Childminder in Hartlepool

Inspection report for early years provision

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321673 Unique Reference Number 22 January 2007 Inspection date Vivienne Dempsey 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 July 1992. She lives with her husband and two daughters aged 16 and 19. They live in a house in the South Fens area of Hartlepool.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is in easy walking distance of schools, shops, park, toddler groups, nurseries and playgroups. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The family pet is a budgie. There are nine children on roll.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The Childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and is a regional committee member. She is also co coordinator of the local childminding support group and a member of the Hartlepool Childminding Network.

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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's health is promoted through effective health and hygiene practices. For example, children learn good hand washing practices as part of the daily routine and paper towels are provided for drying hands to prevent the spread of infection. Children's health is further protected as the childminder has clear policies in place for the exclusion of children with contagious illnesses. The childminder has devised her own sun protection policy which she implements when necessary, subsequently, children are protected from exposure to the sun. The childminder creates opportunities for the children to participate in physical exercise, they walk regularly to the local school, visit the local soft play facilities and have use of the garden. This helps children to develop their large motors skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has undertaken relevant first aid training and she has a fully stocked first aid box. This enables her to provide appropriate first aid treatment when necessary, protecting children's well being. Good clear procedures are in place for recording accidents and the administration of medication. Parents sign to acknowledge entry, keeping them informed at all times. Children are offered a varied range of healthy meals and snacks, providing them with a good balanced diet, keeping them healthy. Drinks are provided with snack and lunch, however, fresh drinking water is not independently accessible to children at other times of the day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The premises are warm, welcoming and friendly for children and parents. Regular checks and cleaning, with anti-bacterial spray, keep the broad range of toys and resources in a good condition. This ensures that children handle items that are clean and safe. Toys and resources are appropriate to the children's developmental stages and interests, keeping them motivated and interested. However, children are not always able to make independent choices from the broad range of toys and resources available.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Extensive safety precautions have been implemented to minimise accidents and keep children safe. For example, smoke alarms have been installed, electrical socket covers are in place and the childminder has a fire blanket and fire extinguisher fitted in the kitchen. An emergency evacuation procedure is in place and regular fire drills are practised, which develop children's awareness of fire safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are supervised at all times and the childminder ensures children's safety outside the home, discussing why children need to use crossings to cross the road, developing children's awareness of road safety. The childminder is aware of the new car seat laws and requests permission from parents to transport children in her car, further enhancing children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of the various types and possible signs of abuse. She knows the procedure to follow if she has concerns about

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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 child. The childminder has recently attended child protection training to ensure she is up to date with current procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy, settled and relate well to the childminder, as she joins in with their play. She is positive in her interaction and the children enjoy the close contact with the childminder and respond well to her encouragement. Children are happy and secure as a result of the childminder's praise and support. They snuggle into the childminder as they sit together sharing picture books. The childminder uses open ended questions and takes an interest in what children have to say, promoting children's self-esteem and confidence.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses the local resource library to supplement her existing resources and children enjoy story, music and craft sessions at the local library. Children also attend childminder drop-in sessions and playgroups, further developing the children's social skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has an clear understanding of how children learn and develop, and plans a stimulating range of activities for the children using the 'Birth to three matters' framework and is developing the implementation of the 'Foundation Stage curriculum'. Activities are evaluated to inform future planning enabling the childminder to provide activities that are suitable and challenging for the children's stage of development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are valued and treated as individuals. The childminder works in close partnership with parents to ensure the individual needs of all children are met. Clear information regarding children's needs are gathered enabling the childminder to provide the appropriate care. The children have access to a broad range of toys, resources and activities, which is developing their awareness of diversity, such as a doll with a guide dog, a doll with hearing aids and small world people representing people of ethnic origin.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved as the childminder uses a range of positive strategies to manage behaviour, according to the children's age and stage of development. These include praise, encouragement, smiley charts and distraction. Regular communication between the childminder and parents enhances children's welfare. Parents with children under two receive a daily diary sheet informing parents of sleep, feeds and nappy changes. Parents have open access to children's records, which the childminder regularly updates, showing children's progress, such as the 'Birth to three' tracker. Complaints procedures and records of complaints and compliments are in place. Parents have recorded lots of positive comments about the care the childminder provides.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children benefit from a good standard of care as the childminder is very well organised which enables her to provide good quality of care. All people who live on the premises are vetted appropriately and the children are supervised at all times, ensuring children's safety. The childminder is pro-active in developing her practice and frequently attends relevant training courses, such as 'Birth to three' and child protection training.

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Organisation

Children's welfare, development, care and learning are fully promoted and maintained as the childminder has clear policies and procedures in place. These are shared with parents and parents are requested to sign when they have read them. Children are safeguarded as all required documents and records are in place and stored with regard to maintaining confidentiality.

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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

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to develop resources which portray positive images. Children are now provided with a range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity. For example, they enjoy playing with a house that contains people from different ethnic origins. The childminder takes children to choose a variety of items from the local resource library. Children now celebrate festivals including Chinese New Year. The commitment shown by the childminder to address this issue has helped children to start to develop an interest and understanding of the wider world.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that requires 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 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):

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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 • consider how to provide independent access to resources • consider how to make drinking water available at all times.

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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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