Childminder in Trafford

Inspection report for early years provision

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318353 Unique Reference Number 19 November 2007 Inspection date Sheila Iwaskow 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 1995. She lives with her husband and adult daughter in the Sale Moor area of Trafford. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding; this comprises of the lounge, dining room and kitchen. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently four children on roll who attend on a variety of placements. The childminder receives support from Sure Start in Trafford.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's self help skills are developing well. They are encouraged to tidy toys away and wipe their hands with kitchen roll. A step stool and toilet seat are available in the bathroom, which further promotes their independence. Good hand washing routines are incorporated into the children's day. Discussions with children about the importance of keeping hands clean to prevent the spread of germs helps children understand the underlying concepts of good 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 practices. Clear procedures are in place to guide parents in the event of sickness, which maintains a healthy environment. Minor accidents are dealt with correctly as the childminder holds a first aid certificate and a first aid box in the kitchen is close at hand. High standards of cleanliness are maintained in all areas of the house used for childminding purposes.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a good range of energetic activities to help develop their physical abilities and promote a healthy lifestyle. Daily walks to and from school help keep them fit. Children enjoy testing out their skills and using their bodies in different ways as they crawl through the tunnel, ride a range of wheeled toys and play interactive games with bats and balls.

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Helping children to be healthy

Good manners are promoted and children sit at the table whilst eating their food. Packed lunches are stored appropriately to keep them fresh. Snacks provided by the childminder are nutritious and include toast and fruit. Children confidently request drinks to keep themselves refreshed throughout the day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children and parents are welcomed into a safe and homely environment. Colourful posters, photographs of the children at play and art work are displayed. This creates a purposeful learning environment for the children who attend. Comfortable furnishings are available to allow children of all ages to relax according to their needs. A balanced range of resources which are safe, clean and in good condition are available to support children's learning. Play materials are stored in low level units to encourage children to make independent choices about their play. Children enjoy choosing from toys which appeal to their interests.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well supervised. Emergency evacuation procedures are practised with the children on a regular basis. Entrances and exits to the premises are secure. All necessary safety features, such as a fire blanket, socket covers and safety gates are in place. A written policy is also available to inform parents of procedures to be followed if a child is uncollected at the end of the day. When out walking children are appropriately restrained. Discussions about the green cross code raise children's awareness of personal safety. However, a potential risk to children's safety has been identified, a drain in the back garden is not fully covered and is accessible to the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected as the childminder has a secure awareness of the signs and symptoms of abuse and who to contact if she has concerns. Existing injuries are recorded and a flow chart is available to inform her practice.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children play and learn in a calm and caring environment. The childminder is interested and enthusiastic in her approach to play activities and in what children do and say. She has a good understanding of what children already know, allowing her to provide activities, which build on their existing knowledge. However, the planning of activities is not yet fully developed to effectively support children's learning and progression. Children share warm relationships with the childminder and are happy and secure in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Communication and language skills are well promoted within the setting. The childminder repeats words for younger children to reinforce their vocabulary and introduces new and

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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 interesting words for toddlers to enrich their language experiences. Children ask questions to gain information. For example, they ask why the balls are out in the back garden and what colour is the frog. Detailed responses are given by the childminder to help develop children's knowledge. Children show a keen interest in numbers and colours. They happily identify the colours of the crayons and count the number of plastic swords. Early problem solving skills are fostered as children complete jigsaws. Children enjoy competing against each other as they play tactical games.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children engage in meaningful role play as they dress up as Bob the builder, play with the doll's house or make a pretend call on the toy phone. They have opportunities to develop their senses as they feel the differing textures of sand, glitter and glue. Listening to other children making a variety of animal noises further develops their sensory awareness. A suitable range of creative opportunities are available using a variety of media to enhance children's creativity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children gain an appreciation of they environment as they look for blackbirds and spiders when walking home from school. Trips to the shops give children an understanding of the differing roles that people have within society. Children learn to value similarities and differences by celebrating festivals from this country and others from around the world. A good range of resources, which promote equality of opportunity are also available to enhance children's awareness of diversity. Children are valued as individuals and individual needs are well met. Through discussion the childminder demonstrates a positive attitude towards inclusion.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are delightful and well behaved. Young children learn to share and take turns with discreet support from the childminder. Minor disagreements are dealt with in a way that is appropriate to the age and development of the child. Children's efforts are celebrated and their contributions are valued, which helps to promote their confidence and self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Positive relationships are established with parents, which promotes security and consistency in children's lives. A good range of well written polices are in place to inform parents of the childminder's child care practices. Parents sign to acknowledge that they have read and understood these. Informal chats at the end of the day keep parents fully informed of all aspects of their children's care. Parents have a high regard for the service provided. They appreciate the 'excellent care' and 'kindness' that she offers to their children.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is experienced and committed towards continually improving the quality of care she provides. She regularly attends training on relevant subjects, such as safe guarding children and the early years Foundation Stage.

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Organisation

The day is well organised to provide children with a good balance of rest, learning and play. There is a clear timetable in place to collect children from a local primary school. Regular outings to toddler groups provide children with alternative play experiences away from the home and help develop their social skills. Space is well organised to provide children with a balanced range of activities. Accurate records are kept in a diary of children's hours of attendance and conditions of registration are complied with at all times. Children are under the direct supervision of the childminder to protect them from harm at all times.

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 All aspects of documentation required for childminding purposes are in place, organised to respect confidentiality and of a good standard.

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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

Following the last inspection the childminder agreed to provide parents with details of procedures to follow should they wish to make a complaint. This issue has now been fully addressed. A written complaints policy is in place, which includes Ofsted's telephone number.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This improvement further enhances the quality of care provided for children.

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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, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other then 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 drain in the back garden does not pose a risk to children's safety • continue to develop the planning of activities to effectively support children's learning and progression.

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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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