Parkinson, Carole

Inspection report for early years provision

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307899 Unique Reference Number 09 January 2008 Inspection date Janet, Elizabeth Singleton 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 has been registered since 1992. She lives with her husband and older children within Woodplumpton, Lancashire. Most of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and 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 six children at any one time and is currently minding 12 children, who all attend at various times during the week. The childminder attends local carer and toddler groups on a regular basis. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. The family has a dog which lives outside and is not usually in contact with the minded children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health needs are met as they learn about good practices and older children take responsibility for their own hand washing. Younger children are supervised and encouraged, as they wash hands before and after meals and after playing outside. They learn about the

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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 reasons why they need to keep clean, for example, to prevent cross-infection. Their dietary needs are attended to as they are provided with fresh, home cooked food and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They enjoy homemade sausages, from pigs from the farm, to ensure their nutritional value is good. They access a drink at all times and enjoy a snack of toast, as they sit together engaging in a discussion about their day.

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Helping children to be healthy

All the required documentation to maintain children's individual health needs is in place and very well maintained. The childminder has a current first aid certificate to ensure children's medical needs are met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play and learn in a home which is very safe and secure with all safety features in place, including socket covers and safety barriers. Children understand the safety rules of the home and can access the whole of the ground floor including the dedicated playroom. They move freely and confidently throughout the home as they play at the table, in the playroom and in the lounge. They make extremely good choices from the wide selection of interesting resources covering all areas of play. They readily change resources from the role play, play dough, jigsaws, books and crayons as they decide what they want to do next.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an excellent understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and has attended recent training in child protection. She has a good understanding of and is confident of the need to take action should she be concerned about a child.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy and achieve because the childminder plans and provides a wide range of good activities and opportunities for them. They learn about colour, shape and number as they readily name pink, white and black with the childminder. They enjoy a close and caring relationship which develops their self-esteem as they sit on the sofa and read books together. They become independent as they actively choose toys and equipment to assist them in their play. Children are eager to attend and relish their time with the childminder as she is very attentive to their individual needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children take part in activities both inside and outside the home, as they go for walks and for picnics to the park. They sit at the table and make puzzles or crayon as they talk about what they are doing and chatter to each other during their play. They attend toddler groups to promote their social skills and enable them to mix with other children and make friends.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are very welcomed into the setting, being valued as individuals and their family respected. The childminder has a good understanding of equality of opportunity for all children. They learn about people's differences in a positive manner; there are toys and equipment including books and dolls and the childminder discusses the differences of people, including disability.

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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 Children are beginning to understand how to manage their own behaviour in a positive manner. They are beginning to take responsibility because the childminder gives good explanations and sets clear boundaries, for example, not jumping on the sofa.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder builds good relationships with parents and carers by sharing information, working with them on individual needs and providing a strong link to support the families of the children she cares for. Each family is provided with a folder of work from their child's time with the childminder, for example, photographs of the children playing. Parents and carers view the noticeboard which contains information pertaining to her childcare practice.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from an environment and practice that are effectively organised to meet their needs by making good use of time, space and resources; the childminder plans an environment to enable children to make choices. The childminder is pro-active in seeking training to build her knowledge of childcare and education in order to increase her skills. All required documentation is in place and very well maintained, being stored securely and readily available for inspection. However, the incorrect telephone number to contact Ofsted is displayed and the childminder is not sufficiently familiar with the investigation of any concerns raised by parents.

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Organisation

The childminder has links with other childminders and support from the local childminder network group. She evaluates her practice and is forward thinking, to ensure she meets children's needs and is familiar with new childcare policies to improve the care provided for children.

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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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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was requested to: ensure all accident and medication records contain sufficient detail; ensure all persons over the age of 16 years living in the household have been vetted; and ensure that children have an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has revamped the documentation to include the full details regarding the accident and medication procedures. This ensures that documentation meets with the requirement of the National Standards. She has ensured all members of the household aged over 16 years have been vetted and are, therefore, suitable to be with the children. She has provided further resources to reflect diversity and this builds and encourages children's understanding of the differences of people.

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Improvements since the last inspection

An action was raised at the last inspection. This was for the childminder to complete a first aid course which includes training for babies and young children. The childminder has completed an appropriate first aid course that ensures National Standard 1 is met and children's first aid needs are attended to should this need arise.

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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

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 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 the correct number for contacting Ofsted is displayed for parents • improve knowledge of the complaints procedure

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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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