Childminder in Worcestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique Reference Number 205071 Inspection date 12 December 2005 Inspector Anne Georgina Phillips

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 has been registered since 1983. She lives with her husband in a house situated in a residential area of Kidderminster, Worcestershire. A vehicle is available to transport children to and from local schools, pre-schools, parks, play areas, activity groups and on outings. The whole of the ground floor and rear enclosed garden are used for childminding. The family has no pets. The childminder is registered to care for up to 6 children under 8 years at any one time. She is currently minding 10 children aged from 7 months to 13 years each week who attend on a full or part-time basis. She belongs to the National Childminding

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 Association and is an active member of the local and regional organisation. She has recently achieved the Quality First quality assurance award. Local activity and toddler groups are visited daily and there are frequent outings to places of interest and play areas. The childminder may work with an assistant but is not doing so at the time of this inspection.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a good range of activities that promote their physical, mental and emotional health. They have frequent opportunities to develop and improve their physical skills when playing actively inside, in the garden, or visiting local activity groups and play areas. They develop their manipulative skills with lots of messy play and craft opportunities, such as balancing the marble on a tray to make marble paintings. Children are nourished very well. They enjoy substantial, wholesome snacks and meals that include options such as apples or grapes so that children are learning about the benefits of a healthy diet. They enjoy sociable, unhurried meal times that meet their individual needs well, and have ready access to drinks at all times. Daily routines, close liaison with parents, and attention to the cleanliness of equipment ensures that children are generally well-protected from infection. Younger

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

children are starting to learn the importance of good hygiene when taking off their outdoor shoes indoors, developing independence washing their hands after using the toilet, and finding their own individual hand towel and brushing their teeth after eating. Older children do not always wash their hands before eating so they miss opportunities to take responsibility for their own personal hygiene. Children are all able to make choices about being active and are able to rest or relax comfortably when they are tired, for example, on a comfy sofa.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe, secure environment that is spacious, welcoming and child-friendly with examples of their art work and creations attractively displayed. It is very well-organised so that children play happily and move freely within the lounge and play-room, accessing toys and resources readily. These are sturdy, colourful and attractive to them at floor level. Children use safe, clean toys and equipment that interest and involve them. For example, they are engaged for long periods with the wild and farm animals, or the doctors set and disposable gloves, while they act out real or imagined experiences. Children’s safety is maintained by the continuous vigilance of the childminder who monitors and supervises their play carefully. She effectively organises her home so that children can play safely and ensures that they can respond quickly in an

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 emergency by practising emergency escape plans together. Children are well-protected. The childminder has a well-stocked first aid box, holds a current first-aid certificate and has a good understanding of child protection procedures.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children enjoy an excellent range of play experiences that help them develop and achieve. They are very happy, settled, secure and confident. They have a very warm, friendly and responsive relationship with the childminder who uses her experience of children’s development to provide interesting activities and experiences to promote their progress very effectively. She consistently and positively interacts with the children to ensure that they are made to feel special and fully involved. Babies become animated and very vocal when talking to the puppet. Children enjoy time and space to develop their play and build a sense of trust that makes them keen to communicate and express themselves. For example, talking about their pets and their families and what has happened to them. Younger children enjoy lots of opportunities to be creative and are learning to value books and stories.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They socialise daily with other children so that they are confident around others. Older children enjoy the relaxed homely environment to talk about their day or do some homework. Children are extremely content. They are increasingly independent in making choices about their personal care, snacks, and activities

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Their individual routines are known and respected and the childminder has a positive attitude to ensuring that she is well prepared to include all children. Children learn about the wider world through good reflections of diversity in activities, play resources, daily group activities and outings. Children make very warm and trusting relationships with the childminder and one another. They behave very well because of the positive feedback they receive, for example, being told they are ‘brilliant’ when contributing to tidying away some toys so that they become confident and develop high self-esteem. Younger children are learning to negotiate with one another about sharing toys without prompting from the childminder. A close working relationship with parents contributes significantly to children’s well-being. Effective systems for gathering and sharing information, and acting on

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

parent’s wishes in a friendly, relaxed and unhurried manner contributes positively to children’s individual needs being met. Parents receive good quality information about childminding practices and procedures and are kept up to date about what children

p.4

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 do on a daily basis.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children make very good progress because the childminder is a competent, very experienced child carer and this enables her to provide a very good range of activities and a safe, well-organised, secure setting for the children in her care. She is very proactive in developing her childminding practice by attending lots of training, attaining the Quality First quality assurance award, and implementing initiatives such as the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework to enhance the experiences of younger children. She organises her home and time very effectively to create a very warm, welcoming and friendly environment for children and parents so that children are emotionally secure, confident and expressive. They develop independence, make choices about their play and develop excellent relationships with each other. All the required documentation is in place and appropriately used and kept but accident records are

p.5

Organisation

not always promptly completed for parents to sign. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children that attend.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, children’s safety has improved by the childminder ensuring that the garden ornaments are secure and do not pose a hazard to children when they play in the garden. Fire safety has been improved by the securing of the fire blanket. Record keeping has been improved by the daily completing of the attendance register.

p.5

Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report since the last inspection. 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.

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.5

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.5

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.5

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): • ensure that older children observe good hygiene practices consistently • ensure that accident records are completed promptly

p.6

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.6

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.6