Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY354538 Unique Reference Number 07 July 2008 Inspection date Rachel Ruth Britten Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2007. He lives with his wife and three children under eight years in Fazakerley, Liverpool. The childminder works alongside his wife who is also a registered childminder. There are currently four children on their roll. The whole of the ground floor of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children and attends the local Children's centre where the childminding network meets. He is a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children's health is satisfactory because the childminder reminds children to wash their hands after using the toilet and before handling food and keeps the home, equipment and toys adequately clean. The childminder does not talk about health issues routinely with children, but children have access to clean towels and soap to wash their hands after using the toilet or after a nappy change. They wear sun hats and use sun cream according to their skin type when

p.2

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 they are playing outside. Children have access to drinking water in their covered cups as they play and this is given in preference to squash when children will drink it. Fresh air and exercise are offered each day when children play in the garden or are taken to local parks and playgrounds.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

Procedures and training to prevent children from becoming ill are mostly suitable. The childminder has a paediatric first aid certificate and the first aid supplies are ready to use. Forms supplied by the insurance company are used for medication administration. However, parents have not yet signed their consent for the childminder to obtain emergency medical advice or treatment should their child require this because this has been overlooked in the documentation. In addition, parents are not always asked to sign medication records in acknowledgement of what has been given. This compromises children's health in emergency situations and when medication is being given.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a good diet and eat nutritious fruits and vegetables at most meals. Parents supply food for babies up to about the age of one year and the co-childminder records in children's daily diaries what they have eaten and what bottles they have had. This works satisfactorily when both childminders are working in the house together, but the daily record is not completed when this childminder is at home caring for children while his wife is out with other minded children. Meals are blended for those that are weaning. Children usually sit to the low table and eat together with the childminder to learn the social aspect of mealtimes. However, children seldom participate in helping to prepare food or trying to grow it in order for them to learn these skills.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are kept adequately safe and secure indoors because the childminder has set out the environment suitably. He makes proper use of stair gates and fire guards and keeps the fire blanket accessible in the kitchen. There are checked smoke detectors in place upstairs and downstairs and a carbon monoxide detector in the lounge. The childminder makes use of the long lounge/dining room and a conservatory for play and resources are spread around these rooms. However, some table and floor space is unavailable for play because of the amount of household effects in boxes and piles around these rooms. In addition, some toys are not well organised or stored to help children to see what there is to play with and encourage them to set up or clear away games themselves. This somewhat reduces children's play opportunities.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn to keep themselves safe indoors because they are allowed to play independently with everything around them and can move around the downstairs at will except for the kitchen, where they are always supervised. A one-year-old sleeps on the sofa and cushions are placed to ensure that he does not roll off. However, the child is able to go out of the patio door unsupervised where the concrete steps are steep and hazardous because the patio door has been left open. In addition, accident records are not all signed by parents to show that they have been told about what happened and any treatment. Nevertheless, the childminder teaches all children to walk and cross roads safely, using designated crossings wherever possible. An emergency escape plan has also been devised and is practised with children so that they know what to if there is an emergency.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected from abuse because the childminder is undertaking a comprehensive safeguarding training course and is confident that he is able to put appropriate child protection procedures into practice if necessary. There is a copy of the child protection policy supplied by

p.3

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 the insurance company. In addition, the flowchart about what to do if worried that a child is being abused, is displayed in the hall on the childminders' notice board.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and enjoy being with the childminder and his wife co-childminder. He is adequately attentive to the one-year-old present while other children are taken to the local children's centre on the morning of the inspection. Within the home the childminder provides domestic role play, construction activities, messy play using paint and play dough, and plenty of musical puzzles and toys. The childminder cuddles and sings to the one-year-old because he is tired and he cuddles him to sleep.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder describes how puzzles, shape sorters, children's computers and posters are used to provide children with increasing challenge and to help them to learn about colours, shapes, numbers and letters. Children's physical coordination is also fostered as they use the see-saw, bouncy castle and slide in the garden or the musical footprints mat and skipping rope. Cards and arts and crafts provide enjoyable creative activities to promote children's imaginative skills and small motor movements. However, the childminder has not organised suitable toys or activities to stimulate the one-year-old present and he wanders a little aimlessly after his breakfast before his sleep.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy trips out for physical and social play, discovering nature and playing at local parks and attending toddler groups at the local children's centre to mix with others. This provides them with a wider variety of resources and equipment to use too. Children's art and craft work and photos of them at play are retained in individual files as evidence of what they can do but this is put together by the co-childminder. This means that this childminder is less sure of what the plans are for the next steps in each child's development and he tends to take less responsibility for promoting each one's progress.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children in the setting have developed an adequate sense of belonging and feel included because the childminder and his wife co-childminder share their attention with the minded children and get domestic tasks done between them. The childminder expects and teaches good manners and behaviour, but gives children plenty of opportunity to devise their own group games and be independent. Children mostly behave well and have close attachments with the childminder, whom they enjoy having as a male role model. The incident record has not been used thus far to record any incidents involving behaviour. The childminder ensures that each child's individual needs for rest and sleep are met and that they can enjoy one to one time on occasions with the childminder. He cuddles and bonds well with babies and toddlers, attending gently to their needs for comfort, food, drink and nappy changing. Children enjoy a

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

few books, role play equipment, dressing up and dolls which promote other cultures and disabilities and they access some multicultural activities at local children's groups.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s needs are met through mainly verbal partnership with parents. The childminder is flexible to take and collect children from their homes if necessary. Certificates and insurances are displayed for both childminders on a board in the hallway for parents to view. Parent agreements are in place but these are with the co-childminder and do not name this childminder. This means that it is unclear that both childminders actually take responsibility to care for each

p.4

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 child on roll. In addition, necessary child information to enable consistent individual care is not in place for one of the children on roll. Nevertheless, parents are given the opportunity to make written feedback about the service using questionnaires devised by the childminders. The questionnaires ask parents to grade the standard of food and care, make any observations about their child's progress since placement, and detail any additional requests. Three returned questionnaires indicate good satisfaction with the food and care and a daily feedback diary was started at the request of one parent.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has a sound regard for the well-being of all children. He has attended courses relating to childminding including first aid and child protection. Adult members of the household have been vetted. The childminder does not critically evaluate his childminding, but is aware of the need to maintain accident, medication, incident and complaint records although these are usually left to his co-childminder to complete. A daily register of attendance is being maintained but this is not completed as children arrive and depart. This compromises children's safety in an emergency because it is not clearly documented exactly who is on the premises.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder's procedures work adequately in practice to promote children’s safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. He works together with his co-childminder to ensure that children are collected from school and are able to experience enjoyment and stimulation. Certificates are clearly displayed on the hall, including how to contact Ofsted. However, all the policies for the child care are copies of general ones suggested by the insurance company and do not reflect how the childminders actually deliver their service.

p.5

Organisation

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

p.5

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. 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.

p.5

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

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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 that parents give prior written permission for any necessary emergency medical treatment or advice and written consent before any medication is given • ensure that children are well supervised at all times • ensure that accident and medicine records are always signed in acknowledgement by parents • ensure that necessary child details are obtained and records consistently kept by both childminders to ensure continuity of care • ensure that written parent agreements for the child care include both childminders providing the service • ensure that the daily attendance register is always accurate and up to date as children arrive and depart.

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6