Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY285580 Inspection date 06 July 2005 Inspector Christine Linda Tomaselli

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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 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 May 2004. She lives with her husband and their 2 children aged 4 and 11 years old. The family live in a house in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. The childminder uses most of the house for childminding purposes. Areas available include a bathroom and one bedroom upstairs, a kitchen and open plan conservatory and lounge downstairs. There is a fully enclosed back garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 5 children at any one time and is currently minding 2 children aged under 5 years old on part time contracts.

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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 walks or may use her car to transport children to and from the local school. She attends a variety of pre-school activities including library sessions, parent and toddler groups and the local childminder's support group. The family has a dog and fish in a small covered pond in the garden. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in an environment that is clean and well maintained. Their health needs are met well by the childminder because she encourages and supports their learning of good hygiene practices. For example, washing hands after using the toilet and having clean hands before a meal. The childminder implements good personal hygiene routines. For example, nappy changing is carried out appropriately reducing the spread of infection. The childminder has a basic first aid certificate and an appropriately stocked first aid box so first response attention to any accident ensures the children's well-being is given priority. The childminder ensures that her dog does not pose as a health risk to children because she is vigilant in maintaining good hygiene practices. Children enjoy and develop their physical skills through regular walks to the school and group settings. Activities in the garden provide for opportunities to be out in the

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Helping children to be healthy

fresh air which contributes to healthy living. Current contracts with parents requires them to provide most food items for their children. However, the childminder has a good understanding of healthy eating. She provides snack items for the children where appropriate. The childminder has an allotment where she grows some vegetables that are often used as snack finger foods, encouraging the children to develop healthy eating. Children are regularly offered drinks such as water, milk, milk shakes and fruit juices with no added sugar. The childminder has written information on what the children can eat and drink so that she is aware of allergies, however these records are not regularly updated. The childminder has a sick children's policy that is shared with parents. This policy ensures children with an infectious illness do not attend. This helps to reduce serious illness among the children being cared for.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are provided with appropriate indoor and outdoor areas to enable them to feel comfortable and relaxed. Areas provided allow for the sleeping, eating and play activity needs of the children to be met appropriately. For example, older children are able to play with a suitable range of age appropriate activities and there is plenty of

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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 alternative space for the younger children's play needs to be met. Children are protected from risk of harm and accidental injury because the childminder implements suitable security and safety. Children generally understand about being safe because of the childminder's own awareness and practices with regards to their safety. The use of suitable safety equipment such as a fireguard, stair gate and age appropriate furniture together with good regard to security of the premises all contribute to keeping the children safe. The children learn about keeping themselves safe because the childminder explains why certain behaviour is dangerous. For example, children jumping on the settee and throwing cushions about. The childminder gently but firmly explains about their safety so that they

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

understand that they may get hurt. The children learn about keeping safe when on outings because the childminder encourages them to stay close to her when walking and she ensures appropriate car seats are used. The childminder has suitable fire equipment and an understanding of fire evacuation but it is not practised. This means that the childminder cannot demonstrate that the procedures are effective in the event of an emergency. The childminder maintains appropriate records for accidents, incidents and the giving of medication. She has a current first aid certificate and has a suitable understanding of child protection procedures set by the local Area Child Protection Committee. This ensures the children are cared for in an environment where their needs are met and parents are kept informed of matters concerning their child's welfare. Children are provided with a full range of play equipment and resources suitable for

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

their ages. They have the opportunity to independently and safely access play equipment suitable to their ages, either in the main play area or from storage upstairs. Children's independence is encouraged by the childminder who provides a safe environment for the children to self select toys when appropriate.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are encouraged to form good relationships and become independent. The childminder provides activities that enable younger children to play alongside older children, toys are easily accessible to enable children of all ages to make choices and she encourages the children to pursue their own interests. The childminder uses her knowledge of how children learn by providing interesting activities that help them to make progress in most areas of development. For example, children learn the different roles in a hospital when role playing doctors and nurses. They have lots of discussions about areas of the body, babies and the ambulance. Words used during this activity like the heart, stethoscope, bandages and syringes contribute to the children's language development. While choosing a snack the children refer to the green packet for the flavour of crisps they want. The children are involved in lots of

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

general chatting with the childminder, she asks them about their day and involves them in questions and discussions about the activity they are involved in. This extends the children's vocabulary and builds their self confidence. The children feel valued because the childminder praises and acknowledges their

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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 achievements. For example, the children took part in an activity that involved constructing a roadway and found it difficult to build some parts of the track, but with help and encouragement from the childminder they managed to put the pieces together resulting in the children's sense of achievement. The childminder praised them on how well they had managed to put the pieces together. Children develop their social and communication skills with regular attendance of pre-school groups with the childminder, such as the library for story and activity time and the local childminder support groups. Children develop important physical skills during activities such as art and craft where children will make things to take home to show parents their achievements. Children's strengths, weaknesses and abilities are known to the childminder and she

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

plans well for individual children by offering a good balance of activities that are regularly changed to keep the children involved in learning new skills. Although the childminder has attended training on Birth to three matters framework she is yet to implement this into her practice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children form sound relationships with each other and the childminder. She spends time talking to them as they arrive to find out what they had been doing before they arrived to spend time with her. This helps children to feel relaxed and valued. The children behave well because the childminder has a good understanding of appropriate behaviour management. For example, during the role play activity both the children wanted to be doctors so the childminder encouraged the children to take turns or suggested that they could use the dolls as the patients. This activity included the use of various toy medical apparatus such as the stethoscope and syringe which the children shared well and jointly took care of their patients. Children settle well, are confident and independent in most situations. The childminder makes sure that she has information from their parents that help her to

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Helping children make a positive contribution

know and understand about things that they like or things that cause them fear or distress, this included the starting of full time education in next few weeks for one child. The childminder made sure that she offered support, listened to the child and gave positive encouragement to the child for the big step when starting school. Children's individual needs are met well because the childminder builds positive relationships with the children’s parents. The childminder welcomes all children but does not have enough resources, knowledge or understanding of equal opportunity issues to help children to learn about all members of society or to promote positive attitudes towards diversity.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's needs are met by the childminder who has a sound understanding of child

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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 development in most areas of learning. The play space is prepared before children arrive each day, with freely accessible resources that help them settle and lots of support and chatting offered by the childminder encourages them to explore the activities provided. Pre-planning offers opportunities for the children to be taken to local group activities or outings on a daily basis. Children's well-being is promoted by well organised records and procedures, which are shared with parents to contribute towards continuity in the children's care. Essential documents are well organised and stored confidentially. Most records are up to date and contribute to the health, safety and welfare of all the children that the childminder cares for. The childminder shows a commitment to on going relevant childcare training and

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Organisation

intends to continue to expand her knowledge in all areas to ensure the children receive the best from her whilst in her care. Overall the childminder meets the needs of all of the children in her care.

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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 children's records are regularly updated • extend your knowledge and awareness of promoting equality and increase the range of appropriate resources • implement knowledge and awareness gained from the Birth to three matters training into you practice.

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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 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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