Childminder in Walsall

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 260720 Inspection date 12 July 2005 Inspector Elaine Poulton

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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 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 2001. She lives with her husband and three children aged eleven, and eight year-old twins on the outskirts of Walsall. The whole of the property is used for childminding purposes and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding five children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. She is registered to offer overnight care for one child under two years of age. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children and attends

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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 local carer and toddler groups. The childminder is a member of an approved childminding network and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children experience a wide range of activities which contribute to their good health. Indoor and outdoor activities help them develop control over their body movements, and they enjoy playing on the wheeled sit-and-ride toys, expanding tunnel, trampoline and slide. They also walk to the park regularly and enjoy a run-around and also play ball games. Children learn about good personal hygiene through daily routines. They know why they wash and wipe their hands after using the toilet. Older children use the bathroom facilities independently and are learning about personal care whilst younger children are encouraged to wipe sticky hands and faces over to make them fresh and clean. Children benefit from a healthy diet. They are offered drinks throughout the day and a good selection of nutritious meals and snacks. The childminder takes into account the parents' wishes and any special dietary need.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play happily in a warm, caring environment where they are able to access a range of appropriate activities and equipment to meet their individual needs. Space and resources are well organised so that children can move around safely, freely and independently. They learn the importance of keeping safe indoors and outdoors, for example, the childminder discusses the emergency evacuation plan with the children and carries out regular fire drills. Children are closely supervised by the childminder at all times and there are good security measures in place to ensure they are kept safe. Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has the required procedures and documents in place to ensure this is promoted. For example, the childminder holds a first aid certificate, a basic food handling and hygiene certificate and has a secure understanding of child protection procedures in line with the local Area Child Protection Committee

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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 Children settle well at the childminder's house. They are comfortable with the familiar toys and games and engage in self chosen play. Children have a warm relationship with the childminder and their individual routine care needs are well supported. They are given meaningful praise and encouragement by the childminder, however, not all activities are promoted to offer younger children challenge nor extend their learning sufficiently. Children experience a wide range of activities which contributes to their development, for example, modelling with play-dough and clay, painting, cooking and outdoor play. Older children are interested in a varied range of well maintained resources and equipment which develops their learning appropriately. They gain their independence as they choose between a variety of appropriate toys, games and activities that

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

appeal to all. They benefit from regular outings to the park to play ball games and the younger children access the nearby carer and toddler group to mix with others of a similar age, socialise and take part in large group activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children participate and feel involved in activities in and outside the setting and benefit from the effective working relationships the childminder has established with their parents. Verbal information about children’s individual activities, routines, and behaviour is exchanged on a daily basis and shared to ensure individual preferences are acknowledged. Children are generally well settled and at ease in the childminder's home owing to specific needs being considered and parents' views sought to ensure individual needs are met. Younger children respond well when praised for their efforts, they are presented with helper tasks which helps them to understand responsible behaviour, however, older children are not always involved in the decision making or encouraged to participate in making house-rules. Children's self esteem and good behaviour are promoted through use of praise and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

encouragement. Younger children receive positive verbal support and a round of applause when they have a success, often joining in with the hand-clapping as a sign of self approval.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's well-being is safeguarded through a combination of appropriate written policies and procedures which are shared with parents. Children are aware of what to do in the event of an emergency and evacuation procedures are in place. The childminder keeps up to date with training and attends courses that are relevant to her childminding. She has recently submitted a portfolio for Quality First and is awaiting the outcome with anticipation. She intends to investigate Birth to 3 Matters

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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 more closely in the future to enable her to work more effectively with children in the future. Children are settled and feel at ease with the routine-day and activities provided. The space is sufficiently well organised to meet their needs.

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Organisation

Overall the childminders provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were three recommendations from the last inspection. The childminder was to increase the range of resources to reflect positive images, to improve the safety by addressing the issue of low lying glass and to obtain a list of Infectious Notifiable Diseases. She has made good progress with all three recommendations, firstly by increasing the range of equal opportunities resources which promotes positive images and reflects anti-discriminatory practice and has introduced a number of new resources, such as, dressing up clothes, play-kitchen equipment, jigsaws and books with pictures that depict disability. She also accesses the toy library for their equal opportunities equipment and resources. She demonstrated that she has made safety improvements to the home, by applying safety film to the small panels of glass to the door that divides the lounge from the hall and to the panels of glass in the garden shed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has obtained a list of Notifiable Infectious Diseases and has contacted RIDDOR for their updated literature and this information is now available to view in her childminding file.

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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

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 improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • further enhance the good care practice for the younger children by following an appropriate developmental framework for this age group, such as, Birth to 3 Matters • consider different ways of providing children with a sense of belonging in the setting, for example, by encouraging older children to take responsibility and participate in making house-rules.

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The quality and standards of the care

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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