Childminder in Nottingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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254863 Unique Reference Number 18 April 2007 Inspection date Janice Broddle 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 1994. She lives with her family, including her adult children in the New Basford area of Nottingham. Minded children have access to the lower ground floor, the ground floor and the bathroom facilities on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family do not keep any pets.

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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 one child aged under five years, on a part-time basis. The childminder has a vehicle available for her use and is a member of the newly formed local childminding support group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are protected from the risk of spread of infection through the childminder’s appropriately maintained standards of cleanliness within the home, along with her clear policy regarding children who are ill or infectious. Through daily routines and good explanations

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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 offered by the childminder, they are developing good personal hygiene awareness; young children know to thoroughly wash their hands before and after meals and after using the toilet to wash the dirt away. Required documentation to promote children’s good health is in place and the childminder works effectively with parents to ensure she meets children’s individual health needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are very well nourished as the childminder actively promotes healthy eating, minimising sugary and processed foods. She provides nutritious, fresh, home-cooked meals that include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. She encourages children to taste unfamiliar foods by involving them in the shopping and cooking process and children eat heartily and with evident enjoyment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop a positive attitude to physical exercise. They enjoy daily outings for fresh air and exercise and have opportunities to develop their physical skills through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. They eagerly access the garden and confidently and competently use a wide range of toys which promote their co-ordination. For example, they pedal ride-on toys at speed and steer them with ease. During visits to the park they run, climb and balance on a wide range of equipment, which promotes their co-ordination. Children continue to have very good opportunities to develop their physical skills in poorer weather. Indoors, they ride their bicycles and sit-on toys, and they regularly attend local physical activity sessions. Here, they balance and climb using a variety of equipment including climbing frames and scramble nets and learn to move in different ways and in changing directions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe and secure environment. The childminder has minimised the risk of accidental injury as she has a sound awareness of safety issues and has identified and minimised potential hazards, making good use of safety equipment to prevent access to possible dangers. Children therefore move freely and safely around their identified play areas and explore their toys and play materials. They have access to a wide range of toys and equipment that are of good quality. The childminder monitors the cleanliness and condition of these as she engages with children in their play and tidies toys away after their use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder ensures children’s safety when outside of the home due to her good levels of supervision and appropriate use of safety equipment, such as suitable car seats and harnesses. Through ongoing discussion, children begin to learn about possible dangers and how to keep themselves safe, for example, they know to stay within sight when running in the park and to walk in an orderly manner when near the roads. Indoors, they know to hold on to the banister when going up and downstairs and to tidy toys away to prevent trips and falls.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected as the childminder has a sound understanding of her responsibilities regarding child protection and has a comprehensive written procedure in place. She also has information available for parents. She has attended training to reinforce her knowledg, and has relevant contact numbers readily available if needed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have good relationships with the childminder, they confidently enter the home and choose their play materials, quickly becoming engrossed in these. The childminder knows the

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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 well and is aware of their individual stages of development. She uses this knowledge well to provide activities with opportunities for children to practise and improve their skills and move on to the next stage of development. Children are developing strong self-help and independence skills during daily routines through the childminder’s gentle encouragement to do things for themselves, supporting them when needed. For example, young children flush the toilet after use and wash and dry their own hands and put on and remove aprons for creative play. They freely move around their identified play areas, developing their self-esteem as they select their own play materials. Through the childminder’s ongoing use of effective questioning, children develop confidence and learn to solve problems for themselves.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder. Her knowledge of how children learn through play means that they enjoy a wide variety of activities and experiences both inside and outside of the home. Her ongoing high level of interaction continually extends their language and learning. Daily routines incorporate children’s individual needs and include a good mix of indoor and outdoor play, active and quiet times, child-led and adult-led activities and younger children rest in line with home routines. Children particularly enjoy outdoor times; they enjoy the challenge of riding the bicycle attempting to keep it on the narrow pathway. They concentrate for long periods playing with water; they learn about quantity, weight and measure and explore it’s consistency, well supported by the interesting range of equipment and the childminder’s skilful interaction as she encourages them to investigate.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued and respected. The childminder has a sound understanding of their individual needs and ensures that she respects parent’s wishes. She has appropriate systems in place to ensure children with special needs can be fully included in her provision. She displays children’s art work and creations prominently in the kitchen and they freely and independently make choices regarding their play. Children learn about the local community through regular walks to local shops along with outings to with local facilities such as toddler groups. They are learning about the wider world through the provision of a wide and varied range of toys and equipment that promote positive images of differences. The childminder builds on this through discussion and by planning activities linked to festivals such a Kwanzaa and Easter.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s behaviour is very good. The childminder has established clear boundaries within the home and gently reminds children of these when necessary. She is calm and patient, and the respect she shows the children actively encourages their good behaviour and they are keen to please. They readily respond to her requests and happily engage in meaningful play. The childminder exchanges detailed information with parents to ensure all children are cared for within their usual routines. However, written information is not available to keep parents well informed about her practices and written agreements clarifying expectations of both parties are not in place for all children. The childminder is respectful of parents’ wishes and keeps them informed about children’s daily care, activities and developmental progress promoting consistency of care.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder holds a recognised childcare qualification. She is developing her service well using the knowledge she has gained through this, along with her previous childcare experiences.

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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 She has established effective communication with parents to ensure she is able to identify and meet children's ongoing needs and provide consistent care. She has all required records and documentation in place to promote children’s safety and welfare. However, systems to ensure that documentation is in place for all children and maintained up-to-date are not fully effective which potentially compromises children’s well-being.

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Organisation

Children are comfortable in their environment. The childminder organises her space and resources well, enabling children to safely move around and independently select and explore their play materials. They access a wide variety of interesting experiences and spend a good balance of time inside and outside of the home. The childminder organises daily routines to ensure that children can eat and rest in line with their individual needs. Overall, children’s needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the provider agreed to one recommendation which was to take written consent for emergency medical advice or treatment on any outings. The childminder now has this information readily available and ensures that she has it on her at all times which promotes children’s good health in the event of an accident or emergency.

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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 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 expand the systems of informing parents about child care routines and practices and ensure that written agreements are in place with parents for all children, regarding activities provided, business arrangements and written parental consents • review the organisation of documentation to ensure that all documents are in place for all children and readily to hand if needed.

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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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