Childminder in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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252975 Unique Reference Number 10 May 2007 Inspection date Alison Edwards 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?

This childminder registered 16 years ago. She lives with her adult son in a house in a residential suburb in the Rushcliffe district of Nottinghamshire. Minded children use the ground floor of the house for play, with access to two bedrooms and bathroom and toilet facilities on the first floor. Two cats are kept as family pets. There is an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six minded children under eight at any one time. There are currently four children on roll, of whom two are aged under eight.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health and well-being are promoted effectively. They are cared for in clean and well-maintained premises where good hygiene procedures help minimise risks of infection. For example use of anti-bacterial sprays ensures worktops used for food preparation are germ-free. The childminder encourages children to develop good hygiene practices within their daily routines, for example by helping an older baby find a tissue to wipe their own nose. Older children show awareness of ways to maintain their good health, for example when they

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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 independently wash and dry their hands after using the toilet. Parental permission for emergency medical treatment is maintained, and the childminder holds current paediatric first aid training, so helping to ensure that minor or more serious accidents or sudden illnesses are managed in children's best interests. Information is sought and recorded on children's individual health, care and dietary needs, so helping to ensure these can be met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children show enjoyment in the development of their dexterity, for example as a baby smiles when extracting individual raisins from a small box. Children develop their hand-eye coordination through a range of activities, such as when they concentrate on manipulating puzzle pieces or fitting the pieces of a rail track together. They frequently enjoy physical activities in the fresh air to help develop their large movement skills, for example using see-saws, small slides or wheeled toys in the rear garden. From a young age they respond with enjoyment to rhythm, for example as a baby sways in response to a musical book. Children are able to rest according to their needs on comfortable sofas downstairs or in a quiet first floor bedroom within the childminder's hearing.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder takes positive steps to obtain current information on encouraging children's healthy eating. Snacks and meals regularly include good quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables, so contributing well to a balanced and nutritious diet. Drinks such as fresh water or dilute juice are readily available to children, helping to ensure they take sufficient fluids.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are confident and settled in the comfortable home where external doors and windows are kept secured to ensure they are unable to leave the premises unsupervised. Use of the ground floor of the house for play provides easily supervised space for them to participate in various activities, for example dancing on a floor mat, or using low tables and chair for table top activities. Young children are able to safely sleep or rest quietly according to their needs through use of a travel cot on the first floor within the childminder's hearing, so ensuring children are supervised at all times. Furnishings and equipment, such as a sturdy play kitchen and large doll's house and accessories, are in good condition and suitable for children's interests and stage of development. Children regularly and safely enjoy outdoor activities in the fresh air in the securely fenced rear garden. Here, they use a good selection of outdoor play equipment

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

offering appropriate levels of interest and challenge, for example, a play house, wheeled toys and rocking and climbing toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is promoted well. Smoke detectors and a fire blanket are fitted, and clear evacuation procedures are in place to minimise risks from fire. The childminder is aware of a range of useful information from organisations such as the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) on ways to maintain eliminate or minimise hazards. This helps to ensure good safety precautions are in place, such as use of stair gates to control access to the stairs and provision of secure storage for household chemicals and medicines. Children show a growing awareness of safety issues, for example when a pre-school child spontaneously identifies that the tops from containers in the toy doctor's kit have been removed to ensure that babies cannot chew or choke on them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is aware of what child abuse and neglect mean and recognises her responsibilities to follow up any child protection concerns in line with current national and local guidance in order to safeguard children's welfare.

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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 have warm relationships with the childminder and are settled and relaxed in an environment where their play and learning are encouraged. For example, the childminder is quick to respond to a baby's smiles, gestures and vocalisations, including simple signing to indicate when a drink is wanted. This helps younger children to recognise that their needs are recognised and valued. Children's thinking and language are encouraged within daily routines and activities. For example, the childminder introduces distinctions in vocabulary such as 'purple' and 'lavender' when talking with a pre-school child about the colours in a doll's crocheted blanket. She encourages children to remember and describe recent experiences, such as a farm visit. She helps children begin to understand ideas of position and size as they play with a doll's house, for example by talking about whether a chair or bed are 'big enough' for particular

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

figures, and by introducing simple positional words such as 'behind' when children are arranging furniture. Creative materials are easily accessible for children's use in a low storage unit in the breakfast kitchen.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Daily routines are flexibly planned to take account of individual factors, such as older children's energy levels after a day at school. They include a balance of activities inside and outside the home, such as attendance at local toddler groups or visits to other childminders, enabling children to socialise with others and to become aware of their local community. Children are able to freely choose between a selection of accessible toys and playthings, and are encouraged to help tidy up when they are ready to move on to another activity. In this way they begin to take some responsibility for their surroundings. The childminder is familiar with the 'Birth to three matters' framework giving guidance on ways to help younger children's development and learning is supported through caring and meaningful relationships and daily experiences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The established and experienced childminder is consistent and caring in her dealings with children, helping them to develop confidence in their relationships and play. She is clear on the value of praise and explanation to help children understand what behaviour is expected of them. Consequently, children are learning to show care and concern for others, and to take some simple responsibilities for themselves and their surroundings. For example a baby begins to learn how to use tissues to wipe their nose, whilst a pre-school child willingly spends time helping a baby to handle a board book.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder takes positive steps to update her knowledge and skills to ensure she is able to meet children's individual needs. For example, she has attended training on supporting left-handed children and provides simple resources such as left-handed scissors to help children use their preferred hand. She is aware of the importance of working with parents and other relevant professions to support the care of any child with identified disabilities or learning difficulties, and has attended training on aspects of disability discrimination legislation to help ensure she is familiar with her legal responsibilities. Children are helped to recognise and respect diversity through using toys such as playpeople with different skin tones and clothing, books in dual print or reflecting different cultures, or trying foods linked to different cultures such as naan breads.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Information about children's health and care needs is shared between parents and childminder before placement, so ensuring these can be met. Useful folders of written information about

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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 the service, together with written agreements, helps ensure parents and childminder have shared expectations for children's care. Informal discussion on arrival or departure enables parents and the childminder to share relevant information about daily events and experiences. However, the childminder is not fully familiar with current national procedures to be followed in the event of any formal complaint, so potentially compromising her ability to manage such a situation in children's best interests.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are confident and settled in the welcoming environment. The experienced childminder makes good use of locally available training to reflect on and develop her provision for children, for example by attendance at courses related to partnership with parents, using the outdoor environment, or supporting left-handed children. Details of children's personal and contact details are methodically maintained and readily accessible to promote children's care and welfare. Clear daily registers of children's attendance are maintained, demonstrating that good adult: child ratios are maintained, helping to ensure children receive good levels of supervision and attention. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the provider was asked to improve safety procedures by ensuring the emergency evacuation plan included consideration of use of the first floor. Procedures are now in place to take account of children's use of this area, so helping to maintain their safety. The provider was also asked to improve organisation by ensuring children's names were included in the daily register. This now consistently includes children's names, so helping to underpin the management of children's care.

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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 to meet the National Standards. 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 familiarity with the procedures for handling complaints outlined in the October 2005 Addendum to the National Standards and associated guidance.

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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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