Childminder in Sefton

Inspection report for early years provision

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310519 Unique Reference Number 12 October 2006 Inspection date Ann Lee 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 1999. She lives with her husband in Aintree, Liverpool.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. She is registered to care for six children at any one time and is currently minding four children who attend on a part-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She takes children out regularly to local shops, parks, library 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 are cared for in a warm, clean house where the childminder makes good efforts to keep them free from infection and cross contamination. She uses anti-bacterial spray and bleach to ensure that the kitchen work tops and bathroom are hygienic and provides children with separate flannels and towels. The dining table is covered by a plastic cloth during arts and craft activities so that it stays clean for meal times. Children learn about good personal hygiene because they cover their mouth with their hands when coughing and wash their hands after using the toilet, before eating and after handling animals on visits to the farm.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is a qualified nurse and has an up to date first aid certificate and this helps her to safeguard children in the event of accidental injury or sickness. They are further protected because there is a first aid kit available and all of the necessary documentation, such as accident and medication records and parental consents are completed. Parents provide information about children's medical history so that she can care for them according to their individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Parents usually provide a packed lunch for their children and the childminder offers healthy snacks of fruit, toast or yoghurt plus regular drinks of water. The childminder sits with the children when they eat so that they learn good table manners and enjoy socialising together.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are many opportunities for children to develop their physical skills. They love to play in the garden on the slide, riding the wheeled toys and digging in the sand. Indoors they dance to music and demonstrate good control of their bodies as they somersault and jump. Children also enjoy regular outings to the park, toddler group and swimming pool where they have plenty of space and can run about, climb, swim and take part in active games. They practise their small motor skills when they paint, draw, manipulate dough and puzzles and build with blocks. Young children show good concentration and dexterity as they sharpen pencils and join the train track together.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are safe and secure because the childminder supervises them closely at all times and ensures that the front door and garden gate are locked so that they cannot leave the premises unattended. They are further safeguarded because all of the necessary safety equipment, such as fire guard, safety gates, smoke alarms and fire blanket are in place to minimise the risk of accidental injury. Children learn how to keep themselves safe when they practise the fire evacuation procedure and learn how to cross the road safely on outings. The childminder reinforces these safety messages through stories and discussion. For example, children are warned not to run while holding a pencil in case they fall on it and hurt themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The areas used for play are comfortable and welcoming and children's art work decorates the walls. This helps children to settle in quickly and feel that they belong. Children have some

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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 freedom of movement as they play in the living room and use the kitchen for meal times, arts and crafts and baking. Young children confidently go to the toilet by themselves. Babies sleep downstairs within sight or hearing of the childminder so that they can be closely monitored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a good range of interesting and stimulating toys and activities which are clean and in good condition. The toys, books, puzzles and games are stored within easy reach of the children so that they can choose what to play with and become more independent. There is also a well equipped garden where children play with sand and water, slide, bikes, prams, play kitchen, balls and hoops.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is well trained in child protection issues and she has a good understanding of her role and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children from harm. She shares her child protection policy with parents so that they understand the actions to be taken to safeguard children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled in the comfortable and child friendly environment. The childminder uses her training and experience to plan a varied programme of stimulating and interesting activities which help them to have fun and make good progress. She talks to parents and teachers to find out what children know so that she can move them on to the next stage of development. For example, she learns what songs children are learning in the nursery so that they can practise them together and she also uses play and every day activities to help them to learn colours, shapes and number. She is beginning to use the 'Birth to three matters' framework to improve the outcomes for children and briefly records children's development in the progress book.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is a friendly, approachable person who develops close, affectionate relationships with children so that they feel comfortable and secure. She spends lots of time talking and listening to children so that they gain good language and communication skills. They also enjoy sitting together, looking at books and reading stories. They discuss the characters in television programmes and the childminder involves the children by asking questions and referring back to previous programmes so that they learn a sense of time and add new words to their vocabulary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

A wide range of toys and activities is provided which help children to have fun and learn. They enjoy imaginative role play using dolls, prams, tent, garage, train, small world toys and play kitchen items. The childminder sits with the children to play games, help with puzzles and extend their play appropriately. They have plenty of opportunities to be creative as they paint, cut and stick, play with dough and bake cakes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are confident and independent. They know where the equipment is stored, choose what to play with and are encouraged to help clear away the toys when their game is finished. Children also find their own shoes and put them on. The childminder uses lots of praise to build children's self-esteem and always explains carefully why certain actions are inappropriate or wrong.

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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 ensures that children learn about the wider world on regular outings to the park, library, farms, toddler group and swimming pool. They also enjoy playing in the garden with a good variety of suitable toys and equipment. They love to play with sand using diggers, buckets and spades and explore the different feel and texture of the sand when they pour water on to it from a watering can.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder welcomes all children including those with additional needs or disability and treats them with equal care and concern. She works with parents and other professionals to ensure that children are cared for according to their individual needs. There are some resources available, such as books and small world toys, which provide children with positive images of different cultures, religions and disability. Children talk about differences and similarities in how they look so that they learn to appreciate and understand diversity and develop tolerance of others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are friendly, confident and well behaved. They respond positively to the kind and patient childminder who acts as a good role model and uses lots of praise to reward good behaviour. Children receive plenty of individual attention and the childminder diverts them from unacceptable behaviour by introducing new and interesting activities. Children learn right from wrong and are encouraged to be well mannered and polite.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Relationships with parents are good and the childminder invites them for introductory visits with their children. This is reassuring for parents and helps children to settle in quickly. Parents are provided with information about the setting and about the childminder's policies and procedures so that they can provide continuity of care for children. The childminder talks to parents each day to share information and she also provides a daily diary for babies. This ensures that parents are kept fully informed about their children's daily routine, activities and progress.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is well qualified and has considerable experience of child care. This enables her to provide a safe, caring and learning environment for children. They are protected because they never come into unsupervised contact with people who have not been vetted. Children's welfare is further safeguarded because the correct ratios are always maintained and this enables the childminder to offer them plenty of support and supervision.

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Organisation

The childminder has a good understanding of how children learn and develop so that she can help them make progress in all areas of development. Children are confident and independent because the space is well organised to provide freedom of movement and plenty of space for play. They can also make choices about what they do because the toys and equipment are stored in boxes and on tables within easy reach of children. Good use is made of local facilities, such as parks, farms, swimming pool and toddler group so that children enjoy different play experiences and learn about their local community and the wider world.

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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 All of the necessary records and documentation are in place for the efficient and safe management of the provision. Records are stored confidentially and shared with parents so that they can work with the childminder to safeguard the welfare, care and learning of children. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has obtained some resources, such as books and small world toys, which provide children with positive images of different cultures, religions and disability. She has also improved her record keeping and now completes parental agreements and obtains parental consents where necessary to safeguard the welfare of children.

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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 to 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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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): • continue to improve the outcomes for children from birth to three by using an approach in line with the 'Birth to three matters' framework.

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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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