Childminder in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 208782 Inspection date 20 December 2005 Inspector Melanie Arnold

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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 was registered in 2000. She lives in the centre of Lincoln city with her adult daughter and ex-husband. The whole ground floor is used for childminding. The family has a pet hamster and a tank of fish. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding children part-time and before and after school. She also works with an assistant. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children, and she also takes children on outings. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children benefit from daily walks to and from school. They enjoy trips to the park and indoor activity areas where they have access to a good range of large scale resources to help develop their physical skills well. Children remain healthy because good health and hygiene routines are implemented, which helps to prevent the spread of any infection. Children's diets have improved considerably with the introduction of a healthier, balanced diet. The childminder makes food fun, which encourages children to eat new recipes. For example, children enjoy mince in tomato sauce with shark bread and blue spaghetti. Children still enjoy their old favourite meals, like chicken nuggets, but the childminder now makes her own nuggets because they are healthier for children to eat. The childminder is fully aware of children's dietary requirements and their individual preferences and effectively caters

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Helping children to be healthy

for these. Children's health is also promoted through the provision of healthy snacks. Older children have free access to their drinks at all times promoting their independence, whereas younger children are regularly offered drinks to meet their needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are safe and well protected within the childminder's home due to her effectively identifying potential risks and taking positive steps to minimise these. They also remain safe on outings because of the good procedures the childminder implements. For example, encouraging the children to hold onto a large rope, creating a walking bus, which keeps the children together enabling the childminder to fully supervise them. The childminder has created a warm and welcoming environment because children have their very own play room to use, where they enjoy accessing a good range of toys, resources and equipment to effectively meet their needs. Children's welfare is maintained at all times because the childminder holds a current first aid certificate. The childminder has a clear understanding of the procedure to follow should she have child protection concerns, ensuring children remain protected while in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy their time with the childminder, where they access a wide range of toys and resources to meet their needs. Older children are provided with good opportunities to learn through play, however, although babies enjoy playing with a good range of toys they are not being effectively challenged to promote their development in all areas. Children relate well to the childminder, as she communicates effectively with them at their level of understanding. She listens and

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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 values what children are saying, helping them to feel confident in her care. Children's thinking skills are effectively promoted because the childminder asks good open ended questions during play. The childminder plans activities for older children to do, ensuring they remain stimulated while in her care. She is also skilful and spontaneously adapts activities, providing children with varied play experiences. For example, after making salt dough decorations for Christmas, the childminder also encouraged children to make numbers out of the salt dough and cut out the initial letter for their name, helping to promote children's understanding of numbers and letters. Toys and resources are stored well, enabling children to self select from the good range available. Some toys and resources are stored on higher shelves

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

because of the wide range of resources available, but these are displayed well so children can see them, which enables them to request any resource they wish to play with.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children respond well to the childminder and they are confident and settled in her care. The childminder knows children well and she provides a good standard of care to meet their needs. Children are valued and respected as individuals and the childminder is aware of the information to gather concerning a child's special needs to enable her to provide appropriate care. Children's understanding of the wider world is effectively promoted through a good range of activities. For example, looking at how Christmas is celebrated around the world, finding different countries on a map of the world and looking at flags from different countries. Children's good behaviour is promoted through the effective use of praise and encouragement. The childminder has a clear understanding of appropriate behaviour management strategies to use in line with children's ages and stages of development. Older children respond well to the use of a star chart because they

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Helping children make a positive contribution

were involved in deciding how stars would be awarded. The childminder has built up good relationships with parents and works well with them to meet children's needs. Parents are kept well informed of the childminder's service, policies and procedures through an informative portfolio, a newsletter and information displayed in the hallway. Parents are also kept informed of their child's daily activities and routines through verbal feedback.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children enjoy playing in the designated play room where they access a good range of toys. They are relaxed and safe in the childminder's care because the setting is maintained securely. However, space is not being utilised effectively to fully meet all children's needs, as younger children are not provided with an area where they can sleep peacefully without distraction. Children benefit because the childminder has completed all required training courses and she has also completed additional training, helping her to keep up to date with current child care practices. Children's

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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 welfare, care, learning and development are promoted well because informative policies have been put in place by the childminder. The majority of records are completed with appropriate information, which helps to ensure children's welfare, with the exception of a permission form, which has yet to be put in place. Children also benefit because the childminder has formed a good partnership with parents enabling her to provide appropriate care to meet children's needs.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to consider the procedure to follow should an allegation be made against herself and to obtain written consent for taking children to the allotment and for riding in a bicycle seat. The childminder is now aware of the procedure to follow should allegations of abuse be made against her, resulting in children's safety being maintained. The childminder no longer uses a bicycle seat or takes children to the allotments so consent forms for these activities are currently not required.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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 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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • improve outcomes for children under three by using an approach in line with 'Birth to three' • request written consent from parents for obtaining emergency medical advice or treatment in the future • ensure space is organised well to provide younger children with an area where they can sleep peacefully without distraction.

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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 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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