Childminder in Trafford

Inspection report for early years provision

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318201 Unique Reference Number 20 February 2008 Inspection date Lynda, Margaret Ronan 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 1986. She lives in Timperley, Trafford with her husband, and her two adult children are occasionally resident at the property. All of the ground floor is used for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed back garden. Only part of the garden is accessible to the children, which includes the patio and first part of the grassed area up to the dividing fence.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There is currently a total of 15 children on the register, only one child is a fulltime placement. The other children attend for a variety of sessions such as part-time, before and after school, term time only or just school holidays. The childminder is registered to care for a total of 6 children at anyone time.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends a local childminder group with younger children. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. She is a commissioner in the Guiding Association.

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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. Children are well nourished as the childminder has a good understanding of children's needs and provides meals cooked from fresh ingredients for the children in her care. Children are very aware of which foods are good for them, as they discuss which fruits to cut up for the fresh fruit salad for their mid-afternoon snack.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health and wellbeing are positively promoted as the childminder ensures her knowledge of individual children's health and medical needs is kept current. She also updates her first aid training on an annual basis, and has additional first aid training over and above that required by the National Childminding Standards. She pays good attention to children's wellbeing, for example, by removing clothing when children appear hot as they play actively in her home and by always taking first aid equipment out with her on trips.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children grow strong as they have very good opportunities to play rigorously on a daily basis. Children walk daily, attend parks and groups on a weekly basis where they have space and opportunity to run, balance and jump as well as playing actively, with a wide range of good quality outdoor equipment, in the childminder's garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from a child-friendly environment. They are very much at home in the setting, freely and independently moving from room to room during their play. Their cognitive and imaginative development is very well supported by the wide range of good quality stimulating resources that are arranged to extend and challenge them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safe and secure as the childminder is skilled in risk assessing their surroundings both at home and out on trips. She takes proactive steps to protect them by ensuring that equipment such as stair gates are in place, and that children know what to do in an emergency. The childminder promotes children's safety by encouraging them to be appropriately aware of their own safety. For example, she discusses road safety with them and arranged for the fireman and his engine to visit her home to talk with all the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a sound knowledge of safeguarding procedures and has a written policy which is shared with parents. She has attended additional training on child protection and closely supervises children in her care at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are lively, inquisitive, animated and eager to learn.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Choice, independence and opportunities pervade every aspect of the childminder's practice, She skilfully uses children's interests and experiences to move their learning forward. Following a visit to a Museum the childminder has follow up activities in mind, however the children have other ideas. They want to play Postman Pat, the childminder uses this, and she and the children visit the post office and observe the box closely. The children notice the lock in the door and

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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 the date and time plate which tells them when the letters will be collected. Children learn to be observant, to note similarities and differences. They 'write' letters to post and some children are able to recognise a number of initial letters of words. Children use their imaginations to make connections, their dexterity to write and their creativity to plan a post box of their own.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's time at the childminder's is their own, the childminder respects and values children's ideas and input, resulting in children being confident in accepting new experiences and challenges. Children benefit from the considerable degree of attention they receive from the childminder, who successfully gauges the degree of support she offers allowing children to solve problems on their own, thereby developing new skills and independence.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are offered appropriate challenges to move their learning forward as the childminder knows each child very well, and has an excellent understanding of how children learn. She plans interesting activities and events for children, many of them outside of the home, in museums, farms, forests and at the beach. She records children's progress in photo albums which are presented to parents and in home-setting diaries.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn exceptionally well through first-hand experiences in a rich, stimulating vibrant environment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. High priority is given to children's self-esteem and respect for others. Children learn to care for others and be respectful: playing with resources that reflect a wide spectrum of society; learning to sign; greeting each other with a hug and visiting lots of different venues and events. They learn to accept responsibility and work in a group, for example, older children carry the food to the table and all help to tidy up.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children feel a sense of belonging as they are treated as individuals. The childminder knows each child very well and has secure systems in place to ensure she understands each child. She observes children, talks each day with parents and, in many cases, also has a home and setting diary. All children, including those with additional needs, are well supported by the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children work harmoniously with others because they are constructively engaged throughout their time with the childminder. She gives them lots of praise and encouragement. Her professional and skilled approach readily diverts children from becoming giddy to being interested in completing a puzzle with her. They enjoy her undivided attention. Children are very well behaved in the setting.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents report that the childminder provides children with fun and many very happy memories as well as supporting children to become confident and independent. There is a strong co-operative relationship with parents based on good communication. The childminder provides a wealth of written information about her service and services pertinent to young families, however, not all of this information is organised in a user-friendly fashion.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's care and learning is supported effectively by the childminder's good organisation of space, resources and activities.

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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 The childminder is very committed to self-development and providing a high quality service. She attends numerous relevant courses to keep herself updated on childcare issues, and effectively uses the knowledge she gains in her day-to-day practice. For example, children practise the yoga moves in the childminder's home that they have learnt from attending baby yoga classes with the childminder.

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Organisation

The childminder has good written policies and procedures which are reviewed and amended to reflect new learning on courses and changes in children's circumstances. Her consistent adherence to stated polices and procedures provides children with security and parents with a clear picture of the care their children receive.

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Organisation

The provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to provide parents with Ofsted's contact details. A poster with Ofsted's details and an explanation of how parents can make a complaint to Ofsted, should they wish to do so, is now prominently displayed.

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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 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): • organise the wealth of written information available to parents to better facilitate ease of access to that information.

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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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