Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY270244 Unique Reference Number 16 November 2006 Inspection date Chris Scully 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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and three children, one aged 17 and two aged over 18 years. The family home is a four bed roomed semi-detached property in the Prescot area of Knowsley. The childminder works with a co-childminder. The whole of the ground floor is available to minded children along with the bathroom on the first floor. An enclosed rear garden is available for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. She is currently co-minding 10 children aged from eight months to 10 years at various times during the week. The childminder takes and collects children from the local schools. She attends toddler groups, libraries and takes children on regular outings to various places of interest.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is able to support children with learning difficulties or disabilities. She is a member of the National Childminding Associations and receives support from Knowsley Sure start.

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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 learn the importance of good hygiene practices through effective daily routines, such as washing their hands before meals. The childminder talks to the children as she does this, which successfully reinforces the message of the need to ensure their hands are clean. The childminder is a positive role model, who consistently washes her hands before and after preparing meals, and when changing children. This effectively minimises the risk of cross infection to children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The well written sick children policy further minimises the risk of cross infection to children. The childminder is trained in first aid, which means children's accidents or incidents are handled appropriately. She has all the required documentation in place to ensure and maintain the children's well being. Children enjoy regular opportunities to test and explore their larger physical skills in local parks, at toddler groups and in the garden. Young children are developing confidence when using larger resources, such as climbing frames.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of healthy and nutritious home cooked meals and snacks. These include, stews, casseroles, fish and pasta dishes. All children have fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. Care of babies is good with all meals freshly prepared in line with their individual needs. All children have access to fresh drinking water in order to keep themselves refreshed. Children sit together at meals times and enjoy a relaxed social occasion with their peers and the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm welcoming environment where they can play, rest and explore in comfort. The well organised rooms enable the children to choose their own resources and to choose where to play. Children are able to select their resources from child height storage systems and the large cupboard situated in the hall. This successfully enhances the children' independence and self esteem. Children have access to a range of age appropriate toys and resources, which are clean and in a good state of repair. However, children have limited opportunities to explore real and natural materials and resources within the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risks are effectively identified and minimised to ensure children's safety in all areas. The childminder is aware of the recent changes in legislation with regards to car seats. She has purchased additional booster seats to ensure older children are properly restrained within her car. Regular discussions take place around fire safety. the childminder has introduced a game to ensure children can evacuate her home safely. This includes crawling along the floor in case a room filled with smoke and making their way to the front door. This is treated as a fun exercise by the children who are keen to see who can set off the house alarm sensor as they crawl along. Effective systems are in place for taking children on outings and risk assessments are conducted to ensure all safety aspects have been addressed. This is further supported by the use of wrist bands for each child, which contain the contact number of the childminder should they wander

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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 away. Discussions take place with older children about who they can approach should they become separated from the childminder. This means children are kept safe at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a secure understanding of child protection. She has attended a child protection training course and is due to attend an advanced course in the new year. The childminder is very aware of her responsibilities and has previously put these into action with regards to the safety of a child. She enhances her knowledge and understanding through the booklet 'What To Do If You Are Worried A child I being Abused-Summary' and the child protection flow chart. All necessary contact numbers are to hand should she need to make a referral to social services. This means children are effectively protected from harm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled at the childminder's house. She builds warm, caring relationships with the children, which enable them to feel safe and secure in her care. Children benefit from good levels of support from the childminder, who consistently asks open-ended questions to enable them to think, solve problems and to choose what they would like to do next. She waits patiently for younger children to process their thoughts, which successfully fosters their self-esteem and development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are happy to engage the childminder in activities, such as reading books and cuddle up to her as she reads to them. All children have good opportunities to participate in a wide range of exciting and interesting trips. These include large aquariums, safari parks and museums. The childminder states the children were particularly keen to see the sharks. Younger children have regular opportunities to engage with other children at toddler groups, which effectively enhances their social skills and widens their interests.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children become independent as they choose their own resources and where to play. The effective daily routines provide good opportunities for children to engage in active and quiet times during the day. She effectively supports the children's language development. The childminder repeats words to help children understand their pronunciation and meaning, such as the names of other children and uses gestures to enhance the children's understanding. For example, when asking if they would like a drink she mimes bringing a cup to her mouth. This effectively enables the children to comprehend what she is asking and to provide a response. This successfully fosters the children's self-esteem and development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder is attentive to the children's individual needs and circumstances. Effective systems are in place to obtain information from the parents to ensure their child's needs are met well. Children learn about the wider world through access to some resources depicting diversity and through the acknowledgment of festivals during the year. These include Christmas, Chinese New Year, Halloween and Ramadan. This means children are developing a positive

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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 attitude to others. Children learn about their local community as they walk to and from school, go to toddler groups and support various charity events such as 'Children in need'.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and respond well to the childminder's requests. All children are encouraged to use appropriate manners, such as please and thank you. Older children take turns well with resources and show respect for one another as they listen to what they have to say. Clear house rules and boundaries enable the children to understand what is expected of them and helps to keep them safe. For example, who to approach should they become separated from the group on outings. The childminder is not currently minding children with additional needs. However, she has attended various courses to improve her knowledge base in order to provide appropriate care and support to children with learning disabilities or difficulties.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a good relationship with the parents. Daily verbal exchanges keep parents informed of their child's day and activities. This is effectively supported by the use of journals for younger children, which contain detailed information on their activities and progress. Well written information about the setting and policies means parents are well informed about the type of care and activities their child can expect to receive. Parents are complimentary in their written references for the childminder, they state she is approachable, has a warm caring attitude and provides a wide range of activities.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a secure understanding of the National Standards and implements these well in practice. All persons over the age of 16 years are suitably vetted to be in contact with children. All legally required documentation, which contributes to the children's health, safety and well-being is in place. However, the medication record is not accurately recorded as it does not always name the medication given but, will state cough mixture and parents do not sign to acknowledge the entry. Well written policies and procedures are in place and are shared well with the parents.

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Organisation

The childminder makes good use of the space available to provide a balanced range of activities to all children. Children are confident in her care and receive high levels of praise and encouragement from her that successfully fosters their self-esteem. The home based activities are effectively supported by a wide and varied range for trips to toddler groups and other places of interest. This means children are provided with a well rounded programme of educative activities. The childminder uses information sourced from various training events such as, Portage, Birth to three matters and a level three childcare qualification to enhance the play and learning opportunities provided to the children.

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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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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection three recommendations were made relating to the evacuation procedures, registers and child protection. An emergency plan is now in place and is practised on a regular basis with the children. Systems are in place for informing Ofsted of any child

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Improvements 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 protection concerns. The children's attendance is now recorded on a daily basis. In addressing these issues the childminder has improved upon the safety and well- being of the 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 or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaint 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): • provide more opportunities for children to explore real and natural materials • ensure the medication record is accurately maintained and parents sign to acknowledge the entry.

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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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