Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 225987 Inspection date 19 September 2005 Inspector Alison Edwards

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 inadequate - enforcement action. The registered person does not meet the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder moved to her current home in 2004 after originally registering as a childminder at her previous address in 1990. She lives in a semi-detached house on the edge of a residential estate in a large village. The household consists of herself, her partner, her adult daughter and two adult sons of her partner. Minded children use the ground floor of the premises and the first floor bathroom. There is an enclosed garden for outside play. A cat is kept as a family pet. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 6 children under 8 years of age at any single time. She currently has 10 part-time children on roll, of whom 7 are aged under 8

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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 years. One minded child was present during the inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a clean, comfortable and well-ventilated family home helping to maintain their good health. Suitable hygiene arrangements are generally in place to maintain children's well-being, for example with regard to nappy-changing or ensuring children do not have access to pet feeding materials. Older children usually incorporate simple hygiene practices into their daily routines, for example by washing their hands after using the toilet, although use of a shared towel does not fully minimise risks of cross-infection. There are frequent opportunities for outdoor play in the lawned garden enabling children to move freely and enjoy physical activity. The childminder has regard to younger children's individual sleep needs, for example recognising a toddler's signs of tiredness and settling her to sleep in her push chair. The childminder obtains most relevant information from parents to help her deal with

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Helping children to be healthy

a medical emergency, such as parents' contact details and permission to seek emergency medical treatment. She is confident she knows children well enough to be aware of any particular health needs. However written agreements with parents do not yet clearly identify whether children have any specific health or dietary issues and so do not fully support her in ensuring any individual care needs are met. First aid supplies are accessible, enabling the childminder to deal with any minor accidents. However her lack of relevant paediatric first aid training limits her knowledge of the effective management of any more serious incident so compromising children's welfare. Children usually have food suited to their individual tastes and family routines because parents normally provide their meals. Readily-accessible drinks help ensure children take sufficient fluids, as for example when a toddler independently reaches a

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are settled and relaxed in the comfortable family home where use of the ground floor provides enough space for them to play and relax within the childminder's sight or hearing, so ensuring they are adequately supervised. Children are unable to leave the premises unsupervised when playing in the fully-fenced secure rear garden. However the childminder has not fully considered the potential security risk posed to children when low windows in the lounge are open and unlocked in warm weather, giving access to the semi-open-plan front gardens.

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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 A number of sensible precautions are in place to minimise identified hazards and help keep children safe, for example, use of secure storage to prevent access to household chemicals or garden tools, and positioning of kitchen items such as kettles and knives out of children's reach. Children readily access a fair selection of resources and play materials which are in clean condition and safe for their developmental stage, such as when a younger child handles large plastic interlocking bricks with interest. The childminder has a working knowledge of what child abuse and neglect means. She is aware of her responsibility to act on any child protection concerns, so helping her safeguard children's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. A busy family household helps children begin to develop relationships with different adults as well as other children, for example when a toddler is confident and at ease in the company of visiting members of the childminder's family. Children show interest and enjoyment in simple play activities, as when a toddler laughs and gestures excitedly when creating sounds on a toy guitar. Older children take part in some activities and games helping them to reinforce their skills and knowledge, for example aiming with soft-tipped darts, or playing simple number games like dominoes and bingo. Typical daily activities are informally arranged to take account of children's usual care routines such as rest and snack times. Frequent outings enable them to begin to learn about their local neighbourhood, for example when they visit nearby shops or feed the ducks. However as yet activities and first-hand

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

experiences are not consistently well-planned and organised to fully encourage children's initiative or build on their natural curiosity, challenge their thinking, or extend their creativity and imagination.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder helps younger children feel accepted and secure as she recognises and responds to their particular care preferences, for example helping a toddler relax by offering cuddles before settling her to rest. Children begin to understand their own needs, for example getting a readily-accessible drink when they are thirsty. They are frequently able to make simple choices, for example between a selection of indoor play activities. They sometimes start to be aware that others may have different wishes from their own, for instance, when deciding whether they will all play in the garden or indoors. They usually handle toys and resources appropriately. The childminder recognises the need to liaise with parents to establish the care requirements of any child with identified special needs. Children have access to some resources, such as books, reflecting cultural diversity. However at present

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Helping children make a positive contribution

activities and experiences are not consistently well-planned to help them extend their understanding of their own and the wider community or to recognise and respect

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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 individual differences. Written agreements with parents include most routine arrangements for children's care, so helping to support some long-standing and stable care provision providing families with continuity of care. However, they do not yet clearly identify whether children have any specific medical or dietary issues and so do not fully ensure all aspects of children's care needs can be met. Opportunities for informal discussion, for example on children's arrival and collection, enable parents and childminder to share some relevant information about children's daily activities and experiences.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. Children are contented in the comfortable environment where they develop settled relationships with the childminder and show enjoyment in their play. There are adequate arrangements in place to maintain most documents necessary to supporting children's daily care, such as information on family contact details and on children's planned and actual attendance. However, the childminder is unable to find the current registration certificate which is required by regulation. Parents are therefore are unable to view this to see whether she is complying with the registration conditions required to underpin children's welfare. Information is now provided to Ofsted to enable checks to be undertaken on other adults in the household to ascertain their suitability to have contact with minded children, so helping to protect children. The childminder is experienced and has long-standing arrangements with several families, so helping to provide children with

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Organisation

continuity of care. However she lacks suitable current qualification to ensure minded children's safety and welfare as she lacks any necessary paediatric first aid training. Overall the provision does not meet children's care needs because it is not organised to comply with the requirements of the national standards and regulations, so compromising children's safety and well-being.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection it was found necessary to issue this childminder with a compliance notice as she had not completed two actions outstanding from her previous inspection. These related to clearance of household members over the age of 16 and completion of an appropriate first aid course covering infants and young children. The childminder subsequently ensured required documents were supplied enabling necessary clearances to be undertaken regarding the suitability of adults in the household to be in contact with children. She also provided verbal confirmation of her planned attendance on a paediatric first aid course, to help ensure she is able to deal appropriately with any accidents to minded children. It was therefore judged that she had complied with the actions raised. However the childminder subsequently forgot to attend this first aid training and has therefore not ensured she is suitably

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Improvements since the last inspection

qualified to look after minded children and ensure their safety and well-being. A number of recommendations were also made at the last inspection to improve the

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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 childminding practice. Some use is made of toys, activities and play opportunities which help meet children's developmental needs, for example with regard to their intellectual and imaginative skills and to the needs of older children. Older children use simple games such as bingo or dominoes to encourage their number skills or use some creative materials such as crayons and felt tips, whilst toddlers enjoy some simple pretend play props such as toy musical instruments. Children are introduced to some aspects of equal opportunities by using resources, such as books, including images of different cultures and lifestyles. However as yet planning and provision of activities and first-hand experiences do not fully challenge children's thinking, or fully extend their creativity and imagination.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has improved the partnership with parents by ensuring written agreements with parents include most routine arrangements for children's care, and include seeking written permission for emergency medical treatment. However these agreements do not yet clearly identify whether children have any specific health or dietary issues and so do not fully cover all aspects of children's care. Following recent redecoration one smoke alarm has been refitted, but fire safety is not yet fully promoted as smoke alarms are not currently provided on both levels of the house.

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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 inadequate - enforcement action. The registered person does not meet the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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The quality and standards of the care

Ofsted is taking enforcement action to safeguard the welfare of children.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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