Childminder in Sheffield

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 300605 Inspection date 08 August 2005 Inspector Jill Lee

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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 was registered in 1999. She lives with her husband and two adult children in Sheffield. The downstairs only of the house is used for childminding activities, except for access to the bathroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time; she is currently caring for four children.

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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 She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming home where good standards of hygiene are maintained. The childminder makes sure she complies with any specific requirements for their care, so that their health needs are met. Her first aid qualification is routinely updated to help her deal appropriately with any accidents or emergencies. Children develop good hygiene practices when they clean their hands before snack time and learn to wipe their own noses. The childminder negotiates arrangements for snacks, meals and drinks very carefully. She takes account of parent's wishes to ensure that individual dietary needs are met, although currently parents provide packed lunches. Children become aware of how healthy foods are good for them through everyday conversations. Mealtimes are relaxed and sociable events, with everyone sitting together sharing news and conversation. Children are encouraged to express their own preferences

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Helping children to be healthy

but also to try new foods. Their sleep and mealtime routines are responsive to their individual needs. Children learn about healthy living as they enjoy a wide range of activities in the fresh air each day. They frequently visit the local park with their bikes and scooters. They sometimes take the football and cricket equipment and enjoy team games. They set up obstacle courses in the garden and love playing at swing ball tennis, developing their coordination skills. The childminder's sensitive awareness of the needs of younger children is effective in giving them confidence to try out new skills and make their own needs known.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder takes positive steps to promote children's safety and ongoing risk assessments successfully minimise risks to children. She supervises children carefully while recognising that older children need to develop independence. Children are able to play in a secure environment where they have freedom to explore and practise new skills The home is very child oriented. Safe and well maintained furniture and resources help to create an environment that allows children freedom to make choices in their play. Children's safety and enjoyment is promoted by the childminder's careful consideration of the age range present when different activities are planned. Children are given safe opportunities to develop independence when they select safely accessible toys, and use the toilet by themselves. They develop a clear

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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 understanding of safe behaviour, as they hold hands when walking to and from the park and learn to stop at the kerb. Their awareness of risk and safety is raised well within daily activities. For example, they independently tidy away toys before getting more out so that the play area is safer. The childminder has a clear understanding of her responsibilities within child protection procedures. She places strong emphasis on the importance of close supervision in keeping children safe and children are encouraged to share any worries with her. Her sensitive awareness of children's needs and feelings helps her to ensure that their welfare is safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very happy and settled in the welcoming, child friendly home. They enjoy warm interactions and are involved in lively ongoing conversations. They express their own ideas and share their experiences. The childminder listens attentively to children, and observes their progress and interests, to allow her to provide appropriate new experiences. Children develop increasing confidence, as enjoy a wide and varied range of play activities. They become increasingly imaginative in their role play, as they develop stories with the small world toys. They explore numbers as they play board games, and count the spots on the dice. They develop their creative and manipulative skills as they make and paint name plaques, and reflect a recent visit to the seaside in a large collage picture. They love reading books and they visit the library frequently, and learn to use books with care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children begin to be caring and helpful as they learn to share and take turns and tidy away their own toys. Good behaviour is very sensitively reinforced by the good example and high expectations of the childminder. Younger children interact confidently in their independent play and communicate their own needs well. The childminder uses her knowledge of their current interests to plan activities, encouraging them to practise skills. For example she provides shape sorters, boxes and the small ball pool for a child who currently loves filling and emptying, especially with round shapes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children become self-assured and develop a positive sense of themselves in the childminder's care. Close partnerships are established with parents. Children's home routines are well known and information is shared daily, helping children to feel fully involved and included. Relationships are warm and trusting. They learn to make some of their own decisions and manage their own needs as they select activities and confidently ask for help if they need it.

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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 The childminder selects a varied range of activities and resources to put out each day, based on children's current interests and requests. They are then able to make independent choices in their play. However, she does not specifically plan to have a consistent and balanced range of activities and resources within the everyday environment. This places some limitations on children's free opportunity to explore and develop their own ideas. For example, children enjoy lots of creative activities but opportunity for independent creativity is not actively promoted. Children's awareness of the local and wider community is promoted through regular outings to groups, the library and the park. They enjoy travelling on the local tram into town, and have travelled by train to the seaside. The childminder is helping children

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Helping children make a positive contribution

to develop a positive view of the wider world and to respect difference. Children receive frequent praise and encouragement as they play, building their self esteem. They have clear awareness of the boundaries and expectations of behaviour and their understanding is reinforced gently and consistently. Children begin to take responsibility for their own behaviour, helped by the childminder's calm manner and clear example. They are familiar with routines and participate actively, helping to choose activities and tidy toys. Children share, take turns and cooperate in games and role play, and they learn to be considerate of the needs of others. Good manners are emphasised, and children learn to be polite and caring towards each other. Younger children develop a growing awareness of themselves and their own needs. They make close relationships and contribute confidently to their own everyday experiences.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's welfare and enjoyment is beneficially promoted by simple and flexible planning. Routines are responsive to individual needs and effectively support children's care and development. Children are able to join in and participate actively within a well organised, safe environment. Resources are accessible so that children can independently select their own activities and plan their own play. Children are fully protected by the childminder's clear understanding and implementation of required policies and procedures. Most required records are maintained effectively, although incident recording does not sufficiently ensure confidentiality. Children's experiences are enhanced as the childminder uses training opportunities to improve her practice. Overall the childminder actively promotes children's well-being, and successfully meets the individual needs of all the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were no actions or recommendations raised at the last inspection.

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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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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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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): • further enhance the quality of experiences planned for younger children, for example by using the Birth to three matters framework • provide a balanced range of resources in the everyday environment to encourage children's free opportunities to explore and develop their own play ideas • organise records to ensure written information is always confidential.

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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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