Childminder in York

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique Reference Number 321225 Inspection date 10 January 2006 Inspector Elizabeth Patricia Edmond

p.1

Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since 1994. She lives with her husband and their two adult sons. They live in a semi-detached house in a suburb of the city of York. For childminding purposes the whole of the ground floor area is used, although mainly the lounge is used for play. An additional toilet is available on the first floor. There is a garden available for outdoor play. Their home is within easy walking distance of the local school and playgroup, where children are taken and collected. The park and city centre are also within walking distance. There are currently eight children on roll; older children are rarely cared for.

p.2

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 works closely with the local pre-school and toddler group.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The children are cared for in a suitably clean environment where they learn about sensible hygiene practices, the childminder gives the children wipes so that they learn to wipe their own faces after lunch. The satisfactory nappy changing procedures further promote the children's health. The children's health and emotional needs are sensitively addressed when they are not very well. The childminder calmly and quickly attends to the children and calls their parents. They are made comfortable and are happy to see their parents arrive promptly. The childminder does not provide meals but makes sure that she has extra drinks handy when the young children are warm from playing actively indoors. The children learn about healthy eating because the childminder steers them towards the healthier options in their lunch box and talks to them about the grapes or bananas being good for them. The children's health benefits from the positive approach to being active in

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

the outdoors. In better weather they enjoy playing in the garden or the park and the childminder makes sure that the children get out for a walk every day throughout the year. They develop their strength indoors by carrying the large toy boxes through to the lounge after they have chosen what to play with.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder assesses her home for suitability for the young children and minimises any risks where possible. She is vigilant in keeping the children contained where she can supervise them easily. Although this reduces the variety of experiences for the children it is successful in keeping them safe and secure. The childminder practices the emergency evacuation procedures with the children, this further promotes their safety. The children learn to keep themselves safe when out and about because the childminder explains about the traffic and makes sure that they know to stop at the curb. The childminder has a satisfactory awareness on how to protect children. She has attended basic child protection training through her work with children and young people with special needs. However, she does not keep the Area Child Protection Committee Procedures or the government booklet "What To Do If You're Worried A

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Child Is Being Abused - Summary" on file for advice. This could hinder the effective handling of any concerns

p.3

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 The provision is satisfactory. The children are relaxed and happy and they make themselves at home at the childminder's home. The younger children confidently climb onto the furniture for a rest and snuggle onto the childminder's lap when they bump themselves. Although the children don't have free access to all the resources, they comfortably show or tell the childminder which resources they want to play with and she is happy to rotate these throughout the day. This provides a satisfactory level of choice and variety for the children. The childminder identifies immediate gaps in her resources and looks for items in the catalogue with the children to address this. The children enjoy the pictures and rhymes in the books which are offered, and they learn about the colours and shapes. The older children can count the dinosaurs in

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

the book and the bricks in their towers very well. They begin to use their imagination as they build, play at picnics with the toy food and fly the spaceman around the room. Positive links with the local playgroup provide additional activities and social contact for the children. The children have fun identifying themselves and their friends in the photos taken in the garden and at the park. In better weather this outdoor play offers additional positive experiences for the children of all ages.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are relaxed, confident and usually behave very well. The childminder helps the young children to play together and to share the toys and books; they do this well with the effective support. They readily share their favourite blanket with the childminder when they decide to have a rest and enjoy the praise for helping to tidy up. The children have their individual needs met because the childminder gets to know them very well. She talks to parents about their needs and observes how the children prefer to sleep. Her sound knowledge of their regular eating habits helps her to recognise when they are possibly unwell. She also identifies their individual aptitudes and recognises that particular children would benefit from additional jigsaws; she then makes a mental note to address this. There are some resources showing positive images of disability and cultural diversity.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

However, due to the organisation of all the resources the children do not see these regularly; this could hinder the children's acceptance and appreciation of our diverse British culture. The childminder has experience of caring for children and young people with special needs and has attended training in relation to this. Although there are no minded children with special needs currently attending she demonstrates a positive attitude and the relevant knowledge to offer this type of care. The children develop effective three way relationship with the childminder and their parents: they are relaxed and happy as they see the adults chat about the day's

p.4

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 events. Most information about the children is passed on verbally, although important information about accidents is in writing and some care arrangements are made by text message. Parents who take part in the inspection process are pleased with the care and the long standing relationships.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The children benefit from the childminder's approach to evaluating her practice, she acknowledges her weaknesses and recognises where she can improve aspects of the care for children. For example, she admits that the organisation of the premises is not ideal, but recognises when a toy cash till would enhance the play and learning opportunities for some children. The childminder acknowledges when she needs to update her training and arranges this accordingly. However, her first aid certificate was temporarily invalid at the time of the inspection. The children are happy to play in the homely environment with the resources that are presented to them. Although the childminder helps the children to choose what to play with, the toys are stored in the dining room and space available for the children to play is in the lounge. This makes it difficult for the children to initiate and extend

p.5

Organisation

their own play and learning freely. The childminder is becoming more confident about the records which need to be kept. She has devised ways of keeping the required documentation for promoting the children's safety and wellbeing and these are well organised. However, the childminder was not aware of the recent changes to the national standards, meaning that she did not have her certificate displayed for parents. Overall the needs of all the children attending are met.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection actions were raised about the standards of cleanliness and maintenance of the property. The areas of the childminder's house which are used for play are now reasonably clean and in suitable repair. There remains an element of disorganisation particularly in the kitchen, but this area is not normally accessed by the children. A further action related to the recording of accidents. A signed record of accidents is now in place. This promotes the children's health and safety. In order to improve the standards of care and learning for the children, it was recommended that the childminder improve the storage and accessibility of the toys and resources. She has purchased new storage units which the children can use; they can choose which box of toys to remove from the unit and develop their strength by doing this for themselves. Although this has improved accessibility for the children,

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

further improvements would be beneficial. Further recommendations related to the children's safety. The childminder now keeps a diary of the children's arrival and departure times, which makes it very clear who has been at the property and when they attended. She has also practiced the

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 emergency evacuation procedure with the children and keeps a record of the six-monthly fire drills. This has improved the children's safety.

p.5

Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report. 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.

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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): • obtain the local Area Child Protection Committee procedures and the government booklet "What To Do If You're Worried A Child Is Being Abused - Summary" and keep these on file for guidance • ensure that the forthcoming first aid training is attended as arranged • continue to develop ways of making the resources, particularly those showing positive images of cultural diversity, more easily accessible to the children so that they can initiate their own play and learning and also so that they learn to accept and enjoy diversity in British culture.

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6