Childminder in Wokingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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159046 Unique Reference Number 08 January 2008 Inspection date Anne Jeanette Faithfull 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 2001. She lives with her husband and two children aged four and eight years in Wokingham, Berkshire. The whole of the ground floor of childminder's house is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and she is currently minding four children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to the local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group and takes children to the local library and park. The family have two cats and some fish.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children learn about healthy living as they have daily walks to school and outings to local parks enabling them to exercise and access fresh air. They also have opportunities to increase their physical development when using the outdoor play equipment in the childminder’s garden. The childminder provides a range of activities which help to promote the children’s fine motor

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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 control for instance; the children use a range of different cutters and a rolling pin when playing with the play dough.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder discusses the individual dietary needs of the children with their parents to ensure she is able to meet their needs. Some parents provide a packed lunch for their child and the childminder ensures this is stored and heated up appropriately. The childminder prepares food if required for the children and ensures the meals and snacks provided are healthy and nutritious, such as toast and a selection of fruit at snack time. Children can access drinks throughout the day from their own individual beaker and these are topped up as required.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children develop a good awareness of the importance of personal hygiene through the good procedures in place, for example they are aware to wipe their hands before snack time. The childminder promotes younger children’s early understanding of hygiene issues and procedures by encouraging them to wash their hands after their nappy change assisting them if required and by providing each child with their own individual hand towel to prevent cross-infection.

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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 clean and welcoming environment, where they have access to a wide range of interesting and stimulating toys and resources. Children can self select the toys and resources they wish to use as they are readily accessible in the playroom. The childminder ensures that the resources are clean, in good condition and age and stage appropriate for children attending so they can play safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder completes a daily safety checklist before the children arrive to ensure her home is safe for example, she checks the hall way for clutter as the hall is an identified exit in the event of a fire or an emergency. The childminder ensures children are beginning to be aware of safety issues in the home, as she has obtained children’s books about safety from the library which help to explain to the children about fire safety and safety issues in the home. The childminder and the children look at the pictures in the books together and talk about the various safety issues and other hazards in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected and safeguarded from harm whilst in her care, as the childminder understands her role concerning child protection. Parents are informed of her responsibility however; the child protection policy does not include the contact numbers for the local child protection team. The childminder holds all of the required paperwork to record existing injuries and incidents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are secure and confident in the childminder's home; they settle well, and are at ease in the setting. The childminder is involved in the children’s play and interacts well with them, for example, sitting on the floor with the children helping them to complete a matching puzzle, by offering support and guidance when appropriate. Children have the opportunity to develop a range of skills as the childminder provides them with suitable challenges such as using a race track for the cars and threading large buttons. The childminder encourages children’s early language development by encouraging the child to name the items they are using. Children socialise with others on a regular basis as the childminder takes the children to a toddler group once a week and on various outings in the local community.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 The childminder provides a variety of appealing toys and activities. Children access the resources easily, and clearly enjoy the toys, which promote their development and learning in all areas. The childminder takes lots of photographs of the children participating in the range of activities she provides for example, when they are cooking or sweeping up the leaves in the garden and she stores these on her computer and regularly shows them to the children and parents. The children enjoy looking at the photos and point excitedly when they see themselves on the screen and begin to talk about the activity they were participating in to the inspector and childminder. Children’s care, learning and play are enhanced through the childminder's very clear understanding of child development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder values and respects each of the children in her care and has a good knowledge of their individual likes and preferences. Children are well behaved as the childminder ensures appropriate strategies are used depending on the age and understanding of the children for example, using a firm voice with the younger children and explanation and discussion with the older children and the effect their behaviour may have on others. Children develop their self esteem through the constant praise and encouragement they receive from the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children develop a sense of the local community through regular visits to the toddler group and other local places of interest. Children learn about the lives of others through a variety of outings for example, visiting guards at Windsor Castle to talk to them about the changing of the guard, seeing them in their uniform and looking at the musical instruments they play. Children’s knowledge and understanding of different cultures are promoted through a range of resources including books, dolls and puzzles. Festivals and special occasions are celebrated for instance, the children make Chinese masks for Chinese New Year. The childminder shows an interest in any special family events the children in her care have celebrated, for example talking to a child about their sister’s birthday which was at the week-end.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed good relationships with the parents. Information about their child is shared each day via a daily diary and daily discussion. This ensures that parents are fully informed about their child’s progress and any concerns are shared. The childminder also takes photographs of the children participating in a range of activities and experiences and these are available for the parents to see. This further ensures they are fully informed about their child's day. Parents' appreciation of the childminder’s care is recorded in thank you cards they give to her when their child leaves.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from a dedicated playroom where their art work is displayed alongside the childminder’s own children’s pictures. The childminder makes good use of the space downstairs to enable the children to move freely and use a range of different equipment which requires a free floor space for example, a race track for cars. The childminder knows each child well and this enables her to plan activities to suit their individual needs and play preferences.

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Organisation

The childminder displays her registration certificate and ensures all other regulatory documentation is in place with all relevant consents obtained from parents, such as transporting children in a car and to take them on outings. This promotes children’s health, safety and welfare. The childminder evaluates her practice and regularly attends training offered by the

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Organisation

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 authority. This enables her to improve the quality of the service she provides for the children and their parents and to keep her up to date with recent childcare issues for example, she has attended a briefing on the new Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure the documentation used is not out of date local authority paperwork. The childminder has reviewed all documentation used for her childminding service, to ensure she is not using any out of date local authority paperwork.

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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 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): • update child protection procedures to include the local contact numbers

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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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