Childminder in Swindon

Inspection report for early years provision

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505897 Unique Reference Number 31 May 2007 Inspection date Nikki Whinton 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 1997. She lives with her husband and two children aged 14 and 19 years in the Liden area of Swindon. It is within walking distance of shops, community facilities and parks. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available 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 under the age of eight years at any one time and is currently minding nine children, of whom six attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. She attends the local carer and toddler group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children have daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise when walking to and from local schools and pre-schools. In addition, they use the childminder's fully enclosed garden and take

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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 part in outings such as Coate Water or Town Park, where they can use additional equipment to help develop their movement, spatial awareness and large muscle skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are able to help themselves to drinks throughout their time in the provision, which helps to ensure they are consuming fluids in sufficient quantities to meet their differing needs. Allergies or dietary requirements are discussed with parents prior to a child commencing in the setting. These discussions are carefully recorded and easily available for reference. Parents provide packed meals for their children that are correctly stored by the childminder. They are encouraged to provide children with nutritious food to help increase their awareness of healthy eating.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from the childminder's understanding of the correct administrative procedures to follow if accidents occur or children require medication. There are some effective systems in place to promote children's health and to protect them from peers that are unwell. For example, the sick child policy is shared with parents prior to a child starting in the setting, written permission has been obtained for seeking emergency medical treatment and children use wet wipes to clean their hands at snack time. However, the procedures for nappy changing and hand drying after toileting do not include positive steps to reduce the chances of cross contamination.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The premises are clean, well maintained and of an appropriate temperature. Older children are encouraged to use the toilet independently, which helps them to develop their self-care skills. There is a designated bedroom available to enable children to have uninterrupted sleep.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is a major concern to the childminder. She has attended courses on issues including food and car safety. There is a written emergency plan in operation that parents sign as having seen. Children benefit from the range of measures that are in place to promote safety and prevent accidents both within the home or when on outings. The premises are secure, a gate prevents children accessing the stairs, smoke detectors are maintained in working order and foam guards stop children catching their fingers in doors. Children are starting to gain an awareness of how to keep themselves and others safe by tidying away toys after use, thus reducing trip hazards. However, some sharp knives are accessible to children in the kitchen, which could pose a risk to their safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play with a variety of clean, suitably maintained resources that are regularly rotated to ensure they continue to be of interest to the children. They benefit from the childminder's awareness of safety issues concerning the purchase and ongoing maintenance of equipment. Children use resources that are safe and suitable.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's well-being is safeguarded by a childminder who has attended targeted training and has a good understanding of child protection issues. There are effective procedures for making parents aware of the childminder's child protection responsibilities, prior to a child commencing in the setting.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children appear very settled and relaxed within the provision. They make independent choices concerning the resources they wish to explore and benefit from the active involvement of the childminder in their play, such as when investigating a programmable toy, exploring a marble run or whilst playing with small world figures and vehicles. Children reinforce and extend their vocabulary through practical means, such as when discussing the contents of the refrigerator with the childminder whilst storing the packed lunches.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have a positive rapport with the childminder and are able to play cooperatively with their peers. Children have some influence over the daily routine. For example, their requests for a snack or to play outside are immediately accommodated. Children take part in a variety of planned outings, such as to a carer and toddler group, the library or the Liden childminders' support group meetings. Such opportunities enable children to develop their awareness of their local environment whilst accessing a wider range of age appropriate activities and resources.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and treated as individuals. They benefit from the childminder knowing them well, realising their varying needs and from having an understanding of their differing home circumstances. Children access a variety of age appropriate resources including dolls, books, puzzles, games and small world toys that help them to gain a greater awareness of diversity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well. They are gaining social skills as they learn successfully to share resources and to take turns. Their behaviour is supported by a childminder who has a good understanding of effective, age appropriate strategies for promoting children's positive behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are given comprehensive information about the childminder's provision prior to registration. They are kept up to date with children's progress and daily achievements through informal discussion at the beginning or end of the day. In addition, the parents of the youngest children in the setting are given daily diaries, which record information on issues such as feeding and sleeping. Such procedures help to ensure a continuity of approach in supporting children's care between the home and the childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is an experienced early years practitioner who regularly attends targeted training to help develop her professional knowledge. All legally required documentation is carefully stored and easily accessible. For example, detailed records are kept on each child that are quickly available to support their care either within the provision or when on outings. However, the daily register of children's attendance is not always kept up to date. In addition, whilst the childminder has attended some relevant courses her current first aid certificate is no longer valid.

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Organisation

Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

As a result of the last inspection and a subsequent visit the provider was given a non-regulatory action and a recommendation to help develop the quality of the provision. These referred to making sure the premises are secure so that children cannot leave them unsupervised and ensuring children's daily arrival and departure times are recorded.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The premises are now secure. This improvement has had a positive impact on the quality of care offered to the children. However, children's arrival and departure times are not always recorded on a daily basis.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection a concern was received by Ofsted in January 2006 relating to National Standard 2: Organisation; that the provider was overminding. Ofsted visited the provider to discuss these concerns and as a result of the investigation, a formal warning letter was issued and an action set under National Standard 2. No further action was taken and the provider continues to be registered.

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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): • ensure positive measures are in place to promote children's good health with regard to hand drying and nappy changing • ensure a suitable first aid qualification is maintained and that children's actual arrival and departure times are always recorded on a daily basis.

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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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