Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY103110 Unique Reference Number 14 June 2007 Inspection date Christine Fraser Turner 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 2002. She lives with her husband and two children aged 11 and eight in the Ewood area of Blackburn. She uses the playroom, the dining room (as an additional sleep area) and the ground floor toilet facilities for childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five and two school age children, one of them before school and both children after school. The childminder drives to local schools to take and collect children. The family has a cat as a family pet.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder visits local parks and toddler groups. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 satisfactory. Children are mainly protected from infection and are well taken care of if they have an accident or become ill because the childminder follows current and appropriate health and hygiene guidelines. The childminder shares her policy on sickness with parents and provides children with individual towels to dry their hands to prevent cross infection. However, children do not was their hands before eating unless they have used the toilet.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished through healthy snacks and meals, for example, apples and raisins for morning snack and turkey sandwiches on brown bread with tomatoes for lunch. They are able to help themselves to drinks through out the day because the childminder puts their cups within reach. Older children can help themselves to drinks from the drink dispenser in the hallway. Children have their health and dietary needs met because the childminder works well with parents. They are able to rest according to their needs because the childminder discusses with parents their child's individual needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in physical activity both in and out of doors. They visit local parks and playgrounds to play with balls and go for walks. Children use bikes and scooters as they visit local toddler groups and dance to music tapes in the childminder's home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a welcoming, secure, safe indoor environment. They benefit from effective risk assessments being in place, which are reviewed annually. The childminder displays information for parents on the wall in the play room. The clear floor space ensures children have space to move and can access toys made available by the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use suitable and safe equipment. However, there is insufficient equipment available for the current minded children to sleep at the same time. There is also a lack of child sized table and chairs to support children eating together or using the table to enable all children to take part in activities, for example, making a collage picture.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe on outings because the childminder only takes children to places that she knows and does a visual safety check each time. They benefit from the childminder using appropriate safety equipment, such as wrist straps or reins when children are walking and following safe procedures. They learn to keep themselves safe and avoid accidental injury, for example, the childminder encourages children to tidy away toys on the floor so children do not fall over them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded because the childminder understands her role in child protection. She has relevant contact details readily available and shares her policy with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children settle and are happy in the setting. They are involved in mostly suitable activities. They help the childminder with shopping, such as picking the fruit off the shelves. Children

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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 over three become engrossed in collage activities, for example, making a card for Father's day, carefully choosing the resources they want to use. They share their discoveries with the childminder who encourages children to match and count by asking children to find another eye the same size. She then asks children to count the total number of eyes on their picture. Younger children have fun playing with pom poms with the childminder. Children make positive relationships with the childminder as they sit and talk together, for example, at snack time. However, there are times when children under three are not fully involved and interested in the activities available, for example, the plastic animals.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for by a childminder who works appropriately with parents to meet children's individual needs and ensure that they are fully included in the life of the setting. They feel a sense of belonging, for example, as they use the bathroom independently or help themselves to a drink. Children go on outings in the community and socialise with a wider group of children than those that attend the setting as they visit toddler groups.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn to respond to appropriate expectations from their behaviour. They receive praise from the childminder who rewards children at the end of the day with stickers. The childminder shares her house rules with the children, for example, not jumping on furniture and children learning to share with each other.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents and carers are mainly well informed of their child's day through daily verbal feedback. The childminder tells parents what their child has done or if they have had a sleep but only tells them what they have eaten if it is exceptional. Parents know about the childminder's complaints procedure because the childminder gives all parents copies of all of her policies. The childminder has a detailed procedure in place to record any complaints which meets regulations.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for by a suitable adult who ensures that children are always supervised whilst in her care. They benefit from the childminder's continued commitment to training, for example, attending training in child protection and behaviour management which has increase her knowledge and skills in these areas. The childminder maintains required adult-child ratios at all times. Suitable use of time and space contributes to children's health, safety, enjoyment and achievement and ability to take in the setting.

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Organisation

Policies and most procedures work in practice to promote children's health, safety, enjoyment and achievement. However, although the childminder records observations of children theses records are not yet shared with children or used to plan for children's play. All required records are used well to meet children's needs.

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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 agreed to: develop her understanding of child protection issues; ensure that Ofsted are informed of significant changes; ensure children have an

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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 appropriate range of activities to promote equality of opportunity and anti discriminatory practice; share behaviour management policies with parents; make sure premises are secure.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children are now well protected because the childminder has increased her understanding on child protection issues through undertaking relevant training. The childminder is now aware that Ofsted need to be informed of significant events. Children benefit from an increased range of resources that raises their awareness of equality of opportunity through additional resources. The premises are now fully secure so children are unable to leave them unsupervised.

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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

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): • make sure that all children follow good hand washing procedures • provide sufficient equipment for young children to sleep and for children to eat together • plan a suitable range of activities for children under three using the 'Birth to three matters' framework.

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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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