Childminder in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 303885 Inspection date 19 January 2006 Inspector Ron Goldsmith

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 has been registered since June 1978. She lives with her husband in a house close to Chester city centre. Most areas of the ground floor are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have three pet dogs. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION

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 satisfactory. Children are content and responsive because the childminder follows satisfactory routines, which give them time for both rest and activity according to their individual needs. She helps children familiarise themselves with the setting, holding the baby until properly awake, and then feeding with a bottle. Children have regular exercise and use resources which promote their physical development and a healthy lifestyle. For example, they take a walk or play outside daily. The childminder creates space for babies to crawl and provides equipment for them to hold on to when learning to listen to different sounds. She praises their physical achievements, getting the baby to smile and make responses to sounds, which encourages them to make further efforts. Satisfactory hygiene practices and food safety procedures are used to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of infection so children stay healthy, but there is no written acknowledgement from

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Helping children to be healthy

parents that there are pets in the setting. All surfaces toys and equipment are kept clean. Children enjoy their food and are encouraged to eat healthily through the provision of a well balanced diet of nourishing meals and snacks, provided in conjunction with parents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy playing in a room set aside for childminding which is satisfactorily organised to make the best use of space. Equipment is clean, safe and suitable for the children attending, with an adequate range to support most aspects of their development and safely organised for ease of access. Children remain safe and well in the childminder's care. She takes appropriate steps to isolate hazards and has suitable procedures for preventing accidents so that children remain safe indoors. Small children are kept secure within the playroom and out of the kitchen. Although she has some limited first aid training the childminder has not updated her first aid certificate. The childminder also has limited information about child protection and the procedures she must follow so that children are suitably safeguarded. She has some knowledge of signs and symptoms of abuse and knows how to seek advice should

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

she have a concern about a child's welfare, but is not fully conversant with local procedures for making referrals and working together with other agencies.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children participate in a suitable balance of activities which are organised to promote

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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 their development. For example, they look at books together and visit places of interest within the local community and the local school. Children play with some resources which stimulate their imagination and creativity such as cars, dolls and animals, with which they can create their own worlds and there is some equipment for them to act out experiences. They enjoy drawing and painting. The childminder gets to know children's likes and dislikes. Babies learn to communicate well. They enjoy the warm interaction with the childminder; listening and responding happily as they share books and look at pictures. They have some experiences of different textures through textured books which they enjoy hearing rustle. Some adult-led activities do not easily engage children's interest. Children's capacity and scope for creative and explorative play is

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

not fully developed. The childminder is not familiar with the Birth to three matters curriculum.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Babies are at ease with the childminder who gives them cuddles and emotional support, which develops their self-esteem and sense of belonging. Children learn social skills, such as sharing and taking turns. The childminder explains to older children about the consequences of their behaviour, so that they learn what is right and wrong. Children begin to learn to value each others similarities and differences through satisfactory interactions between themselves and the childminder, who treats them with equal concern and has regard for their individual needs, interests and capabilities. However, there are limited resources with positive images of gender, culture and disability to create a welcome for all, and the childminder has no specific knowledge about special needs and disabilities to draw on to carry out her equal opportunities policy for the benefit of all children. Children benefit from the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder's professional approach to working with parents to ensure that they stay safe and healthy.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is experienced in childcare. She provides a suitable range of experiences to encourage children to communicate and express themselves, but has yet to use the Birth to three matters framework to develop ideas to help children aged under 3 to fully explore and investigate their environment with all their senses. The childminder has a satisfactory organisational approach to her childminding. She plans ahead and has routines which help children feel secure. She keeps her records up-to-date and reasonably maintained, sharing her records appropriately with parents for children's safety and welfare. She makes satisfactory use of facilities, both in her

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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 own home and in the community, to provide a variety of experiences for children. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to ensure that children are under her direct supervision at all times. She now ensures this by being with the children at all times.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since April 2004 there has been one complaint about the provider. Ofsted received a concern in relation to National Standard 6 - Safety and National Standard 11 - Behaviour. A visit was made by a Childcare inspector to investigate the concerns. An action was raised and satisfactorily met. The provider remains qualified for registration. 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): • improve knowledge of local child protection procedures and the Sure Start guidance called 'What to do if you are worried a child is being abused' • use the Birth to three matters framework as a guide to further develop resources and ideas for children to explore their environment using all their senses and become competent learners • complete a first aid which includes training for in first aid for infants and young children.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and

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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 concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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