Childminder in North Somerset

Inspection report for early years provision

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962968 Unique Reference Number 01 November 2007 Inspection date Claire Sheldrake 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 outstanding. 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 has been registered since 2001. She lives with her husband, also a registered childminder, and their three daughters aged 13, 12 and eight years and a son aged 23 months. They live on the outskirts of Nailsea in North Somerset.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The whole of the ground floor except for the utility room is used for childminding and two upstairs bedrooms. There is an enclosed rear garden which is used for outdoor play. The childminder lives within walking distance of local primary schools and pre-school groups, and drives to collect others from school by car.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and she is currently minding two children during the day, and up to seven children after school when working in partnership with her husband. She holds a Diploma in play group practice, is first aid trained, and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 outstanding. Children's health is very well promoted. The children are developing good hygiene routines, such as hand washing and teeth cleaning after meal times. They are reminded and supported in carrying them out by the childminder.

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Helping children to be healthy

High standards of hygiene are evident with regard to nappy changing routines, the childminder uses both disposable gloves and aprons to prevent the risk of cross infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Documentation covering children's health is extensive. It includes all accident and medication records, and emergency treatment consent has been given in writing for each child. A sick children's policy is used to inform parents of the expected exclusion times for particular illnesses and details how children are cared for if they become ill during the day.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children are offered good quality and nutritionally balanced meals, using mainly organic ingredients. The children are well nourished with a selection of savoury snacks and fruit, and plenty of fluids in feeder cups, and bottles. The childminder ensures that all food is prepared and stored appropriately and has a food hygiene certificate.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has developed an oral hygiene policy, which highlights how sugary drinks and foods are avoided, and examples of menus in the prospectus, give parents a flavour of the meals on offer to the children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children flourish through daily opportunities to be active, enjoy physical activities and get fresh air. They can take part in music and movement, yoga and ball games. They play in the garden, visit the local play park and enjoy ring games.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a welcoming and stimulating environment. The childminder's home is warm, clean and tidy. The front door is kept locked to prevent children from leaving the house unattended. The garden is enclosed and safe for children. The childminder has a land line and mobile telephone to ensure that parents can reach her at any time.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are provided with very good quality equipment and toys, which are suitable for the age and needs of the children present. Children using high chairs or booster seats are strapped in using reins and a travel cot is used for sleeping young children. When away from the home the childminder ensures that young children are strapped into their buggies, and if they are walking alongside, they wear a wrist strap.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children are cared for in a safe environment where the childminder has taken positive steps to promote safety within the setting. The children are protected from fire with the use of smoke detectors and a fire blanket, and a guard across the fire place in the sitting room. An emergency plan has been developed which identifies how the children would be evacuated from the house, and how monthly fire drills are carried out.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Documentation which includes a comprehensive list of consents given by parents is available, and records are kept showing the details of how long and when children have slept.

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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 The children's welfare and well-being is effectively supported. The childminder has been trained in child protection and is very aware of her role in the reporting and recording of any concerns to the appropriate agencies. All policy information refers to the local safeguarding children's board.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The children join in, and are engaged in the activities. They are excited as the childminder blows bubbles with them, and they reach out to try and pop them as they float past their faces. They explore how it feels as they burst and are keen to catch more.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are very happy as they join together and play ring games. They sing the rhyme, carry out actions and dance around in a circle. The children enjoy the minder's own children being involved in the game too, and are eager to hold hands.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are fascinated by the dragon puppet. They wait in anticipation and squeal with delight as he pops up out of the cone. The childminder talks about the colours of his costume, and the children recognise a number of colours, for example, pink, white, green and yellow.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children enjoy a matching game, they are attentive to the instructions and piece together people and their shoes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children benefit from the close interaction of the childminder. She sits with them on the floor as they play with toys such as the stickle bricks, and eagerly share books together, looking at details and turning the pages.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are confident. They boldly crawl through the plastic tunnel in the sitting room, and roll around inside giggling. They become excited as they pretend to catch and chase each other through the tunnel.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder encourages the children to self select from a wide range of resources and activities and she encourages them to be creative and have a go at making a firework picture.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is committed to helping children to achieve their potential, and makes observations of the children and their progress, and uses these to plan further activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children see many examples of positive images of equal opportunities within the setting. There is a variety of story and reference books which show culture, environment, and lifestyles, such as "Going to the dentist" and "Living with Asthma".

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children are very settled, they are confident in separating from their carers. They each have their own bag to store their personal toys and clothes to help them feel that they belong. Photographs of the children at play are run on the computer, for them to recognise themselves and each other.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with special needs are offered appropriate care. Their needs are identified and supported in partnership with their parents. The childminder has attended some workshops to help support children with hearing and speech difficulties.

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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 The children behave extremely well, they use good manners and play together sharing the toys. The children are introduced to behaving responsibly using the house rules displayed in the hall and are reminded not to jump on the furniture in the sitting room.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder uses a questionnaire as an excellent way for parents to comment on her practice and this is extended to include the older children. A daily diary sheet is completed for each child which informs parents of the child's activities and routines of the day. Parents are encouraged to add their comments to these dairy sheets too.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The children are cared for by a suitably experienced and qualified practitioner. She has a Diploma in play group practice and is first aid trained. She organises her home well, to provide care for minded children, and combines this with the home education she provides for her own three children.

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Organisation

The children are cared for within appropriate adult:child ratios. The childminder organises her time and resources well to meet the children's needs effectively. She follows the children's routines according to the parents' wishes, and this is shared in the daily diary.

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Organisation

All the children's records, policies and procedures are kept confidentially, to promote the safe care of the children. Their attendance is recorded appropriately and the certificate is suitably displayed. The childminder ensures that all the required insurance documents are current and available for inspection.

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Organisation

Overall, the childminding provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to further develop the recording of written permission from parents for the seeking of emergency medical treatment or advice. Since then, the childminder has adapted her consent forms to include a detailed form for parents to sign. This ensures that parents all sign to give their permission, and that personal allergies and special diets/ needs, and requests are recorded.

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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

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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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

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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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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