Childminder in Milton Keynes

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

141425 Unique Reference Number 25 February 2008 Inspection date Ann Hilary Guy Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder registered in 1994. She lives with her husband, who is also a registered childminder, and two children aged 10 and 13 years in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time when working alone, or six when working with another childminder. She is currently minding two children under five all day and two children over five before and after school and school holidays. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent toddler group and takes children to the local park. The family have a rabbit, a dog, two hamsters and fish as pets

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a range of activities that contribute to their good health. They have plenty of opportunities for outdoor play in the well equipped garden. The play house has electricity and small television set in it with a sofa. There is also a range of other garden equipment including a large swimming pool for the older children and a paddling pool for the little ones. If children are confident on bikes they are taken on bike rides during the school holidays and also on visits to some of the local parks. Suitable arrangements are in place to enable children to sleep in either a travel cot or on the sofa, according to parental requests.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children begin to understand the importance of good personal hygiene through the daily routine. Parents are kept well informed of all accidents through the clear record keeping in place and suitable procedures are in place for medication, although this has rarely been used. The childminder is currently awaiting a course to enable her to update her first aid certificate. Children learn about healthy eating through the cooking activities they do and the meals provided. They have a hot meal in the evenings, which is generally meat and vegetables, with a light meal at lunch-time. The childminder has started to make fruit smoothies for the children as she finds this is the best way to encourage them to eat fruit of any kind. Drinks of squash and water are available throughout the day.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children enjoy a safe, child-friendly environment in which to play. Clear strategies ensure the premises are safe at all times, with very good use made of gates both in the house and garden to restrict the areas to which children have access. Children move freely between the main play areas and have easy access to toys and equipment in the play room. The garden has been particularly well fitted out with the play house having electricity and children able to watch television to make their role play activities realistic. The childminder ensures they do not spend too long watching television during the day and children enjoy the fresh air and other activities provided.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All the toys are in a good state of repair and, although the childminder makes suggestions of things they may like to do, she encourages the children to think for themselves and self select activities. A full visual risk assessment has been carried out and the childminder has made all areas, to which the children have access, as safe as possible. This includes the kitchen, which they have to walk through to get to the bathroom on the first floor. Incidents that happen in the house are clearly recorded, however, accidents occurring whilst the child is not in the care of the childminder are not recorded. Children's welfare is safeguarded at all times and the childminder has a sound understanding of the child protection procedure.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children make good progress in this friendly family home which offer flexible care tailored to their individual needs. They enjoy a wide range of activities both inside and outside the house, enabling them to develop in all areas. Children enjoy the attention they get from the childminder and the younger children also get a lot of attention from the childminder's children, when they

p.3

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 are home from school. They all enjoy playing together. During the inspection one child was busy painting and then played for a while on the Nintendo Wii. The younger child also wanted a go and so a dummy handset was found to enable him to feel he too was taking part.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has an allotment and takes the children to see the various vegetables growing there and has set aside part of the ground for them to grow their own vegetables. During the morning before the inspection the children had done some cookery and proudly showed the inspector the results of their efforts, with one child explaining how they had been made. These were then shared out and given to the parents when they came to collect the children. The daily routine includes some quiet times when children watch television, read books or listen to stories, with plenty of times for active play.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy being included as part of an extended family, to which they develop a strong sense of belonging. The childminder works closely with her co-minder and the parents to ensure the children's individual needs are well met. Although they do not specifically celebrate festivals from different cultures, the children discover about other countries through the various artefacts in the home. They learn about the local environment and nature as they go for walks in the neighbourhood and visit the allotment.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has strict house rules for the children to adhere to and does not tolerate any form of bullying or hitting between children. She has an extremely good relationship with all her parents, many of whom have come to her via word of mouth. She very skilfully intertwines each individual child's routine into her daily routine and aims to promote the children's well-being at all times. Parents are kept very well informed about the time their child has had at the childminder through regular daily discussions.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Time, space and resources are well organised enabling the children's needs to be suitably met. As the childminder works together with her husband, they offer services to the parents that others would be unable to do, for instance, sometimes taking the children home and collecting children from more than one school. Basic policies and procedures underpin the care offered and are shared with the parents. They help to promote the children's health, safety and enjoyment whilst at the childminders' home. Children remain in the sight of one of the childminder's at all times, and much time is spent playing with the children, talking to them and developing their knowledge and understanding.

p.4

Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has improved her record keeping of accidents and maintains a very clear attendance register. She has all information relating to the child protection procedure in one file for ease of reference and is steadily increasing the toys and equipment she has that promote equality of opportunity for children.

p.4

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

p.4

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.5

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.

p.5

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): • obtain a current paediatric first aid certificate as soon as possible • ensure a record is kept in the incident book of all accidents that happen whilst a child is not in the care of the childminder

p.5

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

p.5

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

p.5