Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY102902 Unique Reference Number 03 October 2006 Inspection date Valerie Thomas 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 2002. She lives with her husband and four children aged 15, 13 and 12 and one who is an adult in Stoke-on-Trent. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house and two bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor 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 six children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five years and three children over five years. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family has a dog and 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 satisfactory. The routines and procedures implemented by the childminder are not fully effective to help children develop a clear understanding of when they need to wash their hands. Discussion with the childminder demonstrates that children are encouraged to wash their hands after using the toilet and after lunch. However, children do not always wash their hands before they have their lunch. Routines for nappy changing help to prevent cross contamination with the changing mat always wiped between use and nappies disposed of appropriately. The clear procedures in place for infectious children help limit the spread of infection and help them to keep healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from the varied range of nutritional meals provided by the childminder. Young children enjoy their lunch and are eager to have their yoghurt after their main meal. Healthy options such as fruit are given for a snack and young children have toast and honey when they return from taking the older children to school with the childminder. This encourages children to develop a positive approach to eating. Young children rest according to their needs which are fully discussed with parents when the children first start. As a result the childminder has a good knowledge of each child's routine.

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Helping children to be healthy

Regular opportunities for children to be outside and develop their physical skills are provided. Children are taken at least once a week to a local activity centre and go for regular walks to the local shops and park. Children have lots of fun playing on the bikes and skateboard in the garden. This encourages children to develop their physical skills and develop a healthy lifestyle.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Security in the home is good and there is sufficient space for children to play comfortably with the toys. Children benefit from the clear boundaries set by the childminder. They learn that they should not stand on the chairs as it is dangerous and that they should not go near to the cooker or they may burn themselves. However, children's safety is not fully promoted as there are hazards present in the home. There is a smoke alarm on the ground floor but not on the first floor which does not allow early detection of a fire. Cleaning materials are accessible to children in the kitchen and the steps leading to the outside area pose a risk to children as they are not guarded. There is a written fire evacuation procedure in place although the childminder has not practised the procedure in the new home. This compromises children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is maintained appropriately. Children are able to select toys from a satisfactory range of good quality toys that are organised in a storage chest and in accessible cupboards. This allows them to make their own choices about their play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a clear understanding of child protection procedures and the correct procedures for reporting any concerns. The childminder has attended child protection training and has a written policy with relevant contact details which is shown to parents. This helps to ensure that children are protected from harm or neglect.

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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. Children are settled and approach the childminder for their needs, which are met appropriately most of the time. Comfort is given to children when they are upset and positive interaction takes place at all times. The childminder provides a satisfactory range of activities to maintain children's interest for most of the time. Samples of children's art work shows that older ones draw and paint pictures. Younger children are taken to a local toddler group and visit the local library for story time. Children enjoy sitting with the shape sorter posting the shapes through the corresponding holes and playing with the musical toys pressing the buttons to make the sounds. The childminder extends children's language skills well as she sits and reads a book with them. Children try to copy the sounds of 'brrm brrm' for the noise of the car and point to the pictures saying 'baby' and 'doctor'. However, children sometimes wander around with

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

nothing to do when the childminder is busy with routine tasks such as making the lunch. The 'Birth to three matters' framework is not used to enhance the play opportunities to develop children's all round learning and enjoyment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's independence is developing well through encouragement from the childminder. They feed themselves when they have their lunch and look into the toy box to find what toys they want to play with. As a result children are learning to be self-sufficient.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are met appropriately as the childminder follows their routines as discussed with their parents and as a result children are settled. Suitable behaviour management methods are implemented to help children play together appropriately. They stop trying to kick when they are told not to and are learning to share the toys with each other accepting a different toy when offered. This helps children to understand right from wrong.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Opportunities for children to learn about the wider world are good. They go for walks to the local town and visit the library and an activity centre regularly. Younger children are taken to a local toddler group each week. This helps them to develop their social skills within the local community. There is a suitable range of resources to promote positive images of different cultures and disability. This helps to raise children's awareness of diversity and their understanding of others. Although there are no children currently attending with learning difficulties or disabilities the childminder has some experience. As a result the childminder has a good understanding of ensuring inclusion and the importance of working in partnership with parents to meet children's needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Positive methods are in place to develop the partnership with parents with written information available on how the setting operates. The children's well-being and how their needs are met during the day are discussed on a daily basis and a diary is used for some of the children to keep parents fully informed. The childminder helps parents to meet the child's needs. For example, if parents request the childminder takes children to the clinic for their appointments. This enables the childminder and parents to work together to meet the needs of the child.

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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 are settled in the appropriately organised environment. They are confident to choose toys from the box to play with and have appropriate support from the childminder most of the time. They enjoy receiving the positive interaction and comfort from the childminder and as a result children are happy and settled.

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Organisation

The childminder places importance on developing her knowledge of childcare issues. She has attended training courses on road safety and child protection and has a current first aid certificate. This contributes to the quality of care provided.

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Organisation

Most policies and procedures are used appropriately to promote the welfare of children. They are shared regularly with parents to keep them well-informed about the service and their child's activities. Records of children's attendance are kept although they are not up to date as there are no records for September attendance. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to improve the medication records, obtain public liability insurance and complete an approved childminder's registration course.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Improvements to the medication procedures have taken place. Written consent is obtained from parents for all medication administered to children and a record is kept of any medication given. This ensures that their good health is promoted and their needs are met. The childminder has current public liability insurance in place and has completed the required training for registering as a childminder. This helps to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 1 April 2004 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

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 there is a daily record of children's attendance • take reasonable steps to ensure that hazards to children on the premises, both inside and outside, are minimised: this relates to ensuring smoke alarms which conform to BS EN safety standards are provided at every level of the house; the safety of the steps leading to the outside area; ensuring cleaning materials are inaccessible to children and the practise of a fire evacuation procedure • implement the Birth to three matters framework to improve the outcomes for children and ensure that children are engaged in worthwhile activities while routine tasks are undertaken by the childminder • ensure hygiene procedures are effective for 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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