Childminder in Staffordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY300835 Inspection date 02 February 2006 Inspector Janice Rizvi

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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 was registered in 2005 . She lives with her husband and 2 children aged 9 and 12 years in Lichfield. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 4 children at any one time and is currently minding 3 children aged 2, 6 and 8 years. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 are cared for in a clean environment. Generally children's health and first aid needs are met through appropriate procedures and the maintenance of care, medication and accident records. The childminder's first aid training is up-to-date and the first aid box is fully stocked and quickly obtainable. She has not discussed and obtained parents written consent or instructions for medical advice and treatment should an emergency occur. This compromises children's health and safety. Children's health and hygiene is satisfactorily promoted, for example the childminder ensures she washes her hands after changing nappies and before preparing snacks and meals. Older children can independently access hand washing facilities in the kitchen, however access is limited for younger children, resulting in their hands not always being washed before eating, this increases risks of cross infection to children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy regular drinks, young children know their own cup and know where it is kept, they independently access their cup and indicate their needs and choice of drink. The childminder takes account of the wishes of parents and has also introduced more healthy snacks of fresh fruit including a wider choice of vegetables at meal times; helping children to understand the importance of good food. Children enjoy regular outings to the local shops, ball pool and running across the nearby field, contributing to their good health with fresh air and exercise.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from a welcoming, generally secure and friendly environment; however, the rear garden gate entrance although bolted, is accessible to unknown persons and therefore presents a risk to children. The conservatory is used as the children's main play area; this is warm and provides easy access to the rear garden during warmer weather. A satisfactory and safe range of toys and equipment are easily accessible for children, including indoor wheel toys such as prams and pushchairs. The childminder gives thought to how children of different ages can have maximum enjoyment from the garden, for example different areas are designated for older and younger children; with older children having access to more adventurous equipment at the rear end of the garden. A safety net and rubber matting is available when the large trampoline is in use. However, a detailed risk assessment to minimise

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

risks to children has not been completed for large play equipment. Within the home, children are able to move freely from one room to another with opportunities to rest and enjoy quieter activities in the sitting room. Further ranges of toys are rotated and stored outside in the garage and shed. Priority is given to fire safety and all fire equipment is in place. The emergency escape plan is clearly explained and practised regularly. Children are kept safe both indoors and during outings, children are encouraged to cross the road safely by using the lollipop person and following simple rules such as staying close and walking on the inside of the

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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 pavement. Full parental written consent is obtained for outings. Children are closely supervised. Children are well protected because the childminder has a satisfactory understanding of child protection issues and is able to put appropriate procedures into place where necessary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children settle well at the childminder's house. Younger children are reassured in the presence of strangers by the childminders caring and sensitive approach. They are becoming independent as they choose between a satisfactory variety of toys, books and activities such as, small inset puzzles, construction toys and pushing their dolls in the pram. The childminder is just beginning to use the ‘Birth to three framework’ to assess and plan for children’s future development. She has the development planner displayed and has made some attempt to put this into practice by ensuring she plans frequent outings for children’s physical development. A wipe board has been introduced with the daily routine displayed to inform parents. However, the childminder is not totally conversant with the framework to fully benefit children. She has a general overview of the different stages of development the children have

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

reached, but she does not make any recordings of their individual achievements and skills to inform parents, of her planning. This lack of detail and information compromises children’s developmental progress. Young children’s language is developed in a supportive environment; they form positive relationships with the childminder and her family, which enhances their social and communication skills. Children have the opportunity to explore their wider environment during walks and outings. Satisfactory use is made of local shops and parks to enable children to explore and enjoy physical play on a regular basis. Within the home, children particularly enjoy music and rhythm; younger children enjoy music action rhymes. This promotes children's physical growth and spatial awareness skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from appropriate strategies to manage their behaviour. They are developing an understanding of right and wrong. The childminder praises children and encourages them to play together. She uses distraction methods for younger children. When older children become restless or agitated, they are spoken to calmly and asked to sit quietly and reflect on their behaviour for a short time. Clear ground rules are set out, for example about putting toys away, not shouting and no balls in the house. The consistent behaviour boundaries set by the childminder help children feel secure knowing what they can and cannot do. She finds out about their individual needs through discussion with parents and ensures that each child's needs are met, for example sleep and rest requirements.

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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 The childminder is responsive to children’s questions about the wider community and people with a disability, but explanations are not always reflected in a positive light, making it difficult for children to value individual differences. Although older children are encouraged to watch current affairs and children’s news programmes, there is a lack of resources and activities to promote children’s understanding of equality of opportunity. The childminder is respectful of children and their parents and works in partnership with parents to promote sound relationships, which contribute effectively to the continuity of children's care. Generally, appropriate language is used and encouraged within the home, but the garden contains a plaque with a saying using obnoxious language, which is detrimental to children’s learning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

All contracts and children’s care records have been completed and signed by parents. There is a full written complaints procedure advising parents how to make a complaint including the name and contact number of the regulator. Documentation is shared with parents, with regular verbal exchanges and information of how children have spent their time at the setting.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The premises are sufficiently organised to give children satisfactory play opportunities. Space is laid out to give children freedom of movement both indoors and out. Generally most documentation is in place which contributes to children's care and well-being. Children are safe as they are well supervised and all checks and vetting procedures are valid and suitable. The childminder has completed a pre-registration course approved by the local authority, which has contributed to a better understanding of the National Standards to benefit the care of children. The childminder currently displays the registration certificate in a document folder together with certificates and policies for parents; she is aware that she is now required to have this on full display for parents. The adult:child ratio fully supports children; however the children's attendance register is not always accurately maintained. This compromises the efficient organisation of the

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

The previous inspection raised actions for the childminder to improve her knowledge of the National Standards by attending the required registration course. She was also required to plan a suitable range of activities for children from birth to three years and assess the safety risks to young children accessing small items of equipment. The safety risks to older children when using the trampoline were also to be assessed. Further actions were raised to promote healthy eating and encourage a balanced diet. In addition she was required to improve records and consent forms, to obtain written consent to transport children in a vehicle, request parents written consent for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment and make available to parents a

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Improvements 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 written complaints procedure. The childminder completed an approved registration course in December 2005 and thereby increased her understanding of the National Standards. Some improvements have been made in planning young children's activities. She has begun to use the 'Birth to three' development framework and introduced a suitable plan of activities. Risks to young and older children have been reduced by ensuring that young children have safe and appropriate equipment. Rubber mats and safety nets are now available when the trampoline is in use. However, a risk assessment has not been completed. Children's diet and nutrition have improved with the introduction of fresh fruit at snack times and fresh vegetables with meals. The children's safety and information to parents has increased because written parental consent is now in

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Improvements since the last inspection

place to transport children in a vehicle and a full written complaints procedure is in place for parents. Parents' written consent for emergency medical advice or treatment has not been obtained. The areas that remain outstanding have been raised as recommendations in this report.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made since 01/04/2004. 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): • ensure suitable hand washing facilities are available to young children to improve their hygiene and encourage their independence. • request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment • ensure the rear entrance to the premises is secure

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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 • reduce risks to children by completing a risk assessment of the rear garden and large play equipment • continue to develop a knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities, including the range of activities and resources to promote diversity and ensure acceptable wording is used throughout the provision • continue to develop knowledge and understanding of the 'Birth to three framework' by recording children's individual skills and achievements to inform and plan for their future progress • ensure the children's attendance register is accurately maintained.

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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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