Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY282796 Unique Reference Number 04 February 2008 Inspection date Chris Scully 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 registered in 2004. She lives with her husband and two sons aged 10 and 13 years in Rainhill, near Prescot. The whole of the ground floor and main bedroom are used for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor 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. She is currently providing care for two children under five years and four children before and after school. The childminder travels to local schools to take and collect children. She visits toddler groups, parks and the library with children. The childminder is able to provide care for children with learning difficulties or disabilities.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder receives support from Sure Start.

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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 cared for in a clean environment. Good systems are in place for supporting children's understanding of the need for good hygiene practices. This includes children washing their hands at appropriate times during the day especially before meals and after going to the bathroom. Older children effectively see to their own personal needs. The childminder encourages younger children's independence as she stands outside the bathroom and provides appropriate support as needed. Nappy changing routines are undertaken in accordance with the children’s individual needs. The childminder uses a changing mat and disinfects most surfaces that have come into contact with nappies. Areas used by children are cleaned on a regular basis to minimise the risk of cross infection, however, the practice of cleaning the highchair whilst children are seated in them is not appropriate.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is trained in first aid, therefore children's accidents or incidents are handled well with children provided with good care and support. The effective implementation of the sick child policy means children are cared for in as far as possible a germ free environment. Good steps are taken following any outbreaks of illness to ensure the risk to other children is minimised. Children have daily opportunities to test and explore their larger skills. Babies are well supported as they practise their crawling and balancing skills. This includes trips to local parks and playgroups where they can use larger equipment. Older children enjoy the opportunities to test their skills when using the trampoline.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with a range of healthy and nutritious snacks. Parents of younger children often provide all their meals and snacks. These are appropriately stored and reheated for children. Older children attending out of school are provided a range of snacks, which include fruit, and toast with various spreads. The childminder is very aware of any allergies children may have and provides a range of foods which will not cause and allergic reaction. Good care is provided to babies who are fed in line with their own daily routines. All children have access to a range of drinks and fresh drinking water in order to keep themselves refreshed.

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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. Rooms are well organised and provide good opportunities for children to explore and play safely and in comfort. Mats are placed upon wooden floors so that younger children can play in comfort. Toys and resources are well organised and successfully promote the children's independence as they are able to self-select their own resources. Toys and resources are safe, suitable and are well maintained. There are some resources depicting diversity readily available to children. Outdoor resources are appropriately sited to ensure children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risks have been effectively identified and minimised. This is due to the effective implementation of the daily risk assessments carried out by the childminder. The childminder has instigated a formal risk assessment of the trampoline and has secured written consent from parents for children to use this piece of equipment. Clear rules are in place and are shared well with children, which ensure they use this safely. Good fire detection systems are in place and regular fire drills are carried out with children. This ensures children know what to do in an emergency. Children

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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 learn to keep themselves safe through discussions with the childminder, such as how to cross the road safely and to hold onto the pram when out walking.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a secure understanding of child protection issues. She uses information well sourced from training courses, to inform her practice and to keep parents informed of her roles and responsibilities. She is aware of the action to take should she have a concern about a child's welfare and has the contact numbers of the appropriate agencies to hand. This means children are protected from harm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very happy and settled. This is due to the warm, caring relationships the childminder builds with children. She spends considerable amounts of time talking and interacting with them, which helps the children to feel safe and secure, for example, she talks to babies about what she is doing when preparing their breakfast. She discusses the taste of the food and mimics the sounds the baby makes, such as 'mmmm.' She asks questions, such as 'Is that nice'?, which provokes a positive response from babies. This successfully enables babies to make meaning of questions and enhance their communication skills. Babies enjoy the company of others as they shout enthusiastically and bang the tambourine excitedly to gain the attention of the childminder and visitors. When spoken to they reward the adults with big beaming smiles and plenty of giggles.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has a secure understanding of how children learn and provides a range of activities to support this, for example she provides treasure baskets to encourage babies’ investigative skills, therefore babies confidently explore a range of real and natural resources, such as metal tubs and pieces of furry material. Babies place the fur against their skin and shiver at the feeling. They repeat this process several times and giggle as they do so, however, there are no formal plans in place or systems for charting the children's progress. The childminder is knowledgeable about the children in her care and knows what they like to do best. One child particularly enjoys lining the cars up from one end of the room to the other and to dabble with the jigsaws.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Older children attending out of school are provided with a good choice of activities each evening. Children are very confident to build with small construction kits and have created a complex and detailed house. This includes bathroom, kitchen, living area and garage complete with car. This has been created over several nights and has been stored safely by the childminder so that younger children have not damaged their creation. This successfully fosters the children self-esteem and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has a secure understanding of the needs and individual preferences of the children in her care. This is effectively supported by the range of written and verbal information sourced from parents. Children are able to develop an understanding of the wider world, as they explore some festivals, such as Diwali and Chinese New Year. They develop a strong sense of community as they celebrate each others birthdays and other special events during the year. This means children are able to develop positive attitudes to others. Children show concern for

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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 one another as babies smile when the childminder talks about other children who are not present.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and respond well to the childminder. Clear house rules are effectively implemented which means children know what is expected of them and the potential consequences of their actions. These include walking home safely from school and crossing the road safely. Children take turns well on game consoles and provide support to others as to how to complete the levels. All children receive good levels of praise and encouragement for their actions and achievements. Babies revel in the praise provided and offer big beaming smiles in response to the childminder. This successfully fosters their self-esteem. The childminder is not currently providing care for children with learning difficulties or disabilities, however appropriate systems are in place for providing support to children and their families.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a positive relationship with the parents of the children. A range of comprehensive and well written policies and procedures are shared with them. Parents have signed to say that they agree to these which means they are fully informed about the type of care their child can expect to receive. Daily written diaries for younger children provide written information about their food intake, sleep patterns and toileting needs. All consents are in place, which means children are cared for in accordance with their parent’s wishes. A number of thank you cards comment upon the childminder's commitment to providing good care to children. The childminder states that on occasion children have complained that their parents collect them too early as they have interrupted their play.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a secure understanding of the National Standards and meets these well in practice. All persons over the age of 16 years have been cleared by Ofsted. Good systems are in place for providing care in an emergency which also involves another childminder. Since the last inspection the childminder has attended a range of training opportunities. She has used the information gained from the courses effectively to further improve upon her skills, knowledge and practice. This has included training on safeguarding children, communication language and literacy and the curriculum outdoors. She uses advice from Sure Start well to improve her practice, such as the revision of some policies.

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Organisation

Policies and procedures which contribute to the health, safety and well- being of the children are in place. These are shared well with parents and are revised on a regular basis, however some policies refer to the childminder being a member of the National Childminding Association, which is no longer correct. Systems are in place for the recording and handing of any concerns parents may have. This is supported well by the complaints procedure, although it does not include the address of Ofsted. All other documentation is effectively maintained, for example, the attendance registers accurately record the children's times of attendance.

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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 one recommendation was raised in relation to resources depicting diversity and natural play materials. The childminder has purchased a range of resource, such as books, dolls and small world figures which depict diversity. She has enhanced the range of natural play materials by introducing treasure baskets for younger children. In addressing these

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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 issues the childminder has improved upon the children's understanding of the needs of others and their learning opportunities.

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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, which parents 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): • formalise the planning and devise a system for charting children's progress • revise the use of spray cleaners when in close proximity to children and the nappy change procedure to more effectively minimise the risk of cross infection.

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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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