Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY246684 Inspection date 07 December 2005 Inspector Jan Clarke-Potter

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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 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 has been registered since 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged five and eight in a residential area of Wellingborough. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding including bedroom two on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five at various times. She transports children to local nurseries and schools. The family has no pets.

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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 The childminder attends a local childminding support group on a regular basis, and is a member of the National childminding Association. She is a Link Support Worker and attends childminding information sessions to help train new childminders and is also a Vacancy Co-ordinator.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a clean and hygienic environment. Children learn the importance of good hygiene practices through daily routines, and they know that they must wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. The childminder follows current health and hygiene procedures. Her sick child policy ensures that parents understand her procedures. All permissions are in place and she has a current first aid certificate, this ensures children's health and safety is promoted well. The childminder provides a wide range of nutritious and home-cooked meals, snacks and drinks, that are suitable, healthy and nutritious. Children are given a choice of drinks such as juice, milk, or water. The childminder encourages and motivates the children to eat healthily by providing a varied and balanced diet which includes fresh fruit and vegetables, proteins and carbohydrates. Therefore children are well

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Helping children to be healthy

nourished. The childminder uses the 'Birth to three matters' guidance to provide a good range of physical play experiences for babies and young children. All are able to rest and be active according to their needs. Children enjoy a balanced range of physical activities indoors and outdoors. They take part in planned activities, such as visits within the local community, and play on a good variety of outdoor toys in the back garden which helps them to develop control of their bodies and extend their large physical skills.

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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 welcoming, secure and safe indoor and outdoor environment. The children are well supervised and cared for with the childminder working hard to minimise risks both inside and outside the home. Children's risk of accidental injuries are minimised in the setting because the childminder has an understanding of safety and security precautions, with most safety aspects covered. She undertakes regular risk assessments and fire evacuations and ensures the front door is kept secured so that children cannot leave the premises unattended. The childminder keeps children safe on outings by explaining to them about keeping safe outside with regard to road safety, and she supervises children when they play in the back garden on the play equipment. Children use a wide range of safe, good quality, developmentally appropriate resources which are well-organised to encourage independent access in the kitchen and living rooms. Car documents are

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

available for parents to see in her portfolio and are currently up-to-date.

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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 The childminder understands her responsibilities and knows whom to contact if she has concerns about child protection issues, she has developed her awareness of the local Area Child Protection Committee and Department of Health booklets, and as a result children are fully protected.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children develop very positive relationships with the childminder who has a friendly, caring manner and knows each child well. The childminder ensures that babies' individual needs are met, as they settle well because their routines are maintained. The childminder discusses care routines with parents to ensure she has all the information she needs to care for them properly. Children are independent and are able to choose easily between a wide range of books, toys and activities. They develop fine motor skills when they take part in a variety of drawing and colouring, and dress up, acting out role play scenarios. Young children particularly enjoy singing nursery rhymes and sharing books with the childminder. The childminder uses the 'Birth to three matters' framework to help plan activities for under threes and incorporates the interests of the older children. Children show interest in what they do when they play together harmoniously, joining

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

in with musical activities such as singing nursery rhymes and playing simple musical instruments. They explore a variety of art and craft activities often initiated by themselves. Children enjoy a large amount of time playing outside in the back garden where they use climbing apparatus to help develop large motor skills and they get a good amount of fresh air and exercise.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Children's needs are very well met and are able to follow normal routines. The childminder talks to them about other cultures and beliefs, it gives them a positive view of the wider world, when they participate in playing with a range of interesting toys and resources. They love dressing up in a variety of ethnic clothes, they playing with multicultural jigsaws and different coloured dolls, they looking at books with different languages, and discuss countries on the globe and atlas. This helps to increase children's awareness of diversity in their understanding of others. The childminder works well with parents and other agencies to ensure that children's individual needs are met. Children's behaviour is very good because the childminder is a good role model for the children. She has a very positive approach to behaviour management expecting

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and receiving good behaviour. Children show care and concern for each other. Praise and encouragement is expressed by the childminder to promote their confidence and self-esteem. Children learn about the local community as they visit places of interest such as routine outings to the library, local parks and childminding support groups. The childminder shares information with parents and supports them

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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 on a regular basis, she ensures that they are kept up-to-date with their child's progress and ensures that her policies and procedures work in practice to promote children's health, safety, and enjoyment to make a positive contribution.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children feel at home and at ease in the well-organised environment. This means they are confident to initiate and extend their own play and learning. The childminder very effectively uses clear policies and procedures to promote the welfare, care and learning of children. Parents are well informed about her service and of their child's development and activities. Children experience individual attention. This contributes to continuity in the children's care. There is ample space to play and documentation and activities are well-organised to keep children safe and to enable them to make good progress in all areas. Children benefit from the childminder's knowledge and practice which she updates with regular training, and by training other childminders who benefit from her knowledge and experience. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to improve four aspects of her practice relating to documentation and children's safety. The childminder has developed her knowledge and understanding of the local child protection procedures by updating her training and obtaining the Northamptonshire Area Child Protection Committee guidance. She has devised an emergency escape plan and discusses and practises the procedures on a regular basis with the children. She maintains accident and medication records signed by parents. Bedroom two is not yet being used to sleep minded children, but the childminder intends to use a safe barrier and socket covers when she does. These issues have been addressed and further promote children's care and welfare.

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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. There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

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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

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that socket covers and a safe barrier is used when sleeping minded children in bedroom 2.

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The quality and standards of the care

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