Childminder in Norfolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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256073 Unique Reference Number 09 August 2006 Inspection date Georgina Emily Hobson Matthews 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 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 1998. She lives with her two children, aged nine and 14 years, in a house in Dereham, Norfolk, close to local schools and parks. Currently she is caring for children on a full-time basis and also cares for children over eight years of age. Eight children attend at different times and have access to the ground floor of her home. An upstairs bedroom is provided for young children's sleep and an enclosed rear garden is available for outdoor play. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and regularly attends a local childminder support group.

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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 satisfactory. Children learn about hygiene and understand that they should wash their hands before eating, after toileting, outdoor play and touching animals. The childminder encourages them to take responsibility for their own personal needs. Children’s health is promoted satisfactorily as the childminder cares for the children in a warm and clean environment and cleans her home thoroughly prior to the children's arrival. Cross contamination from pets is safeguarded as children are supervised carefully when handling pets. Appropriate arrangements are in place for feeding and preventing animals from fouling any areas used by the children. They are protected from becoming ill as the childminder has systems in place to prevent the spread of infection and to take appropriate measures if children are ill. Their welfare is accommodated as the childminder can respond to accidents appropriately. She holds current first aid training

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Helping children to be healthy

and a first aid box is easily accessible.

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Helping children to be healthy

Although parents provide packed meals for the children, the childminder discusses the contents with parents if she has concerns, in order that the children benefit from a healthy diet. They develop an awareness of healthy eating through the provision of fruit at snack times and discussion with the childminder. Children are able to take responsibility for their own drinking needs as drinks are accessible to them at all times. Special dietary requirements are identified prior to the commencement of care to ensure that parents’ wishes and any religious needs are met and that no child is at risk from a reaction to food.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have opportunities to explore a variety of physical movements as they play in the garden and in the local park. They develop a positive attitude to exercise as they walk to and from school and they develop their confidence on equipment that provides challenge as they climb and balance on frames in the park. Young children rest and sleep without disturbance according to their individual needs and older children can rest on a sofa in the sitting room.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a generally secure and safe, indoor and outdoor environment although keys are accessible to children in the low-level lock of the front door. Children use a small range of developmentally appropriate, safe and suitable resources. There is adequate storage space for equipment. Children’s safety is fostered as the childminder carries out an ongoing risk assessment of her home to reduce hazards and to minimise the risk of accidental injury to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn to keep themselves safe as they are provided with clear explanations about safety issues within the setting such as not running on the laminate floors. The childminder talks with the children about dangers outside the home and they learn about road and fire safety and rules for outings.

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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 are safe-guarded in the area of child protection as the childminder has updated her training and is aware of her responsibilities. She has an understanding of the procedures to follow if she has child protection concerns. She has systems in place to release children into the care of other adults in the event of an emergency.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are offered a small range of activities. They are able to explore resources independently and to play at their own pace. Children help themselves to craft materials and concentrate as they create animal and alien collages using pencils, glue, scissors, magazines and wobbly eyes. They involve themselves in imaginary play as they use a miniature bus with passengers and play animals and they rest quietly with books and magazines.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The arrangement of the furniture and resources in the sitting room and the garden does not always provide sufficient space for the children to lay out and explore activities or to move about freely. Activities for the younger children are not always laid out or planned effectively to provide them with sufficient resources to extend their play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Outdoor play is accommodated in the garden and the children negotiate, take turns and share resources as they play a ball game together and have fun playing in a small tent. The children are happy and at ease in the childminder’s care. She works at the children's level and supports their play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children feel a sense of belonging in the setting as the childminder sets up a small range of activities prior to their arrival. Children's individual needs are identified prior to the commencement of care. They are treated equally and generally activities are adapted to accommodate their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are developing positive attitudes to diversity as the childminder includes images of the different people that make up our society within her resources. They become aware of the wider society as they socialise with others at local toddler and childminder support groups and they explore their environment on outings to local parks, Planet Zoom and Gressenhall Museum. The childminder has an awareness of caring for children with learning difficulties. Children behave well as the childminder uses positive behaviour management strategies that are appropriate to each child’s level of understanding and maturity. They understand responsible behaviour and can distinguish between right and wrong.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s individual needs are met as the childminder identifies these with parents and provides an overview of her practice prior to the commencement of care. Their ongoing progress is accommodated as the childminder works with parents and provides opportunities at the beginning and end of each day to share information regarding the children. Parents are not made aware of how to contact the regulator in the event that they are unhappy with how a complaint has been investigated.

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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 satisfactory. Children benefit from the care of an appropriately vetted, qualified and experienced childminder. They are never left alone with anyone who is not vetted. Children’s progress is enhanced as the childminder accesses ongoing training to improve her practice.

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Organisation

The childminder generally organises her home effectively to accommodate children’s play. They are able to explore resources or to rest and look at books in the sitting room. A table and chairs are provided in the dining room for meals and craft activities. Undisturbed sleep for young children is accommodated in a travel cot in an upstairs bedroom. A toilet is available on the ground floor and an enclosed, partly paved and grassed garden is accessed via the kitchen. Overall children's needs are met.

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Organisation

Documentation to promote the welfare and care of the children is organised and stored securely to ensure confidentiality. The childminder does not display the registration certificate within the setting.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was asked to share her behaviour management strategies with parents and to obtain written consent from them to seek emergency medical treatment or advice. In addition, it was requested that she develop her range of resources to promote a positive awareness of disability and to ensure that the contents of the first aid box are within the expiry date. She has addressed each of these issues in order to ensure the efficient and safe management of her provision.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 1 April 2004.

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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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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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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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 • ensure that the premises are secure and that children are not able to leave them unsupervised • organise space and resources and improve outcomes for children in line with the 'Birth to three matters' framework to accommodate children's play more effectively • make parents aware of how to contact the regulator in the event that they wish to make a complaint • comply with conditions of registration with regard to displaying the registration certificate.

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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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