Childminder in Bolton

Inspection report for early years provision

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315683 Unique Reference Number 15 May 2008 Inspection date Ann Bamford 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 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 offers care from her home in the Harwood area of Bolton. The home is close to all local amenities including schools shops and a library. She has been registered since 1999.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Children have use of the whole of the ground floor of the home, plus one bedroom and bathroom on the first floor. There is a rear garden.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

Care is available from 07.45 until 17.00 each Wednesday Thursday and Friday during school term times only.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She lives with her husband and three children aged eight, 14, and 17. The family has a pet budgerigar.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

At the time of inspection there were three children on roll. The childminder attends various carer and toddler groups on a regular basis.

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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 good. Children's good health is maintained as a result of the childminder's careful attention to their individual needs. Information from parents is used very effectively alongside careful consideration to developing children's awareness of how to keep their bodies healthy. The childminder usually maintains children's good health through the careful administration of medication when required. However, the current pro forma for recording the administration of medication does not include a format for parents to acknowledge that the medicine has been given.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are developing very good skills in managing their own hygiene routines as the childminder encourages them to use the toilet and carry out routines, such as hand washing with increasing independence. They are protected from cross infection as the childminder wipes surfaces with anti-bacterial spray before use, and ensures that children who are ill do not attend through the written sick children policy.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder involves children in the planning, preparing and selection of food. As a result, children are developing a robust awareness of how to eat in a way that keeps their bodies healthy. The childminder cooks food, such as home made dinners, to ensure that children eat a well balanced diet. Children refresh themselves when playing out in warm weather as they drink the water laid out ready for them.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have very regular and exciting opportunities to develop their physical skills as they play outdoors or go on walks each day. Children develop good coordination skills as the childminder skilfully challenges children to take the next step in development by, for example, encouraging them to climb the steps of a slide appropriately.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's good health is maintained as the childminder plans her day very effectively to take account of each individual child's sleep patterns. This ensures that children have times in the day to rest their bodies.

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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 very welcoming and secure environment. The well ordered environment is planned very effectively to care for small children. Children have access to an extensive range of activities which promote their development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an extensive range of safety equipment which she usually uses in a skilled way to encourage children to recognise risks. However, the fastener for the rear gate was insecure as a result of a child making successful attempts to undo it and this compromises safety. Children are developing an understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe as a result of the childminder's constant attention to safety in the home. The regular risk assessing of the play environment and the involvement of children in looking at it enhances their awareness of hazards. The involvement of children in taking action, such as tidying away before new toys come out enhances their awareness of safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are developing an excellent awareness of reducing risks to their safety when they are on outings as a result of the childminder's involvement of them when using safety equipment,

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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 such as car seats. Her skilled discussions with children foster their understanding of the risks, for example, when travelling to activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a very clear understanding of her responsibilities in protecting children. Her confidence to act in the event of a concern relating to child protection ensures that children are completely safe in her care. Her discussions with children about the need to check the identity of visitors enhances their understanding of safety.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are purposefully engaged in exciting activities during all their time spent in the setting. The childminder has a very clear knowledge and understanding of child development. She makes highly effective use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework to plan activities which develop individual children's skills and enjoyment. She creatively plans activities with all children's individual needs in mind, such as imaginative play, which allows children of all ages to be involved. The childminder has a very strong knowledge of what each child can do and uses every opportunity to extend individual children's knowledge and understanding. Children develop very strong skills for life, such as counting or recognising letters as the childminder uses everyday practical opportunities, stories and imaginative play to give children opportunities to practise these skills.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder consistently plays alongside children offering them additional information, such as how to put on the dressing up clothing properly. Her imagination transmits to the children as they clearly enjoy the game they are playing. Children are developing the ability to communicate effectively as the childminder consistently encourages them to be aware of the needs and likes of others as they wait for her to finish speaking before she goes to help them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has a very creative approach to what children do whilst in her care. She imaginatively encourages children to develop self-help skills through taking part in aspects of life in the home. Children develop manipulative skills through tidying and helping to organise equipment. They become competent learners and skilful communicators as they play imaginative games, such as taking the bear for a ride, negotiating the obstacles in the way. The enjoyment that children experience when engaging with these tasks gives them a thirst for learning and an enjoyment of developing self-help skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children experience a sense of belonging as the childminder has a room set aside solely for their use and makes effective use of the garden for outdoor play. They have their own space to put their belongings. They are developing a strong awareness of the wider world as they play with toys and equipment which reflects the diverse needs of our society, and learn about different dress customs as they play with a variety of different types of costumes from different areas of the world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has good experience of meeting children's individual needs. She is confident when gathering information in order to assess how she offers care. The clear structure of introductory visits for children allows parents and the childminder to work together to plan care before a child is left in the setting. She works very effectively with parents to provide care

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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 which follows the individual child's routine. This enhances small children's experience of consistent care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has experience of caring for children who have learning difficulties or disabilities. She has an awareness that children have individual needs, and she is confident to recognise if children are experiencing difficulties.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are developing responsible and considerate behaviour as a result of the childminder's skilful encouragement of children to consider each other's needs. Children of mixed ages play harmoniously together as a result of the childminder's careful planning of play resources and equipment. Children are polite and behave very well as a result of the specific praise they receive from the childminder for sharing their toys and time, with both adults and other children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are cared for in line with parental wishes. The childminder makes good use of written information about how she offers care through verbal feedback on a daily basis. The childminder uses the information she gathers from parents about children's needs creatively to offer care which is individualised. She enjoys good relationships with parents, making effective use of contracts and written permission for aspects of care, such as use of specific equipment or outings. There is a complaints procedure and a form for recording any complaints, should there be any.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder organises her home and her time very effectively to provide care for small children. She takes steps to ensure that adults who are in the home are suitable to be around young children. She makes effective use of her childminder training to care for children. The childminder makes good use of records to support safe care as all records are current and easily available for inspection. She makes effective use of books to record accidents and incidents. However, though the accident record is countersigned by parents, it does not yet maintain confidentiality.

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Organisation

Children are developing an awareness of the need to be organised as the childminder discusses and involves them in the planning of time. They can predict when activities, such as snack time or trips out to activities are likely to occur, through the childminder's skilful use of routines and gentle reminders.

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Organisation

The childminder's commitment to providing a good service means that she is able to assess where her strengths and weaknesses are and enters discussions about how to develop her practice accordingly.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, an action was raised requiring the childminder to complete an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children. The childminder attended this training in July 2007. During the inspection she indicated how she intends to keep this certificate current by attending further training before the expiration of the certificate. This action has improved the childminders knowledge of current first aid practice and has therefore improved the safety of her care for children.

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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

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 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): • continue to develop the record of medication to ensure that parents have the opportunity to acknowledge the administration • review the safety of the gate to the rear garden • continue to develop recording of accidents to ensure that each record maintains confidentiality.

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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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