Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY318376 Unique Reference Number 18 October 2006 Inspection date Jannet Mary Richards 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 January 2006. She lives close to the centre of Blackburn with her husband and two teenage sons. The town centre, schools, shops, parks and a library are within walking distance. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. This includes a lounge, kitchen/dining area and toilet.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder cares for children during the day, in addition to collecting children from local schools. She is currently caring for three children on a part-time basis.

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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's health is promoted suitably by the childminder. Her home is a clean environment for the children. She ensures that she follows hygienic practices to reduce any risk of the spread of infection. She keeps surfaces clean, for example, and encourages the children to wash their hands often. The children benefit from visits to the local park on a regular basis, in addition to walking to and from school, which provide them with opportunities for fresh air and exercise.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder encourages the children to eat a generally healthy diet. She provides some home cooked meals. Most of the time she encourages the children to have healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit and yogurt. The childminder ensures that children's dietary needs and allergies are accommodated, to ensure their individual dietary needs are met. The children are encouraged to drink often during the day. They can reach their own drinks, which promotes their self-help skills and encourages them to recognise when they are thirsty.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a safe and suitable environment. In the childminder's home they have plenty of space to move around as they play. They can play with a small but suitable range of toys and books. The childminder provides a few toys each day in the lounge where children play, they know to ask for other toys and books which are stored in the hallway. The children do not have access to a wide range of toys, however, and they are unable to access them independently which limits the choices that they have.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are supervised well to keep them safe. The childminder's home has measures in place, such as fire guards and safety gates to ensure that the children can play safely. The childminder has also carried out some simple risk assessments to reduce hazards, such as restricting children's access to the kitchen when the cooker is on. The childminder has a suitable awareness of child protection issues and procedures in order to safeguard the welfare of any children she may care for.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children settle well in the childminder's care due to effective settling in procedures. The children respond well to the individual attention they receive from the childminder, they clearly enjoy her company and have a good relationship with her. The childminder and children have fun together, singing songs which they love, for example, which ensures that the children enjoy the time they spend in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy a generally suitable range of activities. Older children sometimes paint, for example, and younger children enjoy playing imaginatively with cars and looking at books with

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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 the childminder. The younger children, however, have few opportunities to explore and investigate using sand, paint and other resources.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder spends time with the children, interacting with them to promote their development. She looks at books with younger children, for example, and sings songs with them in order to develop their language and communication skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The children behave generally well whilst in the care of the childminder, as she has a suitable understanding of behaviour management strategies. She is able to calm children and distract them to play activities, for example, when they become over excited. The children have some opportunities to value and be aware of differences as they have some books and small world toys which reflect different cultures and race.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder meets children's individual needs fairly well, though does not obtain sufficient written and verbal information from parents and carers in order to meet their needs fully, particularly when children have specific individual needs. She keeps parents sufficiently informed about what the children have been doing, as she exchanges information with parents as they bring and collect their children. She works with parents on different issues, such as toilet training, in order to provide a consistent approach to the children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder organises her time effectively in order to spend time with the children and give them her individual attention and support. Her home is generally well organised and provides a safe and suitable environment for the children. She is keen to continue to develop her knowledge of child care in order to develop her childminding service, she has enrolled on further training in the near future.

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Organisation

The documentation relating to the care of the children is suitably maintained, with the exception of one missing consent from parents. Documentation is up to date and stored safely.

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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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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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 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): • develop more effective systems for gathering information form parents about children's needs in order to support them fully • obtain written parental consent for treatment in a medical emergency • increase the range of toys and resources to offer more choices to children • develop the range of creative and exploratory activities for young children using the 'Birth to three matters' framework for guidance.

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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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