Childminder in Liverpool

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY306017 Inspection date 05 September 2005 Inspector Chris Scully

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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 husband and two children aged 14 and 16 years in Liverpool. The whole of the ground floor, front bedroom and bathroom are used for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. There are currently two children on roll aged 4 and 8 years and both children attend after school. The childminder attends local toddler groups and takes children on a range of outings including Formby Point, local parks, libraries and other places of interest.

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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 receives support from Liverpool local authority and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm clean home. They know and understand the importance of good personal hygiene in order to keep themselves healthy. Children understand the need to wash their hands after visiting the toilet or playing out doors, to get rid of the germs. This is supported well by the childminder who provides individual towels and face cloths for children to reduce the risk of cross infection. Children are confident to see to their own personal needs. The effective sick children policy enables the childminder to protect children from the risk of cross infection. Children effectively notice changes in their bodies, such as feeling hungry or tired, and confidently ask for appropriate help. Children benefit from a healthy and nutritious diet. The childminder has effectively sought information from the parents to enable her to provide appropriate food and drinks for each child. Children are confident to ask for drinks to refresh themselves

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Helping children to be healthy

and are keen to choose the toppings for their toast. The childminder talks to the children about healthy eating to enable them to learn about good foods and food that can be bad for them, such as too many sweets. Children enjoy daily opportunities to play outdoors. This includes garden play where they confidently use the climbing frames and other large equipment. This means children are able to develop their co-ordination and balancing skills. Children are skilled at using small resources. For example, a child uses the back scratcher to gather up smaller pieces of equipment so he can put them away.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children move freely and safely between the rooms on the ground floor and outdoor areas where hazards have been identified and minimised. They are happy and feel safe and secure in their surroundings. Children are confident about choosing where to play. However due to the organisation of some resources within the play house they are not fully able to self select their own resources. The childminder provides a range of good quality resources that are appropriate for the ages and stages of development of the children. Children are engaged in purposeful play. One child spent considerable time pretending to repair a damaged table, then charged £80 for carrying out the job. Clear procedures are in place to keep children safe when out walking or travelling in the car. The childminder talks to children about road safety and the need to wear their seatbelts in the car. This means that children learn to keep themselves safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a first aid certificate, a good understanding of child protection

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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 procedures and all the required documentation in place to protect children. She uses her knowledge well to promote children's welfare.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled at the childminder's. The childminder and her children have built good relationships with the minded children that enable them to feel secure and comfortable in their presence. Minded children are keen to seek the company of the childminder's children and encourage them to join in their games. Children learn to take turns and share resources with others. They are confident to explain the rules of the game and identify who's turn is next. Children have a good sense of belonging. Their art work is displayed well, which promotes their self esteem. They are familiar with the daily routines and talk happily about a recent trip to the pine woods and squirrel reserve. Children are keen to explain how they fed the squirrels and eagerly revisit other aspects of their trip. Children learn well through play. They learn about numbers and letters when walking

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

up and down the stairs. They use a range of mathematical equipment with confidence, such as the abacus, and explain to others how it is used to count. The childminder is skilled at asking open ended questions. This encourages children to think, solve simple problems and make choices, such as "what happens if we don't put the lid on the play dough?" The childminder creates activities that are fun and engage the children's interest, such as looking at changes such as wet and dry when painting the fences with water or looking for spiders and dragon flies whilst in the garden. Children enjoy a range of creative activities that enable them to develop their skills, particularly when using play dough. Children are confident to show the childminder how to make a bird out of play dough and show considerable patience when she makes a mistake.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are very happy and settled at the childminder's. The children's welfare is promoted by the appropriate use of documentation and record systems. These enable the childminder to meet the children's individual needs well in practice. Children are engaged in a range of stimulating and interesting activities that promote their all round development. The children have access to some resources that depict positive images of race and gender. However, there are limited resources available to help children understand the needs of others who have a disability. The childminder is due to introduce a range of activities to enhance the children's understanding of different cultures, such as the Chinese new year, to enable children to understand and learn about the world in which we live. Children are very well behaved. They respond well to the childminder's requests such

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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 as "tidy up time". They use manners appropriately when making a request, for example, saying "please may I have" and "thank you". They share resources well with others and take turns appropriately. Children are valued as individuals and show respect for one another. The childminder has developed a good relationship with the parents. Daily verbal exchanges keep parents informed of their child's day and progress. Parents have access to a range of information about the setting, however not all polices are formalised.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children feel at home and are able to express themselves well in their surroundings, confidently selecting where to play. They move freely around the setting both indoors and outside and are confident to ask for toys and resources, though the organisation in some areas does not actively encourage this. The childminder has a good understanding of the National Standards and has ensured all persons over 16 years are suitably vetted by Ofsted. She has applied to attend a range of courses with the local authority in order to further enhance her knowledge and skills and to improve upon the leaning opportunities and experiences available to the children. The childminder makes good use of the available space to provide a well balanced range of interesting activities to children. Children are familiar with the daily routines and are confident to initiate their own play, for example going to play outside. All

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Organisation

required documentation is in place and is maintained well, though not all policies are formalised. Overall, the needs of all the children are met.

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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

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): • formalise all policies and procedures and share these with the parents • revise the organisation of resources to enable children to freely choose what they wish to play with.

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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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