Childminder in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for early years provision

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304154 Unique Reference Number 28 January 2008 Inspection date Sylvia Cornock 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 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 1991. She lives with her husband in Winsford, Cheshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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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 under five years, on a part time basis and one school aged child under eight years before and after school. The childminder attends local activity groups. The family have a cat.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children thrive because the childminder follows consistently good effective procedures and practices, which meet the children's physical, nutritional and health needs well. The excellent adult support and guidance helps children to gain a very good understanding of hygiene and they become increasingly independent in their personal care. The older children are reminded

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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 to wash their hands after using the toilet, showing they are very competent. Expert practice and consistently high standards of hygiene throughout the home significantly enhance children's health and actively prevents the spread of infection. Children learn to develop a healthy lifestyle through daily walks in the community and opportunities to play in the garden, extending their physical skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's medical health needs are managed well. The records of accidents are clearly well maintained. The childminder has a current first aid certificate. This helps to meet children's needs in the event of an accident or emergency. There are procedures in place to protect the children from the spread of infection and the administration of medication. This promotes children's safety and well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop a very good awareness of the benefits of a healthy diet. They have good access to drinking water and fluids throughout the day. The children have a varied range of well balanced snacks and meals, which meet their individual needs well and is of good nutritional value, such as fruit. All children's dietary needs are well documented.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy outdoor activities that support and help to develop their physical skills. They benefit from very good access to a very well maintained outdoor area and activities that promote their large physical development and coordination. They have opportunities to develop their small physical skills as they engage in a variety of indoor activities. They are competent as they produce art and craft activities which they freely choose from the very wide range of excellent resources to stimulate development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in an environment where their safety is given a high priority as the childminder conducts daily checks of both indoor and outdoor play space, prior to the children's arrival; this significantly enhances their safety. Any hazards identified the childminder actively takes prompt action with utmost importance. This ensures children are cared for in a very safe, secure and supportive environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder liaises closely with parents and carers, discussing children's individual needs in terms of their safety, allowing them optimal challenge to develop new skills. The use of suitable safety equipment, such as safety gates, to prevent accidents ensures children's safety and well-being are promoted. Children can access the garden and the outdoor play space which has been designed to be child friendly and very safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children develop physical skills of independence through the childminder's very good supervision. The childminder ensures children undertake regular evacuation practise of the premises to ensure children have a clear understanding of the importance of staying safe in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children confidently select toys from the range set out for them, from storage boxes and from those offered to them by the childminder. Children access an extensive range of toys and equipment which is age appropriate, safe and hygienic. The regular checking of furniture, toys and equipment ensures that the children are kept very safe at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are reasonably well protected because the childminder has some knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures. However, the telephone numbers for the local

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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 police and social services are not easily accessible. Parents and carers are made aware that the childminder's ultimate responsibility is the safety and welfare of the children she cares for.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very happy, settled and relaxed in the company of the childminder. They are motivated, eager and actively participate in and enjoy the activities and experiences offered to them. Children are extremely confident and self-assured because of the excellent support and encouragement they receive from the childminder, for example, as they engage in their chosen activity of threading coloured tokens. Children are confident and relate very well to each other. The childminder is enthusiastic and experienced. She uses her wealth of experience to plan an extensive range of opportunities and activities, which are organised according to the children being cared for.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from the childminder's skilled ability to balance her time, interacting with children effectively and at appropriate moments, for example, leaving children to develop their own pictures and drawings. Children access a wide range of stimulating activities and experiences, both within and away from the childminding setting, which support the growth of children's development across all areas. During the inspection children are highly motivated and actively engrossed in imaginary play, as they place furniture and persons in the various rooms in the dolls house. They use a variety of equipment, toys and different areas of the available space to create their individual play. They have access to resources which give them an understanding of the multicultural world we live in, such as books, jigsaws, play-people and dressing up clothes. Children are animated and excited when adults present take an interest and listen carefully to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

what they are saying and join in with them in developing their play. Access to very good resources and interaction from the childminder sustains children's interest and enables them to successfully develop their play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop very good large and small physical skills through planned activities. They practice climbing and balancing skills during outdoor play, movement and hand to eye coordination skills during indoor activities, such as craft activities, using construction equipment and completing games and jigsaws. Children experience the wider community as they play outdoors, go for walks and other places of interest.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are welcomed and have equal access to all activities and experiences offered which are stimulating and age appropriate. Children play cooperatively together sharing and taking turns with activities and equipment and develop an understanding of others and their differences. Children access an extensive range of resources that reflect multicultural and disability issues. Children's understanding of others is encouraged through well planned themes and spontaneous activities. Children's natural curiosity and questions are dealt with in a sensitive and considerate manner. The childminder's practice ensures children's equality of opportunity, including children with learning difficulties or disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very happy and content in their play which is seen as children play happily together and chat with each other, the childminder and inspector. Children's self-confidence is evident and is very well promoted as they receive lots of positive praise and encouragement from the childminder, resulting in their enjoyment and contentment. Children's excellent behaviour is

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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 as a result of the childminder's support and encouragement. The childminder is clear about the need to promote children's positive behaviour and self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit greatly from the very good partnership with parents and carers. Children's individual needs and requirements are discussed carefully and in detail with parents and carers prior to placement and on an ongoing basis as they develop new skills and achieve milestones in their development. Successful relationships with parents and carers support the children's development very well. Feedback on children's development and general well-being is given on a regular basis in an informal, verbal way on a daily basis. Parents and carers have access to information on what the childminder has to offer, information about Ofsted and records.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for within an excellent well planned and organised environment. Children access toys, equipment and activities which are well planned and prepared prior to the children arriving, enabling children to feel welcome, confident and happy. Children confidently access and are involved in a range of interesting and age appropriate activities both within and away from the childminding setting. The childminder has, and continues to undertake, appropriate training to enhance her existing robust practice and knowledge, enabling her to provide high quality childcare.

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Organisation

All legally required documentation and records relating to the minded children are retained, ensuring that the childminder is able to care for children in a safe and confident manner. Children's individual needs and requirements are well known and discussed with parents and carers prior to their child starting, ensuring their individual needs are well addressed and provided for. Children's safety and well-being are given high priority as the childminder obtains parental consent for several aspects of her care.

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Organisation

Children's care and learning is promoted exceedingly well and their progression monitored by the childminder. Regular evaluations of practice against the outcomes for children ensure children are extremely well cared for. The childminder is very clear about her role and responsibility in providing a high quality service to the children and their family.

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Organisation

Observations relating to the child's minded day, development and general well-being are fed back to parents and carers in an informal, verbal way as they collect their children at the end of their minded day. The childminder also completes a daily journal, recording observations for each child which she shares with parents and carers on a regular basis. Children benefit from the excellent communication between the childminder, parents and carers.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure the system for the administration of medication is consistent with the National Standards. The childminder has devised an individual form for the administration of medication which contains all the required elements, although has not administered any medication for some considerable time. The introduction of this system enhances the health and well-being of the children.

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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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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 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): • ensure the telephone numbers for the local police and social services are easily accessible.

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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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