Hurst, Tina

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY273430 Inspection date 17 March 2006 Inspector Jan Burnet

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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 satisfactory. 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 2003 and began childminding in 2006. She lives with her husband and 9-year-old daughter in a residential area of Willenhall. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family has no pets. The childminder is able to care for a maximum of 5 children under 8 years at any one time and is currently caring for 1 child under 5 years. She is able to walk to a local school and to take and collect children and attends local parent and toddler groups.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children's health is appropriately protected because the childminder ensures that preventative measures are in place so that risks to children are minimal, for example, her food hygiene practices. The possibility of infection passed from one child to another is low because of a policy that the childminder shares with parents informing them of illnesses that will mean their child should not attend and that they will be expected to collect their child if he or she becomes ill. Children's best interests are served in case of accident because the childminder holds an in-date first aid certificate. Children's individual dietary needs are known and satisfactorily addressed by the childminder. Different tastes and consistencies are being introduced into the minded baby's diet, formula milk provided by parents is stored in the fridge and the childminder ensures that the child is at no risk from dehydration. Children's emotional

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Helping children to be healthy

well-being is addressed well. Children are encouraged to develop physical skills and confidence with equipment in the childminder's home and at groups.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children play, eat and sleep in satisfactorily safe and healthy premises. The sitting room at the front of the house and dining room at the back are used for childminding and children have easy access to a ground floor toilet. Toys, activities and equipment are safe, clean and in a good condition. The childminder will encourage children in her care to learn how to keep themselves safe, for example, when outside the home they will walk and cross roads safely and sit in safety seats in the car. The childminder is alert to her responsibilities with regard to supervision and children’s risk of injury in the home is minimal as she has identified and addressed any potential hazards. However, in the garden there are building materials that would be easily accessible if an older child was being minded. Children would be unable to leave the house unsupervised because security is

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

addressed well. Children's welfare is appropriately safeguarded because the childminder has a working knowledge of the signs of abuse and neglect and is aware of her responsibilities with regard to referral procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder recently began caring for her first minded child, a baby aged under one year. She is preparing to care for other children and will ensure that all children

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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 are cared for as individuals with different needs and that a variety of activities and resources are available. Routines for play, sleep and meals are consistent and include activities inside and outside the home. The minded child is settled and secure and the childminder ensures that resources are appropriate for the child's stage of development. Books and toys encourage the development of different senses as they are colourful and include a variety of textures and sounds. The childminder will encourage the development of social skills at parent and toddler groups. The childminder is building a good relationship with the child and the child is happy and content.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Continuity of care for children is assured because communication between the childminder and parents is good. Information obtained initially from parents is thorough and is shared verbally on a daily basis. The childminder has drawn up an equal opportunities policy identifying that she will care for children as individuals taking into account gender, religion, disability and age. An information file for parents contains this and other policies and procedures. The childminder has no experience of caring for a child with a special need but if asked she would find out as much as possible about the child's needs from parents, library books, the internet and any other professionals involved in the child's care. Resources that reflect positive images of culture, gender and disability are very limited. Children's self-esteem is given a high priority. The childminder has drawn up a

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Helping children make a positive contribution

behaviour management policy, which identifies that she will encourage good behaviour and will expect children to treat each other with respect. The childminder will praise children, distract and explain if behaviour is inappropriate.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are settled and made welcome in the childminder’s home. Thorough admission information and verbal communication with parents ensures that children's needs are known and satisfactorily met. The childminder ensures that children's developmental needs are adequately met with consistent routines, the choice of toys and a balanced range of activities. Required documentation and records are kept up to date, in good order and are well organised. The childminder has drawn up policy statements on sick children, medicines, equal opportunities, transport, behaviour management and child protection. Policies, the fire procedure, first aid certificate and information on notifiable diseases are contained in a file shown to parents. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the 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

Not applicable as this was the first inspection.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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.

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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 satisfactory. 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 building materials in the garden inaccessible to children • develop resources that reflect culture, gender and disability.

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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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