Childminder in Northumberland

Inspection report for early years provision

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506986 Unique Reference Number 16 January 2008 Inspection date Julie Larner 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 satisfactory. 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 1994. She lives with her husband, their adult son and their granddaughter in Blyth, Northumberland.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding purposes and the bathroom on the first floor.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

There are currently three children under eight years on roll, all of whom attend on a part-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminders Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children have regular opportunities to be active, both in and outdoors. They enjoy dancing to the theme tunes of their favourite television programmes, attend occasional sessions at 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 local soft play area, which allow them to be active and go on daily walks for at least half an hour, all of which contributes to a healthy lifestyle. A comfortable, cushioned area where children can go to rest or play quietly is freely available in the living room area, meaning they can take care of their own personal needs when they feel tired.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy healthy snacks and bring their own packed lunches for their main meals. During the sessions they choose from a full and varied fruit bowl, what they would like to eat along with their drink of juice. The childminder involves children in decisions about their foods as they are asked if they would like to eat the banana whole or have in cut up for them.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's personal hygiene is mainly encouraged well. The childminder encourages children to get a tissue from a box which is easily within their reach and blow their noses. Cross infection is limited adequately due to the childminder disposing of tissues and wipes immediately after the children have used them. Whilst children are encouraged to wash their hands after visiting the toilet, this is not consistently encouraged before they eat foods, such as snack time.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder places a high emphasis on ensuring that children are cared for in an environment which keeps them free from the risk of infection. She follows a clear procedure to deal with children who are ill to ensure that all of the children's interests are taken into account, and their health clearly safeguarded. Appropriate accident and medication records, however some do not sufficiently maintain confidentiality.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a safe environment as the childminder evaluates appropriate risks in the setting and takes effective action, for example, by moving plastic toy boxes to the side of the room to ensure they do not cause a hazard for the children. Appropriate safety equipment, such as fire guards, stair gates and safety film ensures that children remain safe in the setting.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder begins to teach children about safety in an age appropriate manner, for example, she talks to them about why they need to sit properly on chairs. She shows a good commitment to allowing children to taking risks appropriately, as she takes them to the park to use the climbing frames when they enjoy climbing to prevent them from trying to climb on her stairs in the setting. Children are beginning to learn about basic road safety as the childminder encourages older children to stop, look and listen when they are on outings, and uses safety straps for younger children to prevent accidents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children mainly select from easily available toys and equipment that they enjoy, for example, the train track and building blocks, however, some other toys, such as, dolls house that children want to play with, are less available to them. Children eagerly enjoy fitting together train tracks with help from the childminder. Settling children into the setting is a priority for the childminder because of this she ensures they can do things that they enjoy, such as watching their favourite television shows.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder shows a satisfactory understanding of child protection issues, because of this, she ensures she can safeguard the children's welfare. She is aware of specific signs and symptoms of abuse, however, she does not how a sufficient understanding or have regard to certain documentation relating to child protection.

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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 relaxed in the setting. They have developed good, positive relationships with the childminder and happily approach her confidently for support or help, for example, some children come to pull the childminder's hand to lead them to what they want, such as certain toys they want to play with. Children's play is focused on what they want to do because of this they confidently make decisions and choices about what they want to do and enjoy their play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder helps to extend children's learning as she asks them questions to help them to think and explain what they are doing. They talk about what they saw on a recent trip to the garden centre, which encourages children's communication skills. A proactive approach to find out about children's development through observations and discussions with the parents, help the childminder to focus on the next steps in the child's learning, for example, to encourage an interest in numbers by using specific videos, talking about numbers in the environment and counting.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children confidently use their own ideas for play and make decisions about how they will use the equipment, for example, when they find a broken toy car, they ask for the tool box to see if they can fix it. Children notice similarities in their environment as they pick out some orange figures for the train station and try to find other while commenting that they are all the same. They are confident at expressing themselves as they turn down help offered from the childminder to build the train track, preferring initially to try to complete it themselves.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children have fair opportunities to help them begin to learn about diversity, for example, through resources such as Chinese dolls and books showing other cultures, however these are not always readily available due to the childminder rotating her equipment on a regular basis. The childminder shows a good approach to ensuring she meets children's individual needs as she discusses these thoroughly with the parents. She ensures that all children can settle as easily as possible, for example, by learning key words in their first language for children who have English as an additional language. The childminder has a sufficient understanding overall of equal opportunities, and because of this children play with a sufficiently wide range of toys and equipment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder provides an appropriate role model for children, because of this children behave well. Children behave in a positive manner, for example, by thanking the childminder for their help and helping to tidy away the toys after they have finished playing with them. Children are praised for their efforts which contributes to them feeling valued and helps to raise their self esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnerships with parents are positive. The childminder understands the importance of respecting parental wishes, but also considers the impact on the children, for example, by talking to the parents about routines to settle children in, such as spending more time around the house in the first couple of weeks to help them get used to the childminder and their surroundings. Parents are adequately informed about what their children have done during the sessions, as the childminder discusses relevant issues with parents when they collect and drop off their

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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, however some records are not consistent for all children, for example, gaining written parental consent from parents to seek emergency medical treatment.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder provides a wide range of activities through local groups in the community that children enjoy, such as story time at the library, music groups and toddler groups which help to encourage children's social development as they mix and play with others. Children are safe and settled in the environment due to the childminder's ability to assess risks and sufficiently organise her space for children's play.

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Organisation

Children are supported well, as the childminder helps new children to settle into her setting, and gains relevant information about their routines to help them feel secure. She encourages learning as children are supported well to count blocks as they build towers, and notice numbers in the environment as they take notice of the plastic numbers on the windowsill.

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Organisation

The necessary paperwork is in place, well organised and confidentially maintained which further benefits the care and welfare 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 previous inspection the provider agreed to, continue to develop knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities issues.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder discussed she has found this difficult to do since the previous inspection due to the availability of training and the information she receives on courses available in her local area, which, she says, is limited.

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Improvements since the last inspection

She has ensured that the children can benefit from more opportunities to explore diversity, as she now is aware of the need to allow children sufficient opportunities to gain an awareness of different cultures, and does this through regular visits to the library where she ensures she chooses books depicting different cultures.

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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 satisfactory. 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 the children's good personal hygiene is sufficiently promoted • ensure written consent to seek emergency medical treatment is in place for all children • obtain and have regard to, "What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused - Summary".

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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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