Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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307602 Unique Reference Number 30 January 2007 Inspection date Joan, Patricia Flowers 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 has been registered since 1993. She lives with her husband and six children, of whom two are adults and four are aged 14, 11, nine and six years. She provides care from her detached home located in a suburb of Preston in Lancashire. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding purposes. The enclosed garden area is available for children to play out in. Local amenities such as shops, schools and open play spaces are all within walking distance. The childminder's children keep caged pet mice that are housed on the first floor of the premises and are not accessible to minded children. Two rabbits are kept in a hutch in the garden. There are four children on roll aged between eight months and three years. Two of these children attend every weekday, one attends four days a week and one attends for one day.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and also the Lancashire County Childminders' Association. Training and support is accessed through the local authority Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare Service.

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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 about simple health and hygiene practices as part of their everyday routine, for example, when they wash their hands before meals. This promotes their good health. They help themselves to drinks from their own cups and younger children are offered frequent drinks by the childminder and so maintain a healthy fluid intake. Children's emotional development is fostered well and the childminder responds and adapts well to their routine care needs for sleep and rest. Children enjoy the ability to exercise their bodies in a variety of ways thus contributing to them being healthy. They enjoy physical activities at the toddler groups they visit and when they play outside in the garden or at the park. Children are also taken to an indoor activity soft play area where they can explore safely, extend their physical skills and develop their sense of control and coordination over their bodies. Their good health is promoted as a result.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is effective in her health and safety practices. Children hence are protected because the risks of cross-infection and exposure to contagious illnesses are minimised very well. Children have their own flannels and towels and brush their teeth after meals, as they develop and learn about self-care skills to maintain their own health. Most written records pertaining to accidents and medication administered are maintained well, however, the childminder is not aware of the importance of recording existing injuries.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children eat and drink healthily and enjoy a range of home cooked foods that are provided by the childminder. Pasta dishes, cottage pie, baked potatoes with cheese, sandwiches and plenty of fruit and vegetables are part of the everyday menu plans. These nutritious meals and snacks ensure children’s dietary needs are well met as they develop and learn about which foods are good for them to choose. The childminder limits the amount of sugar and salt introduced to the meals she prepares for children so their health is promoted well. Babies’ meals are organised according to individual routines and close partnership with parents, thereby ensuring that children's nutritional needs are met, allowing them to grow and develop.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder maintains children's safety at all times. She is vigilant in the home as she monitors children during their sleep times. Effective use of safety items such as harnesses, wrist straps and suitable car seats results in children being kept safe and secure. Discussions and the regular practising of the emergency evacuation procedure help children to develop their understanding about how to keep themselves and others safe. Children's details are held to enable the childminder to contact parents and ensure the needs of every child are well met should an emergency occur. All certificates and relevant information are displayed or available for parents to view. This promotes positive partnerships in the best interests of the children attending the setting.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children’s risk of accidental injury is compromised inside due to the amount of resources that are freely available to the children every day, and the trip hazards this causes when toys are

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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 left lying on the floor. A further safety hazard is present in the rear garden in the form of a tall rambling rose bush, which poses a risk to children when they play out there. The use of safety equipment such as safety gates and socket covers ensures that children do not hurt themselves as they play and move around, and appropriate harnesses keep them safe when in the pram, high chair or car seat.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded well because of the childminder’s knowledge of indicators of abuse and her clear understanding of what to do if she had concerns about any child in her care. Levels of supervision and vigilance on the part of the childminder also ensure that children are kept safe, thereby assuring their well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder plans her day to include visits each morning to local toddler groups, where children can mix with others of similar ages and experience a range of different play opportunities. This gives them the chance to play in small and large groups or independently as they develop in confidence and increased social skills. The wide selection of play resources that are available to children in the childminder's home offer a broad range of opportunities for children to further their all round development and learning very well too. Children can self-select and make choices for themselves as they make decisions about how, where and what they play with. Their all round development is fostered well as they play with toys that promote their enjoyment and early learning as a result.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop good self esteem because the childminder listens and values what they say and she ask questions that make children think, therefore extending their understanding. Positive relationships are formed between the childminder and the children she cares for. She is attentive to children's individual needs, providing good warmth of care and interaction with them so they are happy and settled. They enjoy being creative as the childminder capitalises on daily experiences that children have, such as when they notice the leaves blowing about when coming home from the toddler group. Children proceeded with a cutting and sticking activity as they stuck their 'leaves' to the printed picture the childminder had prepared for them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies became engrossed when exploring the red wooden box lined with silver reflective material that the childminder has borrowed from the resource library. The various individual items the box contained were removed one by one before new items were placed into it. The box was then explored further by turning it upside down and listening to the squeaking sounds it was discovered could be made by rubbing the smooth surface with fingers or a fist. Children are, as a consequence, stimulated and their early development is encouraged as they intentionally explore their environment and start to make connections. Babies listen and respond with interest and enjoyment as they start to develop their communication skills and join in with the chatter and sounds that the others are making. They like to sit on the childminder's knee with their own board book as she reads to the older children. Children consequently are happy and secure

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

as they make their own sounds in response to what they see and hear.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children learn about difference by having access to a range of resources which include books, jig-saws, dolls and small world figures. As a result they start to gain an understanding about the world around them and other people’s differences and similarities. Children learn about the 'wider world' when they visit places in the local community and attend the toddler groups or go to the library.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are encouraged to learn right from wrong as the childminder gives lots of praise and encouragement for things children have done well and when they are kind to one another. Children start to grasp how their behaviour affects others because of the clear explanations given to them. As a consequence. they learn to share and appreciate other people's feelings as their own understanding grows.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children receive consistency in their care because the childminder develops lines of communication with parents by means of both verbal and written feedback. Children's individual and changing needs are, as a result, well met. Information is held about each child to ensure the childminder is aware of their individual needs, and daily occurrences and routines are shared with parents informally at the end of the day, or in a written record for babies. The privacy of individual children's information is maintained to good effect thus providing reassurance to parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Many aspects of the organisation of the setting help to promote the care and welfare of the children. The home is generally well organised and provides children with ample space to move about, play and rest comfortably. The childminder organises the home environment so that children feel comfortable within the family-oriented home, ensuring they feel secure. Children are able to play within the designated downstairs areas and can access all of the childminder's many play resources without restriction.

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Organisation

Because the childminder is proactive in furthering her childcare skills by attending many vocational training events, all children benefit from her increased knowledge. She is starting to use the 'Birth to three matters' framework to improve how she plans for young children's all round development and so have a positive impact on the children she cares for.

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Organisation

Documentation is maintained and is organised so that all required information is held and is recorded in a timely way. Children's welfare is thus assured and all regulatory requirements are met. Confidentiality of information about individual children is recorded and stored out of sight, providing reassurance to parents. Children are protected because all adults in the home have been vetted, and supervision is always provided when children are in the company of other adults who sometimes may visit the home or when children are taken to public places.

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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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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, one recommendation was made to improve the services provided for children. This was to develop further the documentation used to show children's developmental progress and achievements.

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Improvements since the last inspection

During the intervening period the childminder has introduced a record folder so the work that children complete is stored and given to their parents as a record of their achievements. This has resulted in there now being a more transparent and organised way of providing parents with information about their own child's development and progress.

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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): • maintain a record of existing injuries that children have sustained outside of any childminding arrangements • ensure that the rose bush in the rear garden does not pose a risk to children when they play outside • organise the indoor play environment and resources more effectively so that children can make safer choices and trip hazards are reduced.

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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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