Childminder in Wigan

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY302831 Inspection date 29 November 2005 Inspector Angela Rowley

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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 2005. She lives with her partner and two children aged 21 months and four years. They live in a semi-detached house within the borough of Wigan. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four minded children at any one time. She is currently minding one baby during the day and two children for out of school care. The childminder attends local toddler groups and she supports children with special educational needs. She holds a Diploma in Nursery Nursing.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health and well being is effectively promoted. Babies are settled and content because the childminder knows them well and responds to their individual needs for food, sleep and play. Their developmental needs are met because the childminder works closely with parents to establish feeding requirements and health needs. Children are provided with some good opportunities to enjoy physical exercise. They attend regular toddler groups, play on a good range of equipment in the garden, swim and attend soft play centres. The childminder has developed some good procedures to help prevent the spread of infection. She keeps toys and equipment clean and promotes good personal hygiene by providing children with separate flannels and toothbrushes. She ensures that children do not attend when they are unwell, although she has not included this in her information for parents. Children are well nourished as the childminder encourages them to eat home cooked

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Helping children to be healthy

meals with fruit and vegetable accompaniments and to aim towards 'five a day' using a sticker chart. Children enjoy mealtimes as they are treated as a social occasion where they dine together after participating in its preparation.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in clean and suitably maintained premises. A wide range of good quality equipment is provided, which is well organised so that the childminder can select developmentally appropriate activities and also enable older children to make their own choices. The childminder has implemented some good procedures that ensure children are safe. Daily risk assessments of the premises ensure that the childminder checks each room and ensures safety equipment is sited to reduce the risk of accidents. Children's awareness of fire safety is increased because she practises fire drills and evacuations with them, although she has not developed a clear escape plan. Children's welfare is adequately protected because the childminder has some awareness of child protection procedures, including potential indicators of abuse or neglect. She has attended some training and has useful procedures in place to

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

ensure that parents are aware of her responsibilities, although she lacks confidence in implementing these because her training is not recent.

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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 All children are provided with developmentally appropriate, interesting activities because the childminder has a good knowledge of children's stages of development and uses this effectively to promote their learning. Older children are provided with a very broad range of experiences. They develop good imaginations as they participate in a wide range of creative activities such as potato printing, glitter pictures and bubble painting. The childminder effectively plans her week to ensure that they receive activities which promote all areas of learning, for example, attending a soft play centre one evening each week to ensure physical play in the winter months. The childminder is highly effective in responding to children's needs and ideas. This ensures that babies are settled and content and that older children can contribute

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

activity ideas and direct their own learning. For example, collecting leaves on the way home from school leads to a leaf sticking activity and suggestions of pizza for tea leads to them each baking their own. Younger children make good developmental progress because the childminder ensures that she provides a variety of experiences for them such as visiting toddler groups, the local duck pond and the local swimming pool. They receive fewer opportunities to learn through sensory exploration and planned activities as the childminder is not yet using the Birth to three matters framework.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individuality is respected as the childminder is very responsive to their individual needs and ensures that all children are involved and included in all activities. For example, when older children paint, the baby holds and explores the paint brush. Children's attitudes to gender stereotyping are challenged as the childminder promotes positive approaches through play. There is some equipment that increases children's awareness of diversity although there have been few planned activities to help children understand other ways of life. Children behave well because the childminder keeps them well occupied and spends her time playing with them. They develop positive attitudes as she encourages concepts such as kindness, helpfulness and participation in recycling. Effective systems, such as stickers and praise as rewards for wanted behaviour, help boost children's self esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnerships with parents are secure as the childminder promotes good channels of communication both verbally and in written format. Daily diary sheets ensure continuity of care for babies and the keeping of photograph albums and scrap books of children's creations keep parents informed of their activities and progress. Some useful information is provided, for example, policies and procedures, which help ensure consistent care.

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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 needs of children who attend are met because the childminder effectively uses her knowledge and skills in early learning to provide children with interesting activities, which help them to learn and enjoy. She has ensured that she has completed required training. The childminder organises her time appropriately to ensure that children receive a variety of experiences although with many daily outings there is less time for planned activities with babies. Children move around the home freely an independently because she organises her space effectively and ensures her home is safe. The setting is effectively managed because the childminder keeps all required documentation, although she has not devised an emergency escape plan and does not provide parents with clear information about her policy for sick children.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration. 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): • update (your) knowledge regarding local child protection procedures and what to do if concerned about a child • improve the planning and implementation of activities for babies by using the Birth to three matters framework • ensure that clear information is provided regarding emergency escape plans and the settings sick child policy.

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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 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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