Clegg, Kim Barbara

Inspection report for early years provision

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306059 Unique Reference Number 27 April 2007 Inspection date Gillian Sutherland 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 satisfactory. 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 family in Bebington, which is an area on the Wirral peninsular. The family have three cats, a dog and two goldfish. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. There is an enclosed paved area at the rear of the house, which is used for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to provide care for six children aged under eight years. There are currently ten children on roll, all of whom attend on a part time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a varied range of activities and experiences, both indoors and outdoors, which promote being healthy. Children access outdoor physical activities as they walk to and from school with the childminder on a daily basis, or as they play with some of the outdoor toys and resources in the enclosed area at the rear of the house. Children also visit many of the local parks and open spaces, where they benefit from the wider open play spaces to run around and play in.

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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 Children are cared for in a home that is warm and welcoming to them, where they learn about the importance of good health and personal care as part of their daily routine. For example, they wash their hands before snack times, after participating in a messy play activity or after going to the bathroom. Children access the toilet and hand washing facilities independently as these are situated on the ground floor. Children are protected when they are ill because the childminder follows appropriate measures, including making children comfortable and contacting their parents. The childminder is trained to administer appropriate first aid to children and records how and where the accident happened.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy their meals and snacks with the childminder and eat these as they sit at the dining table in the conservatory. This creates a relaxed and social atmosphere where the childminder and children can talk to each other about the events of the day either at school or in the home. Children's individual dietary requirements are met by the childminder as these are fully discussed with parents prior to care commencing and specific needs are recorded on their enrolment form. A choice of drinks is available, including water. However, drinks are not freely accessible to children during the day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are allowed to move around freely and play safely. To ensure children are safe, the childminder has taken steps to minimise potential risks or hazards. Some of the steps taken to minimise hazards include putting dangerous products and substances well out of children's reach and also ensuring that any low level glass is protected. Smoke alarms have been fitted on each level of the house and they are checked regularly to ensure they are in working order. The childminder has devised an evacuation procedure which would be implemented in the event of a fire, and children have participated in fire drill practises. Children are informed about road safety dangers through discussion and participating in good practice as they walk home from school and are taken to local parks by the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children can self-select toys of their choice from a varied range of clean toys and resources. The childminder checks the toys regularly to ensure there are no broken ones. If any are found to be broken, these are removed and discarded if they cannot be repaired. Children are aware of the range of toys that are available and can request certain toys and activities that may not be out or available at every session or every day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has some knowledge of child protection issues as she has a copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and has begun to familiarise herself with those procedures. The documentation also contains most of the appropriate contact details, however, it does not yet include the telephone number of the local police.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled with the childminder. They are kept interested and stimulated with a selection of appropriate toys and games. Children have the opportunity to develop their creative skills as part of their activity programme.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have easy access to a varied range of books which are stored within their reach, ensuring children can freely access the ones they want to read or look at.

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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 are encouraged to become confident and independent. This is achieved through the consistent use of support and praise from the childminder during their play activities. Interaction between the childminder and the children is good. For example, she participated in an activity which involved blowing up balloons and allowing the children to select the features for the balloon's face. The childminder had a packet of stick-on features, including eyes, ears and noses, from which they chose their own features and stuck them onto the balloon. The childminder encouraged the children to look at where on the balloon's face they would stick the features.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are made to feel welcome in the childminder's home. Their individual needs are identified during a pre-admission discussion with their parents, prior to care commencing, when an agreement is reached as to how those needs will be met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children become familiar with the routines of the childminder and are aware of the house rules, such as sitting at the table at snack time and taking their shoes off as they enter the house. The childminder leads by example, speaking politely to the children and praising them appropriately during their play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have access to a range of toys and participate in activities that help to increase children's awareness and understanding of diversity in society. Children have the opportunity to self-select which activities they want to participate in and which resources they want to play with, there is no gender bias.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder always discusses the strategies she uses to manage children's behaviour with parents prior to care commencing, as this results in achieving a consistent approach to managing unwanted behaviour. This is always included in the pre-admission discussion, when she discusses her policies in detail. The childminder works in partnership with parents as she obtains information about the children's routines at home, plus their likes and dislikes. At the end of each day, the childminder shares information verbally with parents as to how their child has been during that day and what activities they have participated in.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for in an environment where they are able to play and feel comfortable, as they access bright and welcoming play areas. Children benefit from daily fresh air and exercise as they walk to and from school with the childminder, or visit local parks where they access the wider open play spaces to run around. Children also play with a range of age appropriate outdoor resources in the childminder's paved area at the rear of the premises.

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Organisation

The childminder maintains a current first aid certificate and this is kept in a file, along with other relevant childminding documentation, and is shown to parents prior to care commencing. The childminder fully discusses her policies and procedures with parents as part of the pre-admission discussion. The childminder ensures that all documentation relating to childminding is stored in files, which were made available at the inspection visit. The childminder has her registration certificate along with her mission statement on display in the entrance hall.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it 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

At the last inspection the childminder was required to complete an appropriate first aid training course and she completed this course on 22nd November 2006. She was also asked to assess the risks in relation to storage of hazardous cleaning products, glass panels in doors and plastic bin bags. The childminder has since moved the cleaning products to a cupboard which is out of the reach of children, she has removed the bin bags from the outside area and she has protected low level glass with protective safety film. The childminder was also asked to ensure that the premises indoors and outdoors and the equipment used are clean. At this inspection all areas and equipment used were clean. Regarding documentation, the childminder was required to ensure that child protection procedures comply with that of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and that all records required for the safe management of the provision are in

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Improvements since the last inspection

place, accurate and include a complaints log and a daily register. Again, the childminder has addressed these issues thus creating a safe environment for children to be care for in, and one where their well-being is protected.

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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 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 satisfactory. 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): • consider how drinks, including water, can be made freely accessible to children • ensure that the Local Safeguarding Children Board policy is amended to fully comply with current legislation and guidance by including the telephone number of the local police.

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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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