Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY244123 Unique Reference Number 17 October 2006 Inspection date Rachel Ayo 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 2003. She lives in the Thackley area of Bradford in West Yorkshire and has two children aged 17 and nine years. The whole of the ground floor is used for childcare purposes and includes a lounge and kitchen diner. On the first floor the bathroom and one bedroom is used for childcare purposes. Children have access to an enclosed garden for outdoor play. Pets include a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time and is currently minding two children under five years during the day on a full and part time basis. The childminder lives close to local amenities including shops, schools, parks and local soft play centres.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 generally protected from infection because the childminder follows appropriate environmental health and hygiene guidelines, policies and procedures in most aspects. For example, the childminder washes her hands before and after changing nappies, children use separate drying arrangements and the changing mat is cleaned after each use. Although the childminder explains that children are excluded from the setting if they have an infectious illness, such as sickness and diarrhoea there is no clear policy to share with parents. Children are involved in appropriate routines to help them learn to understand simple good health and hygiene practices, for example as they wash their hands before they eat or after their nappy has been changed. Accident and medicine procedures are generally implemented appropriately to promote children's welfare, however, a record is not maintained of existing injuries.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are helped to be sufficiently nourished. The childminder liaises with parents regarding the provision of meals and snacks, some of whom prefer to provide their own. Where the childminder provides food she offers a selection, such as a variety of sandwiches, toast, fruit and yoghurts. Children enthusiastically nibble on raw vegetable sticks, such as cucumber and carrot, along with cubes of cheese and tomatoes, all of which are an accompaniment with their sandwich at lunch time. The childminder also offers children some warm meals for their tea, such as stewing beef with vegetables, mashed potato and sausages, fish fingers and chicken nuggets. Children's all round development and health is support as they have free access to their beaker filled with diluted reduced sugar juice.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's individual rest or sleep needs are met appropriately. The childminder follows individual routines in line with home to promote consistency and discusses with parents how and where their children are most comfortable sleeping. Children take part in regular physical activity to help them stay healthy as they access the local park, soft play area or the childminder's garden. They use a variety of equipment to help them develop confidence in their physical skills, such as wheeled toys, a mini trampoline, balls, slides and swings. Indoors, children confidently crawl through the tunnel and dance to music.

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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 sufficiently welcoming, secure and safe environment. Resources are set out for children to feely access on their arrival, which helps them to settle well. Space is organised appropriately to meet the needs of the children attending. For example, children sleeping in a pram do so in the kitchen to ensure that they are not disturbed by children who are playing. Children use a generally suitable range of well maintained and safe equipment to promote their development. For example, young children develop independence as they sit at the small child sized table and chairs or the high chair to eat or engage in mark-making.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder promotes good security of the premises to ensure that children cannot leave them unsupervised and to monitor access, which promotes children's safety and welfare. Children

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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 are helped to stay safe as the childminder minimises risks to children appropriately. For example, the fire is guarded, electric sockets are covered, stairs are inaccessible and cupboard and drawer locks prevent access being gained to hazardous objects or substances. Although the childminder demonstrates safe practice in most aspects, for example, as she ensures that children sitting in the highchair are fastened in securely, she has not practised the written emergency escape plan as part of her risk assessment, which impacts on children's welfare. The childminder encourages children to help to tidy resources away intermittently to prevent accidents and help children learn how to keep themselves safe. Safety on outings is promoted through the use of appropriate practice and equipment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are appropriately safeguarded because the childminder generally understands her role in child protection. She is able to identify a range of possible signs of abuse or neglect and has the most recent information from her local Safeguarding Children Board including contact numbers should she have to pass on any concerns of this nature.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are well settled and happy in the setting. Children are confident to choose their preferred activity, for example as they ride around the lounge on the wheeled truck, play with the bead frame or sit down to look at a book. Children are involved in a generally suitable range of informally planned activities. For example, they engage in mark-making with pencils, sit and play with the cars, or attempt to stack the blocks. The childminder is not currently implementing the 'Birth to three matters' framework and has a limited understanding of this. This means that young children are not engaged in activities, or have access to a range of natural materials, that promote exploration and discovery.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children relate well to others. For example, they smile and greet sleeping children who have woken up, offering them a kiss and crawl through the tunnel together, playing 'peek a boo'. Children learn to share toys and be kind to others with encouragement and sensitive interactions from the childminder. For example, the childminder reassures children who have had their shoe pulled off by their younger peers, discouraging young children from doing so, explaining that this is not nice. Children respond well to the childminder who demonstrates a warm caring manner and shows interest in what children say and do. For example, she says 'boo' to children peeping through the tunnel and talks about colours as she sits and plays with the cars. The childminder also uses spontaneous events to support children's development and learning. For example, she counts 'one, two, three' when taking children's jumpers off after identifying that

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

they are too warm, and helps them to learn how to solve problems as she explains that they need to turn the play person around for it to fit into the car.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are treated equally and fairly in the setting. Their individual needs are met appropriately because the childminder generally works sufficiently in partnership with parents. Most information is shared with parents before placement to ensure that they are aware of, and in

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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 agreement with, her practice. This includes sharing a small number of written policies, such as house rules, the emergency plan and equal opportunities. However, the childminder is unaware of the most recent complaints regulation, including the requirements to record complaints. This means that parents are unaware of how to make a complaint, or how these are dealt with to promote their children's care and welfare. All appropriate consents are maintained before placement to promote children's safety and welfare and children's individual needs are recorded and adhered to, for example in relation to any particular health requirements. Information is exchanged verbally at the beginning and end of the day to ensure that parents are informed about what their children are doing. The childminder encourages settling visits before placement

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Helping children make a positive contribution

to help children feel secure in their new environment and relationships with the childminder, which helps them to develop a sense of belonging.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from a satisfactory range of resources that help them value diversity, such as books, dressing up clothes and dolls. Children are encouraged to develop social skills as the childminder encourages them to use good manners. They learn to respond to appropriate expectations for their behaviour as the childminder uses good strategies to manage young children's unwanted, but age appropriate behaviour. For example, she uses distraction and a simple explanation to children kicking the toys, saying "we need to move the cars nicely if they are in the way" then says "shall we line the cars up?" The childminder uses praise and encouragement frequently to encourage positive behaviour and promote children's self-esteem. For example, praising children when they pick the book up, sit down on the changing mat or when they are gently stroking the cat.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder ensures that she keeps up to date with mandatory training, such as first aid to promote the welfare of children. Although the childminder's certificate does not expire until 2007 the childminder has already applied for a course to update this to ensure that this has been completed when her current first aid certificate expires. The childminder has attended 'are you ready for your inspection?' and has a range of other courses booked to continue to improve her practice and care of children. These include, Birth to three matters, child protection, outdoor play and basic food hygiene.

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Organisation

Children receive good levels of individual attention and support as the childminder is currently operating under the minimum ratio requirements. Space and resources are organised appropriately to meet the needs of the children attending and good routines ensure that children take part in a generally suitable range of learning opportunities, indoors, outdoors and through outings.

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Organisation

Policies and procedures generally work in practice to promote satisfactory outcomes for children. Most documentation is maintained appropriately in line with requirements and record keeping systems are generally used satisfactorily to promote the efficient and safe management of the provision, meet children's individual needs and promote their welfare.

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Organisation

Overall, the setting meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder received a number of actions relating to safety and training and a number of recommendations relating to documents, resources that promote equal opportunities and knowledge and understanding of children with a learning difficulty or disability. The childminder has fitted a fireguard, electric sockets and a safety gate at the bottom of the stairs, which enhances children's safety. The childminder has obtained a sufficient range of resources that reflect the wider world, thus helping children to learn about diversity. The childminder has further developed her knowledge and understanding in the area of special needs by accessing information in the National Standards and the guidance to the National Standards. The childminder has not devised an illness policy as yet and this is reflected in the report.

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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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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): • improve safety by practising the emergency escape plan • plan and provide a range of activities and resources in line with the 'Birth to three matters' framework to extend the range of opportunities for young children to explore and investigate • develop knowledge and understanding of the complaints regulation and devise a complaints log • devise a policy about the exclusion of children who are ill and keep a record of existing injuries.

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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 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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