Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 307810 Inspection date 01 November 2005 Inspector Janet, Elizabeth Singleton

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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 has been registered for approximately 23 years. She lives with her husband, who is also registered, in a rural village in Lancashire. The whole of the home is used for childminding and there is a secure garden for outdoor play. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 6 children and currently has 11 children on roll, who all attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder provides before and after school care. The family has a dog.

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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 Childminders Association and supports other childminders in the local area. She has links with the local sure start support group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay very healthy because the childminder follows good hygiene practices and makes sure children wash their hands after visiting the bathroom and before meals therefore, limiting cross contamination and infection. The childminder has effective routines for nappy changing ensuring children's own routines are followed, from home, and providing consistency of care. The childminder has a positive approach to ensuring children take part in some outdoor exercise every day to maintain good health and physical development. The childminder acts in the children's best interest when they are ill and their welfare is protected as most of the appropriate documentation is in place and completed accurately. The childminder does not have written parental consent for the seeking of emergency medical attention or advice for children. Children learn about healthy eating as they make good choices from fresh fruit at

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Helping children to be healthy

snack time. Appetising meals are freshly prepared with the childminder encouraging children to eat vegetables by trying different ways to present them. Children can help themselves to a drink at all times and they have their dietary needs met because the childminder understands the requirements of a balanced diet.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are very happy and cared for in a very welcoming and safe indoor and outdoor environment, being clean and well maintained. Children play freely and move without restriction as they choose from the appropriate and balanced toys and equipment provided. Children enjoy choosing toys and changing them as they as they finish playing in the doctor's surgery and show absolute delight in choosing the dressing up clothes. Children are kept safe because the childminder has the required safety features in place and has house rules to ensure they do not run and hurt themselves or other children. They learn to keep themselves safe on outings as they talk about dangers and the consequences for example, waiting to cross the road and checking the traffic to ensure they can cross safely. Children's welfare is protected because the childminder understands her role in child protection. She is aware of the signs and symptoms and is confident of the action to

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy and achieve because they are provided with a variety of play opportunities that cover all areas of development. They are keen and interested in their play as they sit and enjoy colouring and delight in using their imagination as they play with the role play, making up stories and scenarios with each other, acting as doctor and patient and chattering about their play. They delight in playing fairies as they dance and float around the room, grinning and smiling as they become the fairy. They learn about colours as they discuss the colours during their play. The children are able to socialise outside of the home as they enjoy being taken to the local toddler groups. This allows them to experience new environments and access further activities to assist them in their learning. Children develop their physical skills as they walk to school, to the shops and to the park, engaging in outside activities on a daily basis. They are developing their

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

confidence and esteem by having very positive relationships with the childminder. The interaction is good with lots of meaningful conversation, praise and encouragement being used effectively. The children talk to the childminder about their play, at all times, and engage in quite humorous discussions about mending the broken watch and the doctor's surgery.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are welcomed into the setting and the childminder has a good understanding of equality of opportunity. The children learn about diversity because there are toys and equipment and a choice of activities to develop their understanding for example, dolls, jigsaws and books. The childminder ensures all children can join in all activities and is aware some children have special needs and thus may need to adapt activities to ensure all children can participate. Children are beginning to understand how to manage their own behaviour. They are beginning to take responsibility because the childminder gives very good explanations and sets clear boundaries. Younger children are beginning to understand between right and wrong because the childminder uses gently reminders to reinforce rules and set boundaries. The childminder acts as a good role model by staying calm and consistent in managing the children's behaviour and, as a result,

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Helping children make a positive contribution

children are very well behaved. The childminder ensures younger children are occupied and follow a daily routine, of play, outside activities and mealtimes to enable them to benefit from a structure. This assists them is feeling safe and secure. A positive relationship is fostered with parents because the childminder provides information regarding her care practice. She provides verbal and written feedback to the parents at the end of each day to enable them to be fully aware of her childcare practice. This contributes significantly to the children's well being.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from an environment which is effectively organised to meet their needs. The children make choices as they move freely and can access good quality toys and equipment. They feel at home and readily change their topics choosing the equipment they need. The childminder has an informal routine in place which is based on the children's needs therefore enabling them to gain maximum enjoyment from the activities provided. Children's needs are met because the childminder has all regulatory documentation in place. This is organised and up to date. However, the childminder could not provide documentary evidence of completing a first aid course to show she had training to meet children's first aid needs. The childminder has links with other childminders, thus fostering children's social needs. Overall, the setting meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has formulated a sick children policy which informs parents of the details of the infections and the time period the child must remain at home. This prevents cross contamination and infection and promotes the health of the children. The child minder has provided resources including dolls, posters and jigsaw to enable children to learn about diversity and raise their awareness.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints to report. The provider is requested 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

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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 take account of the following recommendation(s): • obtain written parental consent for the seeking of emergency medical attention or advice. • ensure certificate of first aid is available for inspection.

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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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