Childminder in Staffordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 209565 Inspection date 18 July 2005 Inspector Michelle Smith

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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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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 1993 and works with an assistant. She lives with her husband and 2 children aged 8 and 11 years in a house in Stafford. The playroom, dining room, hall, kitchen and downstairs toilet are used for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children when working alone and eleven children when working with an assistant. There are currently seven

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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 children attending during day time hours and three out of school children. A maximum of six children attend at any one time as children attend on a part time basis. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and Stafford Childminding Network.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. For the majority of the time children are encouraged to follow good hygiene routines, however the application of these routines is not always consistent and equipment is not always easily accessible, therefore increasing the likelihood of cross contamination. For example children are only sometimes prompted to wash their hands before eating and equipment to dry children's hands is not available in the toilet. This reduces children's self help skills in toileting. A verbal sick child policy ensures children are cared for appropriately when they are ill. Children’s nutritional needs are met through parents providing appropriate food. Children sit at the playroom table for meals making meal times a sociable and calm time and helping children to interact together. The majority of children are developing independence in feeding, however young babies are not sufficiently encouraged to

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Helping children to be healthy

feed themselves. Children's understanding of healthy eating is developing well as they participate in a theme labelled 'five a day' where they learn the value of fruit and vegetables. Children are encouraged to eat healthy snacks and have regular access to water, ensuring they are well nourished. Children take part in sufficient activities which help them stay physically fit. Examples are climbing frames in the garden, seasonal swimming in the garden pool and football, which help children to control and coordinate their large body movements. Children's skills to control smaller movements are promoted well through, for example, fastening buttons on a dressing up outfit and linking pieces of a train track.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are confident in the setting as there is sufficient space for them to play safely and some measures have been put into place to keep them safe. However the overall safety of children is compromised as the premises are not always secure. The childminder has some positive strategies to ensure children are safe when playing outdoors, including close supervision of the seasonal swimming pool, however not all hazards in the garden have been removed. An emergency escape plan is practised regularly with the children, helping them to understand how to react in an emergency situation. The cleanliness, maintenance and storage of resources and equipment ensures

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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 children can play safely with their toys. Children are mainly supported in the self-selection of resources from labelled open shelving. Through the appropriate use of equipment and reasonable explanations from the childminder, children are beginning to learn how to keep themselves safe, for example turning over a storage box to make it safer to sit on. Children's protection from abuse and neglect is promoted through the childminder's clear knowledge of signs that a child may be at risk of harm. She is aware of what action to take if any concerns are noted in line with Area Child Protection Committee procedures, however she has no regard for new written government guidance on child protection issues. As a consequence children's welfare is not fully safeguarded.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are able to engage in a sound range of activities including planned themes which helps them to make generally good progress in all areas of development. They are developing some independence skills as they choose between a variety of toys, books and activities, which appeal to all. However, children's natural curiosity as learners is not always fully promoted. When they ask for support in challenging activities it is not always provided, for example a child requested support in building a train track and was asked if she wished to read a book instead. Children are interested by the toys, equipment and activities provided. They show enthusiasm when toys are changed and are encouraged to take note of the environment, for example looking out of the window to spot birds. Children relate well to each other. They interact with confidence as they role-play familiar experiences, for example playing with tea sets. Children are developing the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

skills of conversation, they interact well with the childminder, talk and sing throughout tasks, for example when tidying up. Some older children within the setting are learning about numbers as they count independently within their play, for example counting when colouring. As they concentrate well within art work they are able to explain what they are doing, for example explaining lines on a piece of paper. Children are happy and settled.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children show care and concern for others and play together harmoniously. They have a warm relationship with the childminder who promotes their self-esteem through frequent praise for effort and achievement. Children are learning to negotiate with others through their play, for example when choosing trains. Children behave well as the childminder is consistent in her application of boundaries, for example not playing with a ball inside the play room. Children benefit from being cared for as individuals with their particular needs

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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 considered and accommodated. Each child is valued and celebrated as the childminder makes personal care routines individual, for example nappy changing. Toys, books and display materials reflect diversity and give children positive role models of people like themselves and of people different to themselves, for example a book with an African theme. Children's sense of security is fostered through an effective daily feed back to parents, which promotes continuity of care.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. The children feel at home and at ease with well-organised toys and resources. They are able to explore and investigate for the majority of the time as a result of the good use of space made by the childminder, for example providing a designated, bright and welcoming play room. This results in the children having the confidence to initiate and extend their own play and learning, such as using a storage container to role-play bathing dolls. The childminder uses some policies and procedures effectively to promote the welfare, care and learning of children, for example all records are confidential and the accident record obtains parental signatures. However, policies and children's records are not well organised and as a result some documents are missing or are not in place. Many written parental agreements and parental consents are not in place, nor are permissions for emergency medical treatment or advice, administration of

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Organisation

medication, or transporting children. As a consequence children's welfare is not fully promoted. An accurate register of children's attendance is not maintained and as a result the childminder could not demonstrate that adult: child ratios are maintained to allow flexibility of care for all children. Some information is effectively shared with parents through colourful wall displays, however insufficient written information is exchanged with parents. Overall, the provision does not meet the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has made some improvements in relation to recommendations made at the last inspection. She has improved children's safety in relation to practising the emergency escape plan with children. The emergency escape plan in now written and displayed for parents to see, practised regularly with the childminder ensuring all children have the opportunity to undertake a practise. Some improvement has been made to safeguarding children's health in relation to parental permission for emergency medical treatment. A form has been devised for parents to sign granting permission for the seeking of emergency medical treatment for each child. However, this parental permission has not been sought for each child attending resulting in some children's medical needs not being fully safeguarded.

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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

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Complaints since the last inspection

The complainant stated the childminder often left up to six minded children with an elderly and unqualified assistant. This concern relates to National Standard 1 - Suitable Person. In order to investigate the concern, we requested that the Registered Person clarify whether she was currently working with an assistant and provide identification details of that assistant. We also asked whether the assistant was left in sole charge of the children and requested copies of the written parental consent. In addition, we asked the Registered Person to detail how Ofsted had been informed of the assistant's details. The information was received within the timescale set. The childminder remains qualified for registration.

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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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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, the registered person must take the following actions: • ensure written agreements are in place for all children with their parents. Make sure the necessary parental consents and permissions are in place regarding the administration of medicines, transporting children in a vehicle and the seeking of emergency medical treatment or advice • ensure an accurate, daily record of children's attendance is maintained. Provide an action plan to demonstrate how all records relating to childminding will be organised effectively to ensure all required policies and procedures are in place, shared fully with parents and available for inspection at any time. These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

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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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