Childminder in Nottingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 254812 Inspection date 29 September 2005 Inspector Anne Walker

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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 1992. She lives with her family in Sherwood, Nottingham. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding, with toilet facilities on the first floor. There is an enclosed rear garden used for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five and three children before and after school. The childminder walks to the local school to take and collect children but has use of a car for other outings. The family have 2 lizards that live upstairs and are not

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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 accessible to minded children. The childminder is a member of National Childminding Association and is actively involved in the local childminder's support group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are looked after in a clean, comfortable environment. They benefit from the good strategies the childminder employs to protect them from potential sources of cross infection. These include the use of wipes indoors and on outings and individual hair brushes. As the children grow and develop they learn how to contribute to their own well being through the daily routines and expectations established by the childminder. Pre-school children independently go to the tissue box and wipe their nose and they wash their hands after using the toilet. A written policy regarding the management of sick children ensures that parents and the childminder work together in the best interests of all the children. There is an appetizing range of lunches, for children, which are cooked using fresh ingredients. The childminder does not offer children processed foods for their main meals. Children's health is given good regard both to the nutritional content of meals

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Helping children to be healthy

and in order to meet their individual dietary needs. The routine is well organised so that children have regular breaks for drinks, meals and snacks. They enjoy fruit and vegetables daily either as snack or part of their meal. Daily routines which include walking to and from school, encourage children to develop a positive attitude to exercise. Each day children are able to develop their physical skills and exercise their large muscles as a result of well planned activities such as the tunnel. They also walk to local parks which give them greater freedom to run and use a range of large equipment. Crawling babies enjoy the space created in the lounge which allows them to move freely. Their increasing mobility is supported well as they hold the childminder's hand or use the furniture to practise their walking skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Well planned use of space on the ground floor enables children to play, rest and have their meals safely. There is good floor area to enable a crawling child to explore safely and for older children to have age appropriate toys without compromising the care of younger children. The childminder organises her time well, for example, the lunches are prepared in the morning before the children arrive. This means that children benefit from her direct attention throughout the morning. Children begin to learn how to contribute to their own safety. As they walk to school they learn about road safety and have practised the fire drill with the childminder so that they understand what to do in an emergency. Good steps have been taken to identify most of the hazards in the home and effective measures have been taken in order to

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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 minimise the risk to children. Stair gates prevent entry to areas unsuitable for children and the premises is kept secure so that children cannot leave unsupervised. However, the bathroom window does not have a restrictor to prevent it being opened widely. The childminder does supervise children when they use the bathroom but is respectful of older children's privacy so that the window may present a hazard at such times. The children use a range of good quality play materials. These are clean and regularly checked so that children are not exposed to toys that could cause them harm. Children are encouraged and are able to help tidy toys away so that they begin to understand the importance of this to avoid trips and falls. All ages are able to fully participate in the day because the childminder has safe and suitable equipment. The

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

baby has her snack alongside the older children as the highchair is placed at the table and she is secured safely with a harness. Appropriate safety measures ensure children travel safely in the car. Children are protected from harm because the childminder understands her responsibilities with regard to child protection and has relevant information, as a reference tool, readily available. She is clear who she must share any concerns with.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children are happy and relaxed as a result of the child centred environment. They chat and relate well to other family members and are made to feel welcome and part of the family. Children have warm relationships with each other and their carer. Babies give and receive lots of cuddles. Older children share photographs and talk happily about events and their friends. They enjoy a broad range of play materials that are readily accessible to them and well planned according to their developmental needs. Toys for mobile babies are available at different points in the room and encourage exploration and inquisitiveness. They are suitable for very young children to explore using all their senses. The childminder has a good knowledge of the stage of development of each child in her care and uses this to guide their next steps in learning. Pre-school children have good levels of concentration and persistence to a

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

task as they complete a jigsaw. This is because of the skilful interaction of the childminder who poses suitable questions that encourage them to think and solve problems. They show pleasure in their achievements and talk about the animals they find in the jigsaw. Children's language development is good because the childminder spends time talking with them and takes all opportunities to introduce new language as they play. All the children are able to initiate play and are regularly consulted in the planning process. The children take part in a range of creative activities. The planning of these is often made into an activity itself, for example, all the children will look at the catalogue to choose purchases for future craft work. The day is carefully organised so that children have time to play, rest and have their meals. Children have opportunities to mix and socialise with other children, as the childminder regularly

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

meets with other childminders and uses local toddler groups and the library.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The children benefit from the excellent regard the childminder has for their individual needs. She has a sensitive awareness of how to provide an environment that is inclusive and does not make children feel different. This is with particular regard to meals which are planned and carefully adapted to ensure a balanced content that all the children can eat, including children with specific dietary needs. The children feel acknowledged because the childminder watches and listens to them, responding to their interests and cues. They are consulted about their play and their ideas are acted upon, which supports their sense of worth and growing independence. The children benefit from a relaxed, homely atmosphere amongst children of varying ages. This environment is skilfully managed so that each child has time with the childminder in order that their development needs are well fostered. Children benefit

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Helping children make a positive contribution

from her very good understanding of working in partnership with parents. Clear initial records and regular ongoing dialogues with parents ensures a consistent approach to their care and increases their well-being and security. Information is shared with parents in a variety of ways, including a notice board with a wide range of information, formal and informal feedback and regular photographs of the children taking part in activities. This enables parents to fully understand how their child spends their day . Children have good relationships with each other and their carer. They know how to share and take turns and are able to play cooperatively together. This is as a result of the very effective strategies employed by the childminder where all children have opportunities to be heard, have their choices and be valued. Older children are developing good skills in managing and resolving any conflicts and emotions. The

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder is confident and knows when to intervene and when to allow children to manage situations themselves. All children play with toys of their choosing and know where things are kept. There are toys which promote a positive view of others and help increase children's understanding of the world in which they live. Through their outings into the community, children experience and mix with a diverse group of people. Through discussion and good role modelling they increase their understanding of the lives of others.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children's welfare and development is effectively promoted because the childminder is professional and strives to improve the service she offers to families. She regularly reviews her service and identifies ways to move forward. There is clear planning for the ongoing development of her skills, so that necessary qualifications such as first aid are in place and new initiatives such as 'Birth to three matters' are taken on board. Children's safety is given good regard because she is organised, with required information readily available to her at all times. This ensures that parents can be contacted in all eventualities and she has sufficient information about

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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 each child to deal with any situation that arises while they are in her care. Records are stored confidentially to ensure each child's privacy. The children are received into a welcoming environment where good attention is given to ensuring that each child can play, rest and have their meals comfortably. The childminder is meeting the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection it was recommended that appropriate vetting procedures were undertaken for a household member who had reached 16 years of age. This has been completed satisfactorily. In addition, to ensure that she was fully conversant with current child protection guidance and knew who to contact if she had concerns. Suitable measures have been taken to improve her knowledge in this area. The up to date government guidance has been read and she has a greater awareness of types of abuse and potential indicators. The information is stored in a file to be used as a reference tool along with details of relevant people to contact. Additionally, the childminder is booked to attend training on child protection issues in the very near future. All these measures ensure that children's safety and welfare can be more effectively promoted.

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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): • ensure the bathroom window is safe when children use the bathroom independently.

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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:

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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 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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