Turner, Jayne

Inspection report for early years provision

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307045 Unique Reference Number 30 March 2007 Inspection date Sara Haigh 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 childminding for 15 years and has been registered since 2001. She lives with her partner and four children aged 18, 16, 13 and two years in the Heavily area of Stockport. The whole of the ground floor including a downstairs toilet is used for childminding. There is a rear garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local carer and toddler group and takes children to the park.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for five children under eight years and is currently minding four children all of whom attend on a part-time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are kept healthy and protected from the spread of infection and cross-contamination as the childminder maintains high levels of hygiene. Children develop skills and independence

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 in their personal hygiene as they follow good routines, such as cleaning their hands, using tissues and wipes. Children are well cared for in the case of illness as the childminder follows an effective sick child and administration of medicine policy.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides children with regular drinks and healthy snacks, such as fruit, toast and cheese to promote their growth and development. All meals are provided by parents and the childminder ensures that children's individual needs with regard to diet, health and sleeping are catered for.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from regular opportunities to be active. They walk to and from nursery, school, adult and toddler groups and the park. Children develop their large muscle skills and coordination as they access a wide variety of activities and equipment in the childminder's rear garden and regularly visit local play barns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children play happily within the welcoming and secure environment of the childminder's home. They have ample room to explore the plentiful resources available to them. These are well maintained, offer appropriate challenges for the children being cared for and cover all areas of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good regard for children's safety at all times, thereby minimising the risk of accidental injury. The rear garden is currently divided off to ensure children's safety as some of the fencing is not completely secure. Children are supervised at all times. Children are well cared for in the case of an accident as the childminder has a current first aid certificate and comprehensive first aid kit.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder recognises her responsibility to protect children from harm and has a sound knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse. The childminder has an effective fire evacuation plan and regularly practises it with the children thereby developing their understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have fun and enjoy their time at the setting as the childminder has a sound understanding of the children and of their stage of development. Well organised resources help children to become independent learners. They are happy and settled as the childminder supports their play well, provides close supervision and praises their efforts.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are beginning to express their feelings and develop their ideas as they engage in imaginative play with plentiful dressing up clothes and small world resources. The childminder spends time with the children and supports them well developing good language and communication skills as they play a matching pairs game with cards and build towers out of small construction bricks. The childminder interacts purposefully with the children to see whose tower is the tallest. Older children play board games, access atlases and age appropriate books, and enjoy constructing their own books.

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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 Children develop their fine motor skills as they lace picture cards and access programmes and games on the family computer, often printing out their own colouring sheets of familiar characters.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder makes use of re-cycled resources to build on children's interests. For example, when motivated by small world animals, the childminder helps children to construct a zoo from old cardboard boxes. However, children have limited opportunities to explore natural materials and resources.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have a variety of opportunities to go out and about, exploring the local environment and widening their knowledge of the wider world. For example, they regularly play in the park and enjoy feeding the ducks. Children learn about the environment as they observe and make drawings of frogs in the garden.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children feel a sense of belonging in the setting through a trusting and secure relationship with the childminder. Children enjoy each other's company and relate well to each other and to the childminder. Children play well within the childminder's boundaries and posters remind older children 'great ways to get along and help each other'. Minor altercations are dealt with in a calm and consistent manner and each child is treated with individual care and respect. They learn responsible behaviour through the childminder talking to them and giving them explanations.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children become aware of the wider world through a good range of play resources reflecting culture, race and disability, such as books, dolls, posters and small world equipment. They learn about various celebrations from around the world and particularly enjoyed Chinese New Year when they used their birthdays to find out which animal reflected when they were born. The childminder interacts with the children in a way that promotes equality of opportunity, talking about differences that the children observe. For example, when making felt faces, children are encouraged to talk about what features they have chosen and similarities and differences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are cared for by a childminder who works in partnership with parents to meet children's individual needs and develop consistency of care. Children benefit from the strong relationships that the childminder develops with parents. Information regarding children's progress and welfare is exchanged daily with parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled in the friendly, well organised home. The childminder organises her time, space and resources well to meet children's needs and provides opportunities for them to learn to socialise at local playgroups. Children confidently explore their surroundings and benefit from well planned routines both in and out of the home.

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Organisation

Children are safe and protected as the childminder fully understands the need for vetting household members. She maintains adequate ratios, thus improving the safety for children. However, the childminder does not have a valid registration certificate for the current premises available for inspection. The childminder is fully committed to providing a high standard of care for children. Children's well-being and care is enhanced through the childminder's

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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 commitment to broadening her knowledge and skills through further training. The childminder is currently completing a diploma in home-based childcare.

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Organisation

Comprehensive written policies relating to the National Standards and contracts are in place and shared with parents, thereby promoting children's health, safety, enjoyment and ability to make a positive contribution. However, written consents have not been obtained for emergency care by another childminder.

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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 agreed to make sure that the trailing telephone wire and the garden hose pipe are inaccessible to the children and that premises are secure and children are unable to leave them unsupervised. The childminder has moved house since the last inspection and ensures that hazards to children are minimised and the premises are secure.

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Improvements since the last inspection

As requested by previous recommendations the childminder has obtained written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment and has devised a system to record medicines administered and any incidents that occur.

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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 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): • ensure that the rear garden fence is fully secure • develop a range of natural resources for all children to explore • ensure that a current and up to date certificate of registration is readily available at all times • obtain written consents for emergency care by another childminder.

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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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