Cullinane, Debbie

Inspection report for early years provision

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318483 Unique Reference Number 31 October 2007 Inspection date Mary Kilroy 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, their two adult daughters and their child aged 12 in Trafford, Greater Manchester. The whole ground floor and the bathroom and middle bedroom of the childminder's house are used for childminding. 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 caring for 10 children at different times of the week. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local parent and toddler groups and a soft play area on a regular basis. The family have a pet cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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. Children are provided with a choice of healthy and nutritious meals to help them to grow. Children are encouraged to try new tastes, such as enjoying butternut squash risotto and porridge for breakfast and are encouraged to make healthy choices. Older children can access fresh drinking water freely. Snacks include bread and hummus and very young children request fruit for snacks as they wish. Children are reminded to drink frequently after strenuous exercise and during hot weather. Children too young to ask are regularly offered drinks to keep them well hydrated. Older children gain independence and a sense of belonging from helping to prepare snacks and the childminder knows that this encourages them to be interested in their food and to eat well. The childminder notes individual dietary needs and allergies and consults parents, as they are the main experts on their child's care and needs. She is particularly mindful

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Helping children to be healthy

of allergies and food colourings and uses a local organic food shop for fruit and vegetables. Meals are prepared using fresh ingredients and the childminder does not use processed foods. The older children discuss individual dietary requirements with the childminder and are beginning to understand that others have different requirements for health, religious or cultural reasons. The childminder allows for personal choices, such as providing dried fruit for children who are reluctant to try fresh fruit, or who dislike the textures and she knows individual children's preferences and dislikes very well.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are starting to understand that by wiping their nose with a tissue and by disposing of them quickly and independently, this prevents germs from spreading. Children discuss washing hands with the childminder after visiting the toilet, playing out and after handling animals. Younger children who are in nappies wash their hands after changing to instil good practices for them to follow. Toys are kept safe and clean to protect young children and they enjoy helping the childminder to dust round. There are effective policies for sick children, who are kept rested, warm, comforted and well hydrated until collected. Children have their own personal care items, such as individual towels, bibs and toothbrushes which they can recognise, to help minimise the spread of infection. The family pet, a cat, is in good health and is inoculated, wormed and regularly checked for fleas. However, the childminder was not aware of the

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Helping children to be healthy

circumstances in which food poisoning should be notified, although she is aware that it is notifiable. The childminder is very committed to environmental and green issues and currently uses cloth nappies as parent's request. Younger children are provided with a children's toilet seat and a step to enable them to access the bathroom facilities independently. This increases their confidence and fosters self-help skills in their personal care routine. Children's health is, therefore, protected by effective and comprehensive policies and the premises being kept very clean.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy outside play, fresh air and physical exercise through playing in the garden, on large apparatus in local parks and during visits to under fives' groups. Indoor play areas, such as children's soft play areas are also used. This develops children's strength, confidence and coordination. The childminder uses facilities that offer only healthy snacks and drinks for children to self select. She ensures children have suitable clothing to go out and enjoy naturally occurring events, such as snow.

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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

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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 warm, welcoming environment. They have space to move around in comfort in the well organised and safe surroundings. Children are learning about staying safe through routines, discussion and activities. Older children's need for privacy in the bathroom is respected to encourage their self-help skills. The childminder has a good balance of child sized and adult furniture, resources and rooms are well planned to meet children's needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children stay safe as the childminder has good risk assessments, such as for the ivy, which cover all areas of the provision and the premises, inside and out being checked daily for safety. Hot drinks are sited safely out of children's reach. All age appropriate safety equipment, such as high chairs, reins and safety gates, are in place and used inside and on outings. Children stay safe as the childminder has a secure and effective policy for emergency evacuation which is practised with them. Older children know and understand the procedure and are beginning to take some responsibility for their own safety by participating and through discussion afterwards. The childminder checks play areas for glass and other hazards before they are accessed by children. She checks the suitability of children's shoes and clothes for climbing and reminds children inside not to climb whilst wearing things around their neck.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children understand about road safety at an appropriate level. Those too young to understand the Green Cross Code learn the simple rules when outside, such as holding hands, listening and pressing the crossing button. Inside, they know rules around safety, such as not to go in the kitchen and no running around. Games and toys with small pieces are played with in an upstairs room to prevent crawling babies from putting them in their mouths. Children practise road safety situations using toy cars and a car mat. They know about people who help them in the local area, such as the crossing patrol, they know her name and she knows them. The childminder purposely uses a route that has two crossings, so that children can familiarise themselves with how to use them safely. They are learning about stranger danger at an age appropriate level to help them to keep safe. The childminder checks the identity of callers before admitting them

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and older children understand that they should not open the front door by themselves. When darker nights arrive, the childminder discusses safety issues around stranger danger at Halloween and firework safety at an age appropriate level. Children say that they 'Love the dark nights and dancing to the music at the childminder's house.' Older children are included in the risk assessments, such as helping with planning a new route to school should road works prevent access to the pavement. They know where they can safely go to in the twisty winding passage that they call 'snake passage' before they must wait for the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has good understanding of the issues around safeguarding children and new policies and procedures have been created in line with these. She records accidents and significant incidents appropriately. She demonstrates A good understanding of signs and symptoms of non-accidental injury to children. Good relationships built between the childminder and parents ensure that parents are good at passing on relevant information that may affect their child.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder uses the 'Birth to three matters' framework very effectively to plan for play and has an extensive range of toys, books games and activities for children. These are rotated regularly to sustain children's interest. They are reviewed and added to regularly as the needs

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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 of the children change to identify any gaps in provision and to ensure that all children are included and have their needs and interests met. The childminder devotes all her time to the children, playing, fostering and extending early language by introducing new words, through sensitive questioning and by always responding to them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have good opportunities to experiment and explore textures and shape through using treasure baskets and wooden toys. This gives them good tactile experiences using a range of natural materials. The childminder knows the children's preferences and interests very well, such as which items in the treasure basket are not popular and uses the information to plan her play activities. Younger children enjoy toys that jingle and make a noise. The childminder is adept at anticipating when they are tired, bored or hungry and meets all their needs very well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy lots of creative and messy play and their Halloween bats and pumpkins hang on display. The childminder makes pumpkin cake with the children and this gives good opportunities to discuss volume and weight. Children count and discuss size and colour with the childminder at every opportunity and they have individual time with her daily.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children gain an understanding of diversity and knowledge of the wider world by seeing positive images in all areas of the play provided by the childminder. Children have opportunities to celebrate their own festivals and those of others, such as Eid and Chinese New Year. The children take part in activities about celebrating and valuing differences, such as by using mirrors and comparing hair. Younger children enjoy activities on identifying parts of their bodies and discussing their feelings with the childminder. They have had photographs taken in school with older brothers and sisters and although usually they enjoy being photographed, some were unsure. The childminder re assures them and they are soon playing happily. The childminder knows the children's family backgrounds well and consults parents daily to ensure all their needs are met. This gives children a sense of belonging and they are settled and very happy.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder provides lots of opportunities and visits for children to gain knowledge and understanding of the wider and natural worlds as well as of their local area. Children discuss green and environmental issues with the childminder and see her using cloth nappies, organic produce and re cycling household waste. They know people who help them, such as the crossing patrol, by name and look forward to using the crossing. Children observe changing seasons in gardens and parks and watch the windmill and discuss the weather with the childminder. They collect pine cones, conkers and acorns, feed the ducks and observe blossom and fruits on the trees. They plant and dig for mini beasts to observe their life cycles. Children enjoy visits to the zoo and museums and younger children are eager to discuss the rabbits in pet's corner and show how they wrinkle their noses. The older children know that this year there are very few

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has toys and equipment which would be suitable for children with disabilities and she is prepared to adapt her play activities and setting as far as possible to include all children. Inclusive play activities are planned, with each child supported at a level according to their need. The childminder uses music bags, book and toy lending libraries and shops specialising in equal opportunities toys and equipment to ensure children's needs are met. Children have access to all areas of play and are encouraged and are supported by the childminder to try everything.

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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 Children's behaviour is good. The childminder uses effective, positive and age appropriate strategies for managing behaviour. She tries distraction for younger children and discussion, negotiation and ensuring that children really understand, with older ones. Older children know, understand and make the few house rules, usually around safety. They remind younger ones when they display unwanted behaviour and the childminder encourages all the children to be kind to one another. The childminder is calm and firm and provides a good role model for behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed good relationships with parents and values the good contact she has with them. Good verbal exchanging of information is given daily. The childminder rings them at home, if there are issues around confidentiality.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children are confident and settled in the well organised home environment. They are provided with a variety of good activities to promote their development and enjoyment. They play happily in warm and comfortable surroundings. Space is well organised inside and out and older mobile children are encouraged to be independent in safety.

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Organisation

All persons with access to the children are suitable and ratios of children to childminder are met to keep children safe. Children have individual time with the childminder at appropriate times of the day to ensure their individual needs are met.

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Organisation

Children's care is enhanced by effective and efficient organisation. The childminder has comprehensive records and written policies that are up to date and shared with parents. Parents are consulted about all aspects of the care provided and sign to say they have understood the policies and procedures. All children make good progress and have their needs met through the effective planning of activities. The childminder has an appropriate system for recording parent's complaints.

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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 that all appropriate consent forms for outings are signed by parents. This was implemented and all relevant consent forms are kept and maintained to a good standard.

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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. 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): • improve working knowledge and understanding of the changes to legislation regarding notifiable diseases.

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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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