Childminder in Redcar and Cleveland

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 312805 Inspection date 13 July 2005 Inspector Elaine Marie McDonnell

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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 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 has been registered since October 1991. She lives with her husband and two daughters, one of whom is an adult, the other is 11 years old. The family have two guinea pigs that minded children have supervised access to. Most of the ground floor of the house is used for childminding purposes and there is an enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. The home is close to a play park, swimming baths, shops and woods. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years

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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 at any one time and currently has five children on roll aged from one year to eight years, all are cared for on a part-time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children learn about the importance of good personal hygiene through the daily routine. For example, they follow good hand washing and cleaning procedures after helping the childminder to change a baby's nappy. Children's health is safeguarded as the childminder has introduced, and effectively implemented, a written policy about the exclusion of children who are ill or infectious, so that all children are protected. Children are well nourished. The childminder works in partnership with parents to understand and meet children's individual dietary requirements. She prepares and/or serves the food that parents provide. Children receive regular drinks and healthy snacks such as fruit, water sugar free juice and milk. Children have appropriate opportunities to promote their physical skills with regular outdoor play and daily walks to the park, shops, school or woods. They are also

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Helping children to be healthy

involved in exercise activities indoors such as skipping, to promote balance and co-ordination. Children rest and sleep according to their needs. The childminder is fully aware of individual sleeping patterns, she ensures a quiet, comfortable area is available for children to sleep.

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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 warm and welcoming environment. Toys and equipment used are accessible for children, safe and suitable and are maintained by the childminder's checking and washing routines. The childminder has a satisfactory understanding of safety aspects and has identified and minimised risks to ensure a safe and secure environment for children. However, she has not devised and practiced an emergency escape plan for several years. Appropriate procedures are in place to manage children's safety. For example, accident and medication records are in place and are signed by parents, however, medication records do not contain all relevant information. Children are learning to keep themselves safe as the childminder explains the correct process of crossing roads and of the relevance of the red and green man at traffic lights. Children are well protected. Although the childminder does not have an awareness of

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

the Government booklet in relation to child protection, she does have a good

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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 understanding of child protection issues and other the appropriate documentation is in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are involved in an acceptable range of activities, outings and play experiences to promote their development in all areas of learning. For example, visits to the park, walks to the woods, shopping, chopping vegetables and feeding the guinea pigs. Children's confidence and self esteem are appropriately promoted, they use their initiative about deciding what to play with, and receive praise for their efforts from the childminder. For example, a child perseveres to put a nappy on a doll and the childminder tells her that she did it very well all by herself. Children are interested in the toys available and are good at keeping themselves occupied and busy. They enjoy a good relationship with the childminder and with each other and receive appropriate adult support and attention. The childminder ensures that children's individual needs in relation to play and learning are met. For

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

example, she considers the suitability of the resources in relation to the age and development of the children before they arrive and puts away smaller items that are not suitable for babies.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are beginning to become aware of the wider society when using resources that positively reflect images, for example, books, puzzles, dolls and children's television programmes. Older children confidently make choices, are aware of and can express their own needs for instance, when deciding what to play with and when they want more to drink. Children are happy and settled and younger children enjoy a cuddle with the childminder when having a bottle of milk. The childminder has a good understanding of how to manage children's behaviour appropriately and as a result children are well behaved and work well alongside each other. The childminder works in partnership with parents to ensure that children's individual needs are met. Information is regularly exchanged and parents are kept informed of their child's day, including how much food they have eaten, through regular

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Organisation

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 has a positive attitude towards her role and has attended a Birth to three matters training course since her last inspection. However, she is continuing to increase her understanding of this further, before implementing the framework. This is not currently having an adverse effect on the care of any of the children attending. The childminder's first aid certificate has expired since the last inspection and is no longer valid. Ratios are maintained to ensure that children receive appropriate adult support and attention. The individual needs of the children attending are met. Most documentation required for the safe and efficient management of the provision is available and up to date including all relevant written consent forms from parents.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection recommendations were made in relation to documentation and to the range of resources and activities to promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice. All documentation is now in place, resulting in a more organised provision for children. The childminder has increased the range of activities and resources available to children, resulting in improved promotion of equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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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): • complete an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children and ensure that this is maintained • ensure that records of medication administered contain all relevant information

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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 • devise and practice an emergency escape plan.

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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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