Childminder in LancashireOfsted inspection, 10 May 2005

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 308699 Inspection date 10 May 2005 Inspector Nicola Kelbrick

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 lives in the Nelson area of Lancashire. She lives in a three bed roomed terraced property. Children have access to a rear lounge/dining play room, bathroom upstairs, rear yard, front lounge and one bedroom is used for rests and sleeps. She lives with her husband and three children aged ten, four and seven months. She provides care for a maximum of three children and has been registered for six years. There are no children currently on the roll, but the childminder's niece is currently cared for. Activities outside the home feature daily and the childminder attends local childminding groups and toddler groups. There are no pets in the household. The childminder is NNEB trained.

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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 satisfactory. Children have appropriate access to water at all times and are regularly reminded of its availability, thus ensuring they have plenty to drink. Children's dietary requirements are met well as the childminder is aware and experienced in providing food according to religious and individual requirements. The childminder liaises with parents regularly to ensure children's own food preferences are met accordingly. This often results in them receiving a mixture of food that the child brings with them, and that which the childminder provides. Children are encouraged well to adopt good hygiene practices to prevent cross infection; the childminders son was reminded to wash his hands when he went to the toilet and this was checked when he returned. Children generally benefit from a clean environment, however there were a few items which were grubby in appearance, with crusty stains on the covers, that children use had access to which would benefit from

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Helping children to be healthy

being cleaner, as babies were observed to have direct access to them. The minded child benefit from a clean, hygienic nappy changing practice and the mat that was wiped appropriately after use. The children's health is maintained and their preferences met as the childminder liaises well with the parents regarding illnesses. Children, including those aged under three, regularly go outside for play, as the childminder is a keen advocate of being outside. This ensures that they are able to use their bodies and develop their physical skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are able to learn their boundaries and limits well as attention in the childminders house is paid to ensuring that the environment is safe. Babies benefit from having a wide choice of toys accessible to them. In addition to those that are out, others that are safe and appropriate to their age are stored at low level, allowing them to play freely with them at all times. Children's knowledge of safety regarding fire drills is enhanced as they are actively involved in practicing them, thus ensuring the routine is well embedded if a real fire occurred. Children's motivation to learn awareness of safety issues is enhanced whilst out on outings because the childminder liaises well with others. Their recent learning at nursery is consolidated well by the childminder in following on the practices they have learnt whilst she is out with them. Children's accidents are clearly recorded and the parents kept informed of them well by signing their agreement.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected well by the childminder by her good knowledge of child protection issues. She is well aware of what the procedure would be if one of the children displayed signs of abuse.

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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 of all ages have a very wide choice of activities and books available to them. They are allowed to explore these as much as possible with the childminder subtly intervening to further direct their knowledge of how they are used. Babies are encouraged well to explore their toys and the people around them. The childminder is less knowledgeable of how best to promote development of children aged under 3 years and has elected to attend a Birth to Three course to enhance this knowledge. Children are happy and settled in their bright, stimulating environment. Children are actively engaged in inclusive activities that are adapted to their different ages and abilities. The childminders effective intervention allows for children to gain from a good mixture of free and structured play. Children's learning is enhanced by impromptu opportunities of shape and object recognition. Babies individual pace of

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

learning is encouraged well in enabling them the time to repeat patterns of play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are given plenty of praise from the childminder whilst they play. This encourages them to explore with new toys and equipment and thus extend their own learning. Children feel self assured and well supported and they play well together copying the childminders lovely examples of positive reinforcement with each other by encouraging each other when they have completed tasks. The minded child receive lots of hugs and cuddles from the childminder and clearly feel at ease in her company. Children have access to and learn well from a wide range of activities which promote and encourage inclusion of all children. Children with Special Needs are not currently minded, but they would benefit form the childminders knowledge and awareness of activities, and how she would adapt them to ensure all children were included in them. Children with Special needs would also have access to additional toys from the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

toy library to assist their development. They would gain from the knowledge and support the childminder can access of the local childminding group in ensuring their individual needs are adhered to. Children benefit well in the continuity of care from home to the childminders by their parents having good relationships with the childminder and receiving comprehensive feedback at the end of the day regarding what they have been doing.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder keeps herself up to date well with current childcare practices by continuing to attend relevant training courses such as Child Protection and completion of the Level 3 in Childminding Practice to enhance her NNEB qualification. These secure her knowledge of childcare and safety and provide further

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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 ideas for activities for the children to benefit from. Children were at ease and familiar with the routine of the setting. Children's individual needs can be well adhered to as the childminder works on her own and her documents regarding minded children are clear and comprehensive. Children are very familiar with the childminder as she works on her own. Younger children attend playgroups with the childminder where they learn to play and share with other children in a group setting. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides

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Improvements since the last inspection

The previous Children Act inspection recommended that the childminder's records contain information which enable appropriate care to be given. Since then, the childminder has updated her records to ensure that all emergency details are in place for children, thus if an emergency occurs to the child, it is clear who is to be contacted. The childminder was also asked to inform Ofsted of any changes to her provision. The childminder had another child seven months ago, and recently notified Ofsted. As a result of this, in line with the National Standards, the childminder's conditions of registration have been changed to reduce the amount of children she can care for.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints about this childminder since the previous inspection.

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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 equipment & furniture (with regard to the car seat and sofa in the front room) is kept clean. • improve the knowledge of the needs of children under 3, for example through the use of the Birth to three framework

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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 procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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