Knight, Claire Jane

Inspection report for early years provision

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225879 Unique Reference Number 10 December 2007 Inspection date Alexandra Brouder 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 1994. She lives with her two children aged six and nine and adult child aged 19. They live in a house which is situated in a cul-de-sac in a residential area of Leicestershire. All of the rooms within the home are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding five children under eight and six children over eight years of age that she offers care to.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are parks, a library, shops, schools and pre-schools within walking distance of the house.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has pet cats, to which minded children do not have access. The childminder is a member of the National Child Minding Association. She attends a local childminding support group and takes children to a local mother and toddler 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 good. Children’s health needs are well promoted. They learn the importance of good hygiene and personal care through the consistent routines in place within the home. This includes washing hands after using the bathroom, before meals and after messy activities, as well as gentle reminders from the childminder for children to place their hands over their mouths when they cough. Children observe the childminder following effective cleaning routines each day, for example, washing down the sides with antibacterial spray, promoting good role modelling. Sound procedures are in place for nappy changing and potty training, protecting children from the risk of cross-infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

A range of policies are in place keeping parents informed of procedures that would be followed should a child become ill whilst in her care. In addition to this, records regarding medication and accidents are maintained appropriately to ensure that children’s welfare is supported and protected. Permission is sought, in the main, before children begin with the childminder for the her to seek appropriate medical advice or treatment should a child require emergency intervention. However, this is not up-to-date for all children, which may delay action being taken.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of healthy foods that is provided, in the main, by their parents or carers. This is stored appropriately and prepared as required by the childminder. In addition to this food the children are offered a range of healthy snacks from the childminder, such as fruit and toast, promoting their health and well-being. Children remain hydrated as they access juice or water in appropriate cups or beakers throughout the day. Information is taken before children begin regarding any allergies or preferences children may have ensuring that they remain healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children access the outdoors most days and enjoy a range of activities that develop their large and small muscle skills. For example, as they crawl through bridges made from bricks, handle writing implements appropriately and move around the setting with growing confidence and agility. Children walk to and from the local school each day ensuring that they receive daily exercise and the childminder takes younger children to local toddler groups and stay and play sessions to further increase their skills.

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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 safe and welcoming environment in which they have sufficient facilities to allow them to play, rest and eat comfortably. However, the temperature of the back playroom is not always maintained appropriately which impacts on children’s well-being. Toys and equipment that are available to children are well maintained and stored appropriately to suit the age and ability of all present.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Daily checks are completed on the environment that children access as well as the day to day resources to maintain their safety in the home. In addition to this, the childminder has undertaken a risk assessment course to enable her to evaluate all areas of safety and makes changes as required. Children’s safety is further promoted as appropriate equipment, such as stair gates, smoke detectors and socket covers, are in place. Children learn how to keep safe

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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 on outings as the childminder talks to them about road safety and uses equipment such as buggies and reins as needed. Children are well protected in the event of a fire as they regularly practise the fire evacuation procedure which is clearly displayed for all to see, ensuring a common understanding on how to exit in an emergency, is in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safe-guarded and protected from harm as the childminder has a clear understanding of local child protection procedures and how to implement these. She has received training and has a policy in place which she shares with parents ensuring that they are aware of her role and responsibilities in this area.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled in the well-resourced, child centred environment. They become independent and make choices in their play as well as having a range of well-planned activities to participate in. For example, today children were observed to enjoy role play with the play kitchen and utensils, making tea and food for the childminder and inspector, as well as enjoying a memory game with the childminder. Children have developed good relationships with the childminder which enables them to enjoy their time within her home and increases their sense of belonging and emotional well-being. She is caring and offers praise and encouragement to develop their confidence and abilities in what they can do. The childminder has a secure knowledge of child development and ensures that children are learning as well as having fun. Activities are adapted to enable children of all ages to participate and develop their learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is familiar with some aspects of the Foundation Stage and 'Birth to three matters' framework. She has attended training and is beginning to include some of these aspects when planning play for the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are offered a varied and stimulating range of activities, such as, plastic bricks, play dough, dolls house with different characters, kitchen and play foods, dressing up and a variety of messy and craft activities. The childminder talks to the children about what they are doing incorporating varied language and questions to encourage them to extend on their knowledge. For example, when playing the memory game the childminder gave the children clues about what they could feel, such as ‘it keeps your ears warm' when a child was trying to guess that they were holding ear muffs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children’s individual needs are well met as the childminder ensures that she takes steps to establish information on their requirements before they begin to enable her to meet their needs effectively. She has some resources that promote other cultures and lifestyles, for example, books and dolls and makes good use of posters and books that contain a range of positive images promoting other cultures and abilities well. She talks to children about a variety of festivals, such as Diwali, Chinese New Year and a range of Christian festivals. This enables them to gain a sense of the world in which they live and activities are planned around these to help embed children’s learning and understanding.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities are not currently in attendance with the childminder, however, she has experience in this area and has a clear understanding of meeting the needs of all children in her care.

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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 behave well and the childminder endeavours to offer rules appropriate to their age and stage of development. For example, she uses distraction for very young children and talks to others asking them not to do certain things and giving reasons why this is so. This enables children to think about their actions and learn how to behave in an appropriate and acceptable manner. For example, children today were asked not to get up from the table during snack time and were told that this was because they would drop their food, when the child did this again the childminder asked them why they should not do so, more able child stated that they would drop their food. Children respond positively to praise and encouragement which enables them to play well and in harmony with their peers, sharing and taking turns as needed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Secure relationships are in place between the childminder and parents and carers enabling children to feel happy and content in her care. A good range of written and verbal information is shared with all, before children begin, ensuring that parents and carers are fully informed of the childminder’s practises and procedures. Daily records are maintained for all children under five enabling parents and carers to feel that they are a part of their child’s day as well as gaining an insight into the progress their child makes whilst in the care of the childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for in a relaxed, welcoming child-friendly home, helping them to develop good relationships and enjoy their time at the setting. Their individual needs are consistently met through the organisation of the space and resources available.

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Organisation

Children’s safety, health, enjoyment and achievement are promoted well as a good range of written information regarding children’s needs are in place and shared with parents before children begin. However, there are some gaps in this information for a small number of children which may impact on their welfare. Policies and procedures are good and promote children’s well-being, care and learning. The childminder has completed a range of appropriate training and continues to update her knowledge enabling her to develop her practice and increase the opportunities for all children in her care.

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Organisation

Overall the range of children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection the childminder was asked to ensure that information about the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all people living at the premises are kept in the childminding records; maintain sufficient written parental permission for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment and to practise an emergency escape plan.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has information on file regarding all persons living on the premises to ensure that children's welfare is maintained. Consent is sought for emergency medical advice and treatment for most children, however, this is not in place for one child, therefore, this continues to be a recommendation. An emergency escape plan is in place and practised with all children promoting their safety and well-being.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the childminder's 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.

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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 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 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): • ensure that children's health is maintained appropriately by ensuring that an appropriate temperature is maintained and that consent is obtained from parents at the time of placement for emergency medical advice or treatment, for all children • ensure that all consents and information on children is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that any change in circumstances regarding their needs is noted and adapted as required.

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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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