Childminder in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for early years provision

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304445 Unique Reference Number 28 January 2008 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 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 1995. She lives with her husband and two school age children in a house in Little Neston, an area of the Wirral peninsular. The whole ground floor is used for childminding and minded children do not use the upstairs. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play which includes a covered paved area for use in all weathers. The house is within walking distance from schools, shops and local places of interest. The childminder takes children to local toddler groups and parks. Her husband acts as her assistant.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is good because the childminder is conscious about health matters, teaches children independence in personal hygiene and keeps the home and play equipment very clean. For example, she provides soap, paper towels and wipes in the bathroom, and tissues and a bin in the lounge. She helps children to become independent in looking after their health and bodies, for example, by regularly blowing their noses when they have a cold. Fresh air and exercise are offered every day when children walk to school or pre-school, play on the trampoline

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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 in the garden, and visit local parks and playgrounds. As a result, they are physically fit and have a good understanding of how to protect their bodies in all weathers.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well protected from becoming ill through good procedures and role play opportunities. First aid supplies are ready to use and the childminder has a paediatric first aid qualification. She provides opportunities for children to play as doctors and nurses, learning to care for and treat one another's injuries and illnesses. She keeps written parental records of all medicines given on individual medication sheets with each child's particulars and these are signed by parents in acknowledgement. However, parents have not always given their written consent beforehand for the medications to be given. This compromises partnership with parents if parents do not agree that the medication be given, although in practice, verbal permission has always been given at the time when children arrive.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a very healthy diet with an emphasis on fruit, vegetables and simple home cooked foods. Pre-school children enjoy a snack of various fruits and bread sticks on the day of inspection and have access to their covered drinking cups all the time they are at play. The childminder gives children the opportunity to learn about healthy eating, for example, by preparing fresh fruit drinks and growing their own tomatoes. Children sit together at the table for meals and are encouraged to learn good table manners and enjoy the social aspect of meal times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are kept very safe and secure both indoors and outdoors. The childminder places high importance upon this area of her responsibilities and always employs safe routines. The childminder keeps the stairs gated and gains parental permission for use of apparatus, such as the large trampoline. Children are carefully supervised, but are allowed to take considered risks. For example, toddlers can crawl and begin to move around as they learn to walk because furniture is appropriate. There are no slipping or tripping hazards and door jams are used to keep doors from closing on children. Children are involved in tidying their play spaces before getting out more games or activities. A good range of low tables, high chairs with safety straps and a dining table allow some activities to be undertaken safely off the floor. The conservatory is often used as a 'chilling out' area where school age children can play independently of the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use a stimulating range of suitable and safe equipment and toys which are clean and accessibly stored in the living room. Babies and pre-school children know what is available and can easily reach and get out what they want to do next, such as the dolls buggy, the cotton reels threading tin or their favourite musical toy. Children are safe in an emergency because contingency plans are made. Emergency escape routes are practised and discussed periodically with all children so that they know what to do and photos of this remind them of the experience. Documentation supports children's safety in the setting. The childminder has prepared simple policies for health and safety, accidents and emergencies and child protection. All required insurances are in place, but any injuries that children come with are not usually documented or parental signatures obtained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected from abuse because the childminder is confident that she is able to identify signs and symptoms of possible abuse and to put appropriate child protection procedures into practice if necessary. She has attended training on child protection, keeps local

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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 safeguarding information and knows what to do if an allegation of abuse were to be made against her.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very happy and secure and are making positive relationships because the childminder is welcoming and enthusiastic, actively encouraging children to play and enjoy themselves. She has cared for most of the children since they were babies and is committed to supporting their social and physical development through play, arts and crafts, messy play, real experiences and varied trips and walks. They regularly team up with other childminders or use trains and ferries to go further afield so that all children have a rich social experience and learn about the world around them from a very early age. For example, children regularly visit the zoo and large interactive aquarium and afterwards have made large collages to illustrate their seaside and zoo visits. They regularly feed the ducks, squirrels and horses locally. The childminder also provides intimate and stimulating messy play for pre-school and school age children, for example,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

using gloop, fake snow, play dough, pasta and paints. Children are encouraged to choose what they want to do in a relaxed atmosphere and can watch television and play electronic games after school if they wish.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Pre-school children really enjoy playing with dolls, buggies, soft toys, musical toys and jigsaws. They love to sing and hear stories from the childminder, who uses puppets, large books, board books and her singing voice to very good effect to stimulate children's interest and natural curiosity. She plans general themes related to the seasons and festivals of the year and plans crafts, dressing up, food tasting and trips to child-friendly museums, play parks and outdoor places which are relevant to these. Children make good progress in their speech and vocabulary as they talk and play with the childminder, although she is less successful in helping one and two-year-olds to persist or pursue related ideas during the inspection. Nevertheless, her observations of what children can do are insightful and she is helping each one to make good progress through their play and experiences. She focuses well upon what each child needs to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

learn next and is competent with all the aspects of the 'Birth to three matters' framework. Her photographic record and scrapbooks of what children have been doing provide a useful record of children's development. She plans to extend these to provide varied written and pictorial evidence for children's progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children in the setting have developed a good sense of belonging and feel very secure because the childminder is warm and attentive and creates a play environment where each child's individual needs are carefully considered. She gives children her full attention, making sure that they are stimulated and happy together, having their birthdays and successes celebrated. She routinely takes numerous photos of them and displays their artwork ,for example, using photos of them as individual laminated placemats and for Christmas present calendars. Other arts and crafts are taken home or stuck into children's own scrapbooks given to families whenever they are full. Leavers have a present of photos showing them at play with all the other children in the setting. All these things greatly support children's sense of belonging in the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children enjoy a few books and toys which promote other cultures or disabilities. In addition, they have experiences of other cultures through project work and attending special events,

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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 such as an African dance group at the zoo. The childminder is able to manage specific disabilities and learning difficulties well through her positive, inclusive approach, working according to her simple policies about equal opportunities, learning difficulties and disabilities and behaviour. Parents see these policies when they enrol their children, so that they know what her practice is. She uses individual incident record sheets to record significant incidents involving behaviour and informs parents about behaviour issues on the day. Children receive good support to behave well because the childminder is clear, vigilant and consistent in her approach. She ignores tantrums when it is safe to do so and works with parents to deal with any unwanted behaviour consistently with them. She also teaches and expects good manners, such as asking to leave

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the table and being able to apologise. As a result, children are respectful of one another and generally behave well.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s needs are met through good partnership with parents. The childminder is open and communicative with parents. She spends time giving and receiving verbal feedback from them and they trust her judgement and advice. Numerous cards thank the childminder for her service, for example, 'thank you for all the kind care, patience and fun - my child has really loved coming to you'. Children can take home things that they have made and the childminder makes sure that parents are informed about any accidents or incidents occurring at school or pre-school. The childminder displays her certificate and insurance and makes parents aware of her complaints procedure and how to contact Ofsted. No parents have made any complaints.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a high regard for the well-being of all children and continues to build upon her child care knowledge and experience over time through attending plenty of relevant training and meeting regularly with other childminders. She has enrolled on the National Vocational Qualification in childcare to level 3 and has a positive approach to the continuous improvement of her service. She completes some planning of activities and compiles individual progress diaries about each child, including their achievements and progress in toileting, speech and independence, their preferences and what she is aiming for each individual child to achieve next. She has also prepared a portfolio of simple illustrated policies and information about her service for parents.

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Organisation

The childminder is very well organised, having a clear sense of purpose and direction and using her time and resources to support children's care, learning and play. The play space and resources themselves are suitably organised in the rooms children use. The childminder ensures that children can participate alongside her, making all the routines of the day into fun learning experiences. In this way, children are learning about their own safety and health, and are acquiring good social skills.

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Organisation

The childminder's procedures work well in practice to promote children’s health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. All the childminder's records and papers are very well organised. They are stored in numbered files which are placed in order in a large box with an index taped to the lid. This enables the childminder to locate any information quickly, without taking unnecessary time away from the children. The daily register is kept accurate and up to date as children arrive and depart. Good written child details, contracts and comprehensive consents ensure that all children have their individual needs met and are well stimulated. However, although parents have signed their consent for the childminder to take children to the clinic or doctor, it is unclear whether this is meant to be for emergencies or routine situations. This jeopardises children's health in the event of an emergency if parents

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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 have not clearly consented to the childminder getting emergency treatment or advice, should it be needed.

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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 were two recommendations made at the last inspection in 2004. These have both been addressed to support children's safety in the setting. The childminder has replaced a high hook on which to keep the front door key. This enables the door to be kept locked but also to be easily opened in the event of an emergency. Secondly, the childminder periodically practises emergency evacuations from the house with all the children so that they know what to do in the event of a fire. She also regularly checks the smoke alarms and logs this. Her practices support children's safety.

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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.

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Complaints since the last inspection

The provider is required to have procedures for dealing with concerns and complaints from parents and to keep a record of complaints and their outcome.

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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 written parental permission is obtained for all medication which is administered • ensure that parents give a clear consent for any necessary emergency treatment or advice should this be needed in the future.

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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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