Childminder in Derbyshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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207788 Unique Reference Number 09 August 2007 Inspection date Yvonne Layton 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 was registered in 1991. She lives with her husband and adult son. The whole of the ground floor except for the front room of childminder’s house is used. Toilet facilities are on the first floor and children rest in the rear bedroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding four children under five and one child over five before and after school. Placements are varied. The childminder walks/drives to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent/toddler group and undertakes outings.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children stay healthy because the childminder follows effective procedures and practices which meet children's nutritional, physical and health needs.

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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 The strong adult support and guidance helps children gain a clear understanding of hygiene and desire to become increasingly independent. For example, children are learning from an early age the importance of good hygiene through the childminder's consistent routines, that are part of everyday practice, to which children respond naturally. Each child has their own personal care items, including towel and toothbrush. They have their own box of crockery and their own cups. This ensures good hygiene and assists to develop children's independence in personal care. They are well protected as the childminder has an established routine for cleaning toys, equipment and resources. The children assist with this by helping to wash toys and equipment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is protected as all required medication and accident documentation is in place and maintained. The required documentation is well-supported by detailed health and safety policies which are accessible to parents. Documentation includes procedures for an emergency situation ensuring children are protected. Children's welfare is supported by the childminder maintaining regular checks on the contents of the first aid box. However, children's welfare is potentially compromised as her first aid training is not up to date.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have their dietary needs met because the childminder works well with parents, individual needs are discussed and a written example menu ensures parents are kept informed. The children are developing a positive attitude to healthy eating because the childminder offers them a varied diet including, a range of fruit, such as mango, melon and grapes. She offers fish, meat, vegetables, pasta and home made cakes. The children learn about nutrition as food items are discussed when the children go shopping with the childminder.

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Helping children to be healthy

Daily indoor and outdoor experiences develop children's physical control. They are able to progress in their skills by the childminder supporting and meeting individual needs to enable them to learn about themselves and their bodies through activities. Children are able to access a wide range of outdoor play equipment at the home, including, hoops, balls and a small climbing frame. Outings enhance children's physical well-being with visits to the park and walks where they are able to run and climb.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The premises are warm, welcoming and in a good state of repair. Children benefit from the available space being well planned, with an allocated playroom, including, a child-sized table and chairs. The playroom is bright, with displays of children's own creative work, themed posters and pictures. Children use quality equipment which is safe and hygienic and appropriate to their age and stage of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has safety equipment and detailed procedures in place, which are shared with the parents, to ensure children’s welfare is safeguarded and promoted. Risks of accidental injuries to children are minimised because the childminder is vigilant and has consistent safety arrangements, for example a daily visual risk assessment of the home is completed, which supplements a written risk assessment. There are robust safety procedures to ensure children are kept safe on outings. The childminder's ensures she has emergency contact numbers and information with her at all times. There are clear, consistent routines for road safety, such as, young children wear reins when walking. Safety equipment is in place. However, the glass panels in the cabinet in the playroom are not protected and therefore children's safety is potentially compromised.

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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 Children are protected in the event of an emergency situation as fire safety equipment and evacuation procedures are in place. They take part in fire evacuation drills therefore they are well prepared in the event of an emergency situation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded by the childminder who has a clear understanding of her role and responsibilities for child protection. This is supported by her child protection policy, which is shared with the parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy, eager to participate and relish their time in a setting which puts them first. They achieve well because the childminder is skilled and uses her good knowledge of children's development and learning through play to provide quality care and education.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's potential is fully supported and they are given stimulating challenges by the wide range of planned, focussed and free-choice activities. Themes are undertaken including a weather theme where children record the weather on their own art work and a pirate theme that includes the children making a 'treasure map'. They are also involved in making numerous topic scrap-books with photographs and children's art work. These include a 'toy book' made of cut-out catalogue pictures which they use to select activities. Children have opportunity to experiment and develop their own play. They access toys and resources freely. They are actively encouraged to use their imagination. For example, interest boxes with different textiles, beads and media which children use to explore texture and colour. Dressing-up resources include lengths of material which children experiment with, including 'making saris'.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Daily routines include times to be active and quiet. Outings are a main focus of the provision and include visits to a farm park, the library and play sessions, all of which enhance children's understanding of the world around them. Focussed activities, such as pencil control, practising writing skills and early mathematics enhance children's learning. These are all supported by a wide range of creative activities, for example, free-craft activities including painting, gluing and drawing, as well as planned themed activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children become confident and self-assured, working and playing effectively on their own, with others or with the childminder. Close and caring relationships with the childminder increase children's sense of trust and help them develop a strong sense of self. They develop good social and communication skills as she takes time to talk and listen to them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has a good awareness of children's individual needs and they are respected as individuals. Their ideas and choices are valued. Equipment and resources meet the needs of individual children and there is a variety of resources that reflect diversity, both those belonging to the childminder and others borrowed from the library and a toy library. Children's awareness of the wider world is enhanced by the celebration of international festivals and festivals from other faiths.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Although there are no children currently attending the setting who have learning disabilities or difficulties a detailed policy is in place which details how the service will be provided to children. This is supported by the childminder's clear understanding of providing care which

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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 includes them in the life of the setting through discussing their needs with parents. She is confident to judge how well individual children's needs can be met within existing routines. All children are included in activities which are adjusted to ensure that all are able to enjoy and gain from the experience.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children develop a strong sense of independence and self-worth as they are encouraged to share, take turns and follow written, simple appropriate rules, such as, 'Being nice to people'. They are settled and confident in the setting. Children benefit from the sensitive manner adopted by the childminder to manage their behaviour. The use of praise, encouragement and positive reinforcement contributes effectively to the children developing good social skills and a sense of belonging to a wider family group. The methods for dealing with behaviour are appropriate and take into account children’s age and stage of development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A positive partnership between the childminder and parents contributes to children's well-being. Parents receive detailed written and verbal information that ensures they are fully informed of their child's day and progress. Each parent is given a 'welcome' pack' with details of all policies and the childminder's responsibility with regard to meeting the National Standards. They also have access to information files and a notice-board. A daily log is maintained for babies and toddlers to ensure parents are well-informed about their child's care and day. The written documentation is supported by daily discussions with the parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides. This is a strong provision. The premises are well organised and space is used to maximise play opportunities. Children’s care and welfare is enhanced by the childminder's sound understanding of their needs, her commitment to further develop the provision by continuing to access training and her effective organisation skills.

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Organisation

Overall, children are satisfactorily protected as the childminder has completed first aid training. However, the children are not fully protected as the childminder does not hold a current first aid certificate. This is a breach of regulations.

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Organisation

Children's safety and well-being benefit from the professional presentation of detailed policies, procedures and information for parents. Generally, all required documentation is in place. Documentation is maintained correctly and the childminder has good awareness of confidentiality. Information is regularly exchanged with parents about the setting and their child’s daily activities, contributing to continuity in the children’s care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to further develop the range of physical play opportunities for children aged two years to seven years.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children benefit from a wide range of physical play equipment and resources which provides appropriate challenges, including, hoops, balls, skittles, a small climbing frame and trampoline. Indoors activities, include, fuzzy felts and bead threading. Their physical well-being is promoted as they confidently access the equipment and the childminder supports them well to achieve success.

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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

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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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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 a current first aid certificate is maintained • ensure children's safety is promoted by minimising hazards with regard to glass in the playroom.

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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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