Childminder in Rochdale

Inspection report for early years provision

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316072 Unique Reference Number 07 January 2008 Inspection date Susan Elaine Heap 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 1990. She lives with her adult daughter in the Firgrove area of Rochdale. The whole of the ground floor and the main bedroom are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. A maximum of six children may attend at any one time. There are four children on roll. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent and toddler group and takes children to the local library, park and play centres.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a clean and comfortable home where they learn the importance of good personal hygiene through well established routines. Their health is promoted well because the childminder ensures she is well informed about children's individual health-care needs and works closely with parents to ensure their good health is maintained. For example, she has written medication, nappy changing and exclusion policies in place which are shared with parents and demonstrate how she cares for children's health and care needs. Children's safety in the

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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 sun is effectively promoted through parents applying sun cream before they arrive at the childminder's home. This is then reapplied at regular intervals throughout the day by the childminder.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is active in ensuring that she supports parents in encouraging their children to eat healthily and to begin to take responsibility for their care. For example, during the school holidays parents provide a packed lunch which children carry in their own rucksacks when they go on outings or walks. Mealtimes are a social occasion where children sit down together which helps them to learn good manners. Children happily eat their lunch and talk about what they have done that morning in school. They learn about the importance of healthy eating through their activities and discussions with the childminder, such as talking about 'What sweets do to our teeth' and colouring posters which show which are healthy or not healthy foods to eat.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a wide range of physical play experiences that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. They take part in activities which help them to develop control of their bodies through visits to adult and toddler groups, play gyms or adventure play centres. The childminder is a keen walker and actively promotes this with the children through walks in the local community, by the canal or around Hollingworth Lake.

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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 safe and secure indoor and outdoor environment where they are able to move about freely and safely. Their risk of accidental injury is minimised because the childminder supervises their play and takes effective steps to reduce risks to children. For example, by ensuring fires are securely guarded. They have many opportunities to learn about safety through their activities with the childminder, such as reading books or discussing the importance of not talking to strangers. They develop a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe in an emergency and three-year-old children are clearly able to describe the routes they would take to evacuate the house in the case of a fire. They understand the boundaries in place within the home which are there to protect them. For example, during their imaginative play children sit on the floor and bottom step and pretend they are in bunk beds

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and know they are not to climb any higher.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has several detailed written policies in place which are shared with parents and demonstrate how she protects children and keeps them safe, such as the wearing of seat belts, dropping off or collecting children and child protection. Children's welfare is effectively safeguarded because the childminder has recently attended child protection training to update her knowledge and understanding and clearly knows the correct procedures to follow if she has a concern. All the relevant phone numbers and contact details for the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures are in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have access to a good range of quality toys and equipment which meet safety standards and are appropriate to their age and stage of development. These are stored in an organised storage cupboard in the lounge or in large toy boxes so that children can access these easily, which promotes their independence.

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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 happy and well settled and have developed a good relationship with the childminder who is sensitive and caring towards them. Their self-esteem is promoted because the childminder praises them regularly for their achievements as they play, for example, when children count the numbers one to 18. She promotes children's development through the use of open-ended questions to encourage their language and thinking as they look at a book about hats, 'What kind of hat is this?', ' Where would you wear this?' The childminder shows commitment to developing her practice and has identified ways to do this, such as developing the planning of activities to show the next steps in individual children's play and learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are motivated and interested in what they see and do and use their imaginations well in their play. For example, younger children play well together using the bottom stair as a bunk bed then as their game evolves, it becomes a car as they go off to hospital. Older children are equally imaginative and devise their own plays which they put on for the younger children and which the childminder films on her camera. Younger children particularly enjoy retelling the story and what is happening as they see the film again.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

During the school holidays the childminder plans trips and outings which are fun, interesting and help them to develop their skills, such as building rafts out of raffia and flowers and floating them down the river.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children develop a strong sense of belonging because they are all included and valued. For example, children's birthdays are celebrated and the childminder also talks to children to get their views and ideas of what they would like to do. She has a positive approach to caring for children who may have additional needs and works closely in partnership with parents to ensure their development needs are met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children develop a good understanding of the wider world through the childminder talking to them about her holidays and they sample artefacts she has brought back, such as dolls and ponchos from Peru. They attend activities, such as adult and toddler groups, visits to parks and places of interest which develop their knowledge of their local community. They develop an understanding of diversity through their activities and discussions about different cultural festivals and people with disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn about responsible behaviour through regular praise and encouragement and the use of clear and consistent boundaries of expected behaviour. For example, the house rules are clearly displayed in picture and written format so that all children can see and understand what is expected of them, such as not jumping on furniture. As a result, children are well-behaved and play harmoniously together.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder builds positive relationships with parents to ensure their wishes are followed regarding their children's care through a supportive settling in process where children attend for short periods. Information is shared verbally on a daily basis to ensure children's changing development needs continue to be met. There is a wealth of written information available to parents, such as contracts, consent forms and written policies and procedures which clearly demonstrate how the childminder provides for children's care and welfare.

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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. The childminder successfully organises her home, time and resources to provide a stimulating and child friendly environment. Children receive appropriate levels of support which enable them to participate in the activities or follow their own interests to develop their imaginations. As a result, children are confident and feel secure in the childminder's care. The childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to developing her knowledge and understanding of good quality childcare practice and implementing the same. For example, since her last inspection she has completed several training courses or workshops and is currently completing her NVQ level 3 in Childcare and Education.

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Organisation

Written policies and procedures work in practice to ensure that children's well-being is effectively promoted. All the required documentation to meet regulations is in place and records are clear, up to date and stored confidentially. This ensures children are cared for safely. 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 improve documentation to ensure that it was complete, accurate and stored confidentially and to develop resources and activities which promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Documentation is now stored confidentially in individual children's files. The childminder has started to develop resources and activities which develop children's understanding of anti-discriminatory practice, such as disability and different cultural festivals. These have improved children's care, play and learning and partnership with parents.

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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): • continue to develop the planning of activities in order to meet the next steps in children's play and learning.

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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 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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