Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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503679 Unique Reference Number 22 October 2007 Inspection date Joan, Patricia Flowers 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 has been registered since July 2001. She lives with her husband and their two sons aged 11 and 14 years.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family lives in an established residential area in a suburb of Chorley, Lancashire. Minded children have access to the whole of the ground floor, which includes the lounge, dining room and kitchen. The bathroom facilities and bedrooms where children can rest are upstairs. There is access to a safe and secure rear garden.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds a valid first aid certificate. A flexible service is offered that includes both full- and part-time care. There are currently three children on roll. Support and training are accessed from the local authority Sure Start development team.

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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 children are cared for in a warm, clean, family-oriented home where they learn the importance of good personal hygiene and personal care through the daily routines. They are encouraged to wash or wipe their hands before eating and after toilet times. Children each have their own personal items including a towel and a comb. Cross-infection is thus minimised by the childminder’s good practice therefore children's health is safeguarded very effectively. Robust procedures are in place to record the administration of any medication required to be given to a child or any first aid following an accident. Children’s good health is therefore soundly protected.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of pursuits contributing to their good health. There are outdoor activities, for example, that help them develop control over their bodies. Different sizes of climbing equipment, swings and slides at various local play parks provide challenge, enabling children's confidence and skills to be developed. Children and babies also benefit by attending indoor toddler gym sessions once a week as well as toddler groups. They can use a range of equipment appropriate to their age and stage of development, such as sit and ride toys and push-along items. Children quickly master the use of tools such as pencils, paintbrushes and eating utensils, because the childminder provides supported opportunities to allow them to practise and refine these emerging skills. Regular visits to open spaces as well as to the beach help to improve children's spatial awareness and stamina, encouraging them to develop healthy lifestyle choices

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides healthy snacks such as fresh fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, toast and fruit loaf. She serves meals that each child’s parent or carer sends each day for their child. Drinks are available for children to access throughout the day. This ensures that children are well nourished and hydrated, and are learning to recognise when they are thirsty, for example, after exercise. The childminder takes good account of parents' wishes when planning the snack menu so that children’s needs, likes and dislikes are always taken into account. All children actively participate in baking activities. The childminder is always mindful of any known allergies to ensure children’s health is protected very well at these times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are able to freely and independently select activities from an extensive range of good quality toys and resources, all of which meet safety standards and are regularly checked and cleaned. Because the childminder has a clear and consistent approach to safety, children learn how to keep themselves safe. They profit from the beneficial routines followed by the childminder, such as when practising the fire drill, talking about road safety when outside the home and when they are travelling in a vehicle. In these ways children start to gain an early understanding about how to keep safe. Children are given opportunities to develop their sense of safety and learn to take risks in a safe, supervised way, for example, as they negotiate the rocky landscape at the play park.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for in an environment which is warm and family-oriented and where there is sufficient space for them to play and move around freely. In order to help keep children safe, the childminder checks and cleans the rooms prior to the children arriving, planning in advance

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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 activities suitable for the children who will be attending on any given day. Safety precautions such as socket covers and cupboard locks are in place, with gates strategically placed to ensure children are protected within the secure home environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good working knowledge of child protection matters and has a child protection policy outlining the correct procedures to follow if she has a concern. Children's welfare is thus safeguarded well. She has attended a refresher child protection workshop to ensure she has up-to-date knowledge and all the relevant information to hand if she needs to pass on any concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children engage in a wonderfully wide range of activities to promote their overall development extremely well. They participate in exciting creative activities using many different mediums, from paint to collage effect pictures as well as baking and decorating cakes. The childminder ensures that every child is given the opportunity to expand and progress their development at their own rate, allowing them to make rapid progress. She is skilled in using each child's preferred learning style to further their development. Appropriately planned challenges allow children to expand their all-round skills as they gain confidence during fun and engaging projects, such as creating the large 'under the sea' mural on the rear garden fence or exploring a new play park to inspire and challenge their physical and imaginative skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy a balanced day according to their individual needs. The childminder knows each child well and tailors the day to suit them individually, for example, by making sure that sleep and rest times fit around the children. Consequently, they are alert and eager to enjoy their play and learning activities to the full. The childminder is innovative in her planning but is flexible enough to change according to any circumstance that arise. Children can make choices about their activities and can take their play and learning outside into the garden. Babies are encouraged to select toys from the easily accessible selection stored at floor level, in low boxes and on shelves. This encourages their independence and self-assurance extremely well. The childminder makes highly effective use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. She uses these approaches in her planning,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

systematically ensuring that children make good steady progress and they can enjoy and achieve. Activities are adapted so that all children can take part. Observations are undertaken in order to plan for their continuing development, with excellent use of photographs to evidence this and chart progress.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are happy, confident and interested to learn as they interact both with the childminder and when in a groups. They are interested and explore with relish the box with the musical instruments in. The childminder is terrific in supporting the children in their play. She devotes her time to each and every child to ensure a high level of care can be achieved. Babies are confident and feel secure in the childminder's home. She encourages the children to do as much as possible for themselves, for example, when baking or by being independent at toilet times.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder provides a welcoming homely environment that results in children being comfortable and relaxed, thus contributing to their sense of well-being within the childminder's

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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 home. The childminder’s behaviour policy is clearly written and shared with parents and is based on positive intervention, praise and encouragement. As a result, children are well behaved, know their boundaries and react appropriately when needing to be reminded by the childminder. Children are treated with respect and are valued as individuals. The childminder is a good role model so children learn by watching her good example.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is sensitive to the individual care needs of each child and provides some good resources and activities that help raise children's awareness of other people's differences and similarities. Items that represent disability are, however, limited within the toys that children handle every day. Children are taken on regular outings that promote their sense of community and which link to their own home experiences, such as going to the park or to the shops.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works closely with parents and observes the children as a way of promoting her understanding of their developing needs. Children benefit as she uses this knowledge to adapt activities and her interactions with them, thereby ensuring that all children are stimulated and their needs are fully met. The childminder fosters good links with parents as she shares detailed verbal and written information about each child's day at home time and through the daily diaries. She also welcomes a telephone call later if a parent feels the need to discuss anything.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder's home is organised extremely effectively around children’s needs. For example, the childminder prepares the family living space into an effective child-centred environment before children arrive. They are exposed to an exciting range of toys and learning activities that are organised thoughtfully so that children can make choices. As a result they are stimulated and motivated to learn and develop. The childminder systematically plans her day so that children can experience a variety of interesting and exciting first-hand experiences both in the home and when going out to the various groups and on outings to the beach or indoor play centres. This organised approach benefits children's all-round development immensely, ensuring that they are secure and content.

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Organisation

The childminder keeps all the required and necessary records and documentation to an outstandingly high standard. Confidentiality is maintained as a priority for every child. This contributes to children’s health, safety and well-being, fostering very high levels of confidence and trust in parents. The childminder demonstrates an inspiring commitment to improving her childcare practice by attending regular training events. This builds on her existing knowledge and childcare experience, ensuring that up-to-date initiatives are used for the benefit of the children for whom she cares.

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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 address the following recommendations to improve her practice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

She was asked to ensure all accident records remain confidential to named children and all parents sign the administered medication record to acknowledge the entry. The childminder has changed her methods of recording accidents and medication. She now makes sure that any

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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 information kept about a child remains confidential and parents sign the accident book to acknowledge the entry.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Also, the childminder was advised to further her knowledge and understanding about child protection issues. Child protection training has since been attended ensuring that children are better protected.

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Improvements since the last inspection

These changes have improved the outcomes for children and partnerships with parents.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the 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): • continue to develop resources that children can handle in everyday play that depict disability.

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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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