Childminder in Swindon

Inspection report for early years provision

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505977 Unique Reference Number 14 January 2008 Inspection date Rosemary Davies 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 registered in 1992. She lives with her husband and their teenaged son. Their home is in central Swindon, Wiltshire. Shops, a park, library and other town amenities lie within walking distance. Minded children may use the ground floor of the house. A fully enclosed rear garden is available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder works with her husband, who is also a registered childminder. When working together or individually, they may mind a total of six children under the age of eight years. Currently, the childminder minds five children aged from nine months to three years, all of whom attend on a part time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder maintains a clean home, following good daily procedures to make sure kitchen and bathroom areas are hygienic. She provides a good role-model to the children, making sure they understand the importance of washing their hands before eating and after using the toilet.

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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 A written health policy is shared with parents, so that they know when their children must remain at home owing to illness. The childminder keeps her first aid skills up to date and cares for children appropriately if they become unwell when in her care.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a thorough understanding of how to store and prepare food properly. She shares her written Bottle Feeding Policy with parents, so that they fully understand her methods. She records any unfinished feeds to keep parents fully informed as to what their baby has taken. Children bring packed lunches to sustain them through the day, although the childminder has a thorough understanding of what constitutes good nutrition and healthy meals. Children enjoy healthy snacks, making their own choice of which type of fresh fruit to eat. Wholemeal toast is sometimes available on chilly days. Children drink according to their needs, with older ones able to help themselves to fresh drinking water. However, squash is given rather than water at snack time, which is a less healthy option, despite a 'low-sugar' type being used.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy moving to music inside the childminder's home. They get further exercise when out walking in the community. They enjoy visits to different local parks and playgrounds, using a variety of physical play apparatus to develop their co-ordination.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a highly welcoming, homely environment. They use a room dedicated to their play and needs, which offers child-sized furniture. It is crammed with high quality, well-maintained toys and resources, which are extremely well suited to children's interests and stages of development. Soft lighting and varied music, add to the inviting atmosphere.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is maintained both indoors and when out in the local community. Children are closely supervised at all times. The childminder identifies potential hazards to children's safety clearly and minimises these effectively. Children begin to learn how to keep themselves safe, helping to decide when it is safe to cross roads, for example, through learning to 'look and listen'. The childminder is fully aware of her duties to safeguard children's welfare. She shares a suitable written child protection policy with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy an excellent range of interesting activities and experiences. The childminder plans these thoroughly, making sure she covers all areas of children's development effectively. Children quickly become engrossed in their play, taking part eagerly with even the youngest concentrating for long periods because they so enjoy what they do. Children engage in activities that promote their early mathematical development, such as sorting miniature shoes into pairs and counting how many they have. They use natural materials, making up stories as they play with dinosaurs in bowls of sand. Children enjoy dressing up, moving to music and mark-making. All the while, the childminder supports their play exceedingly well. She prompts them to think through asking pertinent questions and constantly extends their vocabularies, such as when asking 'Which character are you?', as they dress up. Relationships throughout the household

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

are excellent, with the childminder and her husband providing first class role-models to the children.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children receive a warm welcome in this childminder's home. She understands that some children have additional needs, although no such children attends currently. Children learn a great deal about how people and families differ. They use a particularly good range of resources to help them understand this, such as a toy wheelchair. The childminder knows children's individual characters extremely well and caters for their separate needs appropriately. Boys and girls receive equal treatment. Children's behaviour is extremely good. The childminder uses a very positive approach and children respond well to her gentle, quiet manner. She helps children learn to share and take turns, praising them appropriately when they do so. She shares her methods with parents, so a consistent approach can be taken. Parents receive a substantial amount of useful information about her childminding methods and are kept fully up to date

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder and her husband take a professional approach to childminding. They work together very well to organise their home effectively for childminding purposes, making extremely good use of the space available. They manage their time efficiently, so that children follow routines that suit their individual needs and stages of development. They keep up to date through training and from reading information on relevant websites. They work together closely to decide policies jointly, so that they take a united and consistent approach, such as for behaviour management.

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Organisation

The childminder takes responsibility for ensuring the cleanliness of the home environment and plans children's activities, whilst her husband handles the business side of their childminding practice. Both understand their responsibility to ensure that children in their care are protected from persons who have not been police checked. They make sure this happens when they are outside their home but, due to an over-sight, they have not ensured that all persons living in their household, over the age of 16 years, are checked as suitable to be with children. This is a breach of regulations and for this reason, an overall judgement of 'satisfactory' is given for this inspection. All other legally required paperwork is in place and is methodically organised. However, the childminder has not sought written permission from parents for her husband to have sole-charge of the children if circumstances require this, such as in an emergency.

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Organisation

Documentation is kept securely and is ready for inspection. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom he provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection, one recommendation was made for improvement relating to the provision of resources. This issue has been addressed fully, so that children now use a range of resources that reflect the diversity of modern life.

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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

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 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 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): • obtain written permission from parents and carers, for the childminder's husband to be left in sole charge of the children at times agreed.

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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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