Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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222123 Unique Reference Number 28 September 2006 Inspection date Heidi Falconer 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 1986. She lives with her partner and four adult children in a village close to Cambridge. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The family has a cat. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding four children under five all day part-time.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has a suitable awareness of hygiene issues and ensures that there are effective hygiene practices in place to minimise the spread of infection and promote children's health. For example, she ensures that children’s bed linen is cleaned and changed frequently. The

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 childminder encourages children’s awareness of good hygiene routines, by ensuring that they wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet, giving explanations when appropriate. The childminder holds an appropriate first aid qualification and she ensures that her first aid box is suitably stocked. As a consequence, children receive suitable treatment in the event of an accident. Appropriate procedures are in place to record all accidents to children. In the event of an accident or injury such as an insect sting, parents are verbally informed over the telephone and asked to sign the childminder’s accident record book. This ensures parents are suitably informed, thus promoting children's welfare.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a suitable range of activities, which contribute to their good health. Playing in the childminder’s garden with resources, such as a slide, small rockers, cars, prams, and balls along with regular visits to the local park improve children's physical skills. Babies and young children are able to rest and sleep to suit their individual needs, as the childminder takes account of their changing needs and home routines. As a result they are well rested and content.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health and development is supported appropriately. The childminder ensures that food, which is provided by parents, is given to children at appropriate times in accordance with their needs. Drinks are offered to children regularly and young children are encouraged to feed themselves, which promotes their independence.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children play with a suitable range of good quality toys and resources. These have been carefully chosen to ensure that they meet children’s developmental needs and create a fun environment. Some resources are stored to allow children to make choices about what they would like to do. For example, each day a box of toys is set out for the children to enjoy as they arrive and later in the morning they are able to choose some toys from the toy cupboard in the lounge.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is promoted through the childminder's awareness of potential risks and the steps she takes to minimise these. She ensures that the children are supervised at all times and she takes effective measures to keep children safe from harm. For example, whilst her garden contains some potentially hazardous building materials, she has fenced off a small area outside her patio doors so that children can play outside safely. In addition, in the garden the childminder has built a fence around her large pond to reduce the hazard it poses to children. When using the main garden children are always well supervised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

In most areas, children's welfare is safeguarded. The childminder demonstrates a sound understanding of child protection issues. This knowledge is inline with the guidelines as set out by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board. As a result she would be able to identify and refer child protection concerns appropriately. However, currently not all persons over 16, living on the premises, have undergone the required checks. This compromises children’s welfare.

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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 satisfactory. The childminder provides a suitable range of play opportunities, which support children’s learning in all areas. For example, when sharing books, the childminder supports their language development, by naming objects and echoing the words that children say. This helps to develop young children’s impulse to communicate. Children are able to take part in a variety of activities which allow them to develop their creative skills. These include drawing, painting, sticking, and making cards for special occasions, such as birthdays. In addition children enjoy opportunities to dress up. On the day of inspection, one child enjoyed playing imaginatively pretending to be ‘Bob the Builder’, wearing a fluorescent jacket and using a battery operated toy drill.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy many opportunities to explore their local environment and see animals with the childminder. They regularly go out on trips to the local farm or visit a nearby pond to see the ducks. Children have recently enjoyed looking at spiders, wren’s and squirrels in the garden with the childminder. This helps children to develop an awareness of the world around them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy warm and affectionate relationships with the childminder. The childminder shows the children that she is genuinely interested in them. For example, as children arrive they are warmly welcomed, receiving reassuring cuddles as they separate from their parents. As a result most children separate from their parents easily and quickly become involved in play activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has a sound understanding and some experience of caring for children with additional needs. As a result the childminder has procedures in place that ensure that all children can participate at a level appropriate to their needs. In addition, the childminder has undertaken some sign language training. The childminder talks regularly with parents and ensures that she is aware of children's individual needs, so that they quickly become settled in her care. For example, when children are new to the setting, she is sensitive to their needs and is accepting of their need to carry around a special object that they have brought in from home. The childminder provides children with some resources, which reflect positive images of diversity. These help children to learn about the wider community.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed friendly relationships with parents. She keeps parents informed about their child’s time in her care through daily discussions. Written agreements are in place with most parents. These outline essential information about the childminder’s terms and conditions and the type of provision provided. However, the childminder’s failure to put these in place for all children and her limited understanding of the new regulation regarding recording and sharing records of complaints affects the effectiveness of her partnership with parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s self-esteem is promoted and developed because the childminder values and encourages good behaviour. For example when children share popular resources, such as the ‘Bob the Builder’ dressing up jacket, the childminder praises, telling them that it is ‘kind’ to share. The strategies that the childminder uses for managing behaviour are consistent and

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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 appropriate to the ages of the children who attend. As a result children feel secure and know what is expected of them.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has worked with children for many years. She uses this experience to provide a warm and welcoming environment with a suitable range of activities for children. Children benefit from consistent routines, which are inline with routines followed at home. This helps children to feel secure and settle quickly in the childminder’s care.

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Organisation

The childminder ensures that most of the required documentation is in place, to promote children’s care and welfare. However, she has failed to ensure that one member of her family, who is 16 years old, has submitted to the required vetting procedure. This compromises children’s safety and welfare. All documents relating to the childminder’s practice are generally well organised and easily accessible. To ensure that parents are informed about the childminder's conditions of registration, the childminder display's her certificate on a notice board in her dining area. Overall, children’s needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to obtain written permission from parents before administering medication and to keep a written record, signed by parents, of medicines given to children. These procedures are now in place and are promoting children’s good health. To further improve children's health the childminder agreed to complete an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children. The childminder has since attended an appropriate course and holds a first aid qualification which is valid for three years. As a consequence she would be able to care for children appropriately care in the event of an accident.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection 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. 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 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): • ensure that all persons over 16 living on the premises submit to the appropriate checks • ensure that written agreements are in place with all parents, which sets out the expectations of both parties as to the care of the child, activities provided and business arrangements • develop knowledge and understanding of the changes in regulations on 3 October 2005, with regard to keeping a complaints log and ensuring that it is available 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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