Childminder in St Helens

Inspection report for early years provision

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323038 Unique Reference Number 04 December 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 1986. She lives with her two adult children in St. Helens, Merseyside. The sitting room and dining kitchen on the ground floor are used for childminding. The bathroom is located on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed rear yard available for outdoor play activities.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently 10 children on roll who attend for various different sessions. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and has completed the National Childminding Association Quality Assurance Scheme. She is also a Community Childminder for the St. Helens area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Overnight care is not provided. The family has a pet dog.

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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 benefit because they are cared for in a clean and hygienic environment where the childminder takes good steps to keep them free from infection and cross contamination. She ensures that children wash their hands appropriately and reminds them to wipe their noses and put their hands over their mouths when coughing. She has policies in place for health and for sickness so that children are cared for correctly when they are ill. The childminder has an up to date first aid certificate and she completes all of the necessary documentation to ensure that children are safeguarded in the event of illness or accidental injury.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a good understanding of healthy eating and she provides children with a varied and nutritious diet which contains fresh, home cooked meals and plenty of fruit and vegetables. She has done training in basic food hygiene and 'Providing for the nutritional needs of babies' to help her to meet the dietary needs of children. Regular drinks are offered to the children throughout the day.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children are very active and they enjoy many opportunities to practise their physical skills. They love to run up and down the garden, climb on the small climbing frame and rock on the see saw. They jump, hop and roll the ball showing good control of their bodies. They also enjoy daily outings to the local toddler groups and parks where they can ride wheeled toys, dig in the sand, climb and swing. Indoors, they practise their small motor skills as they complete jigsaw puzzles, build using different types of construction, paint, draw and manipulate small world toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children settle quickly and are made welcome in the child friendly environment. They are safe and secure in the setting because the childminder ensures that they cannot leave the premises unattended. They are further protected because all of the necessary precautions are taken to minimise the risk of accidental injury. For example, a fire guard, safety gate, fire blanket and cupboard locks are in place and all dangerous substances and sharp objects are inaccessible to children. The fire officer has recently visited to offer fire safety advice and relocate the smoke alarms where they will be most efficient.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder supervises the children closely at all times both indoors and on outings. The older children are made aware of the need to be careful when playing near to the babies so that they do not accidentally hurt them. The childminder ensures that there are no small objects or dangerous items around the play areas which might cause harm to crawling babies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a good range of stimulating toys and equipment which are clean and suitable for the age range and stages of development of the minded children. Some of the resources are set out around the playroom in boxes so that children can choose what to play with and the childminder rotates other items to provide variety and interest.

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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 Children are well protected because the childminder has attended a number of training courses related to child protection and she has devised a procedure to be followed if she has concerns about a child. All of the necessary information and emergency telephone numbers are available in a well organised and easily accessible file so that she can seek help and advice quickly in order to safeguard children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder develops close, affectionate relationships with the children which helps them to feel happy and secure in her care. Children benefit from her enthusiasm and knowledge of childcare so that they make good progress. The childminder is friendly and approachable and children engage in conversation, give opinions and are comfortable and at ease in the setting. She reads stories, listens carefully to the children and helps them to extend their vocabulary. Babies are given plenty of attention and cuddles so that they settle quickly and feel secure and content. They practise walking around the furniture in a safe environment and they follow their own routine for sleeping and eating so that they are comfortable and content.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children play well together and enjoy one another's company. The childminder provides a good range of stimulating activities which meet their needs and ensures that they are well occupied and interested in what they do. She has done several training courses to improve her knowledge and understanding of childcare issues and she uses the 'Birth to three matters' framework to plan activities which help children to learn and to have fun. For example, children enjoy being creative when they draw, paint and play imaginatively. They take part in many purposeful activities, such as baking, planting bulbs in the garden and completing large jigsaw puzzles together. The childminder joins in their play, offers suggestions to extend their games and helps them to recognise colours, shapes and numbers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are daily opportunities for children to learn about their local community and the wider world. They enjoy visits to shops, parks, the library and farms and they also enjoy getting to know other children and adults on regular outings to nearby toddler groups.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are made welcome and parents provide information about them so that they can be cared for according to their individual needs. They mix with children of all ages and stages of development and the childminder uses her training, policies and resources to ensure that they learn about other cultures and understand and appreciate differences in people. For example, she uses story books and puzzles with positive images of different cultures and disability and devises activities which help children to learn about festivals, such as Chinese New Year.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and develop good self-esteem because the childminder sets clear boundaries for behaviour and rewards them with praise and encouragement. The childminder is kind and patient and she responds quickly to small disputes by introducing new and interesting

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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 activities to divert the children. For example, she asks them whether they would like to do a big jigsaw puzzle together and they are all soon happily occupied and cooperating to complete the puzzle. Children learn to be kind, to share and to take turns. They show confidence and independence as they help tidy away the toys, find their own shoes and put on their coats.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder develops good, professional relationships with parents and they work together to provide continuity of care for children. She provides parents with good information about her service and encourages them to read her policies and procedures. There is a complaints policy in place which requires updating in line with the latest guidance. Parents are kept informed about their children's progress and development both verbally and with the use of daily diaries for the babies and toddlers. This positive partnership with parents helps to reassure children and promotes their welfare, safety and learning.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder provides a good quality service to ensure that children make progress in all areas. She has an understanding of how children learn and develop gained from her training and considerable experience. For example, she has a CACHE level three qualification in childcare and has attended numerous short courses to improve her knowledge and understanding of childcare issues.

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Organisation

Children are protected because the childminder ensures that they do not come into unsupervised contact with people who have not been vetted. There are contingency arrangements in place for emergencies because the childminder and children meet with other childminders on a regular basis and they provide back up for one another if necessary.

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Organisation

The setting provides a warm, comfortable and child friendly environment where children feel happy and at ease. Space and resources are suitably organised to allow children some freedom of movement and choice about what they do.

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Organisation

All of the necessary records, policies and procedures are in place to promote the welfare and care of children. The documentation is well organised and parents are kept fully informed about the service and about the progress and development of their children. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range 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 books and puzzles which reflect positive images of different cultures and religions so that children learn to understand and appreciate diversity. She has also improved her record keeping to ensure that the times of arrival and departure of children are noted and that parents sign the medication records.

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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 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): • update the complaints procedure and ensure that all complaints are recorded in line with regulations.

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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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