Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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221287 Unique Reference Number 14 September 2007 Inspection date Andrea Ewer 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 has been registered since 1996 and is registered to care for a total of six children up to the age of eight years. She is currently caring for seven children for various hours and days.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder lives in a house in the village of Brixworth, Northamptonshire. Care is provided on the ground floor which includes the dining room, living room, lean-to and kitchen. Children share access to the garden for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Local shops, parks and a library are within walking distance.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Overall children's good health is promoted well. They are cared for in a clean and tidy home where they learn simple good hygiene practices as part of everyday routines. Children wash their hands at appropriate times during the day using liquid antibacterial soap and each child

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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 has their own towel, which effectively prevents the spread of infection. Although the childminder holds an up-to-date first aid qualification, the first aid kit does not contain all required items. Most parents give written consent to seek emergency medical treatment or advice and accident records are well maintained, however, there is no system set up for recording medicine given to children and consent to administer non prescription medicine is not clear enough. This potentially compromises children's good health.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children mainly enjoy freshly prepared home cooked meals that meet their dietary needs well. Information is obtained from parents and used to plan and provide suitable meals and snacks, such as, pasta with pesto, spaghetti bolognese and meatballs with fresh vegetables and mashed potatoes. The childminder caters well for children who have special dietary needs and works closely with parents to ensure meals and snacks provided are appropriate.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have free access to the garden where they benefit from regular fresh air and exercise. They develop their physical skills as they jump energetically on the trampoline, balance on the see-saw and play on the swing and slide.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Overall children's safety is promoted well. They spend their time purposefully in the well-organised home that provides a child-centred and welcoming environment. Children play between the dining room, lean-to and garden and at times enjoy quiet activities in the living room. The many displays of children's artwork and photographs of minded children gives them a strong sense of belonging. Children independently choose what to play with from the extensive range of toys and equipment that are suitable for their purpose and meets their play and development needs well. Resources are stored around the home in large containers on the floor and low-level shelving which enables children to develop their play and ideas.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Overall effective measures are in place to promote children's safety. A safety gate prevents children gaining access to the kitchen, smoke alarms are fitted on both floors of the house and tested regularly and a fire blanket is fixed to the wall appropriately in the kitchen. The slide, however, is not secure enough and presents a potential hazard to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected from harm or neglect because the childminder has a very good knowledge and understanding of the signs and symptoms of child abuse and the correct procedure to follow if she is concerned about a child in her care. She has copies of relevant documentation that supports her to implement procedures and therefore protect children effectively.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children share warm, friendly relationships with the childminder who spends her time playing with and talking to them consistently throughout the day which helps children feel secure. They form firm friendships with each other and younger children speak fondly of their older friends who are at school during the day.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy a wide variety of stimulating activities. They enthusiastically pick apples and pears from the trees in the garden and look forward to cooking pies, crumbles and fruit tarts. They sow and grow carrots and potatoes and care for strawberries and sunflowers planted in

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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 the garden. This gives children a good understanding of where their food comes from and how to care for them to help them grow. Children visit the childminder's mother and often feed a neighbour's tortoise which helps children become caring as they show concern for others.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children express themselves creatively as they participate in the many craft activities. They design their own t-shirts, mould clay and play-dough and make models using recycled materials and papier maché. Children enthusiastically make a height chart together with each painting various parts of a body and designing the face and make a dinosaur island.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children show very good levels of concentration as they make models using construction toys. The childminder asks questions and makes comments that help them think about how their model works and how the pieces fit together. This helps children develop their language for thinking and intellectual skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children respond positively to the regular praise and encouragement as they play and calm and clear explanations that helps them behave well and promotes their self-esteem. They benefit from an effective partnership between the childminder and their parents who share information about children daily in order to promote consistent care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Resources that help children learn about diversity are readily accessible including books that show positive images of people from around the world, various coloured dolls, puzzles and small world people who have a disability. This helps children appreciate our similarities and differences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Although there are no children currently attending who have learning difficulties and/or a disability the childminder demonstrated that she is able to provide care that fully includes all children and would incorporate any additional care requirements into the daily routine. For example, she works closely with parents of children who have special dietary needs to ensure they have meals and snacks that meet their dietary needs and do not compromise their good health.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Most records that support the childminder to promote the outcomes for children are well maintained. Useful information is obtained from parents at the start of all childminding arrangements and is used by the childminder to plan and provide care that meets children's individual needs. Not all parents give written consent to seek emergency medical treatment or advice, the daily attendance register does not include times children arrive or depart and not all contracts are signed by parents, which potentially compromises children's welfare.

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Organisation

Space and resources are very well organised and ensures children benefit from a wide range of suitable activities that they enjoy and are interested in. Daily routines meet children's individual needs for meals, sleep, active and quiet play and takes account of children who are taken to and collected from school. Relevant checks have been carried out on all household members to ensure they are suitable to have regular contact with young children and therefore promotes children's safety and welfare. 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

The last care inspection made several recommendations that the childminder has addressed satisfactorily. Overall children's good health is better promoted because the childminder maintains a record of accidents, signed by parents and has a system in place to obtain written consent from parents prior to administering medicine. She does not, however, have a system in place to record any medicine given to children. Electric cables and hazardous cleaning materials are now inaccessible to children and children are within the childminder's sight and/or hearing at all times. This allows them a good balance of independence and close supervision which contributes to their safety and welfare being promoted effectively.

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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): • replenish the contents of the first aid kit to ensure they comply with advice given during training, and ensure a system is set up to record any medicine given to children and that medicine consent forms give clear information about which non prescription medicine can be given • ensure the slide is made safe and secure • ensure the record of children's attendance includes the times they arrive and depart and that written contracts and consents are signed for all children.

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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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