Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY273796 Unique Reference Number 20 June 2008 Inspection date Melanie Calway 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 2003, when living in Kent, and moved to King's Lynn in 2004. She lives with her partner, and two children aged 13 and 15 years in King's Lynn. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. She walks with children to a local toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time and is currently minding one child who attends on a part-time basis. The family has two dogs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children stay healthy because there are sound hygiene procedures in place. Children are encouraged to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Children can use the family bathroom on the first floor or the downstairs toilet to wash their hands where a step

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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 stool is provided to encourage their independence. The childminder uses a mat to change nappies and washes her hands afterwards to prevent the spread of infection. Toys are cleaned periodically.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's medical needs are met as the childminder has a current first aid qualification and keeps a first aid kit in the kitchen so that she can deal with minor accidents and injuries appropriately. There is a system in place for recording accidents although none have yet been recorded. There is also a system for recording medication. Prior written consent for emergency treatment or advice has not been obtained to enable the childminder to act appropriately should the need arise. Children are protected from the risk of infection as the childminder has procedures on not accepting children who are infectious.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are able to sleep and rest according to their needs. They have short sleeps in a buggy or can sleep in comfort in a travel cot in the family room. Children have some opportunities for fresh air as they walk to a local toddler group and older children can play in the garden. Children are adequately nourished. Parents provide snacks and meals and the childminder has produced a balanced menu for those parents who wish the childminder to provide food. Children are offered drinks, which are kept within easy reach in the kitchen although children cannot access them independently.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in premises which are safe and secure. The front door is kept locked and the keys kept out of children's reach. Children have room to move and play freely in the living room. The outside area is fully enclosed and the area where the swimming pool is located is protected by a locked gate. Toys are placed on the floor within easy reach of babies and toddlers to make the environment welcoming and further toys are stored in a storage unit in the living room. Toys are checked periodically for hygiene and safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe as the childminder supervises young children well and keeps them with her at all times. Access to the kitchen is restricted by a stair gate and sockets are protected to protect children. The family dogs are kept separately when young children attend. Children are kept safe on outings as the childminder takes her phone with her, which has emergency contact numbers in, although these are not recorded on children's contracts. Children are kept in buggies on outings. The childminder has not obtained the necessary permissions from parents for outings and transport. Children are protected from the risk of fire as the childminder knows how she would evacuate the property although she has not recorded her evacuation plan. Smoke alarms are in place and a fire blanket is available.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded adequately as the childminder has attended child protection training and has the necessary information on child protection procedures which she would consult if she had a concern.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Enjoying and achieving

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy a satisfactory range of activities. They attend a local toddler group to help them to socialise and older children can play in the garden. Inside toys are stored in boxes in a storage

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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 unit so children can help themselves. A suitable range of toys for babies and toddlers is put on the floor and placed within easy reach. Babies can crawl around to explore their environment and the childminder supports them as they try to stand up.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder sits with children, at their level, and involves herself in their play, giving them smiles and eye contact and chatting to them to encourage their language development. She chats to them and asks them questions such as 'what noise does this one make?'. Babies respond by smiling and chuckling. Children experiment with cause and effect toys and bang bricks together to make sounds. Children are given praise to foster their self-esteem and as a result are happy and contented in the childminder's care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children under three are cared for appropriately and given comfort and reassurance.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are met as the childminder talks to parents about their care and routines. They are beginning to learn about the wider world as some resources reflect other cultures and lifestyles. Children are given appropriate support. The childminder would accept children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and would work with parents to ensure that all children's differing needs could be met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well in the childminder's care as she has consistent boundaries so that children know what is expected of them. She has some clear and simple house rules which she shares with parents so that they are aware of her approach. She uses positive strategies, such as distraction, to manage children's behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are cared for satisfactorily because she has a friendly relationship with parents. Information about the children's care is exchanged verbally on a daily basis and the childminder has a folder of information, including policies and procedures, evidence of checks, insurance and training certificates, which is shown to parents when they start. Children settle in well and are able to start gradually. The childminder has a complaints procedure in place and has set up the complaints record in line with regulations.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. Children's care is compromised because some records which are required for the efficient and safe management of the provision are not in place. The childminder has not obtained the necessary written permissions from parents for outings, transport and for seeking emergency advice or treatment to enable her to act appropriately in an emergency. She does not keep an accurate record of children's hours of attendance. In addition, she is not meeting the conditions of her registration because the registration certificate is not displayed where parents can see it and this is a breach of regulations.

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Organisation

However, she and her household have the necessary clearances to ensure that she is suitable to work with children and evidence of these is kept in a folder, which she shows to parents. She has recently undertaken training in first aid and child protection to develop her skills. Children are well supervised and her space and resources are adequately organised to care for children. Overall children's needs are not met.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was found to be inadequate and four actions were set;

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Improvements since the last inspection

to complete an appropriate first aid course; to ensure that children do not have access to the swimming pool; to ensure a knowledge of and compliance with local child protection procedures; to develop systems for dealing with complaints and knowledge of the requirements with regard to complaints.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At this inspection the above actions were found to be met, improving the safety and welfare of children. However, further actions have been set at this inspection with relation to documentation for the safe and efficient management of the provision.

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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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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: • meet the conditions of registration by displaying the registration certificate • ensure that records which are required for the efficient and safe management of the provision are in place, in particular, written permissions for outings, transport and for seeking emergency medical treatment or advice • maintain an accurate daily record of the names of children being looked after and their hours of attendance. 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

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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