Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY104287 Unique Reference Number 06 May 2008 Inspection date Lisa Patterson 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 satisfactory. 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 was registered in 2001. She lives with her partner and children aged seven and five years to the north of Lancaster. The whole ground floor, excluding the front room, is accessible to minded children. Bathroom and baby sleeping facilities are available on the first floor and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play, with concrete and a raised grassed area.

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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 one child. Family pets include a rabbit.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder holds a City and Guilds certificate in Family and Community Care.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children stay healthy because the childminder follows appropriate hygiene guidelines. She has certificates in first aid and food hygiene, which ensure her knowledge is current. However, the

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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 first aid box is insufficiently stocked and this puts children at risk should they require medical attention. Children learn to understand simple hygienic practices through being encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times. They enjoy regular physical activity and fresh air through walking to and from school, taking walks in the local parks and thoroughly enjoy playing football in the childminder's back garden. This promotes a healthy lifestyle.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children receive a balanced diet of home cooked food which is prepared in accordance with their parents' wishes and their individual needs. The childminder provides all meals if required and children enjoy sausage and mash, pasta bake and jacket potatoes. Meal times are a social occasion with minded children eating with the household members. This provides them with a sense of belonging.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a welcoming environment in which toys and resources are easily accessible and displayed in see-through storage drawers. They are able to independently select from the resources on offer and displays of their activities and commercial posters decorate the walls. Regular checks of equipment are carried out. Suitable risk assessments of the premises are not carried out, which results in hazards not being identified and removed prior to children accessing areas, such as the garden. This presents a risk to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn to keep themselves safe through discussions with the childminder about the green cross code and staying safe on the trampoline. Children are fully supervised by the childminder, who interacts with them whether inside or outside. This maintains their safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded because the childminder has a sufficient knowledge of the issues surrounding child protection and has completed training to increase her knowledge. A procedure is in place outlining her duties should she have any concerns, although this lacks detail in places.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are settled, have fun and show an interest in the activities on offer because the childminder has developed an understanding of their likes and dislikes through informal discussions during play. She shows a genuine interest in the children and knows when to introduce other resources to maintain interest, however, children are often distracted from the activities on offer by the constant background television. Children self-select from easily accessible resources, which are rotated to maintain motivation. They are stimulated by a satisfactory range of activities on offer, including finding out about the habitats of ants and worms, playing football, completing jigsaws and taking walks to the park and to feed the ducks. This increases their knowledge and understanding of the world around them and promotes enjoyment.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are appropriately met because the childminder works closely with parents. Children have access to a sufficient amount of resources promoting an awareness of diversity, although these are not always made accessible to children. They also enjoy additional

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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 activities at toddler groups regarding special days and festivals, which encourages an awareness of the diverse nature of society.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well. They have fun with the childminder but are aware of the boundaries in place to keep them safe and learn about the moral codes of society. They respond well to requests of the childminder who gives reasons behind certain rules, for example, not taking balls on the trampoline, and they receive praise and encouragement for a job well done. This increases their self-esteem and promotes positive behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are cared for according to parents' wishes because the childminder works with them prior to their child arriving and verbal daily discussions take place to feed back any important information about the child's day. A comprehensive policy document is in place which is shared with parents and keeps them informed of the childminder's responsibilities and their own. This promotes partnership with parents and ensures continuity between home and childminder. The childminder has a limited knowledge of the procedure to follow should a parent make a complaint and although the complaints procedure has been updated, it still lacks detail.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has an acceptable regard for the wellbeing of the children in her care and, as such, attends training to ensure her knowledge base is current. The home is suitably organised to allow children freedom of movement around activities and between the inside and outside areas. There is a flexible routine which gives a clear structure to the day while encouraging children to select independently from the resources on offer. This increases their self-esteem.

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Organisation

All regulatory required documentation is in place and is generally maintained appropriately. Attendance records are not, however, completed when the child arrives and leaves, which results in records which are not always up to date and does not promote safety.

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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

During the last inspection the childminder agreed to rectify six time limited actions relating to hygiene, equality of opportunity, safeguarding, and documentation and procedures. Hygiene standards regarding baby and child hygiene are satisfactory, and there is a range of resources and activities on offer which promote equality of opportunity. Documentation, including accident, medication, car insurance and attendance registers, and procedures regarding notifying Ofsted of any significant changes have been updated and are appropriately maintained. Training in safeguarding has been attended and there is a written complaints statement. This ensures the childminder works within the boundaries of the parents' wishes, the child's needs and her legal obligations, and risks to children are minimised.

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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 satisfactory. 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): • ensure the first aid box is fully stocked at all times • review the safeguarding procedure to ensure all relevant details are included • ensure risk assessments identify all hazards and are used to prevent risk to children, particularly in the outside area • ensure understanding of the complaints procedure is in line with current regulations and that parents are aware they can access the record at any time • record hours of attendance in line with regulations.

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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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