Childminder in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for early years provision

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316926 Unique Reference Number 17 January 2008 Inspection date Valerie Block 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 1993. She lives with her husband and 17 year old daughter in central Penrith, Cumbria. The childminder usually works with an assistant. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding as well as an upstairs bedroom and bathroom. 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 eight children under five at varying times throughout the week. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She also has use of a car.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends local children's groups regularly. The family has a dog, two cats and two guinea pigs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is a member of the National Childminding Association and Eden Childminders Group.

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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 good. The childminder ensures the children's ongoing good health as she has safe procedures in place to reduce cross-contamination. She provides separate, disposable towels for children to use after washing their hands to prevent cross-infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children begin to learn about keeping themselves healthy as the childminder talks to them about the reasons for cleaning their teeth after meals. The children understand why they need to avoid sugary foods and so their good health is promoted. Children receive a good amount of exercise and fresh air when in the childminder's care and so become healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished as the childminder provides a healthy diet and accessible water, which meets children's dietary needs and parents' wishes. She is particularly vigilant about ensuring that children's allergies are well provided for in order to protect children's good health.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a good amount of information about health care and dietary matters as well as detailed, written, satisfactory policies about health care issues for parents' information. This means that children's health needs are met well.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from premises that are clean and warm and very suitable for their needs. Children are kept safe as the childminder is very conscientious about ensuring that her home and procedures are safe for children. She has a good amount of information about safety issues to inform her risk assessment, such as information about car seats and the law. There are regular fire drills to ensure that the evacuation procedure is understood by the children and to ensure that it continues to be effective for children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Security of the premises is very good as the childminder ensures that doors cannot be opened independently by the children. Children are well supervised and sleeping children are regularly checked to ensure they are safe and well. There are, however, accessible blind strings in the conservatory that could be a danger to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder helps children to understand how to keep themselves safe when outside and so they start to learn to take responsibility for their own safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder provides a good range of play and care equipment that is kept in good order and is safe. The play equipment is suitable, age appropriate, clean and accessible.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded as the childminder and her assistant have attended recent child protection training and understand their responsibilities in this area.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very well supported and develop warm relationships with their carers. Their needs are well known by their carers and children are relaxed and confident in their care. The childminder plans a good range of activities for the children and so develops their capabilities

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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 in all areas. Both the childminder and her assistant have studied the 'Birth to three matters' framework and this is being used for the benefit of the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children enjoy cuddling into the childminder as a story is read and they contribute to discussion about the story. Therefore, their communication skills are encouraged and they begin to develop a love of stories. The childminder uses the library services to good effect so providing children with a good range of suitable books to enjoy.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are regularly taken out to enjoy the local area and regularly attend children's groups, therefore, learning about their community. Children are absorbed in jigsaws that represent people from around the world and people with disabilities. Children enjoy being praised for their skills as they complete their jigsaws and are learning about social diversity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Parents show a very good level of satisfaction with the service provided. The childminder has a very good amount of written policies for parents' information and also obtains a good amount of information about children's needs and parents' wishes, to ensure that children are well looked after.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave very well. They are learning to help one another. Older children set the table for snack time and all children help to tidy up. The childminder has a positive behaviour management policy and gives children support and praise to help them behave well. The childminder and her assistant are very kind and patient with the children and so provide a good model of how to behave well.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn to value differences in society as the childminder provides play equipment that shows positive images of diversity, as well as providing activities that help children to understand different cultures.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises her service and home very effectively to ensure that the welfare of children is promoted. She ensures that she has all records in place to ensure children's needs are met and parents' wishes known. She has also developed a wide range of other documentation, including written policies, to improve her practice.

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Organisation

Children benefit from her research into related childcare issues. She ensures that she keeps up to date with childcare issues through attendance at childminder meetings and regular training events. Children are well supervised and the childminder ensures that they are with suitable persons.

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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 it was agreed that the childminder increase her knowledge of child protection procedures. The childminder and her assistant have attended training and understand their responsibilities in this area so children's needs are met.

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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 She also agreed to extend the range of resources to promote positive images of diversity. A good amount of play equipment has been obtained to help children understand and value social diversity, therefore, children's needs are met.

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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 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): • make sure that the accessible blind strings are made safe.

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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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