Childminder in Devon

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

154100 Unique Reference Number 09 October 2007 Inspection date Julie Neal Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder lives with his wife, who is also a registered childminder, and their two teenage children. The family live in Sampford Peverell, mid Devon. The area is rural, and has a primary school, doctor's surgery, and pre-school within one and a half miles of the family home. Care is provided on the ground floor of the childminder's home, and there is a large enclosed garden suitable for outdoor play. The childminder has been registered since 2001. When working alone he may care for a maximum of six children under eight years. When working with another childminder, a total of eight children under eight years may be cared for. Overnight care is not provided. The childminder has two pet dogs.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder has good routines in place to protect children from illness and the risk of cross infection. They learn to manage their own personal hygiene needs well and quickly learn to be independent as they wash their hands before meals, enjoying using the foaming soap pump provided by the childminder. Good hygiene practise supports the changing of nappies and the

p.2

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 use of potties, and tables and work surfaces are cleaned thoroughly before meals. The childminder ensures he has a very thorough knowledge of any particular health issues relating to children in his care, and, with parental consent, shares these with his co-childminder, in order that children are protected. The childminder ensures that parents have a clear understanding of his policy regarding the care of sick children, in order to protect all children from the risk of infection. All medicines given are clearly recorded, and accidents to children are logged and shared with parents. The childminder has a suitable, current first aid qualification. However, the first aid box contains out of date dressings, which present a possible risk of infection if used, as they are no longer sterile.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy healthy meals and snacks. The childminder promotes healthy eating for children and supports this by supplementing their packed lunches with a good variety of fresh fruit to ensure that they have their 'five-a-day'. He recognises that children attending after school may require a robust snack, and sandwiches are provided for hungry children, encouraging healthy eating through the use of wholemeal bread and including at least one salad item, such as tomato or cucumber. Younger children are supported well as they learn to develop independence in feeding themselves, and the childminder is very encouraging. Water and juice are freely available to children at all times.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy the health benefits of fresh air and exercise. They play outdoors each day, making good use of the childminder's large garden as they run and play, riding bikes and enjoying ball games, that promote their physical development.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a bright and welcoming environment. They move freely around the spacious rooms, helping themselves from the good selection of toys and resources that are well organised and easily accessible to them. Overall, checks that support children's safety and wellbeing are good. The childminder ensures his home is thoroughly assessed for possible hazards, and makes areas safe that may be a risk to children, such as the spiral staircase in the lounge; the garden is checked well, taking account of the seasonal changes of plants and when they may be dangerous to children, such as when they have berries. Toys and equipment are checked daily to ensure they are safe and suitable for children's use. Sleeping children are checked frequently. However, cleaning fluids were left within children's reach in the bathroom, presenting a possible safety risk. Children are very secure. For example, access to the premises

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

is restricted by entry-phone at the gates to the garden, these are controlled from the house by the childminder so no-one is able to enter without permission. Children learn the childminder's emergency evacuation procedures and practise these, in order to protect themselves in the event of a fire.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety and wellbeing is further supported by the childminder's very good understanding of child protection issues and his responsibilities in safeguarding children. He has ensured he has updated his knowledge of changes to local procedures through the very good sharing of information with his co-childminder, who has attended external training in this area. He is very clear regarding the procedures he should follow if he has concerns regarding abuse or neglect, in order to protect children in his care.

p.3

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

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children immensely enjoy the activities they take part in that promote their individual development. Children are actively encouraged to take part in planning what they do. For instance, the childminder discusses activities with children minded after school and plans according to their suggestions and ideas; therefore children eagerly arrive looking forward to, for example, favourite art and craft activities that are well prepared. Younger children relish the warm, caring, and relaxed environment provided by the childminder and the co-childminder. They happily make choices in their play, helping themselves from the well organised range of resources that are easily accessible, and they concentrate very well as they explore and develop. They are supported extremely well by the childminder, who shows an excellent understanding of the developmental stage of each child in his care. For example, he assists a child who is

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

carefully sorting objects by colour, then suggests the child identify different shapes, gently challenging, encouraging when the child is unsure; the child begins to consistently identify these correctly and is delighted, and is praised and congratulated highly for his achievements. Children enjoy outdoor play and use their imaginations very well in the childminder's garden, for example, creating a den under the outdoor dining table. Children enjoy the benefits of the co-childminding arrangements where they learn to interact with a larger group of children and develop very good social skills. For instance, meal times are used extremely well to encourage good manners and communication skills as children enjoy the family atmosphere promoted by the childminders, babies and younger children sitting up at the table in their high chairs along with older children and being fully included.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely happy and contented because their individual needs are met very well. They benefit from the childminder's excellent understanding of equal opportunities and inclusion that ensures all children are valued and enabled to participate. Children's specific needs are respected and understood, and the caring and inclusive approach shown by the childminder and co-childminder provide an excellent example to children. This results in children who are accepting of each others' differences and who are tolerant and value each other. The childminder has very good experience of supporting children with learning difficulties and disabilities and works closely with parents to ensure individual needs are met. Equal opportunities is promoted with children in simple everyday ways that are meaningful to them. For example, they see the childminder working alongside his colleague, sharing tasks and planning activities equally, thus

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

showing children that boys and girls can do the same things if they wish to.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very well behaved. They take turns and share, they enjoy helping, such as wiping the tables at mealtimes. Older children show care and concern for younger children. Children are positive and happy and have high levels of self esteem. They are confident in coming to the childminder for comfort, such as when they are tired and they want a cuddle before sleep. Children benefit from the extremely good role models provided by the two childminder's working together. They are very consistent in promoting good behaviour among children and have ensured they are in total agreement regarding appropriate boundaries. This results in a calm environment where children know what is expected of them, which supports their self esteem.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works extremely well with parents to meet the individual needs of children. They are very well informed about all aspects of the childminder's practice. Parents meet with both childminder's, because with the two working so closely together, aspects of children's

p.4

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 care will be shared between them. Therefore, the childminder ensures that agreements and consent forms allow either childminder to intervene appropriately, for example to seek emergency treatment in the event of an accident. The childminder ensures that he is extremely well informed regarding the individual needs of children and provides care that is consistent with home routines. This results in contented children who are happy and well behaved.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom he provides care. He is well organised, working most effectively with another childminder to provide good quality care for children. Documentation relating to children's care is well managed, with both childminders taking equal responsibility for ensuring that regulatory documents, such as records of medicine given, or of accidents to children, are clear and well maintained. Records of attendance are maintained jointly, they clearly show which children are in the care of the childminder, and which are in the care of his co-childminder. Times of children's attendance are clearly recorded. The two childminders work very closely together and share responsibilities equally, and daily routines are managed well between them, contributing to the relaxed and happy environment for children. Systems that support children's health and safety are effective overall, although

p.5

Organisation

there are no routine checks of the first aid box, and some cleaning materials were within children's reach, that neither childminder had identified.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, it was agreed to ask parents to provide written permission to seek emergency medical treatment for children, if needed; and to ensure that the registrations system clearly indicates which childminder looks after which children. These have been addressed. All children have written consent from parents to seek medical treatment in an emergency. Registration systems clearly identify which children are formally cared for by which childminder; jointly maintained records of attendance have a simple and effective method of quickly identifying which children present are registered to which childminder.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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 items in the first aid box, such as dressings, are checked to ensure they are within date and so remain sterile; and ensure that any cleaning fluids used are put out of children's reach.

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6