Childminder in Bolton

Inspection report for early years provision

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315618 Unique Reference Number 08 October 2007 Inspection date Christine Fraser Turner 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 1999. She lives with her husband and two children, aged 15 and 10 years of age, in the Smithills area of Bolton. She uses the living room and lounge on the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor for childminding. There is a fully enclosed area for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She has six children under five on roll who attend for various session but no more than three children at any one time. She takes one child over five to school and collects a different child at the end of the day. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder visits local parks and toddler groups.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are protected from infection and are well taken care of if they have an accident or become ill because the childminder follows current and appropriate health and hygiene

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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 guidelines, policies and procedures. Children learn to follow good hygiene routines. The childminder has a first aid kit in the home readily available but does not have a first aid kit for outings.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished because the childminder provides healthy snacks and meals, such as toast or fruit for mid morning and spaghetti with vegetables for lunch. Drinks are readily available to children and they help themselves during the morning. Children sleep or rest according to their individual needs. Their health and dietary needs are met well because the childminder works effectively with parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children take part in physical activity both in and out doors. They enjoy walks to local parks and dancing as they attend local toddler groups. They also play football in the childminder's garden.

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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 welcoming, secure, safe, indoor and outdoor environment. Photographs of children and activity posters are displayed in the back room, helping to create a child-friendly environment. Children use suitable and safe toys that are readily accessible to children because they are stored at child height. Children benefit from equipment that promotes their independence, such as a step in the bathroom to help children reach the adult height sink. Children benefit from the childminder's awareness of safety for babies by making sure that they are not exposed to toys that contain small pieces.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe on outings because the childminder follows good procedures. For example, the childminder uses safety reins for children when they are walking or in the buggy. She teaches children about stopping and looking for cars before they cross the road with her. They learn about keeping safe indoors because the childminder encourages children to put toys away, telling them they will fall over them if they do not put the toys away.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded because the childminder has a good understanding of her role in child protection and knows how to put the procedures into practice.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home. They quickly become involved in activities because the childminder knows what the children like, for example, playing musical instruments along to music. They are involved in a broad range of activities both at toddler group and in the childminder's home. They join in enthusiastically with action songs with the childminder who encourages children to take part, using their hands or joining in with the words they know.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children use their imagination well to create their own games, for example, using the stacking beakers to pretend they were full of food and then eat it. They form good relationships with each other and share things without prompting from the childminder on many occasions. For example, two children sharing the drum, having one stick each even though there were plenty of other instruments available. The childminder knows the children well and knows which areas she is working on with each child.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are cared for by a childminder who works effectively with parents to meet individual children's needs and ensure they are fully included in the life of the setting. Children are greeted warmly by the childminder as they arrive. They receive good support from the childminder at meal times and as they complete puzzles. They are able to choose their own play activities because the childminder makes toys easily accessible. They learn about their local community through regular outings. Children benefit from activities and resources that help them value diversity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well and share toys with each other with occasional support from the childminder. They are praised for good behaviour, for example, when they help to tidy away toys. House rules are in place and applied consistently.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents and carers are well informed about their child's day through daily discussion with the childminder that ensures children receive good quality care. A clear complaints procedure is in place including a system to record any complaints from parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for by a suitable adult who ensures that children are always supervised while in her care. They benefit from the childminder's commitment to ongoing development through training. New ideas are introduced to children as a result, for example, the counting trains from the numeracy course and nursery rhyme puzzles from the speech and language course. The childminder meets the required ratios for childminding.

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Organisation

Good use of time and space contributes to children's good health, safety, enjoyment and achievement and ability to take an active part in the setting. Good policies and procedures work well in practice to promote positive outcomes for children. Record keeping systems are used well to meet children's needs. However, the consent form to seek emergency medical advice or treatment does not include the child's name. The current method of recording in the incident record does not maintain confidentiality.

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Organisation

Overall, the provision 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 agreed to improve her records, safety of the video unit, her knowledge on child protection, activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and increase equipment to promote children's independence.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children now benefit from improved record keeping showing their hours of attendance and any incidents. They benefit from improved safety in the home because the childminder has removed the video unit with glass door. Children are kept safe because the childminder has increased her understanding of the latest government guidelines for child protection. They benefit from an increased range of resources and activities that promote equality of opportunity. Children now have additional equipment that promotes their independence through the provision of a low table and chairs where children sit and learn to feed themselves independently.

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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 1 April 2004 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): • provide a first aid kit for outings • ensure the consent form to seek emergency medical attention or advice contains child's name • maintain confidentiality in the incident record.

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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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