Childminder in Sefton

Inspection report for early years provision

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502312 Unique Reference Number 30 January 2008 Inspection date Frank William Kelly 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 registered since 2001. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding 10 children on a part time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She lives with her husband, one adult child and a younger child aged 10 in the Ainsdale area of Southport in Merseyside. The whole of the ground floor and a bathroom on the first floor are used by minded children. There is an enclosed rear garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder holds a recognised child care qualification and is a member of the NCMA. She walks with the children to and from school on a daily basis and takes them out on a regular basis to visit local places of interest.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is promoted very well. The childminder has an up-to-date first aid certificate and a good understanding of the actions to take to help keep children safe in the event of an

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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 accident. She has effective policies and procedures in place for the administration of medication and the recording of accidents. These along with procedures for caring for sick and infectious children are shared with parents, thus, promoting the children's safety and well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a clean, comfortable and relaxed environment, which is meeting their needs very well. For example, babies rest and eat in accordance with their individual routines. When they awake after a nap they are cuddled and provided with a drink to help refresh them. The childminder allows them to come round slowly and keeps close contact to help them feel secure. The childminder has a good understanding of the importance of developing secure relationships with young children. She communicates in a warm and loving manner, using changing routines to good effect. She talks, smiles and tickles the babies, who in return respond by gurgling, giggling, waving their arms and kicking their legs energetically.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is helping the children to develop an understanding of simple personal hygiene through their daily routine. They remember to flush the toilet and they use the soap dispenser with familiarity. They build on their awareness as the childminder takes time to explain why they need to wash their hands and about germs getting in their tummies. Children have their own hand towels, and tissues for wiping their noses are available in the playroom, helping to prevent the spread of cross infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's physical development is effectively promoted as they walk daily to and from school. During which, they enjoy plenty of fresh air and opportunities to run up and down the footbridge. Regular outings to the local parks provide opportunities to climb, balance, swing and slide. They play in the garden and during the summer months they enjoy picnics and outings to the local nature reserve and beach. During these trips they get to run up sand hills and squish their toes in the mud on the shoreline. Within the home they develop their small muscle skills as they connect train tracks together, build with a variety of construction toys and model with the play dough.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's individual dietary needs are communicated well, therefore, parents' wishes are respected and children remain healthy. At present some parents choose to provide their children's food. Those meals and snacks provided by the childminder reflect nutritious and healthy options helping the children develop good eating habits. Guidance is sought from several high profile 'food for children' publications that have been published in recent years.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The home is warm and welcoming for children and adults alike as the childminder displays and organises the toys and resources in a child friendly and aesthetically pleasing way. For example, in the playroom clear plastic boxes have labels and pictures on so that children can locate and return the toys with ease. There is a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere in the home due to the childminder and her husbands’ friendly and welcoming manner. Children are acknowledged and spoken to frequently and visitors are greeted with courtesy. The furniture is comfortable and accessible. The varied range of toys, books and other equipment are of a good quality, and are kept clean and well maintained to promote the children’s safety. There is lots of natural light and children enjoy spreading their play across the floor or snuggling up next to the childminder on the sofa.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children's safety has been considered and suitable actions taken to help keep them safe. This includes fitted safety gates to restrict access to the stairways and cupboard locks fitted

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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 where appropriate in the kitchen. They understand the boundaries, for instance, holding on to the buggy whilst out walking, or using the banister as they climb the stairs. Children are well supervised as the childminder keeps the children within her sight at all times and children resting are monitored by regular visual checks. A fire blanket is located in the kitchen and smoke detectors are fitted to both floors of the property. An emergency evacuation procedure is practised with the children on a regular basis, thus helping them to understand what to do in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an adequate understanding of child protection issues. She has attended recent training courses which enable her to discuss the actions to be taken should she have any concerns regarding children's well-being and safety. Relevant contact details are held should the childminder need to report any concerns, including those required by the Local Safeguarding Children Board and Ofsted.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very happy and secure in this setting. They enjoy lots of positive interactions and support from their carer. For example, the childminder talks to the children about their family and forthcoming holidays. The childminder clearly enjoys her vocation and this is reflected in the care provided for the children. She plans a range of activities both within the home and the local environment. Practically she spends much of her time, playing with the children on the floor and at the child sized table in the kitchen. She introduces new and familiar language to extend the children’s vocabulary as they play. For example, she talks about the carriages and engines whilst helping the children set up the rail track. She develops their understanding of positional language as she talks about the train going over and under the bridge and she encourages the children’s colour recognition by inviting them to discuss which is blue and which

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This positive approach is helping the children to develop a strong sense of security and self-confidence. The children are confident to express their needs and wishes. They independently locate their favourite story and eagerly sit alongside the childminder as she prepares to read the story. The children excitedly predict what is about to happen, calling to visitors to tell them. They clearly know the story well, and the young children present during the inspection demonstrate a mature respect for the books.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has created a stimulating learning environment, with lots of toys, books and posters, which is helping the children to gain an awareness of print and numerals. Children enjoy many adult organised opportunities to paint and draw. They enjoy dressing up and play with the home play equipment with relish, however, at present access to pencils and chalks are not independently accessible, which limits their opportunities to spontaneously mark make during their free play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

On a daily basis the childminder talks to the children about the date, day and weather as she updates the fabric wall hanging with the children. Trips to the local shops are enhancing children's learning about colours, weight and variety. Whilst walking to school the childminder encourages the children to count how many yellow cars they can see and when playing games, such as 'where are your ears'? Children are encouraged to state how many ears they have and count them. This is encouraging the children to take an interest in their world and comment on what they notice. For instance, they talk excitedly between each other when they notice that one has striped socks and the other has a striped top.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Effective systems are in place for sharing information about the children's needs, thus, the childminder is well informed and able to provide care that meets the individual child’s needs. The childminder has had previous experience of caring for children with physical disabilities or learning difficulties and demonstrates a sound and secure understanding of the suitable action to be taken when planning the care for children with such specific needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are learning about their wider world through the provision of good quality books, toys and play figures that reflect the diversity within today’s society. Activities including eating noodles with chop sticks are linked to the celebration of festivals, such as Chinese New Year. These experiences are helping children learn about differing cultures and their similarities and differences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Access to toys and resources are non gender specific and freely available to all the children cared for. Regular trips into the local community are further extending the children's knowledge and understanding of their world. For instance, they enjoy regular opportunities to visit the library and use public transport, such as rides on the train.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children are well behaved as the childminder is very calm and consistent in her approach, and acts as a good role model. She is very polite and gently encourages the children to share and take turns. Children are kept busy and engaged, and she uses good strategies to manage their behaviour, such as warmly praising their achievements and reinforcing their good behaviour. Children are happy and cooperative and respond to simple instructions, such as helping to tidy up.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works effectively with parents to offer good care to children and to meet their individual needs. For example, she finds out about children's routines, likes and dislikes prior to the children starting. Parents are provided with some written information about the service. They are kept up to date about their child's time in the setting because the childminder takes time to discuss the daily events when they call to collect their children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is well organised and uses her time effectively to meet the differing needs of the children that she cares for. For example, whilst the baby is sleeping she spends the time providing the other child present with good individual attention. They read books, play games and have a cuddle. For the afternoon she plans the ‘making play dough’ activity for when there are more of the children so they can all be involved.

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Organisation

She has realistic expectations for children who attend after a long day at school. A range of activities are available including arts, crafts and board games, however, she understands that they sometimes just want to read or watch some television. Good organisation of the home means that children of differing ages can rest and play without interrupting each others needs.

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Organisation

The childminder has a very secure understanding of the National Standards and she has completed all mandatory training. Additional complimentary vocational training has been undertaken and is evident in the good child care practice provided. Planning systems linked to

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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 frameworks, such as the 'Birth to three matters' are being developed. This enables the childminder to monitor the experiences for the children.

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Organisation

Good printed policies and procedures have been devised and are shared with parents, although, those relating to child protection are not currently included. The policies in place, such as those for emergencies and illness are clear to understand and actively contribute to the organisation of the setting. They also keep parents well-informed about the provision and this promotes continuity in children's care.

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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 last inspection four recommendations were made regarding vehicle insurance, the raised swimming pool, the arrangements for administration of medication and the childminders understanding of child protection issues.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since then good progress has been made. The children’s safety and well-being has been improved as the childminder no longer uses her car to transport the children. The raised swimming pool has been removed and the childminder now seeks and records written parental permission before administrating any medication. She has updated her knowledge of Local Safeguarding Children procedures through recent training and holds all relevant details to enable her to report any child protection concerns she may have.

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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 complaint 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 pencils and other writing materials so that children can spontaneously mark make during their free play • continue to develop the written parental information to include the procedures regarding safeguarding children.

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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 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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