Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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502124 Unique Reference Number 31 July 2007 Inspection date Jannet Mary Richards 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 has been a registered childminder since May 2001. She lives with her husband and two adult sons. The family live in a cottage which is situated on the main Holcombe Road in the rural village of Helmshore. Children have access to the whole of the downstairs of the premises, including a secure rear garden. In addition the bathroom is situated on the first floor and older children may play in one of the bedrooms.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is currently caring for five children under the age of eight years. She regularly takes children to local toddler groups. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children are cared for in a clean home environment which promotes their good health. Through the daily routines the children become aware of the importance of good hygiene, when they clean their hands after a nappy change or using the potty, for example. The childminder discusses health issues with the children as they arise, such as why it is important

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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 to brush our teeth and wash our hands. This effectively develops the children's awareness of and ability to meet their own health needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with healthy snacks of fresh fruit each day. The childminder requests that parents provide the main meals for the children. She discusses children's dietary needs with them and is aware of any allergies or dietary needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children have many very good opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They go outdoors most days, playing in the garden or walking in the local area. In addition, the childminder takes them to indoor activity centres on a regular basis and does simple exercise routines in the home to encourage their physical development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a very welcoming home environment. Their creative work is displayed along with photographs of the children, which help them to have a sense of belonging and know that they are valued. The children have plenty of space to move around as they play. They are able to choose between indoor or outdoor play in the garden. As they play they can reach a good range of toys and books, which provides them with many choices and allows them to develop their play ideas.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children stay safe because they are cared for in a home environment which has effective safety measures in place. At the time of the inspection, however, razors were within reach in the bathroom, creating a potential hazard. The children develop a very good awareness of safety issues on a daily basis. The childminder discusses all safety issues with the children as they arise. She asks them not to take the shoes off in the garden, for example, since the sharp stones may cut their feet. She explains that she is moving a sweeping brush so that they do not fall over it. When the children are out and about she talks to them about the dangers of the roads and running near the swings in the park. By discussing safety issues as they arise the children are encouraged to develop a strong awareness of how to stay safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good awareness of child protection issues and procedures in order to safeguard the welfare of any children she may care for.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle very well and are confident, happy and secure in the care of the childminder. She is very sensitive to the emotional needs of young children. She arranges for them to visit with their parents before childminding commences to allow them to become familiar with her, the routines and home environment. If children are not ready to stay she will arrange for further visits until they are confident enough to stay a full day. This arrangement works very well since the childminder adapts the visits to suit each child. The children develop confidence and positive self-esteem. The childminder encourages them to explore a wide range of activities and supports them very well, encouraging their learning and development. When the children complete a jigsaw puzzle, for example, the childminder encourages them to find the pieces by talking about the objects and matching shapes. In addition, she uses the opportunity to count, asks the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children about colours and to describe what they see. The childminder invests time in playing with the children and supporting them, which helps to foster the very good relationships they

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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 have. The children are clearly happy in her care, they seek and receive affection in the form of cuddles when they are tired, for example. They clearly enjoy each other's company.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children respond very well to the positive approach of the childminder. They behave very well whilst in her care, are polite and considerate. The childminder encourages them to respect differences by having a range of toys and books available with positive images of race, culture, gender and disability. In addition, they sometimes look at books which explore different cultural traditions. This develops their understanding further.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's individual needs are very well met. The childminder discusses their routines and all care issues with the parents and carers on a daily basis. She works well with parents during developmental stages, such as toilet training, to ensure a consistent approach which greatly benefits the children. Parents and carers are made to feel very welcome. They have access to good quality written information about the childcare service and are very well consulted and informed.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children benefit from the care of a well organised childminder. Her home and toys are arranged to make children feel welcome and to meet their care needs with ease. She plans outings and activities in advance to ensure that children are well stimulated and occupied. She is a committed childminder who attends training events frequently to keep her childcare knowledge up to date. She is able to effectively put what she has learned into practice.

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Organisation

The documentation supporting the childcare service is well maintained and recorded, with one minor omission; the childminder does not have written parental consent for emergency medical treatment. Documentation, including policies and procedures, are shared with parents, ensuring they are well informed.

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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

At the time of the last inspection the childminder was asked to increase the resources with positive images of disability. The childminder now has a small selection of resources, particularly books which have positive images of people with a disability. The childminder also uses opportunities and books to discuss differences with the children. By addressing this issue and increasing the resources the childminder now provides the children with more opportunities to become aware of and value differences.

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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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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 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 consent is obtained for emergency medical treatment for each individual child • ensure that hazards are minimised by making razors inaccessible to the children.

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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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