Childminder in BuckinghamshireOfsted inspection, 29 Nov 2005

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 107808 Inspection date 29 November 2005 Inspector Kerryn Matthews

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 1996. She lives with her husband and four children, two of whom are adult and two of whom are teenage in Chalfont St Peter, South Bucks. The childminder lives in a town house and uses the first floor of her home for childminding, along with a toilet on the second floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play and children are regularly taken to the local park. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding four children under five on varying days and times and two children after school.

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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 The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family has no pets. The childminder is a qualified and experienced NNEB.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a range of healthy meals and snacks which the childminder provides for them. They sit comfortably to eat their meals at the dining table in the conservatory. Children are able to relax during sociable meal and snack times with discussions about the days activities, extending their social skills and language. Their individual dietary needs are catered for as the childminder has a comprehensive knowledge of the children's needs, likes and dislikes, which are recorded. Children are cared for in a clean and hygienic home. Their general health is promoted as the childminder maintains good levels of hygiene. Children are encouraged to wash their hands after using the toilet and before meals. Good systems are in place for accidents and the administration of medication, which ensures that children are well cared for and their needs met. Parental consent to seek emergency medical treatment has been gained since the last inspection,

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Helping children to be healthy

enhancing this area of the provision. Children are developing well physically as they have regular play times outdoors both in the enclosed rear garden, at the local park and the playing field. They have the opportunity to run, climb, jump, slide and practice their ball skills when playing outdoors. Children are learning to take responsibility for their own safety when outdoors, as the childminder talks to the children about staying safe when they are out walking.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are well met because the childminder has a good range of suitable and well maintained toys, furniture and equipment available for daily use, which includes buggy, potty and toddler toys. Children can easily access the range of toys and resources available to them as they are stored on open shelving, encouraging the children to be independent and make choices. Children are very at ease and feel at home because the childminder has made her home safe and secure enabling them to explore independently. They are cared for in a warm and welcoming environment. The childminder uses her conservatory as the children's main area of play, setting it up in a child friendly and inviting way. Children enjoy their play in a safe environment where the childminder has reduced all hazards, for example by using safety gates on the stairs. A clear fire evacuation procedure is

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

in place, however this is not regularly practiced with the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

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 childminder is able to safeguard children's welfare through her good knowledge of child protection issues and is clear on how she would deal with any concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are involved in an interesting range of activities and play experiences that are age appropriate and extend their development in all areas of learning. They are settled and happy, being able to choose toys and resources for themselves. Children are enthusiastic when investigating the range of toys, which encourages them to explore. They use their senses to make connections with their environment, for example through playing with dough, looking at "feely" books and singing action songs. Children involve the childminder in their play and in turn receive warm, calm, individual attention, which enables them to successfully extend their learning and experiences. They are developing early mathematical skills through the good opportunities provided by the childminder, for example recognising shapes, colours, size and position when completing puzzles. The childminder's skilled interactions

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

encourage this learning. The childminder shows an active interest in the children and this has helped them to be clearly understood and develop a strong bond with her. Children have fun and enjoy their time with the childminder. The childminder has a good understanding of caring for and assisting the development of children aged under 3 years as she is a qualified NNEB with much experience of caring for young children. Young children's development is promoted in all areas as the childminder has attended workshops related to the Birth to three matters framework. The childminder is confident that she is covering all areas of young children's development through the care she provides. Children's language skills and learning are promoted through interesting, relevant discussions and open ended questions initiated by the childminder, for example talking about letter sounds when completing an alphabet puzzle and being involved

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

in a child's imaginative play with a tea set.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children enjoy care that promotes their well being, self esteem and self worth. The childminder knows the children in her care very well and is therefore able to ensure that they are treated with equal concern and that their individual interests are encouraged. Children are able to access toys and resources that reflect the diverse society in which they live. The children's knowledge of the wider world is promoted as the childminder uses a map of the world and has relevant discussions with the children. Children are confident and secure in the childminder's care. This enabled them to interact freely with the inspector during the inspection visit, explaining what they were doing and involving her in their imaginative play.

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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 respond well to the consistent praise and encouragement that they receive through their time with the childminder. They are well behaved, cooperative and are beginning to take responsibility for their actions as they learn right and wrong. The childminder provides specific activities to encourage children of differing ages to play together, for example a game of noughts and crosses. The childminder builds friendly but professional relationships with the parents. She discusses children's individual needs with the parents prior to a placement commencing. She records these details for reference, thus ensuring that all children are cared for appropriately. Children's routines and activities are shared with the parents daily, both verbally and in more detail written in a home link book. The

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder's current practice is backed up by very positive written comments from parents; these give examples of parents satisfaction with the care and service that the childminder has offered them both in the past and present.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are comfortable and feel secure in the childminder's home, which has well organised play space, allowing them to move around freely. However the childminder needs to ensure that all persons aged over 16 years, living or staying in her home have been reference checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. The childminder is a qualified and experienced nursery nurse. She is keen to enhance her knowledge and skills to the benefit of the children, through further training, for example attending training in first aid and Birth to three matters framework. Her previous experience of working with children has given her a strong foundation in promoting the all round development of children in her care in an interesting and fun way. Policies and procedures are shared verbally with parents and put into practice to ensure that children are well cared for. This also supports the building of positive

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Organisation

relationships with parents. The childminder has a good knowledge of the needs of the children in her care, enabling her to organise her day and activities to ensure these are met. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A recommendation was made at the childminder's last inspection for her to gain written parental consent for medical treatment to be sought in an emergency. The childminder has met this recommendation and the necessary consent is in place.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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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 that the fire evacuation procedure is regularly practiced with the children. • ensure that Criminal Records Bureau checks have been carried out on all household members aged over 16 years.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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