Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique Reference Number 307706 Inspection date 03 August 2005 Inspector Lesley Ormrod

p.1

Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 1992. She lives with her husband and two adult children in Lancaster, Lancashire. The whole of the ground floor and one room on the first floor of the childminder's house are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding five children under 5 and three children before and after school. She occasionally works with another childminder. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends a number of local

p.2

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 parent/toddler groups. The childminder currently supports children with special educational needs. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and the Munchkins Childminders' group.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children confidently make choices about their preferences of healthy options for their snacks and lunches as the childminder consistently encourages their awareness of foods that are good for them. They know that eating healthily helps them to grow strong and can explain why too many crisps may not be good for their health but drinks of milk will help their teeth to stay good. Their nutritional needs are met through the nourishing home-cooked food offered by the childminder such as celery soup, cheese and chive dip with cheese straws and chicken dishes. Children freely help themselves to water, juice or milk when they are thirsty and younger ones are taught well how to hold their cups to drink independently. Their dietary needs are met as the childminder collects detailed information from parents and gives daily reports about what children have eaten. Children have good physical skills and enjoy the regular opportunities to be active as

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

they go for walks to explore their local environment. They develop their coordination skills as they use the local parks to play ball games, learn how to skip with the ropes and run around freely. Children have some understanding of how exercise is good for their bodies and readily ask for an active play choice such as dancing on days when they cannot go outside. Babies develop good mobility skills as the childminder skilfully encourages their desire to move to explore their surroundings or respond to the other children calling their names. Children have a good understanding of their bodily needs and can independently carry out their personal care routines. They confidently describe why good hygiene is important and why it is important to wash their hands after visiting the toilet to prevent germs from spreading. Younger children have toilet-training programmes that are carefully managed to meet their developmental needs in full consultation with their

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

parents. Children understand how to manage simple health routines for themselves such as putting on their sun hats and sun cream to protect their skin. Tired children have their needs met well by the childminder as she offers reassurance and comfort with suitable resting arrangements that are agreed with their parents. All children have their health care needs ably met through the childminder's good practices, recording systems and clear written policies and procedures that are fully shared with parents.

p.3

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 Children move confidently about the large playroom that has been well planned out to facilitate their routines and play choices of activities and resources. Older children can independently visit the bathroom and know that they secure the safety gate as they leave, to keep the younger children safe. Children play safely in the outside area as the childminder has risk assessed and made it safe for their use. Babies enjoy the shade of the tent on a hot day as they play with their toys while older children explore water or sand in the tray and ride on the tricycles and scooters. Children happily develop their imaginative play ideas as the childminder makes good provision for their easy access to a wide range of age appropriate resources, toys and equipment. Babies find out how to drop Lego pieces into the toy bucket as they play safely on the

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

carpet area and older children practice their writing skills or take part in a craft activity at the large table. Children are taught to care for their toys and resources and they understand that tidying-up before the next activity helps them to play safely. Older children show a good awareness of the risk to babies from smaller play items and are vigilant in keeping these out of reach. Children's safe care arrangements are prioritised by the childminder as she has attended fire safety training and consulted with the fire officer about her fire prevention procedures. Some children have participated in practising emergency evacuation procedures but not all children know what the safe escape routes are. They are taught how to cross roads safely by the childminder when they are out on their walks and know that they wait for the green man to light up when they use the crossing control lights. Children are cared for in a safe environment as the

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

childminder uses a CCTV system to provide effective security arrangements. Their safety is managed well as the childminder has risk assessed her premises, shares her good health and safety policy and procedures with parents and has written parental consents for outings. Children understand where danger might lie and can describe how to behave to keep themselves safe if they meet strangers. They know that they stay close to the childminder so that they do not get lost when they go on an outing or walk to school. Children are protected as the childminder has a good knowledge of child protection procedures, has completed training and shares her written policy with parents.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children feel secure and enthusiastically participate in activities and develop their play ideas as the childminder has a clear structure for their sessions with her. They attend a number of parent and toddler groups and develop their social skills and self confidence as they meet other children and enjoy a variety of activities together. Their daily routines include structured activities, environmental experiences and free play choices that promote their progress in all areas of learning. Children use their good memory skills to chat eagerly about what they saw at the dinosaur exhibition and how they tried out the fruits in the tasting garden during their visits to local places such as the Maritime Museum and the Storey Institute. Their overall development is monitored by the childminder who uses the guidelines from the Birth to three matters framework, information from the training courses that she attends and her years of

p.4

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 experience to decide what children should learn next with suitable planning for age-appropriate activities and experiences. Children use a good range of language and vocabulary to express their ideas and talk about their experiences in response to the childminder's effective questioning. They use their good recall skills as they look at the photograph albums and remember the names of all their friends. Younger children develop their understanding that they can convey meaning through their babble and making of sounds as they respond happily to the childminder's interactions. Children develop excellent design and creative skills through the many opportunities provided by the childminder for art and craft activities. They concentrate for long periods as they use their good coordination skills to put together the hinged cardboard body pieces and

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

use the mark-makers and collage items to add the features and clothes. Children are proud of their free art paintings and drawings in their individual folders and describe the ideas that they used to put together a design such as the collage picture of a tent. They use their good control of pens and pencils to practice writing in preparation for going to school and are encouraged by the childminder to use their phonic skills to name the letters of the alphabet. Children can count confidently to ten as they use their number skills in practical contexts such as collecting up a given number of apples in the supermarket. Younger children are encouraged to develop their sensory and exploratory skills as they respond to the stimulation of fabric bags filled with orange peel, feel shaving foam and play with the pots and pans. Children confidently make choices about their play and activities as the childminder ably

p.5

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

encourages their decision-making such as what sort of baking to do that includes the taste of ginger.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children play equally together and show no bias in their choices of play items as the childminder gives good thought to how she promotes their understanding of equality. They learn through their play to value each other's differences and to understand that they all have things in common such as feelings and emotions. Their understanding of other cultures and traditions is fostered as they find out about foods from other countries such as the tastes of haggis, pasta and chilli, discuss items that reflect the Spanish culture and dress up for their role play selecting from costumes that include clothing from other races. Children understand how to respect and value each other as older children are encouraged to let younger children find out how to use a toy for themselves. They develop good self esteem as they confidently make choices about their play whilst respecting the needs of others. Their close relationships with each

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

other are fostered through the childminder's good encouragement of their sharing skills as they play together. Children's behaviour is consistently good as the childminder makes use of effective strategies to encourage their understanding of good and unwanted behaviours and their respect for the house rules. Children with special needs are given very good support to meet their needs as the childminder consults closely with their parents and has thought through how to stimulate their interest in activities that meet their developmental needs. All children's

p.5

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 needs are met in full as the childminder consults fully with their parents, records in detail about their care and learning and exchanges information about their routines and experiences at the good daily handovers. The information about the provision to meet children's needs is known by parents as the childminder shares her comprehensive file of information. Children feel very much a part of the setting and of their family groups as the childminder offers good support to parents with a shared approach to encouraging each child's developmental progress. They are given time to understand why and how they feel if an event happens in their families. Their understanding of caring for their environment and taking responsibility is fostered by the childminder as they discuss issues such as the impact of vandalism and

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

irresponsible dog owners on their access to local play areas and write to the newspaper to express their concern.

p.6

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are relaxed in the setting and enjoy their play together as the childminder effectively organises her provision to meet their needs. They are protected as the childminder has sound procedures agreed with parents in regard to authorised persons to collect children. Children receive a good quality of care as the childminder effectively uses her experience and training to make the best use of her space and resources to encourage their independence skills and imaginative play. They receive good attention from the childminder as she ensures that the appropriate adult-to-child ratios are observed. Their progress is shared fully with their parents and children proudly take home their work such as paintings, drawings and collages. Children receive continuity of care as the childminder has good documentation and effectively carries out her written policies and procedures in her childcare practices.

p.6

Organisation

Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

p.6

Improvements since the last inspection

The last Children Act inspection set recommendations for the childminder to improve her provision for children by updating her procedures for child protection and handling allegations, providing a complaints policy and minimising hazards in the garden area. Children now play safely in the attractive garden area as the childminder has risk assessed and made safe all potential hazards. The arrangements to protect children have been enhanced as the childminder has updated her child protection procedures, prepared a statement about handling allegations and provided parents with a complaints policy.

p.6

Complaints since the last inspection

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.7

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.

p.7

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): • enhance all children's understanding of managing their personal safety during emergency evacuation procedures through discussion and practical experience of drills.

p.7

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

p.7

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

p.7