Childminder in Worcestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

204611 Unique Reference Number 19 March 2007 Inspection date Sally Wride Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1990. She lives with her husband and four children aged 19, 16, 14 and 8-years-old in a house in a village near Evesham. There are shops, a pre-school and a school within easy walking distance. The whole of the ground floor, with the exception of the conservatory, and an upstairs bathroom and bedroom are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have a pet dog.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time and is currently minding five children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder has procedures in place to support children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends the local carer and toddler group on a regular basis. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming environment that is clean and well maintained. Toys and resources are regularly cleaned to ensure that they remain hygienic for the children to use. Their health is suitably promoted through effective health and hygiene practice. They wash their hands at appropriate times using good quality hand washing resources and facilities and benefit from explanations from the childminder about ensuring that their hands are ‘nice and clean’. Younger children learn the importance of good hygiene at a young age as the childminder wipes their hands with a baby wipe after they have had their nappy changed. Effective procedures are in place to ensure that children are cared for appropriately if they become ill whilst in the childminder's care. However, children's health needs are compromised because a current first aid certificate has not been maintained.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular access to develop their physical skills and control. They use climbing frames, and ride wheeled toys during their visits to the local toddler group and enjoy daily walks in the fresh air to collect older children from school and pre-school. They take the childminder's dog out for walks each day, which helps them to develop an understanding of taking care of animals. They use the garden at the childminder's house and play with a range of sports equipment. Visits to local parks, playgrounds and soft play facilities further develop children's physical control as they play on a range of age-appropriate apparatus and equipment.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished and enjoy meals and snacks provided by their parents each day. This ensures that their individual likes, dislikes and dietary requirements are well met. Meals and snacks are well stored in the refrigerator and where necessary are well heated before being offered to children. Parents also provide their own children's drinks and drinking containers. Children are regularly reminded to have a drink to ensure that they are well hydrated. Mealtimes are relaxed, social occasions when the children and the childminder sit together around the table to enjoy their food and each other’s company.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are safe and well cared for in premises that are safe and secure. Their care environment is clean and well maintained and provides plenty of space for children to develop their own ideas as they play, for example, taking the dolls for a walk around the house in their pushchairs. Children benefit from access to a wide range of developmentally appropriate toys and resources. These are maintained to good standards of cleanliness and are safe and suitable for the children to use. There is plenty of storage space which is organised appropriately and safely and allows children to make decisions about what they would like to play with and how they would like to spend their time.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safe as a result of the childminder's good awareness of health and safety. The childminder ensures children's safety by visually completing risk assessments each morning before the children arrive and also periodically throughout the day. Children have the opportunity to learn about how to keep themselves safe as they regularly practise the emergency evacuation procedure to develop an understanding of the action that they should take in the event of a fire. They use the green cross code as they cross the road, practising the 'stop, look and listen' technique. Children's welfare is safeguarded because the childminder has a sound understanding

p.3

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 of child protection procedures, which are in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures. She has a clear understanding of the known indicators of child abuse and the action that she should take in the event of a concern about a child in her care.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy a range of worthwhile play opportunities, both indoors and outside, during their time with the childminder. They engage in regular opportunities to develop their physical skills as they visit local parks, playgrounds and soft play facilities. They benefit from the opportunity to socialise with wider groups of children during twice weekly visits to a local toddler group. Although the childminder has a good understanding of the developmental stages of children aged under three years old, they are not provided with many opportunities to engage in sensory play in line with the 'Birth to three matters' framework approach. This limits their opportunities to learn through sensory stimulation. The childminder uses her time well to support children as they play. They benefit from her involvement and interaction as she makes suggestions and encourages their early language skills through conversation. She talks to the children as they

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

play, commenting on what they are doing and how they can use their toys. For example, she talks to the children about feeding the toy dolls, introducing the idea that they doll may be hungry.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy imaginative play and act out taking their dolls for walks, dressing and undressing them and giving them a cuddle. They play with toy cars, pushing them around the floor saying ‘beep beep’ as they play. They enjoy completing number jigsaw puzzles and confidently repeat number names after the childminder. Children are confident in the care of the childminder and readily approach her for a cuddle. They sit on her lap to enjoy a story or warm comfort as they begin to tire after a busy morning of play. Children use small world figures that promote positive images of diversity. They spend time taking their toys out of boxes and then using the boxes for games of ‘peepo’. They have fun with the childminder and laugh together as they say ‘I can see you’ as they peer through the box. Their creative learning is developed as they engage in colouring, drawing and art activities. They create cards as part of their celebrations of different

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

events, such as Mother’s day, Valentine’s day and Easter. In the warmer weather, they go out with other local childminders and the children in their care to enjoy a picnic in the park. They often go on trips further a field to parks and to enjoy a game of bowling. Children are valued and are helped to feel good about themselves. They frequently receive positive support, praise and encouragement and benefit from the childminder's calm and consistent approach to behaviour management. This helps build children’s self-esteem.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder treats all children in line with their own individual needs and requirements, which actively promotes inclusion. She knows the children and their family contexts well, supporting them well as they learn and progress. Daily liaison with parents ensures that children are cared for appropriately and activities, such as painting and drawing are adapted to meet individual levels of development to ensure that all children are able to participate. Children participate in activities that develop their understanding of the world in which they live at the toddler groups that they attend each week, such as Chinese New Year, Christmas and Easter. They benefit from access to resources that promote positive images of diversity in everyday play situations. Although the childminder is not currently caring for children with learning

p.4

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 difficulties and/or disabilities, she is aware of the support that is available through the local authority and also through external health agencies and professionals. The childminder recognises the importance of working in close partnership with parents to ensure that children's needs are met, helping them to achieve their full potential.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are happy and settled in their care environment and in the care of the childminder. The are absorbed in their play and have fun exploring the range of toys that are available. These are regularly rotated to ensure their continued enjoyment and stimulation. Children behave well and enjoy warm praise and encouragement from the childminder. Effective behaviour management strategies are applied if any issues arise, suited to the level of understanding and maturity of the child. The childminder encourages the children to share and play fairly with their peers and explains any issues to ensure that children develop an understanding of right from wrong. Children benefit from the friendly but professional relationships that have been developed between the parents and the childminder. They enjoy daily exchanges of information at the start and end of each day, which ensures continuity of care for the children. Parents are

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

provided with clear information about the service provided through the written policies and procedures. This ensures that they are well informed about how the care of their children is organised.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children's health, safety and welfare is compromised in the event of an accident or emergency situation because the childminder has not updated or maintained a valid first aid training qualification that includes training in first aid for infants and young children. She has accessed child protection and basic food hygiene training since the last inspection and is keen to attend further courses to develop her own professional practice and service provided to children and their parents. All of the required documentation that supports children's health, safety and well-being are in place and are well maintained. They are well stored to ensure that confidentiality is maintained. The childminder has developed a range of written policies and procedures that are openly shared with parents. These policies and procedures reflect current good practice and professional advice and are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that

p.5

Organisation

Children benefit from the effective organisation of their care environment and can freely access a wide range of toys and equipment. A range of resources are prepared in advance of the children's arrival to ensure that an inviting feel is created. Their toys and resources are regularly rotated throughout the course of the day to ensure children's continued enjoyment and stimulation. The daily routine is flexibly applied to ensure that children are able to rest, sleep and eat in line with their individual requirements. The childminder offers flexible hours of care to accommodate parents shift patterns. Children benefit from twice weekly visits to a local toddler group where they are able to meet and play with wider groups of children. They make good use of local facilities such as nearby parks, playgrounds and soft play centres. The childminder uses her time well to support children and encourage their learning and development.

p.5

Organisation

She interacts with the children, asking them questions and showing them new ways to play with toys, for example, playing ‘peepo’ with a see through container. Overall children’s needs are met.

p.5

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

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder agreed to practise the emergency evacuation with children. Since then, the childminder has ensured that she regularly talks through and practises with children the actions that they should take in the event of a fire. This is to ensure that they develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe in an emergency.

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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): • improve outcomes for children aged from birth to three years by using an approach in line with the Birth to three matters framework • complete an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children.

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6