Childminder in Warwickshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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201187 Unique Reference Number 05 January 2007 Inspection date Jayne Clarke 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 1995. She lives with her husband and her teenage son in Atherstone, Warwickshire. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside 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 and is currently minding three children under five and four children over five years. Children attend variable times throughout the week and before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent and toddler group. She takes children to the local library and park.

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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 develop a very good understanding and awareness of effective health and hygiene routines. They use good quality hand wash products, individual towels and toothbrushes to learn about good personal and dental hygiene. Good arrangements are in place for the care and exclusion of children who are poorly or infectious. This positive practice encourages children to keep themselves clean and prevents the spread of infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn through many practical activities and regular discussion that healthy eating helps their physical growth and development. The childminder encourages children to talk about the effect of healthy eating on their bodies and helps them to learn that drinking water keeps their digestive system healthy. Children often help to plan menus which include salad and fresh fruit dishes which they share at meal times and during summer barbecues. They regularly make 'fruit smoothies' and prepare fresh vegetables and fruit snacks which effectively promote healthy eating. Children are offered regular drinks throughout the day and know that they can help themselves to water and their own drink containers at any time. Children's individual needs are highly respected with regard to their dietary requirements and personal preferences. They benefit from a wide range of meals which are well planned, healthy and nutritious. Sweet and

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Helping children to be healthy

savoury snacks and drinks are kept to a minimum so that children develop awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

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Helping children to be healthy

Effective use of the garden and other outdoor areas of interest promotes children's all round physical development. Physical play is a significant feature of children's daily routine and other planned activities. Children enjoy an exciting variety of active games indoors and outside. They visit nature parks for cycling, walking, special events and projects and often join in with family camping trips and outings where they have additional opportunities to explore the natural environment. The garden is used as an extension of children's daily activities where they play with a stimulating range of physical and imaginative play equipment which includes outdoor sensory play with light reflective and sound materials. Indoor activities include regular dance and exercise to music and action games which help children to keep fit. Children regularly walk to and from school and visit the local park. Children have opportunities for rest and sleep to

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Helping children to be healthy

meet individual routines throughout the day and at quiet times so that they can relax.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are safe because the premises are secure. Additional security measures are in place with the use of a door alarm to prevent any unauthorised exit or entry to the premises. This ensures children's safety at all times. Rooms are effectively checked through daily risk assessment so that children play safely in a warm and welcoming, child-centred environment. The childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to safety and security procedures so that children have safe access to a full range of interesting and stimulating activities indoors and outside which promote their development. All equipment is checked as it is used and very good attention is given to make sure that children play with good quality toys that remain in excellent condition.

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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 The childminder continuously strives to provide high quality furniture and equipment to ensure children are safe inside and outside the home. For example, she demonstrates high awareness of safety by using mats around physical play equipment in the garden and provides children with slipper socks to wear to prevent trips and hazards on hard floor surfaces indoors. Accidents and injuries are dealt with efficiently and sensitively to re-assure and comfort children who have hurt themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's awareness of safety issues is continuously developed through every day routines and learning activities. The childminder provides excellent encouragement and support to help children learn about safety procedures which teach them how to cross the road safely, how to leave the building in an emergency and how to keep themselves safe at all times regarding water safety, 'stranger-danger' and security badges are worn on outings. Children are well supervised within sight and sound of the childminder. Good arrangements are in place when working with an assistant to ensure children are safely escorted on outings and receive additional supervision within the home. Sleeping babies are frequently checked and individual listening devices are used to maintain their safety at all times. Effective procedures are in place for the safe arrival and collection of children and they are transported safely in a vehicle in line with

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

current regulations and guidelines. The childminder is proactive in her support of families with specific needs to further enhance children's safety and security when they travel in private hire transport.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety and well-being is robustly safeguarded because the childminder fully understands procedures to protect children from harm. She keeps up to date with current safeguarding children guidelines and shares written policies with parents so that they are also aware of roles and responsibilities to safeguard their child's welfare. She has good knowledge of the indicators of abuse and is confident in her knowledge of what action to take if she has concerns about a child, or if there were any allegations of abuse whilst children were in the care of the provider.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from the childminder's excellent knowledge and understanding of child development. She is very knowledgeable about the 'Birth to three matters' framework and uses it exceptionally well to provide a range of stimulating activities and ideas to help babies and young children make very good progress in their development. She is proficient in her observation and assessment of children to identify what they can do and what they need to do to make further progress. Children develop a sense of pride in their achievements and they relish in memorable occasions of fun and interest as they often look back at their activities recorded in photograph albums. These are frequently shared with parents to celebrate children's achievements and are used effectively as a record of their development milestones. Children's artwork, posters and pictures are attractively displayed within the setting and taken home to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are involved in a stimulating and exciting range of activities, projects and games indoors and outside. They play physical games with small climbing equipment, wheeled toys and bikes in the garden. They frequently explore their local and wider environment during

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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 nature walks and on adventurous outings throughout the year, such as a trip on the train to Birmingham where they see and talk about people who are different from themselves, learn about people's busy lives and enjoy social treats in the café. Invitations are extended to children so that they can join in with many of the childminder's family outings. Children listen, dance and move their bodies to music and take part in imaginative games which are fun and stimulate their interest and curiosity for example, they dress up for Diwali in traditional Sari costumes and help to prepare, cook and eat a traditional Indian meal. They use authentic utensils and follow cultural traditions. For Chinese New Year, children create pictures, models and patterns and take part in musical activities to celebrate the dance of the Chinese Dragon. Traditional

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

festivities such as Easter and Christmas are celebrated with fun and excitement.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Additional information is kept to introduce children to a wider range of festivals throughout the year. This broadens children's knowledge about the religious and cultural beliefs of others. Role play costumes are accessible to children so that they can play inventive games with the animal puppets in the play tent. An interesting variety of toys and equipment is available to extend and support children's imaginative play. Seasonal projects and exciting activities are a significant feature of children's creative development and enjoyment such as making 'snow girls' in the snow. Children regularly cook and make cakes and photographic records show that they enjoy the touch, taste and feel of the 'sticky mixture'. Children frequently explore a variety of textures such as pasta, wood, shells, buttons and feathers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They observe and paint pictures of themselves and look at light reflections in mirrors. They are encouraged to talk about the 'messy' and 'slimy' texture of the scooped out pumpkin during Halloween festivities and projects. This successfully promotes children's sensory development. Children have regular opportunities to use a wide variety of materials and tools including paint, play dough, crayons, pencils, pens, and scissors in their creative play. Young children practise newly learned scissor skills to cut out and make pictures of their favourite animals. Children take pride and pleasure in the many creative gifts they make for their parents to celebrate special events such as birthdays, Christmas and Valentines Day, including personalised cards, photo key rings and hand print clay models. They use natural and man made materials to create patterns, pictures and decorative mobile art work which is proudly displayed in the setting.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn new skills which promote language and mathematical learning through well planned activities which include songs, rhymes, music, board games, counting, singing and number rhymes. Children show delight and excitement as they count and catch bubbles floating out of the 'bubble machine'. Children are actively encouraged to make decisions about what they want to do and play with. They choose toys from the storage cupboard and low level boxes which are labelled and displayed within the designated playroom. Children make suggestions for future activities and know what is available if they want to play with resources of particular interest. Younger children move freely between play areas and are actively involved in group activities with others.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are happy and settled and are familiar with consistent routines. They have strong and trusting relationships with the childminder. She takes time to find out what each child likes to do and includes activities and resources to develop their interest and learning which significantly enhances their progress in all areas of development. Babies and young children play with a stimulating variety of action toys to find out how things work and have fun with an interesting range of imaginative play equipment. They receive very good support form the childminder so

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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 that they can make choices and decisions about their play and rest times. Children's comforters and familiar routines are recognised as important to enable children to settle and separate happily from parents. The childminder is sensitive to the needs of children who are feeling unwell and gives them time to feel comforted and to rest and relax. She works well with her assistant in order to effectively support the care and well-being of all children. This excellent approach helps children to develop positive relationships with adults and each other and contributes significantly to their confidence and self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children learn about the wider world and develop good respect for the needs and feelings of others. They see pictures in books and posters which introduce children to the lives and traditions of people from different ethnic groups. The childminder has developed a 'positive images scrapbook' so that children can see and talk about people who are different from themselves, recognise that they are part of a wide and diverse community and understand that people have a wide range of abilities and needs. Children learn about the cultural and religious beliefs of others as they take part in varied activities to celebrate different festivals throughout the year. Opportunities for children to further extend their knowledge of a wider range of cultures is considered in future plans. Children's individual needs are met very well, the childminder takes time to find out from parents about children's care and sleep routines,

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Helping children make a positive contribution

favourite games, toys, and personal preferences. She uses this information effectively to support children's learning and development. This respects children's individuality and helps them to feel good about themselves. Children are treated with equal concern and resources are accessible to all children which promotes inclusive activity for boys and girls. The childminder has a clear equal opportunities policy that addresses discrimination. This helps children to respect and value each other.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder understands how to provide very good care and support for children with learning difficulties and disabilities. She is very supportive of children and their families to meet any individual requirements and specific needs. She actively seeks and attends training to learn how to support children with a range of needs including speech and sign language classes to aid communication. This shows a strong commitment to inclusive practice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are happy and settled and behave well. They respond with smiles and interest to the childminder's calm and kind voice. Children receive cuddles and re-assurance to help them feel loved and secure. Good behaviour is promoted well. Children respond positively to clear and consistent boundaries and know what is expected of them in order to help with tidy up tasks in the home and keep themselves safe outside. Children are encouraged to talk about expected behaviour and the feelings of others. The behaviour management policy and strategies are shared with and understood by parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the strong and trusting relationships between their parents and the childminder. Daily conversation takes place to share information about their child's care, routines and activities. Photographs are attractively displayed to show children's involvement in activities and outings whilst they are in the care of the childminder. Individual development records contain observation and assessment details to keep parents fully informed about their child's

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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 progress. Parents receive detailed information about policies and procedures and how to contact Ofsted so that they are fully informed about the childminding service provided and the complaints procedure. Parents appreciate the childminder's loving care, family support and commitment to their child's development and progress which promotes positive partnerships with parents and supports the individual needs of children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder demonstrates very good knowledge and understanding of the National Standards for childcare. Children are supervised by the childminder at all times. She receives effective support from an assistant which contributes to children's safety and well-being. All adults on the premises have completed the necessary vetting procedure. The childminder has completed many childcare training courses to enhance her knowledge of child development, disability awareness and practical activities. She is highly committed to developing and improving her practice through self-assessment and quality assurance schemes and offers her professional support as a mentor to new childminders.

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Organisation

Space and resources are effectively organised so that children can easily reach toys and equipment and choose different areas of play indoors. Outdoor areas are regularly used to extend children's learning, explore a wider environment and broaden children's interest and natural curiosity. Toilet and nappy changing facilities are good and children's individual care routines are respected. Children are settled in a well organised and stimulating environment which helps promote their independence and learning. The childminder recognises development opportunities to extend children's understanding of cultural and religious diversity and to involve children in decision making about behaviour 'rules' and as such demonstrates a strong capacity to improve.

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Organisation

All required documentation which contribute to children’s health, safety and well-being is in place. The childminder makes good use of guidance and regulatory information to continuously inform and improve her practice. Policies, procedures and development records are well maintained, up to date and contain detailed information which is shared regularly with parents to keep them well informed about the service provided, their child’s activities and progress. The attendance register is accurately maintained so that children's arrival and departure times are recorded. Children's records include detailed information to ensure that their individual needs are met and parents wishes are respected. This contributes to continuity of care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to develop her knowledge and skills to support children's specific needs. Since then she has attended a number of training courses, including speech, sign language and disability awareness training which help her to provide supportive care for children with learning difficulties and disabilities and which further enhance her knowledge and skills for effective communication.

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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

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Complaints since the last inspection

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by the parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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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): • continue to develop and extend children's knowledge of a healthy lifestyle.

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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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