Childminder in Dudley

Inspection report for early years provision

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255578 Unique Reference Number 11 May 2006 Inspection date Patricia Webb 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 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 has been registered since 1997. She lives with her husband and two children, aged 14 and 17 years in the Pensnett area of Brierley Hill. Her home is within walking distance of the local school, playgroup and park.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The ground floor of the premises is used for childminding. This includes access to a playroom, kitchen and conservatory. Toilet facilities are on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play with two small water features.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for 5 children at any one time. She is currently caring for 2 children who attend on a part-time basis.

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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 satisfactory. Children understand the need to follow good personal hygiene as the childminder gently reminds them about hand washing and using tissues for noses in order to reduce the spread of infection. They talk about the 'squirty soap with the frog on' and have easy access to all the necessary requisites to promote their independence in this area. Their health and well-being are suitably addressed as effective procedures are in place for caring for children who become ill in the childminder's care and for dealing with first aid.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are addressed well as any specific requirements are discussed with parents and clearly recorded for reference. She is familiar with the requirements of the current minded children and encourages them to become aware of healthy eating. For instance ,she encourages them to have plenty of drinks of water and fresh fruit throughout the day. Some aspects of healthy eating is introduced into the children's play as they prepare pretend 'lunch' for the childminder.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good opportunities to develop their physical skills through varied and frequent access to outdoor play and regular visits to local parks. They also enjoy accessing a wide range of resources and activities designed to promote skill and dexterity when using large wheeled toys, honing their ball skills and using tools and pencils with ease. Children's progress to the next milestones is effectively promoted as a result of the childminder's knowledge and understanding of child development as she is beginning to refer to the Birth to three matters framework.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are settled and at ease in the childminder's home. They know which areas of the house are 'their space' as they delight in using the front room as a play base and access the rear garden for outdoor play. The home is clean, well maintained and offers children lots of interest among the many ornaments and displays round the house. They relish their play in the garden which is laid out to offer opportunities for investigating their environment and creating dens.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

They have easy access to a wealth of varied resources and toys that address all areas of development and ability. These are well maintained and regularly checked to ensure they are clean and safe for children to use. Children know that when choosing larger play items, they need to clear away some of the other toys. ' I has to tidy up the toys before I gets the garage out!' This contributes to children developing an understanding of responsibility and safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are learning about their own safety as they refer to posters in the playroom for observing road safety and not speaking to strangers. These topics are discussed with the children in a gentle and sensitive way. Most hazards to children are suitably addressed and checked regularly. However, the small water feature in the garden holds a shallow pool of water and is currently uncovered although children are directly supervised by the childminder when playing

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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 outside. There is also a number of portable gas bottles stored in the passage used by children to get to the garden. These pose a hazard to the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The welfare of the children in her care is safeguarded as a result of the childminder's sufficient understanding of the child protection procedures. Parents are informed of her duty of care to act in the best interests of their children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy their time with the childminder. She takes time to build warm and positive relationships with them to assist in them feeling settled and secure. They take the lead in some play situations as they instruct her to 'come and eat your dinner cos the microwave has just gone ping!' Lots of laughter and interactive play take place as part of the regular routines of the day and children are confident in her response to their questions and directions. For example, one child asks her to take on the role of Mummy bear to his Daddy bear asking for the bigger pushchair for baby bear who is falling out of the other one. As he handles the bear roughly, the childminder reminds him not to fight with the bear, to which he replies 'he started it!'

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children thoroughly enjoy their outdoor play in the garden, making dens and hidey holes among the bushes and small trees. They visit local toddler groups to promote social development and older children often observe the childminder's husband as he engages in his hobby of making dolls houses and collecting fridge magnets. Some children add to his collection of magnets when they have been on holiday and try to find space to fit them amongst the vast array on the fridge-freezer.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are appropriately addressed as the childminder takes time to discuss these with parents and get to know their children well. This contributes to children being happy and settled in her care. They have opportunities for active play and rest as part of each child's daily routine as they develop social skills and are confident in the childminder's response to their requests.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

They are developing an awareness of their community and the wider world around them as they visit local toddler groups and shops as part of regular routines. They are learning about the differing needs of others through discussion, looking at books and engaging in non-stereotypical activities and play such as dressing up and role play. This is slightly hindered as there is little in the way of resources depicting positive images of disability.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have a clear understanding of the expectations of their behaviour because the childminder takes time to develop positive strategies that children respond to. For example, she asks a child who is eagerly waiting to go outside to play what he must have and he replies 'we must have patience!' Good manners are promoted and children need very few prompts to remember them because they are integral to their everyday routines.

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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 The positive partnership developed with parents contributes to the sense of trust that the childminder fosters in order to care for their children as they wish. Information about the child's routine and care is regularly reviewed and updated as necessary with a comprehensive list of areas of the care that require parental consent such as outings, emergency medical treatment and the application of sun creams.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The welfare, safety and well-being of the children are effectively promoted as a result of the childminder's experience and her organised routines. They are happy and settled and enjoy the attention and activities offered. A clear understanding of her roles and responsibilities as a childminder means that children's individual needs are catered for and that parents are consulted about their child's development and progress.

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Organisation

Children's daily attendance is recorded for individual children and her daily diary indicates which children are due to attend and what they have done during their time with her. The childminder enjoys the close interaction she has fostered with children as she engages in their initiated play and games. Although children do sometimes take the lead in this play, the childminder retains her control of the situation and is able to refocus their attention when necessary.

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Organisation

All the required legal documentation is in place for the effective operation of the service she provides and confidentiality is observed at all times. However, whilst the childminder shows sufficient knowledge of attending to children's minor accidents, the current first aid certificate does not indicate that the course attended is a recognised course with first aid for babies and young children included. This hinders how effectively more serious incidents are handled.

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Organisation

Overall, the needs of the range of children cared for are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to attend an appropriate first aid course, store children's records securely, develop the range of resources depicting the diversity of society and obtain a list of communicable diseases.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The children's records are now well collated within a working file and securely stored for confidentiality.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children have access to a varied range of resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice as they have discussions, engage in role play and imaginative play and use appropriate toys. The issue of limited resources depicting disability has been addressed in the body of this report. The childminder is keen to access the local toy library to investigate further resources.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Information regarding the various communicable diseases that are reportable is now available for parents to refer to and this aspect is discussed with them when they first visit to arrange placements.

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Improvements 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 The childminder has attended a first aid course although it is unclear from the current certificate whether the course content meets the required standard regarding first aid of babies and young children. This has been addressed at this inspection.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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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 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 the first aid qualification includes first aid for infants and young children • ensure children's safety with particular regard to the water feature in the garden and the storage of the portable gas bottles • extend the range of resources to offer positive images of disability.

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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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