Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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225123 Unique Reference Number 06 February 2008 Inspection date Lynn Dent 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 1993. She lives with her husband and two adult children in Kegworth, Derbyshire. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding.

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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 minding five children under five during the day, and 17 child over five at various times before and after school and during the school holidays. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local childminding groups, takes children to the toy library and to the park. The family has a pet snake and two cats.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children participate in daily routines to maintain good hygiene and know this is important to keep them healthy. The childminder is very conscious about making sure that the family pets do not pose a risk to children's health. This means children do not have access to the pets at

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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 any time and the childminder ensures that the animals, their food and litter trays are removed and floors are cleaned each morning before children arrive. Children are effectively protected from the risk of illness and infections as the childminder has clear procedures in place for the care of sick children. Parents are kept well-informed of accidents involving their children because the childminder shares written records of these with them.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides a nutritional diet which takes account of children's individual dietary needs and preferences. Therefore, children are well-nourished. Children can explain their favourite foods and that they eat fruit which is good for them. Therefore, this helps them to understand the importance of a balanced diet. Children's emotional stability is enhanced because the childminder works with parents to meet their child's care requirements. This means that babies are fed, sleep and have their nappy changed as required, maintaining their routines.

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Helping children to be healthy

Although the garden is not used children's physical development is effectively enhanced through regular visits to the local park where they use a range of equipment and also visit local soft play centres. Younger children and babies have space to move around the premises and to push toys, such as, buggies and cars around. All children actively participate in a variety of activities and experiences that promote their smaller physical skills and hand eye coordination. For example, colouring, cutting and sticking, pouring rice between containers and dressing dolls.

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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 safe environment. As a result no hazards were identified inside the premises during the inspection. The childminder has a good understanding of how to keep children safe, for example they do not currently play in the garden which is unsafe. The childminder is aware that some toys and resources may pose a risk to younger children, such as rice during role play and craft equipment. Therefore, these are kept out of their reach. Consequently, all children can move safely around the home independently accessing a good range of developmentally appropriate and stimulating toys, which are in good condition and comply with safety regulations.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is effective in protecting children from unknown adults. This is shown during the inspection as a person arrives to carry out work in the kitchen. He is escorted to the kitchen and the childminder closes the door and keeps the children in the lounge with her at all times. Children are kept safe on outings because the childminder is mindful of potential hazards. As a result she checks the park grounds and equipment on arrival and uses a local park which has a safety surface in place under play equipment. When transporting children in a vehicle the childminder maintains safety well as she clearly explains the use of booster and child seats for children of different age and sits them in the rear of the car.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are leaning how to keep themselves safe because the childminder implements appropriate house rules and explains risks to the children. For example, they do not jump on furniture as they may fall and when away from the home they walk on the pavement and younger children wear reins or are seated in a buggy. Children's welfare is effectively protected because the childminder has completed training in child protection and has a very clear understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse, neglect and how to report concerns in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures.

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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 settled because the childminder provides good care and interaction. As a result they are confident in her care and happily engage in the activities provided. The childminder spends time effectively helping children to extend their experiences. For example, the children are making paper crowns, and the childminder helps the children fold the paper and explains that this is to make it strong and they can stick the paper together with cello tape to make it fit. As a result the children happily engage in this activity for sustained periods of time and then decorate the crowns with glue and glitter. They show a sense of achievement as they proudly show the inspector what they have made.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit because the childminder uses every day events for example, shopping and cooking to help children develop their understanding. These events are then replicated in the home. This means that children play shops during imaginary play and also pretend to make cakes in the play kitchen. This is successful because the childminder provides additional resources to enhance this, for example, pasta and rice, and coins to buy the goods with. Children have fun and spend their time engaged in a wide range of interesting activities, such as, play dough, bubble painting, baking, and making cards and other craft items. During the inspection they enjoy drawing and colouring, they cut these out then show the inspector and the childminder what they have done.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies and younger children play with developmentally appropriate toys and happily bang toy instruments. The childminder ensures that they play alongside and are involved with the older children. As a result they are content and learn to socialise. All children can independently access appealing and stimulating resources. Therefore, their independence and ability to make choices are effectively promoted. By visiting the local toy library children are able to make choices about the toys they wish to borrow and these are used to supplement the wide range of toys already in place and to further enhance the children's play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children show they can use their initiative well to achieve what they are trying to do and persevere as they use their previous experiences and memory to acquire new/different skills. This is shown as children make larger crowns for themselves after making small ones for dolls on a previous day. Therefore, their knowledge and skills are promoted by experiences they can repeat and use to develop further. Children are happy to participate in planned activities and also able to initiate their own play and experiences. As a result they are actively engaged in play with and alongside their friends.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

By extending care and play outside the home, children receive good opportunities to interact with others, helping them to develop their social skills. Children's needs are fully met because routines are flexible and take account of their individual needs. Older children who are cared for before and after school and during the school holidays receive opportunities to be involved in appropriate activities and games, such as, 'connect'. The childminder is aware of their current interests for example, computer and 'wii' games. As a result older children are able to play with these for short periods of time.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have regular opportunities to interact with others in their local community as they attend local childminding groups and because the childminder cares for children from a range

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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 of cultures and family backgrounds. As a result children learn to respect those who may be different to themselves. They also take part in an interesting range of activities, such as, making money bags for Chinese New Year and cards to celebrate events throughout the year. This is supported by a good range of resources which effectively promote positive images of the wider world in which children live for example, books and small world play figures that represent disabilities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All children are confident and make choices about the play and the activities they wish to engage in. Consequently, they take some responsibility for themselves and take an active part in the setting. Children show good behaviour as they play harmoniously together and alongside their friends. They have good self-esteem and are confident because the childminder places an emphasis on promoting good behaviour and recognises this with stickers and praise. Appropriate strategies to manage unacceptable behaviour are used. This is shown during the inspection when children put glue on a chair. The childminder explains they will stick to the chair and redirects their attention to other activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder clearly understand the importance of working in partnership with parents and explains this helps to develop stability for the children. Close working relationships with parents enables the childminder to support children who speak English as an additional language. Effective two-way communication ensures that parents are kept informed about their child's day and activities through daily discussions and diaries and the childminder knows about the children's individual needs and is effective in meeting these.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit because the childminder completes a range of training to enhance the service she provides. For example, health and safety, food hygiene and first aid. Good organisation of time, space and resources means that children can play, rest and participate in activities at will. The childminder effectively interacts with children, offering ideas, support and additional resources for them to extend their play and activities. As a result children feel confident and develop a good sense of belonging. Younger children benefit because the childminder uses the 'Birth to three matters' framework to identify and provide a range of developmentally appropriate activities and experiences.

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Organisation

Documentation is well-organised, available and detailed to support the care of the children. However the childminder's youngest daughter has not undergone Criminal Records Bureau checks. Therefore, this could potentially put children at risk although, the childminder never leaves the children unsupervised. As a result the risk is minimal. Confidentiality is maintained well as information about children is only shared with the child's own parents. Clear procedures are implemented effectively to promote the children's welfare. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure the accident record is signed by parents, and make sure that poisonous plants and building debris are inaccessible to the children. The childminder has taken the appropriate actions to meet the recommendations. Documentation shows that the accident records are now signed by parents and hazards have been removed and the garden is currently inaccessible to the children. Therefore, parents are kept fully informed of accidents involving their children and children's safety has been enhanced.

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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

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that the 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): • ensure that all adults living in the house have Criminal Records Bureau clearance.

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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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