Childminder in Cheshire East

Inspection report for early years provision

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304108 Unique Reference Number 03 August 2007 Inspection date Rachel Ruth Britten 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 1990. She lives with her husband and three adult children in Nantwich. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered for a maximum of six children at any one time and currently has six children on her roll, all attending on a part time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children, attends the local childminder's group regularly and makes full use of local facilities.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children's physical health is satisfactory because the childminder provides healthy snacks and meals and sufficient physical exercise. She walks to the nearby schools and shops and teaches children according to their age about personal hygiene and preventing cross-infection. For example, she checks that school age children have washed their hands after using the toilet.

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Helping children to be healthy

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 setting adequately promotes children's health and emotional well-being because it is warm, clean and welcoming. School age children know where things are and where to put their coats and shoes, although they expect the childminder to put their lunch boxes away in the fridge for them. Children choose plenty of fruit for their snacks and they drink various diluted squash drinks, but the childminder makes these for them and 'please' or 'thank you' are not often prompted for or heard.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is adequately promoted in the setting because first aid supplies are ready to use and the childminder has an up to date paediatric first aid qualification. However, some procedures which protect children from illness are weak. The childminder keeps written parental consent notes stapled into a record book for all medications given, but is not clearly recording when medicine is actually given or obtaining parental signatures of acknowledgement. This compromises children's health if parents are not reminded of exactly what medicine their child has been given before taking the child home. The childminder is also unable to locate her accident record sheet and is not recording previous injuries which children come with. The absence of an accident record is a breach of the Regulations and children's health is compromised if parents and carers are not fully informed of all accidents and injuries that occur. However,

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Helping children to be healthy

there have been no recent accidents and the childminder states that she always verbally checks with parents any injuries which children come with.

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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 suitable and safe environment. Children ask for their favourite toys and games and play on the floor where the fire and hearth are fully guarded. The rear garden is gated and secure with a patio to play on, but the immaculate lawn and flower beds are not conducive to ball games or the use of outdoor play equipment. The home is made safe for children by the appropriate use of moveable safety gates, finger guards for the doors, socket covers and fire detection equipment. Emergency escape and contingency plans have been thought about, but are not written or practised. Nevertheless, the childminder has a nearby back-up childminder whom she works with closely to cover any difficulties or emergencies. The childminder is also vigilant and makes sure that children do not play too near the door to the hall and stairs because other members of the household are coming in and out.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use an adequate range of suitable equipment and toys but these are not clearly or accessibly stored in the children's play space. Instead, the childminder selects some construction, small world, role play and dressing up clothes and has these in the lounge ready to use, along with some puzzles. This somewhat limits children's choices, but many of them remember what there is to play with and can ask for it. Children are kept safe on outings because the childminder is vigilant on foot and pre-school children must hold hands when crossing roads. They know that if they are not walking sensibly, then the childminder will put them on the reins.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are adequately protected from abuse because the childminder has sufficient understanding of her role in child protection and is confident that she is able to put appropriate procedures into practice if necessary. She keeps documentation to hand, including contact numbers for the local social services.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and secure and keep themselves busy doing puzzles or playing with an intricate small world holiday, camping and playground set. The childminder watches and occasionally assists or asks a question. She helps children to find the pieces that they are looking for and suggests tips to help them with the puzzles. They ask for help if necessary to put on their dressing up costumes and sit on the sofa with her to play with a doll or a child's early computer toy. The childminder is warm and vigilant towards the children and encourages siblings to play independently of one another to minimise conflict. She is pleased when children are occupied, but does not often question or challenge children to extend their knowledge or experience further. She has copies of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and the Early Years Foundation Stage, but is not planning themes or activities to ensure that children have wide

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and rich real life learning and play experiences.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children respond adequately and show interest in what they do because the childminder is attentive and patient. She provides sufficient variety so that children do not become bored in the school holidays. For example, she takes them to the large local park or to the maize maze. She offers to get out the toys and games which they are presently showing an interest in. For example, she suggests getting the colouring pencils out to develop the hand pictures the six-year-old is creating. However, few photos are taken and no evidence of children's accomplishments or experiences is kept to provide children or parents with a record of memories. The childminder is adequately informed about what children are learning at pre-school, but does not often extend this through activities she devises herself.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children in the setting have developed a sound sense of belonging because they have been attending for a long time. The childminder is kind and attentive, trying to make sure that every child is included and that they have equal access to all the play resources. Children are becoming aware of their locality because the childminder takes them out regularly and talks with them about their parents, their pre-school or schools and what activities they are doing there. They also talk about their feelings and why there are consistent rules wherever they go so that children can make sense of their world. For example, children know how to sit quietly at the table for meals and not to climb or run indoors. However, the childminder supplies few play resources, apart from an old puzzle, which promote other cultures or disabilities. She relies upon activities and themes at toddler groups rather than actively preparing activities or games

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Helping children make a positive contribution

which give children a wide view of other cultures and of disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children receive adequate support to behave well because the childminder is vigilant and usually consistent in her approach. She gives verbal warnings and then uses 'time out' for children to consider what they have been doing if the verbal warnings are insufficient. The childminder gives children sweets from their parents if they have been good during the day. However, documentation is not currently in place to support consistency of behaviour management because the childminder is not recording any incidents of unwanted behaviour. This hinders work with parents to promote positive behaviour management if parents are not fully informed about their child's behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's needs are adequately met through sound partnership with parents. The childminder is open and communicative with parents and spends time giving and receiving effective feedback

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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 from them. However, there are no policies or written information about the service to give parents a full picture of what is offered and parents are not made aware of how to contact Ofsted.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a sound regard for the well-being of all children and gradually builds upon her parenting knowledge and experience. She attends childminder groups and attends training courses, usually about one per year. She has undertaken first aid and 'Birth to three matters' training since the last inspection and is shortly to go on a disability awareness course. Vetting procedures have been undertaken for all the childminder's adult children. Two of them are presently deemed suitable to be present when childminding takes place.

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Organisation

The childminder has a sense of purpose and direction and uses her time and resources adequately to support children's care, learning and play. She is sufficiently well organised and knows what children she is expecting and the times of any collections that are required. She carries contact numbers with her whenever she is out of the house and her domestic arrangements are organised so that she is with children throughout the day.

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Organisation

Most procedures work adequately in practice to promote children’s safety, enjoyment and achievement. For example, all necessary parent agreements, insurances and child details are organised and accessible. The daily register is also accurate and up to date. The childminder has had no complaints to record, but has not established a complaints system ready to use. This is a breach of the Regulations. In addition, separate records are not available for inspection for the recording of incidents and accidents. This makes it unclear whether these records are being fully kept and compromises the proper sharing of information with parents.

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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

There was one recommendation made at the inspection in March 2005. This concerned the need for smoke detectors on every level of the house. A fire safety officer has visited to check the premises and supplied an additional smoke detector so that there are now working detectors on every level of the house. This improves the safety of children because smoke detection is prompt in the case of fire in any part of the house.

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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. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaint record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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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

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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): • ensure that a record is maintained, signed by the parent, of any accidents and that parents sign medication records to acknowledge that medication has been given according to their instructions • maintain a record of incidents of behaviour, including any incidents of physical intervention and inform the parent of the incident on the day • extend the use of activities and resources to help chidlren to learn about other cultures and disabilities • ensure that parents are fully informed about the childminder's routines and care practices, that a record of complaints is maintained, and that parents know how to contact Ofsted.

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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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