Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY235812 Unique Reference Number 21 December 2006 Inspection date Mary Kelly 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 has been registered since 2003. She lives with her partner and two children aged six and four years in Shirley, Solihull. The house is within walking distance of local shops and park. Childminding is accessed in all areas of the home. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for two children at any one time and is currently minding one child who attends full-time.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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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 are protected from the spread of infection because the childminder implements a suitable level of hygiene standards. For example, children are made aware of the importance of washing their hands and younger children are assisted. Children's good health is maintained because the childminder has a current first aid certificate, however the certificate was not available at this time. She keeps satisfactory records of all accidents and is aware of the importance of obtaining parents' signatures in the accident book.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are adequately nourished as the childminder provides them with fresh fruit for snacks and the parents provide a balanced lunch for lunchtime. The childminder ensures the children are not hungry by providing them with regular healthy snacks. Children are given regular drinks, at meal times and on request, ensuring they are well hydrated. The childminder displayed an adequate insight into the individual needs of the children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Walks to the park, and local groups contribute to the general well-being of the children and occur regularly. Children are encouraged to be physically active and have daily access to fresh air and exercise. They develop positive attitudes to exercising their bodies through fun activities such as games and outdoor physical play in the garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children have free use of the childminder's home. The childminder has in place, regular visual risk assessments of the areas used to ensure that the children are safe at all times and potential hazards are addressed. All of the safety equipment to protect the children is in place. Toys and resources are effectively arranged to allow the children to access them easily and safely. The childminder ensures they are safe and suitable for the ages of the children attending and checks them regularly for safety and cleanliness.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children play safely due to the childminder's awareness of minimising risks, and talks to the children regarding the procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This ensures that the children are aware of the procedure necessary to ensure their safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded and promoted through the childminder attending minimal training for example, she has a current first aid certificate however, this wasn't available at the inspection. Children are protected as a result of a suitable knowledge of the current child protection procedures in line with Local Safeguarding Children's Board guidelines.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children experience a suitable range of activities, which contributes to their overall development for example, role play and trains, as well as outdoor play and visits to local groups on a regular

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 basis. Children make positive relationships and play co-operatively sharing the resources and were observed bringing chairs for the other children to join in the game. The childminder knows the children well and offers them a choice of resources to support their learning. Children's confidence is reinforced by the use of praise and encouragement that helps them try new challenges, consequently children play quite well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children experience a balanced variety of play activities both indoors and outdoors. They enjoy what is offered and spend time engrossed in play. The childminder offers good opportunities to allow the children to make individual choices. The childminder keeps relevant information for each child and exchanges this regularly with the children's parents so they are aware of what developmental stage their child is at.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children feel a sense of belonging and are welcomed and enjoy a family atmosphere, in which the childminder values and respects their individuality and family background. She said that she records necessary information about the needs of the children, however no records were available due to flooding at the home, but has adequate resources to support equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice. The children have daily opportunities to access resources and these are rotated on a regular basis.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are encouraged to play together and consequently behave very well. Satisfactory behaviour management strategies are discussed with the parents. This ensures that they are all aware of the strategies in place. Children's self-esteem is promoted effectively, and the childminder offers a good level of support. Good behaviour is encouraged at all times. Children are praised through the effective, consistent approach of the childminder towards managing behaviour positively and are reminded of the rules, such as, not running in the home. Children respond well to age and stage appropriate tactics such as, the childminder giving explanations to the children and being calm and consistent with the younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from a regular, effective sharing of information between the children's parents and the childminder, ensuring that the needs of the children are met consistently. Parents are well informed at the beginning by the childminder talking to the parents constantly, through daily verbal feedback about their child. This ensures that she is fully aware of the interests and individual needs of the children in her care. This contributes to the continuity of care for the children and the parents. However, currently they do not have access to the Regulator's details or a complaint log is not yet in place, therefore in the event a parent needed to make a complaint they may not be aware of how to do so.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children feel safe, secure and part of the family in the homely environment. They are familiar with the layout and resources, which provide satisfactory opportunities for the children to be independent and have a small level of free choice. The childminder has a child care qualification

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 and commits herself by updating her knowledge of the children and their needs, which improves the childminding service for both the children and parents.

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Organisation

Communication with the parents is good. They are verbally informed regularly about the progress of their children and have daily opportunities for discussion and consultation about the child's well-being. None of the required documentation regarding the children is in place as the childminder has recently had a flood in the home and her paperwork was destroyed. These need to be made available for inspection, to ensure the childminder is meeting the National Standards.

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Organisation

Satisfactory procedures are followed by the childminder to keep the children safe and protected from illness and infection. Her practice is verbally shared with the parents regularly, this ensures that the children are being cared for consistently. The needs of the children are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to complete a first aid course, develop her understanding of child protection procedures, increase range of resources to reflect equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, have a fire blanket accessible in the kitchen, obtain public liability insurance and make cleaning materials inaccessible. She has addressed these issues by attending a first aid course, and gained public liability insurance, although the certificates have been destroyed in the recent flood and were not available for inspection. Has updated child protection knowledge and is attending another course in the new year so she will be aware of current practices. Cleaning materials are stored in the kitchen and are currently not accessible to the children, therefore promoting their safety and the fire blanket has been wall mounted to ensure it can be used effectively if necessary. Recourse to support equality

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Improvements since the last inspection

of opportunity and anti-discriminary practice are available to all of the children and are easily accessible to ensure the children have regular access.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection/since registration/since 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 other 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 all documentation is available for inspection • make available to parents details for the Regulator and a complaints log, in the event they wish to make a complaint.

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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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