Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 308152 Inspection date 05 July 2005 Inspector Lesley Ormrod

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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 1994. She lives with her husband and one adult child in Lancaster, Lancashire. The whole of the ground floor and two rooms on the first floor of the childminder’s house are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding four children under five all day. She walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children.

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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 supports children with special educational needs. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children can confidently make healthy choices about their food preferences such as choosing a pasta meal at lunchtime. They are encouraged to enjoy a range of nutritional foods and drinks as the childminder offers healthy options, avoiding items such as crisps and sweets. Children eagerly describe their likes and dislikes for different types of fruit and vegetables such as carrots, tomatoes and bananas. Their dietary needs are met and any allergies managed by the childminder as she liaises closely with their parents. Children are developing good self-feeding and drinking skills as they are taught to use utensils appropriately. They sit together at the table for mealtimes, chatting happily and developing good social manners. Children enjoy regular exercise as the childminder walks with them to local schools. They learn how to use large equipment and take part in physical activities when they

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Helping children to be healthy

visit the local parks and playgrounds. Their understanding of how they feel when being active is encouraged to some extent by the childminder. Children can use their physical skills well as they independently decide to copy the actions for jumping on the spot and stretching their bodies as they follow the simple exercises shown on the Cee-Beebies video. Their welfare is protected as the childminder follows good hygiene procedures. Children have a sound understanding of personal care routines and know when they need to visit the toilet and why to wash their hands afterwards. Older children can identify when they need to have a rest and younger children have their sleep needs well met by the good arrangements agreed with their parents. Most of the children's health needs are met competently by the childminder as she records information from parents, discusses any day-to-day matters and administers medication correctly.

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Helping children to be healthy

Their health needs will be protected further with the provision of consents for emergency medical attention.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children move freely about the well organised through-lounge to the dining area and readily make their choices of toys and resources from the good range provided in the easily accessible storage areas. Older children can independently make their way to the bathroom upstairs and understand why to keep the safety gates closed to protect the younger ones. They enjoy activities in the well-planned outside play area using the large play-house or moving around on their small bikes. Their understanding of caring for their toys is promoted as the childminder encourages them to store items safely away after play.

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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 Children learn about road safety and what to do to keep safe when crossing roads. They know that they wait for the 'lollipop' man to tell them when to cross safely. The safety of minded children is competently managed by the childminder as she has risk assessed and made safe the internal and external areas. Children practise safe emergency evacuation and are developing an understanding of how to escape safely following the childminder's instructions. Older children know how to play safely as they tidy up before the next activity and younger ones are helped to understand why it is not safe to climb up on the furniture. Children are cared for safely as the childminder has current first aid training and follows good procedures for recording any accidents or incidents. Their welfare is

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

protected as she has a good knowledge and understanding of child protection and shares her procedures with parents. Children learn about keeping safe when out and about or in the home as the childminder ensures that they stay with her and discourages them from running up to strangers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy their interactions with the childminder and play confidently and enthusiastically. They chat happily together about the figures they need to make up a wedding scene using the small world sets. Children are confident in the setting and persist for good periods of time at their play. Younger children explore how to activate the speaking pilot in the toy aeroplane as they 'fly' it around and decide how to fit the disabled passengers into the ambulance. The planned routines for each day give children an understanding of time as they anticipate when it is time for lunch, time to play or to get ready to walk up to school. Children's learning in all areas of development is ably encouraged by the childminder in their play and activities. Their understanding of numbers is fostered as they practise counting in everyday situations and work out how to fit together the shaped

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

pieces of the jigsaws. They develop their language skills as she encourages them to name objects and items of the Happy-land sets; express their ideas as they construct and talk about their memories of previous experiences; recognise and name pictures in story books as they read together. Their imaginative and creative skills are good as they draw and design freely in art and craft activities. Younger children's learning experiences may be further enhanced through considering the content of recent materials such as the Birth to three matters framework. Children's achievements are fully shared with their parents and their progress discussed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's needs are known in detail and the childminder gives good support to each child, respecting their individual characteristics and personalities. They are enabled to take pride in making choices and decisions as they play and interact together. Their understanding of equal access to activities and play is fostered well, with

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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 younger and older children learning to respect each other as they share the small world vehicles and figures. Children have access to good quality resources and toys that encourage their understanding of diversity and differences. They happily create a town scene and include figures that reflect different races and disabilities. Children are proud of their achievements and are well motivated by the childminder's ready praise for their care for each other, their ideas and their good behaviour. They enjoy receiving the reward stickers at the end of the day. Their understanding about good and bad behaviour is encouraged through the childminder's use of consistent approaches to managing behaviour. Their minor squabbles are resolved quickly by the effective use of discussion and diversion strategies. Children's developmental

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Helping children make a positive contribution

progress is monitored closely by the childminder who uses her good understanding to identify any potential special needs arising and discuss fully with parents how best to support them. Continuity of care for children is achieved because the childminder gives parents good daily handovers and encourages children to share their achievements with their parents. Children's welfare is protected as information about the provision, including a display board, is fully shared with parents. Children have their needs discussed in detail with their parents when they start and all necessary forms are completed.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are relaxed and confident in the setting as the childminder has made good provision to stimulate their independence and choice making. They are protected as the childminder ensures that all persons on the premises are suitable for access to children. Children's care and learning needs are met as the childminder makes use of information and guidance books to support her knowledge of children's development and extend her range of interesting activities to offer. Children receive a good level of individual attention from the childminder and their confidence and self esteem is encouraged through the supportive relationships. Their welfare is prioritised as detailed information about their care and achievements is given to their parents on a regular basis. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The last Children Act inspection set recommendations for the childminder to improve her provision for children by updating her written records; removing any sharp implements out of the reach of children and attending to the contents of the first aid box. Children's safe care arrangements have been improved by the purchase of replacement first aid boxes and all sharp implements stored out of children's reach. Procedures to protect children have been revised and updated as the childminder

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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 now provides information about how to make a complaint and keeps her attendance register up to date.

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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): • extend the arrangements for children's health and well-being by obtaining parental consents for emergency medical advice and treatment • explore opportunities to further enhance under-three's play activities and developmental progress by considering recent materials such as the Birth to three matters framework

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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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