Childminder in Hampshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY294427 Inspection date 27 October 2005 Inspector Carol Patricia Willett

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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 satisfactory. 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 2004. She lives with her partner and teenage daughter. They live in a house in Yateley which is within easy driving and walking distance of the local shops parks, schools and pre-schools. The family have a cat and 2 cockatiels. Children play on the ground floor of the house and go upstairs to sleep and use the toilet. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play and local parks close by.

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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 is registered to care for 6 children under 8 years. She currently cares for 4 children, 3 of whom are under 5 years, 2 attend full-time and 2 on a part-time basis. She is registered to provide overnight care. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children play and learn in a well maintained, child friendly home where suitable hygiene routines and procedures ensure the areas where they play and sleep are comfortable, clean and safe. They develop a good understanding of personal hygiene as they are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times. Good hygiene procedures around the pets ensure the risk of infection to the children are minimised. Children enjoy a suitable range of activities to develop their physical skills. These include visits to the park, garden play and walks in the local area where they climb and slide and use ride-on toys. They enjoy trips to soft play areas. Children play happily with a range of toys to develop manipulative skills including small world play and shape sorters. They enjoy activities such as drawing and colouring and making pictures with stickers. Children enjoy a varied selection of healthy meals and snacks. Parents provide good

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Helping children to be healthy

information about children's dietary and rest needs and the childminder ensures she follows the children's routines and respects parents wishes. Meal times are social occasions where children enjoy discussing their families and experiences as they sit at the table. Children are given plenty to drink throughout the day and ask when they want more.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children play and learn in premises that are safe, clean and comfortable. The layout allows them to play freely developing their confidence and independence as they wander between rooms. Children stay safe as they are closely supervised and most risks have been identified and minimised by the childminder though some issues need addressing. Fire safety recommendations are not fully complied with as the smoke detector upstairs is not in place and the fire blanket is not fitted according to instructions. The childminder has not developed fire evacuation procedures when children stay overnight. The water feature in the garden is a potential hazard to the children. Children learn about the importance of staying safe when they go out walking as the childminder encourages their knowledge of road safety with staying close and safety when they are around animals. Children have access to a suitable range of good quality play materials to enable

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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 development in all areas. Toys are sufficient and of good quality to ensure children's safety at play and are appropriate to their age and stage of development. They are checked regularly to ensure they are in suitable condition. Toys are rotated to maintain children's interest. The childminder has satisfactory procedures in place to enable children to be protected, for example she has relevant insurance cover. Children stay safe as the childminder has ensured all adults in the house have completed disclosures and she always supervises the children closely when other adults are around. The childminder has most documentation in place to ensure children's welfare is safeguarded. She records accident details appropriately. Children's safety is not fully addressed as the childminder has not completed a first aid course and she does not

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

have a good understanding of child protection procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy, confident and secure as a result of the childminders warm, caring, attentive manner. The children relate well and enjoy the interest and attention from other family members as they enjoy the cuddles of the childminder's daughter. The children play well together as the childminder provides a suitable range of activities which develop their interests, skills and knowledge using her skill to ensure all ages are involved. Children show high levels of interest and concentration as the childminder sits on the floor with them, joining in with their play with the cars and tea-set, using good interactive skills to extend their language and thinking. They enjoy sitting with the childminder to listen to stories read from books. Children have the freedom to explore and enjoy their play as they independently access a range of toys and activities as they move between the living room and dining room. Younger

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

children have access to a suitable range of manufactured toys but do not explore a range of natural resources to develop all their senses. Older children enjoy drawing with pencils and pens and making pictures with stickers to take home for their mummy, proudly showing their completed flower pictures. They have good opportunities to relate to the childminder and play with a more challenging range of activities when the childminder puts the babies to sleep upstairs. Children benefit from regular outings to the local parks, toddler group and visits to other childminders. This promotes their learning, develops social skills and stimulates their interest in the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy, secure and settled as the childminder has a sound awareness of and values children's needs and personalities and she forms good relationships with parents. The childminder discusses useful information with the parents at the initial visit. Her previous knowledge and experience ensures she works closely with parents to follow their home routines and meet children's individual needs. She liaises closely with parents to make sure children's medical needs are known and to ensure her own

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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 confidence to deal with issues if they arise. Children learn about the wider world and develop an understanding of others through outings in the local area and visits to other childminders and toddler groups. Children do not have good opportunities to become aware of diversity as the childminder has a limited range of equipment to provide positive images and support their awareness of other cultures and disability. Children behave well and care about each other as the childminder uses good behaviour management strategies that are appropriate for the children's ages. She acts as a good role model using 'please' and 'thank-you' when talking to the children. Children develop confidence and good self-esteem as the childminder is very attentive, praising the children's good behaviour and encouraging sharing and good

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are comfortable, happy and secure as the childminder is friendly, caring and attentive. She organises the environment, resources and documentation suitably to enable the children's needs to be effectively met. Children are able to play safely and select resources freely to develop their confidence and independence skills. They receive good support from the childminder. The childminder is waiting to start a course in first aid to update her knowledge. She has not completed the course for new childminders due to a misunderstanding. The childminder maintains a suitable range of documentation to ensure she has sufficient information about the children. Whilst most records are completed appropriately not all parents have provided written consent and signed all records. The childminder records accidents in her home but has not developed procedures to record injuries children arrive with. The childminder develops good relationships with

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Organisation

parents and shares information informally on a daily basis to ensure children's needs are known. This ensures she is able to effectively promote the welfare, care and learning of the children. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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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.

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Complaints 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

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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 satisfactory. 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): • complete an approved first aid course and childminding introductory course • make sure water in the garden is inaccessible to children to ensure their safety • ensure smoke detector are in place on both levels and the fire blanket is fitted according to instructions; develop written fire evacuation procedures to include when caring for children overnight • improve knowledge and understanding of the local area child protection committee (ACPC) procedures and the government booklet • improve documentation recording to ensure parents sign all records; record injuries children arrive with and ensure written consent to seek emergency treatment for all children is in place • improve practice and extend the range of experiences for children under three, by the provision of natural resources including textures and smells, by

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The quality and standards of the care

using the Birth to Three framework . • provide a range of resources to increase children's awareness and understanding of diversity

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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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