Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY364038 Unique Reference Number 14 July 2008 Inspection date Judith Anne Kerr 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 2007. He lives and works with his wife who is also a registered childminder and their adult son and grandson in the Eccles area of Manchester. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house, cellar and first floor front bedroom and bathroom are used for childminding. 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 six children at any one time and is currently caring for a total of 10 children on a variety of part time placements. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has an appropriate sick child policy which protects children from the spread of infection and helps them stay healthy. He has an up to date first aid certificate so if children have an accident while in his care he can provide the appropriate treatment. The childminder's

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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 house is clean and suitably maintained. Children are starting to understand the importance of keeping themselves healthy. They develop routines, such as washing their hands at appropriate times of the day. Procedures are in place for recording accidents and medication, but parents are not asked for written consent for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment. This poses a risk to children's well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a variety of activities in the fresh air which contribute to their good health. They have daily exercise as they walk to and from school and love playing in the garden digging in the sand, playing with wheeled toys, balancing, climbing and swinging. Trips to the park provide opportunities for large scale equipment and ball games.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder works closely with parents to ensure he is aware of and meets the children's individual dietary and health needs. He ensures the children are provided with a variety of healthy snacks and meals. Children are provided with regular drinks throughout the day and gently reminded to drink extra during hot weather or when they are running around. The childminder follows the children's home routines and is sensitive to their individual needs in relation to feeding and sleeping.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children move confidently around the childminder's house. They safely access age appropriate toys from the good selection of well maintained resources available to them. These cover all areas of development, are stimulating and provide challenges for the children being cared for.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Some safety measures are in place to reduce the risk of accidental injuries to children. For example, the emergency evacuation plan is practised with the children to ensure they understand what to do in the event of a fire. However, there is no smoke alarm fitted on the first floor of the premises and the appropriate public liability insurance is not in place. This poses a risk to children's safety. The childminder supervises the children closely while allowing them to develop skills and understand routines that enable them to keep themselves safe. The childminder helps the children to understand the procedures for crossing the road safely, using the crossing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a satisfactory understanding of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures to protect children from harm and abuse. He is able to recognise potential signs and symptoms of abuse and knows who to contact in the event he has concerns about a child in his care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children are provided with a wide range of age appropriate activities which encourage their development in all areas. The childminder dedicates time to playing and talking to the children. He shares warm, caring relationships with them and ensures they are happy, content and relaxed in his home. They are confident, able to choose their own activities and become engrossed in their play. The children have fun together playing in the garden with older children supporting younger ones by pushing them on the swing.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children learn to match, recognise and name colours and shapes, such as red, blue and yellow, a triangle and circle. Early counting skills are introduced through everyday routines as the childminder counts the number of cups on the table. The childminder promotes children's

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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 early communication skills. He encourages young children to learn new words and sounds and sings songs, such as 'The wheels on the bus', this reinforces early speech patterns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children access a range of arts and crafts activities, such as card making, play dough and collage. They make mobiles of fish from paint and tissue paper, flowers from hand painting and straws and mice with string for their tails. Dressing up as pirates, nurses and fire men encourages the children to develop their imaginative skills. Older children particularly enjoy games of table football and listening to their music. The children plant tomatoes, cress and beans in the garden. They water the plants and watch them grow. This helps them to develop an appreciation of living things.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder treats children as individuals, with care and respect. Children become aware of diversity and develop their understanding of others as he talks to them about different cultures and festivals, such as Diwali. They access toys and books that reflect positive images of the world in which they live and use a map of the world on the wall to make connections about where each child and their extended family comes from. All children are welcomed into an inclusive environment where the childminder demonstrates a positive approach to their care and ensures their individual needs are met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Daily discussions with parents help to ensure that children's individual needs are continuously met and consistency of care maintained. He discusses what children have eaten, their general well-being, where they have been, who they have played with and what they have or have not enjoyed. Some of the required records are not maintained. For example, there are no contracts are in place between the childminder and parents. This means that parents may not be fully informed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has appropriate expectations of children and clear strategies for managing behaviour. These are shared with parents during the admission procedure. The children behave well. They share, take turns and support one another. For example, they help to clear a space to make room for dancing.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from a suitably organised environment which enables them to develop a sense of independence and confidence. For example, they know where to put their belongings, help themselves to toys and move around from one room to another. All adults with access to the children are suitably vetted and ratios of adults to children are maintained. This helps to ensure children's welfare is promoted.

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Organisation

The required documentation relating to the continuity of care for the children is not fully in place. The daily register is not accurately maintained to demonstrate how ratios are consistently met. The childminder displays his certificate of registration in order to give confidence to parents.

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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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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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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 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): • request written parental permission for the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment • provide smoke alarms at every level of the house which are maintained in working condition and ensure the appropriate insurance is in place • maintain a daily record of the children looked after on the premises, their hours of attendance and the names of the persons who looked after them and maintain a written agreement for each child.

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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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