Childminder in Cumberland

Inspection report for early years provision

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317084 Unique Reference Number 01 February 2008 Inspection date Valerie Block 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 holds a recognised early years qualification. She lives with her husband and grown up child in Seascale, Cumbria. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding as well as an upstairs bathroom. 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 eight children at variable times throughout the week. Of these, three children are under five years and attend through the day. Five children receive out of school care at this setting.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends local children's groups.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is a member of the National Childminding Association. The family has no pets.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder promotes the good health of children well as she ensures that the house and equipment are kept very clean and that she uses clean procedures throughout the day. For example, she cleans nappy changing mats after each use with an antibacterial cleanser.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children begin to learn to take care of their health as they know they must wash their hands after using the toilet and can explain that they do so to get rid of germs that could make them ill.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has appropriate documentation to record the administration of medicines and accidents. At present, she does not use this procedure and documentation to note the arrangements for the dispensation of pain relief. Instead, she gains a general consent from parents to give unidentified pain relief measures. This means that children's needs are not met in full.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health, if they have an accident, is protected as the childminder has attended first aid training and holds a current first aid certificate. Children's health is protected as the childminder shares with parents her clear policy about caring for sick children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished as the childminder ensures she receives a good amount of information from parents about their dietary needs and the parents' wishes for their diet. Children enjoy healthy food as the childminder has a healthy diet policy that explains that she provides food without colourings and limits the fat and sugar content in the food she provides. Children enjoy a meal of broccoli, chicken and potatoes as well as a drink of apple juice.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder regularly takes the children for walks to the local school, parks and beach nearby. She also takes children to local soft play centres for physical play so children benefit from routines where physical exercise is encouraged.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are kept very safe as the childminder has a good written risk assessment and safety policy. Security is well maintained as doors are locked. There is a fire extinguisher and a fire blanket in the kitchen to prevent and protect children from fire, and fire evacuation practises are held regularly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children begin to learn about safety as the childminder talks to them about staying safe when outside. Children are able to explain that they need to hold the pram so they do not get lost or run over and they know they must look up and down the road before crossing. They add that they would choose to cross with a lollipop lady if possible.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's needs are met well as they are cared for in a homely, safe environment where they have a good amount of accessible, clean play equipment. They therefore make themselves at home and confidently move about the house helping themselves to toys and activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded well as the childminder has a good knowledge of child protection procedures and has attended a child protection course. She has a clear, well-written policy to

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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 explain to parents what her procedures would be should she be concerned about any child's safety and well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children benefit from a good range of planned activities and good quality play equipment, suitable for the age of the children. The childminder provides a range of regular activities for the children, such as reading, free play, crafts, painting, baking, playing with dough and using dressing up clothes in role play. She links her planning successfully to the 'Birth to three matters' framework outcomes for the benefit of the children. Children begin to learn about the world around them as they regularly go for walks and visit children's groups in the town.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is well aware of the needs of older school aged children and their needs for rest after school as well as their need to be involved in planning their activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Photographs of children enjoying craft activities show children enjoying the activities on offer as they paint and do hand prints on paper and make calendars. They also benefit from relaxed, affectionate relationships with the childminder and show self-confidence as they move about the home helping themselves to accessible toys.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children are tired after their dinner and the childminder cuddles them whilst reading to them. She encourages the children to follow the pictures and turn the pages. Children, therefore, are helped to relax as the childminder is aware of their normal routines. They begin to learn to enjoy reading and understand how books work. Children participate in the story telling and talk about their own experiences. The childminder is skilled at helping them to consider letters, numbers and positional language as they read about children having their feet measured for new shoes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Older children are encouraged to socialise with babies as they play singing games together. The children laugh as they rock backwards and forwards singing, 'row, row, row your boat,' as they do these actions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder provides a good amount of activities and play equipment that promote a positive view of the world and increase children's understanding of diversity. Children learn about their world as they are regularly taken out in their town for walks and to visit children's groups.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children begin to understand responsible behaviour. The childminder reads a book with them about friendship where the concepts of helping one another and being kind are explored and they talk over these issues together. This means the children are encouraged to recognise their feelings and to be kind with each other's feelings too. The childminder herself provides a very good model for good behaviour to the children as she sets an example of kindness and is very polite. The childminder praises the children warmly throughout the day and this helps children to behave well.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There is a good partnership with parents as the childminder has good systems for sharing information about her setting and the children she cares for. For example, she writes a daily

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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 diary for all children to inform parents of their children's day and development. She has also written very clear policies about a good range of issues to do with her childminding for parents' information. Parents show a good level of satisfaction with the childminder's service.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a satisfactory complaints policy where she encourages parents to speak with her directly about any concerns they may have and informs them of the regulator's role, giving them the address of the regulator. However, this policy does not go into detail about the childminder's procedure for dealing with complaints at present and therefore it does not inform parents sufficiently.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's needs are well met as the childminder provides a very suitable, safe environment with interesting, stimulating activities and equipment. Children are supervised well and given a good amount of attention.

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Organisation

Required records are well kept and the childminder has developed some other documentation, such as daily diaries and policy statements, that enhances her childcare practice.

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Organisation

Children benefit from the childminder having a good amount of experience in childcare and a recognised early years qualification. She has also completed other short courses to increase her understanding of childminding issues. She is keen to develop further and so attends training regularly. She also updates her information by attending a childminder group. This ensures that she is improving her performance for the benefit of the children.

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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 agreed to increase her understanding of safeguarding children. She has attended a course about this area of her work and so children's needs are met.

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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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Complaints 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): • ensure that parental consents for all named medication, including pain relief, are obtained in line with the medication policy • ensure that the complaints policy is revised to clarify steps to be taken in the event of a complaint being made.

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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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