Childminder in Warrington

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 314833 Inspection date 24 October 2005 Inspector Chris Scully

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 has been registered since 1989. She lives with her husband and three adult children, in Great Sankey, Warrington. The whole of the ground floor is available to minded children and there is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is currently providing care for two children aged 10 months and 2 years during the day and one child aged 8 years before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. Children are taken out to local parks, toddler groups and other places of interest. The family have a pet dog.

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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 The childminder receives support from the local authority and regularly meets with other local childminders.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children learn the importance of good hygiene practices through daily routines, such as washing their hands before meals. The childminder is proactive in ensuring children understand the reason for good hygiene practices and talks to children about removing germs and having clean hands. The childminder is a positive role model who consistently washes her hands before preparing meals, and ensures that family pet dog does not pose a risk to children's health. The verbal sick children policy enables the childminder to minimise the risk of cross infection. Children develop confidence to see to their own needs, such as when they need to go to the bathroom. The childminder has all the required documentation in place to ensure children's well being although, parents do not give consent for each time medication is to be administered and confidentiality is not always maintained within the accident record. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate. This

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Helping children to be healthy

means children's accidents are dealt with appropriately. Children enjoy regular opportunities to test and explore their physical skills both within the garden and local parks. Children enjoy using resources within the park, such as slides and climbing frames to extend their coordination, control and large physical movements. Children sleep or rest according to their individual needs. This is supported well by the childminder who uses information from the parents to ensure the children's needs are met in practice and provide continuity of care. Children enjoy a range of healthy, nutritious home cooked meals and snacks. Babies are provided with home cooked meals, which are prepared to meet their individual needs. The children enjoy a range of baking activities, these include making pumpkin pie, bread and cakes. This enables children to learn valuable life skills about food preparation and keeping themselves healthy. The childminder is attentive to the

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Helping children to be healthy

individual dietary needs of all the children and encourages them to try new foods to extend their enjoyment of food. Children have access to a range of drinks including fresh water to keep themselves refreshed.

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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 warm, welcoming environment where they can play, rest and explore in safety and comfort. The well organised play room enables children to choose their own resources and where to play. The use of low level open storage successfully fosters children's independence and confidence as they are able to quickly find their favourite resources and books, such as Postman Pat. Children are knowledgeable about the resources and confidently tell visitors, these are the baby

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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 toys for younger children. Risks are effectively identified and minimised to ensure children's safety. Children learn how to keep themselves safe indoors through regular discussions with the childminder, this includes baking activities where children confidently identify that the cooker is hot and understand how to use the cooking utensils and equipment safely. The childminder talks to children about safety outdoors such as road safety and stranger danger, this enables children to make informed choices and keep themselves safe from harm. The childminder has a secure knowledge of child protection issues. She is clear on the action to be taken if she had concerns regarding a child in order to protect them from harm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled at the childminder's house. She builds warm caring relationships with the children that enable them to feel safe and secure in her care. The childminder uses information sought from the parents effectively to ensure children's needs are met and to provide continuity of care. Children benefit from high levels of support from the childminder who spends considerable amounts of time talking, listening and playing with the children, successfully fostering their confidence and self-esteem. Children are keen to engage the childminder in activities such as story time and happily cuddle up on the settee to listen to a favourite story. The childminder provides a range of interesting and stimulating play and learning experiences to all children and has a clear understanding of the Birth to three matters framework. The childminder makes learning fun, for example, when making cakes she introduces

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

different coloured cake cases to enable children to identify their colours and encourages them to count how many. She talks about which case has less mixture and needs some more this effectively introduces a range of mathematical terms to children in a fun environment. The childminder is skilled at asking open-ended questions that enable children to think solve problems and communicate. Children become independent as they choose their own resources and where to play. The daily routines provide good opportunities for children to become involved in play and learning experiences and also quiet times where they can relax. Children enjoy using natural materials in their art work and are particularly keen to collect leaves from the park to make pictures. Children enjoy a range of outings to the park, to visit grandma and other childminder's to play with their friends. The childminder is well aware of the children individual needs, likes, dislikes and personalities and uses

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

this information well to provide a range of stimulating an interesting activities that effectively meet the needs of the children attending.

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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 provision is good. The childminder is attentive to the individual needs of the children and meets these well in practice. Effective systems are in place to obtain information from new parents to ensure their child's needs are effectively met. Children learn about the world in which we live by freely accessing a range of resources depicting positive images. One child particularly enjoys caring for the doll who has a broken arm she shows her lots of care and attention. This means children learn to have a positive attitude to others. Children are well behaved and respond well to the childminder's requests. They use manners appropriately when making a request, such as yes please and thank you. They learn to take turns and share resources with others. Children respect one

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Helping children make a positive contribution

another as individuals and genuinely miss the friends when they are not there, for example, one child was concerned that another was not present and was effectively reassured by the childminder that she was on holiday. The childminder has a positive relationships with the parents. Daily verbal exchanges keep parents informed of their child's day and progress. Effective systems enable the childminder to discuss issues confidentiality with the parents when the children are not present such as conversations after hours on the telephone. Parents have access to a range of information about the setting, although the polices are not formalised.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a secure understanding of the National Standards and ensures all persons over 16 years are suitably vetted to be in contact with the children. All legally required documentation is in place, however, confidentiality is not always maintained within the accident record and the use of blanket consents for medication is not appropriate. Polices are in place and shared with parents, but are not formalised. The childminder makes good use of the available space to provide a well balanced range of interesting play and learning opportunities to all children. Children are confident, feel at home and are able to express themselves in their surroundings. The Childminder is currently looking at the Birth to three matters framework in order to further extend the range of play and learning opportunities provided to children. The range of home based activities is effectively enhanced by the range of trips and

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Organisation

visits organised to extend their learning play. Overall, the needs of the children attending are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to improve the systems for recording children's attendance. This has been addressed by the recording of the actual times of arrival and departure of the children successfully enhancing the children's safety.

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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

There are no complaints to report. 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): • formalise all policies, maintain confidentiality within the accident record and ensure consent is obtained for each time medication is to be administered.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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