriate behaviour management strategies and in consultation with parents agrees strategies to promotes consistency.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A good partnership with parents contributes to the children's well-being. Parents know how their children are being cared for because they are given information in the form of regular discussions. However, she does not yet have a complaints log in place to inform parents of previous complaints and concerns.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Most required documentation, which contributes to children's health, safety and well-being, is in place. However, children's registers do not detail children's actual hours of attendance. All documents and contracts are regularly reviewed and the childminder has a good understanding of the importance of confidentiality.

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Organisation

Children benefit from the childminder's knowledge of child development and her enthusiasm in her role as their childminder. The childminder has ensured that all adults in the household and regular visitors have been suitably checked. Overall, the range of 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 an appropriate first aid certificate is maintained and request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment. The childminder was also asked to improve her knowledge of the process which would be followed if allegations of abuse were made against herself or her family and ensure that children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has completed a relevant first aid course and consent to request emergency medical advice or treatment is held for all children. The childminder has attended a child protection course to enhance her knowledge of all child protection issues and has a suitable knowledge of the external agencies that would need to be involved if an allegation of abuse was made. The childminder has purchased resources including books and dolls of different cultures and intends to access the local toy library to further extend upon these resources to promote children's understanding of the wider world.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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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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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

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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): • complete registers on a daily basis, recording children's actual times of arrival and departure • maintain records of fire evacuation drills to monitor their effectiveness and frequency. • maintain a record of all complaints made by parents, which they can see on request.

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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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