Childminder in Norfolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 257980 Inspection date 06 September 2005 Inspector Georgina Emily Hobson 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 1998. She lives with her husband and two children aged sixteen and seven years in a detached house on the edge of the village of Florden, in Norfolk. Currently, she is caring for children on a part-time basis and has eight children on roll. Children have access to the ground floor of her home and enclosed garden areas are available for outdoor play. The family has two dogs.

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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 is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children’s health is well promoted as the childminder displays effective hygiene practices in order to prevent the spread of infection. She helps the children to take responsibility for their own personal hygiene by encouraging them to wash their hands before eating, after toileting and playing with the dogs. They are supervised carefully when handling pets and appropriate arrangements are in place for feeding and preventing animals from fouling any areas used by the children. The childminder has a current first aid certificate and has appropriate systems in place for recording accidents and the administration of medication. The childminder provides lunches, snacks and tea for the children. They are encouraged to develop an awareness of healthy eating and enjoy fresh fruit or vegetables at each meal. During the holidays, the childminder prepares picnics with the children following the school's healthy eating diet plan. Children are able to take

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Helping children to be healthy

responsibility for their own drinking needs as individual drinks are accessible to them at all times. The childminder ascertains any special dietary requirements prior to the commencement of care to ensure that no child is at risk from a reaction to food. Children develop a positive attitude to exercise as they accompany the childminder, each day, on walks with the dogs and are encouraged to access the outdoor play areas. They enjoy the freedom of a large decked area, at the rear of the house, with a small grassed section containing large pieces of play equipment. A child enjoys riding on large tractors with trailers, negotiating his way around tables, driving forwards and backwards. Large physical skills such as throwing, catching, balancing, jumping and skipping are developed. The child is very proud as he balances and walks using small equipment with taut cords. He is able to rest and sleep according

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Helping children to be healthy

to his needs on comfy chairs in the play room or in a bedroom on the ground floor.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a secure, safe indoor and outdoor environment. Their safety is fostered as the childminder has carried out a careful risk assessment of her home in order to minimise any potential hazards to the children. They have access to a range of safe and suitable equipment. This risk assessment includes the recently acquired, large, outdoor trampoline although not all issues regarding the safety of this piece of equipment have been considered. Children learn to keep themselves safe at the setting and on outings as the childminder offers careful explanations to children and discusses procedures prior to outings. They learn to stay safe in the sun as sun cream is applied when the children are outdoors and they are encouraged to sit under a canopy in the full sun.

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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 Children are well protected. The childminder is aware of her responsibility in this area and has contact numbers for the local area child protection team. She does not have written consents to release the children into the care of other authorised adults in the event of an emergency.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder plans and provides activities to help children’s development in line with the aspects and approach described in the DFES publication ‘Birth to Three Matters’. They are able play at their own pace and to make choices from a wide range of resources which cover all areas of development. The attending child enjoys his play, shows interest in what he does and asks questions as he fishes for plastic sea creatures from a bucket on the decking. The childminder responds to his questions and encourages him to develop his knowledge by finding age appropriate books that show pictures of the creatures. The child is able to extend his play and imagination and enjoys putting the fish into a trailer and driving around, reversing and moving forward on his journey. He chooses to watch a short video and to look at books with the childminder. They sit on a swing seat and the child is able to turn the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

pages as they look at the pictures and talk about what they see. Afterwards the child wishes to draw a beach and chooses an Etch a Sketch. He enjoys talking to the childminder as he draws himself on the beach. Great delight is shown later as he balances (see Being Healthy) and helps the childminder to master this technique. The child is confident in the childminder's care. He enjoys sharing news from home and talking about what he can see around him. The childminder is caring and affectionate. She develops his self-esteem as she listens carefully to his news and ideas, respects his choices and offers him lots of praise. The childminder encourages the child to show consideration for other people and all creatures.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are met as the childminder discusses these with parents prior to caring for the children. They feel a sense of belonging in the childminder's home as she has organised this well to accommodate their play. She has framed photographs of them involved in activities and examples of their creative work displayed in the playroom. Children become aware of the wider society as the childminder takes them on outings to local parks, shops, farms, a horse sanctuary and to Norwich. A range of resources which promote images of different cultures and lifestyles encourages the children to develop positive attitudes to diversity. The childminder has an awareness of special educational needs issues. Children behave well. The childminder has a behaviour management policy. She uses positive strategies to manage the children's behaviour and helps them to understand responsible behaviour by providing clear explanations.

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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 The childminder works closely with the parents and the children's progress is accommodated through ongoing communication. The childminder does not have a complaints procedure in place in order that parents are made aware of how to raise a concern or complaint if they are unhappy with the care their child is receiving.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has organised her home effectively to accommodate children's play. A dedicated play room adjoins the kitchen with comfortable chairs and shelves of well organised resources which are easily viewed by the children. Low level units in the kitchen and the hall provide easy access to books. A table and chairs are available in the kitchen for eating or craft activities. Additional tables, chairs and swing seats are positioned on the decking area which provides different play areas for the children and is decorated with lots of potted plants. A grassed section beyond the decking accommodates large play equipment such as a slide, a swing/see-saw unit and a large trampoline. Documentation to promote the welfare and care of children is well organised in individual files and kept securely in order to ensure confidentiality. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, the childminder has improved children's safety by ensuring that all garden tools are inaccessible to the children.

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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):

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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 • ensure children's safety on the trampoline by including the manufacturer's and your insurer's recommendations in your risk assessment and by obtaining written consent from parents, prior to use • obtain written consent from parents to release children into the care of other authorised adults in the event of an emergency.

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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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