Childminder in Hampshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY303523 Inspection date 13 October 2005 Inspector Kate Houghton

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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 2005. She lives with her partner in a 3 bedroomed terraced property in the Milton area of Portsmouth. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. Children have access to the upstairs for bathroom and sleeping arrangements. There is a fully enclosed and secure rear garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for 6 children at anyone time and is currently minding 6 children on a part time basis.

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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 a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are provided with a suitable range of main meals and snacks. The childminder supports parents with the healthy food options that they provide for younger children. Children are beginning to learn about healthy eating. They enjoy eating fresh fruit at mealtimes, snack times and access regular drinks throughout the day. Older children are encouraged to eat healthy foods, their diet is supported by the childminder and daily portions of vegetables are included and fruit is provided to promote children's health and growth. Children are developing large and fine motor movement and are gaining independence because the childminder plans activities to encourage children's physical skills. Children benefit from active play including dancing and participation in action rhymes. Children are gaining confidence and enjoy practising their movements, they access regular trips to the park and enjoy walks outside in the fresh

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Helping children to be healthy

air. Children are developing their balance and co ordination and have fun running and jumping in soft play areas. Younger children are learning to walk and are gaining skills to further this stage of their development. They are supported appropriately by the childminder and enjoy opportunities to develop their movements and confidence. During play children are learning to balance, pull themselves up and are beginning to move about independently. Systems are in place to support the health needs of children. The childminder shares her health policy with parents to ensure children are protected from contagious or infectious illness. Children are learning about the importance of good hygiene and have access to a suitable range of facilities including clean towels, soap and water to support hand washing as part of the daily routine. Younger children benefit from the procedures that the childminder carries out, when changing nappies the childminder

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Helping children to be healthy

wears gloves and disposes of nappies appropriately to keep children safe and protected from potential illness or the spread of infection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a warm, welcoming and clean environment. Areas are decorated brightly and include colourful paintings and chalk boards for children to enjoy and access at low level. A sufficient range of toys and equipment are in place to cover the age range of children attending. Most toys and activities are situated at low level for children to access easily, resources for older children are situated upstairs and rotated regularly. Children benefit from access to a safe range of equipment to support their mealtimes, sleeping and personal care arrangements. The childminder carries out risk assessments to most areas, for instance low level

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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 plug socket covers are in place, smoke detectors are situated on both levels of the property to support evacuation procedures and an area within the lounge is cordoned off securely to prevent children from accessing the glass table top. Stair gates are situated on the entrance to the lounge and kitchen, however not all risks are identified by the childminder for younger children using the first floor for sleeping arrangements, systems are not in place to protect children from the stairs, or low level cleaning fluids in the bathroom. Arrangements for the safe storage of medication and knives are insecure. As a result procedures in place do not wholly protect children. Children are learning about safety. When out walking and crossing the road children look out for traffic and are learning to cross roads safely under the supervision of the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

childminder. Children are beginning to understand about fire evacuation. Children are learning the phone number of the emergency services and are gaining knowledge about systems to follow to keep safe. The childminder has a sufficient understanding of child protection. She recognises signs and symptoms of abuse and knows who to contact should she have any concerns about a child in her care. However her understanding of who to contact if any allegations are made against herself is limited and does not fully secure procedures in place. Parents have access to a child protection policy and are informed of the childminder's responsibility to protect children in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from a balanced range of free play and planned activities. Free play opportunities allow children to choose what they would like to do and encourage exploration of toys and play areas, this helps to develop children's curiosity and extends their learning. For example, when investigating with musical and activity toys, children are developing their fine motor skills and beginning to learn about cause and effect. Children enjoy age appropriate play activities, two year olds enjoy stacking cups and rings. They are developing a sense of spatial awareness and learning to sequence objects in order of size. Children are encouraged to develop their communication skills, they are learning to speak with confidence and talk happily about what they are doing during their play. Children enjoy cutting up play food, they are learning to control their small hand movements and are mastering the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

skill of holding a knife. Children's learning is extended by the childminder. For example at mealtimes under the close supervision and careful eye of the childminder, children gain from real life experiences and enjoy cutting up their banana to eat at lunchtime. Children are developing good relationships with the childminder, she is aware of their individual care routines and supports their needs appropriately to ensure routine care arrangements are followed. When sleepy, the childminder ensures children are comfortable. Children are settled in their cot for a sleep and checked upon to ensure they are safe and contented.

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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 Older children attending after school gain from opportunities to rest and relax. Children have access to a sufficient range of activities including role play, construction, board games and art and craft activities. Children are supported by the childminder and are helped with any homework. They are encouraged to choose what they wish to do and enjoy allocated time to watch TV, videos and play with the computer.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder knows about children's care arrangements and routines because she obtains appropriate information from parents. Children make choices about what they wish to do and are included in all activities. Although some toys reflect differences, the range is limited and does not include positive images of different cultures, ethnicity and disability. This impacts on children's understanding and learning of differences within our society. Children are learning good social skills, the childminder supports children well and encourages positive behaviour. Children are learning to cooperate, they sit well together at snack time and lunchtimes. Children are learning to say please and thank you and they are learning to share and take turns. Appropriate methods of behaviour management are used to support them and encourage good self esteem. For example, children benefit from positive praise and encouragement, they enjoy being

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Helping children make a positive contribution

rewarded for good behaviour and wear stickers proudly. The childminder promotes positive partnership with parents. Information is exchanged regularly. Children's daily routines and activities are recorded in daily diaries to share with parents to keep them informed about children's progress. Parents are encouraged to contribute to children's diaries, this helps both parents and childminder to be aware of any changes to care arrangements. Parents receive additional verbal feedback and have access to written information about the setting. They are encouraged to attend with their child as part of the settling-in process, this allows children and parents to familiarise themselves with a new environment and develop relationships with the childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is suitably experienced and qualified to care for children. She is informed and up to date with current training opportunities and is keen to develop her practice, for example the childminder wishes to obtain further information about the Birth to three matters framework and is attending a music workshop to develop further ideas for children's activities. The childminder organises space appropriately, children enjoy moving about the play areas, they are confident and comfortable in their surroundings. The childminder has appropriate systems in place to ensure children are secure. Procedures are agreed with parents to ensure children are collected by authorised persons, systems in place keep children secure and support

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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 the safe systems followed for the collection of children. Most information and records are in place and shared with parents. However not all consents relating to the application of creams, lotions and emergency care arrangements are in place to fully safeguard the care of children. The childminder keeps records stored securely and confidentially, she reviews contracts regularly and is aware of how long certain records need to be kept for. Overall children's needs are met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the registration visit recommendations were made to improve safety in relation to the installation of smoke detectors, safe storage of knives and cleaning detergents within the kitchen, safety of the banister rail and gaps in between the rail, safe storage of personal hygiene products in the bathroom and the requirement to have stair gates at the bottom and top of the stairs if minding for younger children. The childminder has made some improvements to safety arrangements and has installed smoke detectors on both levels of the home and in the bedroom where children sleep. A barrier is in place across the banister to make the gaps inaccessible to children and improvements have been made to ensure the safe storage of cleaning detergents at low level in the kitchen. Child locks are in place and secured to prevent children from access. Although child locks are in place on low level drawers in the kitchen to prevent access to knives and medication, gaps are wide

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Improvements since the last inspection

enough on opening for hands to access knives and medication, arrangements are not fully secure and safe. Recommendations made previously included reference to the safe storage of cleaning fluids stored at low level in the bathroom and the installation of stair gates at the top and bottom of the stairs if caring for young children. Assessment of risk to children has not been identified, as a result this impacts on children's safety.

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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 MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT?

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure stair gates are in place on the top and bottom of the stairs and cleaning fluids, medication and knives are made safe and inaccessible to children, improve knowledge and understanding of procedures to follow should any allegations be made against the childminder or other adults. • ensure written parental consent is obtained to agree procedures for emergency care arrangements and to apply creams and lotions. • ensure toys and equipment are provided that reflect positive images of differences within our society, including culture, ethnicity and disability.

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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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