Childminder in Bolton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 315713 Inspection date 30 June 2005 Inspector Ann Bamford

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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 offers care from her home in the Smithills area of Bolton. The home is close to all local amenities including transport links into Bolton. She first registered as a childminder in 1995. Children have use of the lounge, dining room, kitchen and one first floor bedroom. There is an outdoor play area. Care is provided from 07:45 until 18:00 each weekday, with the exception of Bank holidays. Holidays are negotiated with parents.

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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 and her husband are registered foster carers and provide short term respite care for children with disabilities at weekends. There are three children in the family. The childminder is currently registered to care for up to five children. At the time of inspection there were three children on roll, one of whom attends on a part time basis. There were two children present during the inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm and clean home. They learn the importance of good hygiene and personal care as they wash their hands before having food. Children begin to understand the benefits of a healthy diet, they select grapes and bananas at snack time and can talk about drinking juice instead of pop to help their teeth. The childminder takes account of the wishes of parents and children's own preferences to provide nutritious meals and snacks that children enjoy. Babies enjoy the individual time given to them at feeding times which encourages good nutritional intake and a feeling of wellbeing as the childminder talks and smiles as she is feeding. Children enjoy a wide range of activities which contributes to their good health. Each day there are activities designed to help their skill development and general good health. They develop increasing confidence and dexterity as they throw and catch a

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Helping children to be healthy

ball with the childminder. Children have increasing awareness of how exercise affects their bodies as they ask for and receive drinks after they have been playing outside.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder identifies and reduces risks to children by effective use of safety equipment such as safety gates and fireguards. Children can move around the ground floor of the home freely as the childminder ensures that time is built into the day to tidy away. Children have an increasing awareness of keeping themselves safe as they tidy away toys such as trucks before they move into another room. Children can select from a range of carefully chosen activities, which are appropriate to their age and developmental stage. The childminder carefully monitors the toys available to babies to ensure that they remain safe whilst playing. Children are able to play safely and independently as the childminder provides equipment such as tables and chairs that are laid out for children to use. Children's welfare is promoted by the use of written procedures and clear record keeping. She updates her first aid training regularly and has a clear understanding of

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

her role in protecting children. Babies and children are kept safe on outings through the use of properly fitted car seats and use of a double buggy which meets the individual needs of children when out walking. Children's understanding of their own

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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 role in staying safe increases as the childminder makes effective use of routines to encourage children to get into the buggy themselves and ask for help with fastening the straps.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children develop self esteem as the childminder greets them warmly. Babies develop communication skills as the childminder talks and cuddles them at regular times through the day. Her individual attention to each child enhances all children's development as skilful communicators, the childminder's verbal interpretation of the babies utterances enhances children's wellbeing. Children develop increasing independence as they are able to select and tidy away toys for themselves. They are able to choose from a variety of books, musical instruments and building toys. The childminder skilfully plays alongside both babies and young children encouraging their development of a sense of self as they use the mirror or talk about what they are doing. The childminder makes effective use of frameworks such as birth to three matters to plan activities which helps develop children's skills and understanding. Children's learning is enhanced as the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

childminder asks questions or offers further information about what they are doing. Children are becoming competent learners as the childminder encourages them to try different ways of solving everyday problems such as completing the last piece of a jigsaw or counting on. All children spend their time purposefully engaged in purposeful activity. Children are able to participate in a range of activities which meet their different needs. Good use is made of story and singing times to encourage children of different ages to enjoy activity together. They begin to understand each others needs as they sit alongside the childminder for a cuddle with the baby on her knee.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are valued and respected as individuals. They feel a sense of belonging as they carry their own toast to the table or sit alongside the childminder at story time. The childminder meets the children's individual needs well as she gathers information from parents and uses this to provide care for each individual child. Children develop concern for and an awareness of others needs as they are engaged in helping the childminder at feeding or nappy changing times. Children are expected to behave well and they do. They enjoy the praise that they receive from the childminder as they await their turn for her attention. The childminder has begun to provide a range of activities and equipment which has some positive images of difference. However there are limited toys and equipment celebrating difference in culture or disabilities. in addition plans do not show celebration of different festivals. This limits children's understanding of the wider

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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 world. Children's special needs are taken into account when care is offered. The childminder uses information provided on children's need such as Asthma to inform what additional training she undertakes. This ensures that children have their individual needs met when being cared for.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has a high regard for the wellbeing of children. She organises her home and her time effectively to care for children. Children are confident to select and play independently for increasing periods of time. Children enjoy the attention given to them by the childminder and they become increasingly skilful communicators as they talk and play with her. Children's welfare and learning is enhanced by the effective use of policies and procedures. Children's continuity of care is enhanced as the childminder offers parents comprehensive information on how she offers care in terms of health, safety, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and organisation. The written record of how children have spent time whilst being care for enable parents confident knowledge of what their child has done. This is available to parents on a daily basis. Children's development in each area is enhanced as the childminder uses

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Organisation

frameworks such as Birth to Three Matters effectively in order to focus on what she wants children to achieve next. The setting meets the needs of all children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure that her first aid certificate included infants and young children, to ensure that there was written consent for medication before administration and provide parents with information on how care is offered. Since that time the childminder has attended further training in first aid, amended her policy and procedures for administration of medication to have a record of prior consent and has developed comprehensive information on how care is offered which is given to parents. This has increased the safety and good health of the children being cared for.

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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 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): • continue to develop knowledge and understanding of other cultures in order to enhance children's understanding of the wider world • increase children's access to activities and facilities which celebrate difference.

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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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