Childminder in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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252491 Unique Reference Number 15 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 1994. She lives with her teenage child in the Carlton area of Nottingham within walking distance of local amenities including parks, shops, schools and toddler groups. Minded chidren have access to the whole of the ground floor of the premises along with one bedroom on the first floor which is used for sleep purposes. Bathroom facilities are also situated on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have a pet hamster which is kept in the outdoor shed.

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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. She is currently minding five children aged under five, all of whom attend on a part-time basis, along with two children aged over five, both of whom attend before and after school, one of whom also attends during school holidays. The childminder has a vehicle available to transport children to and from schools and to take them on outings. She attends the local parent and toddler groups and is an active member of the local childminding group. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. There were no children present at the time of the inspection.

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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 good. The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of how to protect children from the risk of spread of infection through her high standards of cleanliness within the home and her clear written procedures regarding sick children. She describes daily routines which include hand washing before meals, after using the toilet and after touching animals, which help children to develop an awareness of basic personal hygiene. She has effective systems in place to respond to children’s immediate health needs including a well-stocked first aid box along with written consent from all parents for urgent medical treatment which is readily available at all times. The childminder demonstrates a good awareness of children’s individual health needs including medical needs and food allergies and works well with parents to ensure that these are met.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of the importance of fresh air and physical activity. Children regularly access the garden with it’s wide range of toys including balls, bicycles, scooters, see-saw and bouncy castle. They enjoy regular visits to the local park which provides further physical challenges. In poorer weather they continue to enjoy physical activity as appropriate equipment is provided at toddler groups and children regularly visit a local indoor soft-play centre. From discussion and sample menus, the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of healthy eating. She provides all meals for children, using fresh ingredients and healthy options, and minimises the use of processed and sugary foods. Meals all include fresh fruit or vegetables prepared in a variety of different ways and drinks are available at all times. Through effective communication with parents, the childminder has a good awareness

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Helping children to be healthy

of children’s individual dietary needs and ensures that these are met. Children’s understanding of the benefits of healthy eating are also supported through planned activities such as art activities and making fruit smoothies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm, child-centred and well maintained environment. The risk of accidental injury is minimised as the childminder has a good awareness of safety issues and makes appropriate use of safety equipment to minimise potential hazards. Children use good quality toys and play equipment that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. The childminder’s routines for checking these ensure that they are maintained in good, clean condition so that they do not pose a risk to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has good systems in place to ensure that she promotes children’s safety at all times. For example, she has appropriate insurances in place and has arrangements in place for emergency carers. Additionally, appropriate fire precautions are in place and older children have practiced these. She describes clear rules within the home help to minimise the risk of accidents, for example, young children are not allowed to sit on the breakfast bar chairs nor to climb on the furniture. The childminder talks about how children begin to learn about possible dangers outside of the home through discussion and safe practices, for example, they discuss stranger danger, know that they must stay in sight at all times and learn to cross the road safely. The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of her responsibilities regarding child protection. She has undertaken training to reinforce her knowledge and has relevant contact

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

details readily to hand if needed which helps to ensure children are safe-guarded.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder talks about the importance of establishing good relationships with children in order for them to feel happy and settled. Through effective communication with parents, she has a good awareness of children’s individual needs and routines in order to ensure that they are cared for in line with home routines. She organises play resources in a manner which helps to promote children’s free choice, describing how they are involved in selecting a range of equipment for the day, covering different areas of development. They then independently move around making independent choices. Play materials are plentiful in quality and spaced around identified play areas for easy access.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has attended a variety of training courses to extend her knowledge of how children learn through play. She talks about encouraging children’s creative skills through activities such as painting, craft activities and play dough. She describes how children access role play resources and small world toys to encourage their imagination along with crayons, puzzles and construction toys to promote their hand-eye co-ordination. Through photographs, the childminder demonstrates that children visit many local facilities, and some further afield, which introduce them to different environments and support their developing social skills. She is beginning to use the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework and has devised some basic planning of daily routines and activities which demonstrate that children access a broad and varied range. She is also beginning to observe and assess children’s development. However, these systems

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

are not yet linked together in order to effectively plan for children’s next steps of development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Through effective communication with parents, the childminder gathers appropriate information about children’s individual needs and routines to ensure that she can provide consistent care, including children with learning difficulties or disabilities. She describes how children’s self-esteem is promoted as they are involved in choosing the range of toys and activities each day and then freely move around making independent choices. The childminder talks about how children become aware of the local community through visits to local facilities such as parks and shops and through their regular attendance at local groups such as toddler groups and the childminding group. She demonstrates a good understanding of equality issues and explains how children begin to learn about differences in society through her range of books and play materials which help to promote their awareness. She also provides regular opportunities

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Helping children make a positive contribution

for them to have contact with one of her relatives who is a wheel-chair user to help promote a positive image of disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder describes appropriate strategies for promoting positive behaviour and managing unwanted situations. She as a written policy regarding behaviour management and shares this with parents to help promote consistency of care for children. The childminder develops positive relationships with parents and gathers appropriate information from them at the outset which helps to ensure that she is aware of children’s individual needs and routines. She has a good range of written policies in place which she shares with parents, keeping them well informed about her practices. She exchanges information with them verbally on a daily basis which helps to promote continuity of care.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder organises space within the home well, providing separate areas for children to eat, rest and play. Toys and play materials are stored in a large cupboard and the childminder describes how children are involved in selecting a wide range of these each day which helps to promote their self-esteem and develop their independence skills. From discussion and photographic evidence, the childminder evidences that children access a good range of play activities and spend a good balance of time indoors and outside of the home to introduce them to a wide variety of different experiences.

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Organisation

The childminder has attended required training and evidences a commitment to developing her knowledge and understanding of good childcare through her attendance at numerous short courses. She has all the required documents in place in order to safeguard and promote children’s welfare and describes how she shares these with parents to promote close working relationships and continuity of care for children. Overall, evidence suggests that the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the provider agreed to two recommendations. The first was to agree with parents, the methods used to manage children's behaviour. The childminder now has a written policy in place, which she shares with parents prior to admission so that they are fully aware of her behaviour management strategies. She also agreed to make a complaints policy available to parents and this is now in place and also shared with parents prior to children’s admission. Her newly devised policies help to promote positive working relationships with parents and consistency of care for children.

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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):

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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 • improve outcomes for children under three by continuing to develop the planning and assessments systems which are in line with the 'Birth to three matters' framework in order to more effectively plan for children’s next steps in development.

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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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