Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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308621 Unique Reference Number 29 June 2007 Inspection date Sue Partington 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 in Chorley, Lancashire. The whole ground floor and bathroom upstairs of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden 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 at any one time and is currently minding four children under five all day and three children over five before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent and toddler group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a well maintained and homely environment. The childminder promotes high levels of hygiene practices to protect children from cross infection. For example, the home is clean and tidy, she uses antibacterial hand wash before and after the preparation of food and provides the children with individual towels to dry their hands. They can rest in comfort

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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 when they are tired and follow their own routines comfortably in a welcoming setting. Children happily participate in physical play for instance, walks around the local area, visits to toddler groups and outings to parks provide opportunities for healthy exercise and physical play.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health and dietary needs are effectively recorded and acknowledged. The childminder is well informed of children's allergies and medical needs. Children are offered appropriate drinks and healthy snacks throughout the day. The childminder works in accordance with parent's wishes regarding the provision of food and drink. She gathers detailed information about children's likes and dislikes and takes this information into account when planning meals. The childminder works in partnership with parents to help children develop a high level of awareness of healthy eating. She provides fruit at snack time and gives children opportunities to taste home cooked meals, as a result children are beginning to adopt healthy choices.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a warm and welcoming environment. Good use is made of space and areas are used to accommodate different activities. Children are able to move around freely and play in comfort. The childminder provides an extensive range of resources to meet the needs of the children being cared for. Children are able to select their own toys which are easily accessible. She rotates toys to add variety and checks them on a regular basis to ensure they are safe, minimising risks to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are very well supervised and they understand and respect safe boundaries. She has developed comprehensive policies and procedures to enable her to be prepared for emergency situations and to ensure that children are kept safe. Children practice fire evacuation with the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a very good understanding of child protection issues and procedures and shares information with parents. She fully understands her role to protect the welfare of the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children have access to a wide range of activities such as creative materials, imaginative play, dressing up clothes, books, musical instruments, construction toys, play kitchen and outdoor equipment. Children are interested, engaged, occupied and happily explore play opportunities within the setting. Children share warm relationships with the childminder with hugs freely exchanged and they are happy and settled in her care. The childminder fully understands the short concentration span of young children who are motivated and interested by the childminder's commitment to present stimulating activities to maintain their interest. The childminder dedicates time playing and talking to the children on their level. She interacts with them to provide good levels of challenge appropriate to their age and stage of development. Children are able to freely choose what they want to play with as the resources are well organised

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and stored at child height, helping to develop choice and independence.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder is fully committed to the children and treats them with care and respect. She gathers information about children's individual needs to enable her to be in a position to best meet their needs. Children are regularly offered praise and reassuring smiles and cuddles from the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works in partnership with the parents to reinforce that behaviour management is consistent for the children. She uses age appropriate strategies to manage children's behaviour and provides a broad range of activities to prevent the children from becoming bored. The children receive lots of praise for their efforts and achievements to help raise their confidence and self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are encouraged to become independent in daily life through learning how to put away toys and to make their own selections. Positive images of race, gender and disability are promoted throughout in books, posters and toys and children play with all resources.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed a very good partnership with the parents and provides a comprehensive portfolio which is shown and discussed with parents at the initial meeting. This helps to forge an effective working relationship and a shared understanding with parents from an early stage. Information about individual children's progress and interesting events are verbally shared with parents on a daily basis to ensure the continuity of care. In addition to this the parents receive their child's observation and planning file when the child leaves to go to school. This file is a record of children's development whilst in the care of the childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from a childminder who holds relevant qualifications in childcare and has a positive attitude to developing her knowledge. She has a valid first aid certificate ensuring she has up to date knowledge of what to do in the event of an accident. She is well organised and children's individual needs are supported by the childminder's documentation. However, some forms require updating for some children.

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Organisation

Children are settled and relaxed in the homely environment where they are able to make choices and select from a broad range of organised and accessible resources in play areas. They enjoy opportunities to visit local parks and toddler groups as part of a planned daily timetable.

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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 recommendations were raised to review accident recordings, practise emergency evacuation and provide additional resources to promote diversity.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children's safety and learning is promoted as all the above recommendations have been completed.

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Improvements 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

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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. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaint 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 parental permission consent forms are completed for each child.

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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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