Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY347348 Unique Reference Number 03 June 2008 Inspection date Elenora Griffin 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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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 2007. She lives by herself in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding four children under five who attend on various days. The childminder attends a local toddler group and takes children to local parks. The childminder has one dog and two cats.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminders Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from being cared for in generally clean and welcoming environment. The childminder follows a daily cleaning routine and cleans toys and play resources on a monthly

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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 basis. However, this does not fully protect children from cross-infection because throughout each day younger children put shared toys in their mouths as they explore them. Children are beginning to learn about personal hygiene through the daily routine as the childminder encourages them to wash their hands before meals. Children receive appropriate care if they are sick or have an accident. The childminder has a written sick child policy in place that she shares with parents and she holds a current first aid qualification. Children enjoy continuity of care because accidents are clearly recorded and shared with parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Meals times are social occasions when children enjoy sitting together with the childminder to eat. Children receive regular drinks and meals throughout the day. The childminder strives to provide a balanced diet for children and encourages them to eat fruit and vegetables. Children's individual dietary requirements and health needs are appropriately met because the childminder works with parents to ensure that these are adhered to. Children benefit from weekly opportunities to use the garden for outside play. They enjoy regular trips to a local toddler group, walks into the local area and occasional trips to the park.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Children's safety is compromised because the childminder has not taken proper precautions in order to minimise hazards to children. There are no guards in place to protect children from potential hazards posed by the fireplace that is accessible to them in the front room. In the play room free standing shelving units, containing large boxes of resources, stand above child-height and have the potential to fall forward. In the garden a tall slide rests, unsecured on concrete paving and the childminder does not follow adequate procedures in order to ensure that children are safe at all times when using this, particularly when there are many young children playing together on various pieces of equipment. When the children have access to the kitchen at lunch time the childminder does not ensure that they are fully protected from hazards associated with food preparation. For example, the childminder leaves a child in

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

unsecured seating in the kitchen while a pot of water is boiling on an outer ring of the cooker with the pot's handle facing into the kitchen, as she puts another child down for a nap in a neighbouring room. Children and their families do not benefit from continued public liability insurance being in place as the childminder has allowed this to lapse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit from the childminder's basic knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. She understands the need to record any concerns she may have regarding children and that she may need to share information with outside agencies such as Ofsted. However, children are not fully safeguarded from harm and neglect. This is because the childminder does not have any information in place regarding local child protection procedures. Therefore, she is unable to ensure that her child protection procedures comply with those of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and she does not know who to contact in social services or the police if she has concerns about a child.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children enjoy having ample space in which to spread out with activities. There are sufficient toys, activities and resources for children to play with and they are able to access a few of these independently. Children are comfortable resting on the carpeted floor as they watch children's television programmes and there is a cot available for children who sleep during the day. Children are learning how to keep themselves safe in the event of a fire because the childminder practises the emergency evacuation procedure with them on a monthly basis.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home. They play contently alongside one another with trains. Children are becoming imaginative and make up their own noises and words as they move toys and themselves around in different ways. Children are beginning to make choices for themselves as the childminder offers some choice about what activities they want to do next and there are a few resources that children are able to access for themselves in the play room. Although children enjoy watching children's television shows and are able to sit still and concentrate, they can be inactive for some time while the television is on. During this time the childminder does interact with the children for short periods as she encourages them to touch different parts of their bodies. Children are becoming familiar with their facial features, head, feet and hands, and are beginning to learn the names for other parts of their bodies such

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing positive relationships with the childminder. They enjoy cuddles with her when they become upset and their personal comforters are always close to hand for them. Children enjoy sitting with the childminder to listen to stories and they become increasingly attentive and interactive when they are able to clearly see the pictures in the books. Children are friendly and like to talk about what they are doing and the things that they like. They enjoy bringing activities from home to do with the childminder. For example, children bring in cake mixtures which they cook with the childminder. The childminder provides opportunities for children to sing and dance and there are jigsaws, threading activities and colouring resources that she takes out for children to play with. Regular trips to the local toddler group broadens the range of activities and resources that children are able to explore.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are well behaved and polite. They co-operatively help to tidy up and with support from the childminder use 'please' and 'thank you' throughout the daily routine. Children are appropriately supported by the childminder who provides lots of praise and encouragement, and this helps to develop their self-esteem. Children are beginning to learn about diversity and the world around them through using resources that are occasionally borrowed from the toy library. However, children's understanding is limited because there are very few resources available for them at other times.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a positive attitude towards creating an inclusive environment in which she strives to work with parents to ensure that children's individual needs are supported, to include any learning difficulties and/or disabilities that children may have. The childminder's information folder ensures that parents are appropriately informed about the care that the she offers. Children enjoy having their individual routines followed because the childminder works closely with parents to ensure that these are met. Children benefit from continuity of care because the childminder completes daily diary sheets that she shares with parents, and information is effectively shared between home and the childminder through daily chats.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. Children's safety is compromised because the childminder has not ensured that the organisation of care for children adequately keeps them safe from harm. She has not taken proper precautions

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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 in order to minimise potential hazards, she has not ensured that public liability insurance is in place and does not have procedures approved by the Local Safeguarding Children Board in place.

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Organisation

Children's individual care routines are appropriately supported on a daily basis. The childminder ensures that all necessary information and consents are in place, and she provide parents with written information about the care that she provides. Children benefit from the childminder having completed a Level 2 qualification in childcare, a childminding course, first aid and food safety training. The childminder is keen to improve the care provides and plans to access further training in the future.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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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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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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, the registered person must take the following actions: • ensure that positive steps are taken to promote safety within the setting and that proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents, in particular take steps to ensure that hazards associated with; the fire place in the living room; the shelving units in the play room; food preparation when children are present and children's use of equipment in the garden, are minimised • ensure that positive steps are taken to promote safety within the setting through ensuring that public liability insurance is in place • ensure that information is in place so that child protection procedures can be put into practice in compliance with local child protection procedures approved by the Local Safeguarding Children Board. These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

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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 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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