Childminder in Bristol

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 405515 Inspection date 18 January 2006 Inspector Nigel Lindsay Smith

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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. He lives with his wife, also a registered childminder, an adult child and 2 children aged 14 and 6 in St George, Bristol. The whole of the ground floor and an upstairs room are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for 6 children. The childminder is currently minding 10 children, most of whom attend on a full-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. He attends local toddler groups, takes children to the local park and to a gym and swimming pool. The family has a dog and

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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 a cat

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are well-protected from infection through the childminder's thorough routines, such as disinfecting the mat used for nappy changing. They gain self-care skills to promote good hygiene, for example through always washing their hands before eating. The childminder has thorough procedures to ensure that parents give written consent and guidance for any medication administered, and all details are clearly documented and signed by parents. Children are protected in the event of an accident as the childminder has a current first aid certificate and updates the contents of his first aid provision. Accidents are clearly recorded and notified to the parent and the childminder obtains permission from the parents for emergency medical treatment. Children enjoy healthy and varied meals, snacks and drinks prepared and provided by the childminder. They have a daily cooked meal which they often help to prepare,

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Helping children to be healthy

for example by choosing pizza toppings. Children sit together at the table for their meals, which improves their social skills. They learn about healthy eating, for example through growing vegetables and collecting eggs from a farm. Their drinks are regularly replenished so that they have a good fluid intake. Meals, snacks and drinks comply with any requirements for allergies to ensure that children remain healthy. Children enjoy moving freely in a clean and well-organised environment. They take part in outdoor activities such as walking, and playing ball games, which helps them successfully develop control of their bodies. Children have regular opportunities to develop and extend their physical skills throughout the year by using the adjoining park and a decking area adjacent to the house. The childminder uses his knowledge of child development to extend children's physical skills, for example by creating an

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Helping children to be healthy

area for crawling children to explore safely and practise pulling themselves up to hold onto a convenient surface.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are very happy and secure in a playroom and adjoining conservatory which are welcoming and stimulating, with displays of their pictures, posters and photos. Older children attending after school benefit from the choice of the lounge to relax in or the table in the kitchen for games, craft or homework. Children enjoy a great amount of freedom to move around and explore as a result of the childminder's thorough awareness of safety issues and effective procedures to reduce risk. Children can evacuate the premises safely in the event of a fire as the childminder

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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 has developed an appropriate procedure and regularly practises the drill with the children. Thorough precautions such as gates across the kitchen entrance and the stairs ensure that children are protected from hazards. Children can safely access and use the play equipment as it is stored at appropriate levels and the childminder checks that it has a safety kite-mark before obtaining it. They are safe when on outings as the childminder assesses any risks and discusses the activities in advance with the children. Children are well protected by the childminder's good knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures, and his arrangements to ensure that they are always closely supervised if there are any adults present who have not undertaken vetting procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are settled and make very good progress because the childminder is knowledgeable about child development and provides a variety of stimulating and challenging activities. Children enjoy exploring and discovering for themselves, for example concentrating on successfully placing items in a shape sorter. They benefit from the childminder's very active support in other activities, such as learning how to knead and shape dough to make rolls. Children benefit from the childminder making very thorough assessments of their progress and using these in planning for them. This helps them to extend their knowledge and understanding, for example through building on letter sounds to increase their vocabulary. They learn to socialise with a wider range of children through attendance at an activity centre. The childminder has now received Birth to three matters materials and is beginning to use this framework in planning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children relish the freedom to choose from different areas of the room which contain an easel, a water tray, a craft and writing table, a "home corner", puppet theatre and an area for choosing and using books. They enjoy good quality equipment made from of a variety of materials, including a number of wooden items. Babies enthusiastically explore baskets containing a range of objects with differing textures. Children are fully engaged in the holidays in highly imaginative, well-planned projects such as "The Romans", including carrying out research on the computer and from books, visiting a variety of Roman sites, making and wearing relevant outfits and inviting family members to an authentic feast.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children benefit from clear boundaries and explanations, so that they learn to behave well. They have good self-esteem, which is nurtured by positive encouragement and praise from the childminder. Children are helped to settle through the childminder's

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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 commitment to building good relationships with their parents, for example by making a comprehensive prospectus available. The childminder regularly updates and reviews information from parents about their children so that the children benefit from a shared understanding of their needs and development. Parents are invited for meals on special occasions, such as birthdays, and to join in holiday activities. Children have access to a good range of books which reflect differing cultures, and equipment borrowed from a resource library. The childminder plans activities to help children understand the wider community, for example focussing on Pakistan, wearing appropriate costumes and looking at resource materials. Children enjoy authentic recipes from Pakistan and other parts of the world. They learn about their

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Helping children make a positive contribution

own and the other children's countries and cultures of origin through researching a "Who am I" theme. The childminder does not have experience of minding children with special needs but has a good understanding of how to adapt activities to include a child appropriately. Children using a wheelchair are able to access the house and join in outings, as the childminder has installed a ramp and is obtaining a vehicle with a lift.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from a consistent environment where they feel safe, are helped to practise learned skills, and are not afraid to try new activities. The childminder is committed to planning and assessing the activities to ensure that they are relevant to the children. He has comprehensive written policies to cover most aspects of his practice. They are clear and effective in ensuring a safe and stimulating environment for children. All documentation is shared in confidence with parents and stored securely for the required time. Adults in the household have been vetted and the children are never left unsupervised with any adults who have not undergone checks. The childminder is committed to continued professional development so that children benefit from an increasing variety of ways to meet their needs. He has extended his initial training with a Diploma in Child Care and has also attended some short training

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Organisation

events. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom he provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure that material in the storage area was stored away from electrical equipment and to comply with fire officer recommendations for overnight care. These have been achieved, as the space around the clothes drier is clear and there are smoke detectors on each floor.

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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

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Complaints since the last inspection

In February 2005 a concern was raised under Standard 1, Suitability, alleging that the childminder had hurt a child. He agreed to suspend his registration while the matter was investigated. He co-operated fully throughout. There was no evidence to support the allegation. The childminder continues to be registered. 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): • further develop the use of Birth to three matters materials for assessment and planning

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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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