Childminder in Sunderland

Inspection report for early years provision

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305650 Unique Reference Number 25 September 2007 Inspection date Sharon Greener 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 1994. She lives with her husband, an adult son and a son of 17 years in the Seaburn Dene Estate area of Sunderland. The whole of the ground floor, except the conservatory, and the bathroom located on the first floor of the childminder's house are used for childminding. There are enclosed gardens for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding eight children under eight years. Three children attend on a full time basis and the other children attend part time. The childminder walks children to and from nursery and school. She attends local carer and toddler groups on a regular basis each week. The childminder is part of the local childminder support network group. She is also a sponsored childminder for Sunderland Social Services Department. The family has two dogs, two guinea pigs and a rabbit.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder ensures that the childminding environment is very well maintained and hygiene standards are very good. This is achieved through regular cleaning and decorating routines. The childminder presents as a positive role model to the children and she actively encourages them to adopt suitable personal hygiene practices. For example, children are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times and individual hand drying facilities are provided for their use. The childminder has a clear understanding of related policies and procedures, for example, the administration of medication and caring for a sick child. This helps to promote and preserve children's comfort and well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Catering arrangements are flexible so as to meet the wishes of the parents and carers. The childminder consults with parents and carers in depth regarding their child's dietary requirements. Any specific needs or preferences are discussed and relevant information is recorded on children's individual personal records. The childminder shows a very good understanding of the importance of promoting a healthy diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables are offered on a daily basis and sample menus are shared with parents and carers. Suitable drinks are provided as appropriate throughout the day. The childminder maintains the individual feeding routines for babies and supports parents and carers during the weaning process. Information about children's individual health needs is obtained from parents and carers and is recorded. This helps promote and preserve children's health and welfare.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder acknowledges the benefits of fresh air & exercise to enhance children's physical development and well-being. Children have regular opportunities for outdoor play in the gardens and a very good selection of equipment is provided to enable them to develop and enhance their physical skills. Children are taken on frequent outings, for example, to the local parks, the beach and Washington wetland park. All children are able to rest or sleep according to their individual needs. This helps to promote their physical development and good health.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder has a clear understanding of the policies and procedures to be used to help remove or minimise risks to children. Childminding areas are very well maintained and used effectively to accommodate children's play. Suitable safety equipment is in place, for example, socket covers, a fireguard, smoke detectors, a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket. This helps maintain a safe environment for the children and reduces the risk of accidents. Children are very closely supervised by the childminder and this enables them to move freely and independently within the constraints of safety. The childminder completes a visual risk assessment of the rooms and resources to be used before children arrive each day. This process is ongoing throughout childminding hours. Regular fire drills are practised and a record kept. This helps keep children safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder helps to raise children's awareness of danger and the need to preserve their own safety and that of others. She does this by talking to children about matters such as the need to use toys and resources safely to prevent accident or injury. The childminder prepares children for outings by reminding them of the need to stay close to her, of road safety and not

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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 approaching strangers. This helps raise children's awareness of danger and helps keep them safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder shows a good awareness of her responsibilities with regard to safeguarding children and has completed relevant training. She speaks to parents and carers about the action she would take if she had a concern about a child's welfare and shares a written statement with them. The contact details for the Local Safeguarding Children Board and a copy of the recommended child protection literature are available for reference purposes. This helps her to protect children from harm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has completed training in respect of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and uses this exceedingly well to support younger children's learning and development. She has an excellent understanding of the individual abilities and preferences of the children placed in her care. She has obtained this through her effective ongoing communication with parents and carers, her own observation of the children and discussion with them. This enables the childminder to plan and provide an extremely good variety of age appropriate activities and learning opportunities for all of the children. Children are able to take part in activities at their own level and achieve at their own pace in a warm and exceptionally stimulating and supportive environment. The childminder ensures that an excellent variety of adult-led activities is included in the daily routine for children, such as singing, story telling, outings and some additional

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

creative activities. Activities are often linked to the current theme. For example, children helped to collect dried leaves to make autumn pictures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder builds very strong, warm relationships with the children and they are extremely relaxed and most happy and contented in her care. Children are active and very interested in the activities and resources made readily accessible to them. They are able to make choices about their play, and self-select and use resources with confidence and purposes. For example, a very young child thoroughly enjoyed taking turns with the childminder to put coloured plastic balls into a chute on a large container. The child showed confidence and increasing dexterity when manipulating the balls. The childminder actively encouraged the child to repeat the names of the colours as the balls were put into the chute. She praised the child enthusiastically when he attempted to repeat the words and the child was happy to repeat the activity for quite a lengthy period. This positive interaction helps to reinforce children's learning and to promote

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

and nurture their confidence and self-esteem.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are able to take part in a variety of outings. For example, they have visited a farm, Sunderland museum and winter gardens, the beach, Newcastle discovery museum, the Sunderland glass centre and Washington wetlands wildfowl park. These outing provide rich learning experiences for the children and increase their knowledge of the local environment and the natural and wider world. Younger children attend local toddler and carer groups on a regular basis each week.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has very good understanding of the need to promote all aspects of equal opportunity. A good range of resources and activities are provided to help raise children's awareness of diversity. For example, children learn about different countries and cultures by

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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 doing short topics on chosen countries, during which they research subjects, such as the food, festivals, the weather and language native to the country. Each child has made a passport which is stamped when a topic is completed. The childminder has some previous experience of caring for children from different ethnic backgrounds. She has a good enough understanding of caring for children with learning difficulties and disabilities and has done so in the past.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder shows a very good understanding of behaviour management. Appropriate strategies are used in a consistent manner to manage children's behaviour. For example, distraction tactics are used with very young children and reminders and explanations of the rules are used with older children. The childminder acknowledges the need to recognise and praise children's good behaviour so as to reinforce and promote such behaviour. Children respond positively to her and they are very well behaved.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works closely with parents and carers to introduce children to herself, her family and home. During the induction process, parents and carers are expected to carry out a number of visits with their children to the childminder's home. This enables all parities to become familiar with each other. Children are introduced gradually into the care of the childminder and they settle very well. The childminder talks to parents and carers about the policies and procedures she uses. Some key written policy statements and other relevant information are shared with them via an information file. Pertinent information about the children is gleaned from their parents and carers and recorded on each child's individual record before they are left in the childminder's sole care. The childminder uses regular verbal feedback and a daily diary system to keep parents and carers well informed of their child's progress and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the events of the day. Respective parents and carers have access to their child's records and are asked to keep the childminder up to date with any relevant information that might impact upon the care of their child. This helps to ensure that children's needs continue to be very well met.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides. The childminder has a very good understanding of policies and procedures and uses them efficiently to ensure that children are very well cared for and that their individual needs are met effectively. The required record keeping systems and documentation is in place and is very well organised and presented.

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Organisation

The childminder is well aware of the complaints procedure and has a suitable system in place to manage and record such information should this be necessary. However, the complaints information shared with parents and carers does not clarify the role of Ofsted. The safeguarding children from harm information shared with parents and carers does not name the Local Safeguarding Children Board as the responsible agency and still refers to the Social Services Department. This does not effectively support operational procedures. The childminder is committed to the continued development of her skills and good practice. This is shown through her willingness to seek out and complete relevant training. Since the last inspection she has completed training covering the 'Birth to three matters' framework, food safety, safeguarding children from harm, speech and language development for young children and supporting

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Organisation

vulnerable children and families, and she has renewed her first aid certificate.

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Organisation

Space is used effectively to accommodate a very wide range of age-appropriate resources and play experiences for the children. Child-friendly storage systems allow the children to select

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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 their own resources and activities with ease. This helps to promote and enhance their decision-making and independence skills.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection the childminder was asked to continue to update her knowledge and skills to further enhance the service provided.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has completed additional training. This helps to improve the care of the children and service provided.

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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 action in order to meet the National Standards.

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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.

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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): • revise the complaints statement shared with parents and carers to clarify the role of Ofsted • revise the safeguarding children from harm information shared with parents and carers so as to refer to the Local Safeguarding Children Board instead of the Social Services Department.

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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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