Childminder in Wiltshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY314548 Inspection date 18 July 2006 Inspector Janet Maria Moutter

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 satisfactory. 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 2005. She lives with her husband and son aged four in Calne, Wiltshire. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five all day, one day a week. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group. The family has a cat.

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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. Promotion of good health for children is important to the childminder, as they are cared for in a warm and welcoming home. The children are encouraged to learn about personal hygiene and personal care, for example, through regular and routine hand washing procedures before meals and after messy activities. The childminder protects the children from the spread of infection as much as possible by her clear sickness policy that she shares with parents at contract time. Children benefit from being offered varied and nutritious food at snack times. The childminder works closely with parents to present food and drinks. Food provided by parents is stored correctly and the childminder ensures that the children's dietary needs are met. The childminder discusses individual preferences with parents before the children start attending the setting. The preferences are then recorded and accommodated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of activities to encourage their physical development. There are regular visits to the park and playgrounds to develop their physical skills and extend existing skills. The childminder has a good awareness of the children's different ages and capabilities and is able to provide appropriate play opportunities to stretch them each day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The children are cared for in a warm and welcoming environment. Good organisation of limited space and resources and daily checks ensure children have room to move freely, safely and independently. The childminder has systems in place to ensure children's safety at all times both inside and outside the home. However, these risk assessments were not available at the time of inspection. She gives priority to helping children understand how to keep themselves safe, for example, promoting road safety when walking to and from school and tidying up toys indoors. The children are regularly encouraged to play on the swings and climbing equipment in the park. While enjoying the safety of outside play in the tent and tunnel, wheel barrow, balls and scooters in the enclosed garden. The childminder has covered one side of her glass green house for safety to prevent the children's footballs braking the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

glass. Toys and resources are of sound quality and in a safe, well-maintained condition. They are organised and stored at child level, which allows even the youngest to make choices for themselves and develop their independence. Toys are stored safely and are available in sufficient quantity to ensure children enjoy a wide range of activities to promote all areas of development. Children are protected well. The childminder has all of the required documentation,

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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 records and procedures in place to ensure the child's safety is promoted. The fire evacuation plan is a written procedure, but it has not been practised. The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities with regard to child protection.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are settled. They quickly make themselves at home and start to make decisions for themselves regarding the activities and resources they wish to investigate. For example one child decides to set up the toys an ironing board and iron, and another child wants to play in the garden, so the toddler takes the ironing board and iron outside. Children’s enjoyment and development is enhanced by the enthusiasm of the childminder. She is a new practitioner and uses her experiences of working with young children to provide good quality care. Children’s development is well supported by the childminder during play. For example, by reinforcing number and colour recognition as well as words such as tall, taller, size, big. The children enjoy exploring a good range of activities which contributes to their creativity such as painting, drawing, and play dough. Children are developing their social skills and are beginning to understand the need to share

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

resources and to take turns. They are well occupied, constantly learning and refining new skills whist engaged in stimulating, practical activities. Children take part in a varied planned programme of exciting age appropriate outings, such as to the local carer and toddler group, library or the local duck pond. As a result, children increase their understanding of the world around them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The children benefit from the good partnership that exists between the childminder and the parents. The childminder gives parents quality information about the provision before their children start attending the setting. The parents receive, for example a detailed verbal information about their children's day. They also have a chance to discuss the children's progress and achievements at regularly planned development meetings. This helps to ensure that the children are looked after according to the parents' wishes. There is, therefore, a consistent approach to supporting the children's care and learning. The children are acknowledged and valued as individuals. Artwork is carefully displayed and sleeping routines are respected. The children become aware of diversity through accessing an appropriate range of toys, which include dolls, a range of dressing up clothes, small world characters and books.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The minded children behave well. They benefit from the childminder's understanding of age-appropriate strategies to encourage positive behaviour. However, not all the

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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 children in the childminder's care were well behaved on the day of inspection. The children also start to learn the difference between what is right and what is wrong. She is very patient and tries to be fair but needs additional ideas and training in coping strategies for meeting children's challenging behaviour.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children cared for by this childminder benefit from her knowledge and skills, which she uses well. She is keen to find out about the needs of children in her care so that she looks after them appropriately. Children enjoy playing in a child-centred environment where toys and materials are readily to hand. They receive much individual attention because the childminder’s play is organised and balances the various demands made on her time effectively. All required documentation is in place and the childminder has an up to date register of all the children who attend. She keeps Ofsted informed of any changes in her childminding conditions such as changes of age of people in the house. Records and documents are kept, confidentially and readily available for inspection. The childminder meets the needs of the range children for whom she provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are 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 satisfactory. 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

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • extend fire-safety precautions by implementing an emergency evacuation procedure • implement a permanent written record of risk assessment for checking inside and outside the home, to make sure all areas are safe to play or inaccessible to the children • extend knowledge of behaviour management strategies to promote the welfare of the children

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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