Childminder in Stockport

Inspection report for early years provision

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306623 Unique Reference Number 22 August 2006 Inspection date Zoe Smith 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 for 19 years. She lives in the Hazel Grove district of Stockport with her husband and their adult son and daughter. All rooms on the ground floor and the enclosed rear garden are used for childminding purposes. Rooms used provide play, eating, sleep and toilet facilities. The family have a pet rabbit.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children and is currently minding eight children on a combination of full and part-time places. Children can be taken to and collected from local schools. The childminder has a General National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in Early Years Education and Childcare. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and Stockport's Childminding Association.

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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 participate in a wide range of activities that help them to gain good control and coordination over their bodies. Frequent opportunities for physical activity provide children with lots of fresh air and exercise. They walk to and from school every day, attend toddler groups and regularly go on trips to the park. Climbing on the climbing frames and playing on the swings are firm favourites with the children. They also enjoy riding tricycles, balancing on beams and wobble boards and jumping energetically on the trampoline in the childminder's garden.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a warm and clean home. The childminder implements effective hygiene procedures and routines to protect children from illness and infection. Toys, equipment and surfaces are spotlessly clean and the childminder has successfully completed a food hygiene course. Children are starting to learn about the importance of cleanliness and how to look after their bodies. They wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a varied and nutritious diet that includes fresh fruit, salad and vegetables. Posters are displayed to encourage children to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Children's likes, dislikes and special dietary requirements are discussed and agreed with them and their parents. They participate in activities that help them find out about and reinforce the importance of healthy eating. For example, they have planted tomatoes, potatoes and green beans in the garden, which they tend on a daily basis. When they are ready the children are going to pick them and help the childminder prepare them to eat.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a well maintained home. Educational posters and photographs of the children are displayed on the wall. This helps to make the environment welcoming and child friendly. Most potential dangers have been identified and sensible safety precautions put in place to minimise risks. However, the stairs are easily accessible to young children, sharp knives are stored in a low level drawer and there are exposed plug sockets in the kitchen. The children are safeguarded because the childminder is diligent in her supervision of them. She constantly and directly supervises them at all times and teaches them how to use equipment correctly, where they cannot go and what they mustn't touch.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good fire precautions and procedures are in place, the fire service have conducted an assessment of the premises and talked to the children about fire safety. A fire blanket is provided in the kitchen, practice fire drills are conducted and smoke detectors fitted on all levels of the house.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Discussions and activities help children to learn how they can keep themselves safe. For example, they have made crossing patrol 'lollipops' using paper plates and regularly talk about road safety and stranger danger. Consistent boundaries and simple rules ensure children have a balance between having freedom and safe limits. They help to tidy up and know to follow the

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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 safety rules when using the trampoline. Children choose what to play with from a wide variety of good quality toys that are appropriate for their age and stage of development. The children's safety and protection is of utmost importance to the childminder. She has up-to-date knowledge and training in first aid and child protection procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle immediately they arrive and enjoy being at the childminder’s home, where there is lots of activity and fun as they play and learn. The childminder has a very good knowledge and understanding of early years guidance, such as the 'Birth to three matters' framework. She uses her knowledge effectively to ensure children make good progress and achieve in all areas of their development. The childminding day is planned to provide a well balanced range of activities to stimulate the children's interest, enthusiasm and learning. Children have time to relax as well as to be active. They enjoy looking at books and listening to stories with the childminder. Children are making good progress in developing language skills and becoming skilful communicators. They listen and talk to the childminder, tell her what they want to do and are encouraged to learn their colours and numbers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy playing with brightly coloured building bricks. They choose the coloured bricks they want and carefully fit them together to make a tower. Children become engrossed in pretend play, actively using gestures and actions. They take dolls for walks in the pram and put them to bed, carefully tucking them in to keep them warm. They have opportunities to explore a good range of activities which stimulate their creativity, such as painting, water, cutting and sticking, sand and dough. Young children love playing with musical instruments. They enthusiastically bang the drum, shake the tambourine and bells, and blow the recorder to make music as they march round the house.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder recognises school age children are spending their leisure time with her and gives them lots of choice. They excitedly play skittles, keeping a written record of the score and competently use a calculator to add the total score up. They lead their own play and love to improvise, becoming engrossed in make believe games with the small world imaginative toys, and investigating under the stairs and in cupboards using torches to help them see. The childminder has good relationships with children. She knows when to join in and facilitate their play, and when not to in case she interrupts activities. This provides children with lots of freedom.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have access to a good range of resources that provide positive images of culture, gender and disability, such as posters, books and imaginative toys. Activities are provided to help children learn about their own and the customs, religious and cultural beliefs of others. At Chinese New Year they visited China Town and made lanterns, and they have made finger puppets to help them find out about Eskimos. These activities are helping children to understand and respect differing lifestyles. The childminder values all children and is committed to inclusion.

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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 She has undertaken relevant training to enable her to be proactive in welcoming children with special needs into her care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children look forward to attending toddler groups and outings to local parks, museums, farms and places of interest. This provides them with a wide range of enjoyable learning experiences and is helping them to become a part of the community. The childminder uses positive methods to promote good behaviour and to manage challenging behaviour. School age children have discussed and helped to write the house rules. Children are kept busy and interested, they are responsive to the meaningful praise that they receive and behave well. Younger children are beginning to learn how to share and take turns. Skilful negotiation and lots of encouragement from the childminder ensures they wait patiently for their turn on the swing and trampoline.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has an effective partnership with parents. She greets parents in a welcoming and friendly manner, spending time chatting to them about their child. Parents speak very highly of the childminder and the high quality care she provides for their children. A daily diary provides them with a written record of how their child has spent the day. The childminder takes positive steps to ensure parents are kept fully informed about all relevant policies and procedures.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are happy and settled in the friendly and well organised home. The environment is organised to provide a wide variety of interesting and enjoyable activities that are easily accessible. The childminder has very good relationships with children. The childminding day is organised so she can devote all her time to them. This ensures children receive lots of support, encouragement and individual attention. Her commitment to continually developing her childcare skills and enhancing the quality of care for children is excellent. She regularly attends short training courses and has attained a recognised childcare qualification. Records and documentation are well maintained, stored appropriately and retained for inspection. The childminder has devised a comprehensive range of written policies and procedures. These are shared with parents and used to effectively inform and underpin her practice.

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Organisation

Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to develop her understanding of and to use the 'Early Learning Goals' in her work with funded three and four year old children. She is not currently providing nursery education, however she has attended several relevant training courses that have helped her to develop her understanding of the Foundation Stage. This ensures if she provides nursery education children make good progress in their learning and development.

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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 are no complaints to report. 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): • review safety precautions to minimise risks to the children.

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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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