Childminder in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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252566 Unique Reference Number 08 August 2007 Inspection date Janice Walker 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 1989. She lives with her husband and three adult children in the Netherfield area of Nottingham. The home is within walking distance of all local amenities including shops, schools and parks. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding with bathroom and sleeping facilities within this area. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outside play. The family keep a number of pets including three dogs, two cats and a range of small animals.

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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 three children aged over five and five children aged under five. All children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder has a vehicle available to transport children to and from school and to take them on outings.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is also a day carer with the local authority, supporting local families. She is the secretary of the local childminding group and runs the local toy library and parent and toddler group. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 are cared for in a home which is maintained at a comfortable temperature and in a suitably clean condition. The risk of spread of infection is minimised because the childminder maintains adequate standards of cleanliness and has relevant hygiene routines in place, such as the provision of individual towels for children to dry their hands. Required documents, such as accident and medication records, are in place and contain relevant information to promote children’s health. She is able to respond to children’s individual health needs as a first aid box is in place along with written parental consent for urgent medical treatment. She discusses children’s individual health needs, such as allergies, in detail with parents to ensure that she is able to respond to these appropriately. Children access fresh air through regular access to the garden and outings in the local community. Visits to toddler groups and local parks provide

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Helping children to be healthy

a variety of challenges to promote their physical development.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have their dietary needs met because the childminder works well with parents. She agrees arrangements for meals with them prior to admission and provides food in line with their wishes, ensuring that individual dietary requirements are met. She provides meals on request, and promotes healthy eating through the inclusion of fresh fruit as part of meals and by minimising sugary foods, particularly for younger children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a home which is maintained in a suitable state of repair. The childminder has created a welcoming, child-friendly environment in the main play areas, with toys and play materials clearly displayed. She undertakes routine checks to ensure that these are clean and safe prior to children’s use. She promotes children's welfare effectively through her knowledge and understanding of her responsibilities regarding child protection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is secure and the childminder makes appropriate use of safety equipment, such as fire guards and safety gates, to help to minimise the risk of accidents. However, although the childminder has an adequate awareness of general safety issues, systems to check that the environment is hazard-free are not fully effective, leaving objects accessible which pose possible dangers to children. Appropriate measures are in place to respond to emergency situations, such as emergency care arrangements and appropriate fire precautions. Children are kept safe when outside of the home environment as the childminder uses appropriate safety equipment, such as car seats and push-chair harnesses. She ensures older children remain close at all times and plans the safest route for regular journeys.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are settled in the childminder’s home and have good relationships with her. They contentedly move around, exploring their play materials and seek comfort and support when required. They begin to develop their independence skills as they make choices from the range of toys available and request different ones if they wish. Older children play contentedly with their choice of activity and confidently express their needs and wishes. They particularly enjoy

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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 craft activities, accessing a broad and interesting range, such as silk painting, glass painting and model-making using mod-roc and clay.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children access a suitable range of age appropriate toys and learn through play. The childminder has a good understanding of children’s individual abilities and provides appropriate levels of support to enable them to participate in all activities. However, at present, the childminder does not make full use of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework to further develop the range of activities provided for younger children and to evaluate their progress in order to identify the next steps in their development. Young children are beginning to develop an enjoyment of art and craft activities, although sometimes the objective to achieve a pre-planned end result limits opportunities for them to explore and investigate at their own pace and take pride in their own independent creations. Young children are developing their language skills as they enjoy quiet periods sharing books with the childminder. Regular outings to toddler

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

groups and the local toy library introduce children to large group situations and support their developing social skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children have their individual needs met as the childminder gathers relevant information from parents and other relevant professionals from the outset about routines and personal preferences. The childminder is aware of the information she would need to gather concerning a child's learning difficulties or disabilities to ensure she could provide appropriate care. Children are valued and respected; they participate in all activities, receiving appropriate support to enable them to do this. They learn about the local community through visits to toddler groups, the toy library, parks and local childminding group. They access a selection of toys within the home which begin to promote their awareness of differences within the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s good behaviour is encouraged through praise and attention. The childminder is calm and patient and offers high levels of attention and children begin to learn what is acceptable through her patient explanations. The childminder has positive relationships with parents and works closely with them, verbally sharing relevant information. Written agreements and signed consent forms are in place for all children along with clear support plans for children who are part of the day care scheme. This helps to establish clear expectations between parents and the childminder and to promote continuity of care for children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has attended required training and evidences a commitment to developing her knowledge and understanding of good childcare through attending additional short courses. She has all the required documents in place in order to safeguard and promote children’s welfare and shares these appropriately with parents, promoting close working relationships and continuity of care for children. Children are content in their environment, comfortably seeking support and reassurance from the childminder as required. They freely move around making independent choices regarding their toys from the range available each day. The childminder organises daily routines to ensure that young children have times at home along with opportunities to engage in a wide variety of experiences in the local community. Overall children’s needs are met.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the provider agreed to two recommendations. She agreed to devise and implement a system to record any incident of physical restraint and now has this in place which helps to ensure appropriate information is shared with parents. She also agreed to ensure accident records contain sufficient information. She has since reviewed the level of detail she records which helps to promote children’s good health.

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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): • undertake routine safety checks to ensure that items such as knives and small beads do not present risks to children • improve outcomes for children under three by implementing an approach in line with the 'Birth to three matters' framework.

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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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