Childminder in West Berkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY250710 Inspection date 11 August 2005 Inspector Judith, Mary Butler

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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 registered in 2002. She lives with her husband and two children aged 6 and 9 years in Burghfield Common. The property is close to local shops, schools and amenities. The whole of the property is used for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. She is currently caring for five children under 8 years on a part-time basis. The family have a pet dog, two cats and fish.

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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 The childminder is a member of the West Berkshire Approved Childminding Network.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay healthy due to the childminders good knowledge of hygiene procedures; they are developing an awareness of the importance or personal hygiene. The childminder has effective policies and procedures in place for recording accidents and administration of medication, however not all parents have signed their consent for the childminder to seek medical care in the event of an emergency. The childminder promotes a healthy eating policy. Children receive healthy options regarding the meals and snacks they have. For example, children choose what they wish to have for their mid-morning snack. Good communication is in place between the parents and the childminder; this enables the childminder to meet the individual needs of the children in her care. The childminder provides parents with written feedback regarding food intake at the end of the day, this ensures that they are fully

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Helping children to be healthy

aware of the food their child has eaten during their time with the childminder. Children have daily access to physical play. Children's physical skills are developing as a result of the good variety of activities and outings undertaken each week, these include swimming and outings to local parks. Children access a good range of equipment within the garden, including sit and ride toys and a trampoline.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder provides children with a warm and welcoming home, children benefit from the well organised and safe environment. They move confidently around all areas of the home identified for childminding purposes. Children independently choose the toys and resources they wish to play with from the wide variety of good quality equipment available. The childminder rotates the toys on a weekly basis, ensuring that children have opportunities to play with a good selection of age and stage appropriate resources. The childminder gives a high priority to keeping children safe and supervises them in all areas of the home and garden. She undertakes daily safety checks to ensure children's safety. Children play freely in a secure and safe environment. Children are developing an awareness of staying safe when on outings. They are encouraged to hold hands and stay close to the childminder. The childminder has procedures in

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

place to follow in the event of an emergency; however, she does not practice these with the children to ensure they are aware of the procedures to follow. The childminder has a clear understanding and knowledge of child protection issues. All of the required procedures and documentation are in place to ensure children's welfare.

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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 good. Children are confident in their surroundings. They are happy, content and develop strong relationships with the childminder and other children within the home. Children benefit from the individual attention they receive from the childminder who plans activities and outings to meet their individual needs, for example, waiting for the dustbin lorry to arrive so one child could watch it. Children's communication skills are developing as a result of the individual time spent by the childminder talking and playing with them. Their language and understanding develop well through conversations and play alongside, and with other children in the home, such as naming the colours of the toys they are playing with. The childminders relaxed approach ensures children feel safe and secure within the home. Children access a good variety of toys and resources within their weekly routines. The childminder plans these to ensure that they are age and stage appropriate to the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children attending each day. Children confidently select and choose the toys, and resources they wish to use from the wide variety set up prior to their arrival. Children have many opportunities to socialise within wider circles through the range of outings they undertake with the childminder; these include music sessions, toddler groups and walks to school.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have opportunities through different resources and outings to discover about the world around them, and that people are different, for example, toys and resources that show different ages, race and gender. Children develop an understanding of their needs and the needs of others through clear explanations and examples given by the childminder. Children play happily alongside other children; they are learning to share and show co-operation in their play. They share their work and play with the childminder, who develops their self-esteem through praise and recognition of their efforts. For example, naming the colours of the play dough and talking about what they have made. Children behave well due to the consistent boundaries in place; the childminder gently reinforces these within the daily routines. This enables children to feel secure within their environment. Children benefit through the strong relationships in place between the childminder

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and the parents. They verbally share information about the child at each end of the day; this enables the childminder to meet the needs of the individual children in her care. The childminder keeps a written account of the children's time within her home and shares this with the parents. This ensures that parents are aware of their child's daily routines and activities they have undertaken each day. Children settle well within the home, because the childminder respects and values them as individuals.

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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 good. Children are settled and move freely around the well organised environment, they confidently use all areas of the home identified for childminding. The childminder has a sound awareness of the individual children she cares for and offers them support and activities to suit their needs and preferences. The children and the childminder develop strong relationships, enabling the children to feel comfortable and secure within the home. The childminder has a business like approach to childminding and effectively uses the policies and procedures in place to support the care and welfare of the children. The childminder is part of the West Berkshire Childminding Network and has attended training to update her knowledge and skills enabling her to fully support the children in her care. The childminder shares her policies and procedures with parents and provides them with written information to keep them fully informed about her service and their

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Organisation

children. This enables the childminder to meet the needs of the individual children and maintain consistency between the two homes. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was requested to ensure that children remained safe whilst work was completed in the garden and update information shared with parents to include her telephone number. The garden is now complete and children play in a safe and secure area. The childminder has updated the information about the household to include the telephone number of the home.

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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 MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT?

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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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 all parents have given their written consent to seek medical attention in the event of an emergency • improve safety by ensuring that children are aware of the procedures to follow in the event of an emergency

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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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