Aldred, Gillian

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 308562 Inspection date 14 November 2005 Inspector Lisa Patterson

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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 since 1997. She lives with her husband and four children aged 19, 13, 9, and 7 years old in a detached house within walking distance of local amenities including schools and toddler groups. Minded children have access to the lounge, the dining room and the kitchen on the ground floor. Bathroom facilities are on the first floor and there is an enclosed garden to the side of the property which is laid to concrete. Family pets include three dogs, to which the children do not have access. The childminder is a member of the National Childminders Association and achieved

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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 a NVQ level 3 in Child Care and Education in July 2005.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay healthy because the childminder follows food hygiene procedures when handling food and has completed a food hygiene qualification. Children are beginning to have an understanding of simple hygiene procedures which are reinforced through everyday activities such as washing hands after using the toilet and prior to eating food. Children use separate towels to minimise the risk of cross contamination. Children enjoy regular physical activity and participate fully with larger apparatus at local toddler groups, during regular visits to the park, and in the childminder's garden area using sit and rides and a slide. Accident and medication recording systems are established and maintained, though the medication record requires confirmation that the information has been passed on to parents. Children enjoy a wide variety of nutritious, home made meals and snacks. The childminder aims to provide a balanced, but child friendly diet and all meals contain

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Helping children to be healthy

vegetables. This encourages the children to learn how to be healthy. Children are given a choice of meals and where a specific food is topical the childminder will provide it where possible. For example, a child wanted sausages because the character in the book was having sausages for lunch. Children have access to drinks throughout the day from non spill cups which ensures their needs are met. Children's needs are well provided for because the childminder has in place a very effective daily diary system to share information, regarding routines and meals, between home and the setting. Children's home routines are maintained where possible and they enjoy continuity of care as the childminder has cared for older siblings of all the children currently in her care. This ensures they are secure and settled. Children receive an abundance of encouragement from the childminder, activities are child centred and give them freedom to explore at their own pace

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm, welcoming and calm environment in which toys and resources are displayed at a level which is easily accessible to them. This provides them with a free choice of activities and develops their independence and respect for resources and each other. Children play with toys and equipment which are safe and suitable, and regular checks are carried out. The children play, in the main, in safe indoor and outdoor environments which are clean and well maintained. They have a good understanding of what to do in the event of a fire as regular fire practices are carried out and an informative written record is kept and used to inform future drills. Children learn about safety during

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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 regular outings during which the childminder uses suitable restraints both in the car and when walking, and maintains manageable ratios. This helps them to learn to take responsibility for their own actions. Children may gain unsupervised access to non registered parts of the premises on the first floor which presents a risk to them. The childminder has a secure understanding of child protection issues and the relevant agencies she must contact should she have any concerns about a child in her care. She has recently updated her knowledge through attendance at further training. While a written policy is available outlining her responsibilities regarding child protection, contact details are not included. Contact details should be available to further safeguard the children in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children develop confidence and self esteem through regular one to one attention. They are listened to and have opportunities to discuss their home lives, parents and siblings. The childminder is able to respond appropriately due to her knowledge of the child's wider family and interests. Children are interested in what they do, they use initiative and are able to independently select activities or ask for additional equipment where appropriate, for example, wax crayons and paper, or a double dolls pram. Activities and resources are rotated to maintain interest and the childminder takes note of specific likes and dislikes. Both the children and the childminder ask questions and challenge each other's thinking during stories and role play, for example, why is the builder wearing a hard hat? They have opportunity to use large apparatus, at toddler groups and in the childminder's home and also to develop their smaller muscles through craft activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They acquire new knowledge and skills through activities in the home and on trips out. The childminder regularly reminds them of events which happened to develop their memory skills, for example, which animal was it that tried to eat our lunch at the Wild Boar Park? Younger children and babies are well catered for and the childminder has used the Birth to three matters framework, both during work as a childminder and as part of her NVQ level 3 in Child Care. Children lead the play for the most part and are actively engaged, they have opportunities to be creative both in child inspired sessions and more adult led activities. This develops their independence and socialisation skills. Any creations are taken home to be enjoyed by the child's parents. The children have fun both in the childminder's home and during trips out which adds to their feeling of security.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children learn about wider society through the available resources which show positive imagery including small world play wheelchairs, books and dolls of different

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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 ethnic origins. The childminder also introduces them to different festivals celebrated in different cultures, craft activities and cooking. For example, at Chinese New Year the children made Chinese drums. All children are acknowledged as individuals and time is given to learning about their needs prior to them starting with the childminder. Specific needs are well understood and requirements put into practice where appropriate. Children begin to understand how to behave appropriately through interactions with each other, socialising at toddler groups, and through role models such as the childminder who manages behaviour through distraction and encouraging good manners. They develop self esteem and respect for each other and property through daily routine activities such as tidying away, sharing toys and being mannerly.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children play well together and any disagreements are easily solved through good interactions from the childminder who reminds them to share, take turns and to think about others. The children have a sense of belonging because of the continuity of care offered by the childminder and through the individual attention they each receive. Children are cared for according to their parent's wishes because the childminder provides a wealth of information both before and during the child's attendance. She has a flexible settling in technique which works around the child and his or her parent. Home routines are followed where appropriate giving the child a sense of security. Records are regularly updated and all parents sign and have their own copies of policy documents. There is also a daily diary, to which parents are encouraged to contribute, which contains information regarding: feeds, sleeps, nappy changes, and any other relevant information.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The organisation of the setting offers space for quiet and more messy activities and children move independently between the two main rooms. Low ratios are maintained to ensure adequate attention can be given to individual children. The childminder regularly attends further training to keep abreast of current child care practice and issues. She has recently achieved a NVQ level 3 qualification in Child Care and Education which will further enhance the quality of care offered to the children. Documentation is very well organised to ensure ease of access should the need arise. Comprehensive written policies are available to all parents and are signed to confirm their agreement. There is a written daily exchange of information between the parents and the childminder which ensures care is appropriate to individual children. All required documentation is established and maintained. While a complaints policy

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Organisation

has been produced, a complaints record has not been established which may present a risk to children. Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to ensure records of attendance were accurate and up to date at all times. She has addressed this issue by completing the attendance register when children arrive and are collected and records on the day of the inspection were in order. Through addressing this issue the childminder has further safeguarded the children in her care.

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Complaints since the last inspection

None. 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): • make rooms which do not form part of the registered premises safe or inaccessible to children • ensure all entries in the medication book are countersigned by the child's parent • establish a method for recording complaints

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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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