Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY243723 Inspection date 09 January 2006 Inspector Gail Groves

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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 registered in 2000. She lives with her husband and 2 children aged 4 and 7 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. The whole of the childminder’s house apart from the main bedroom upstairs 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 5 children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends a parent and toddler group and takes children to the local park. The family

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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 has a pet hamster and a cat.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Some appropriate environmental health and hygiene procedures help to protect children from infection. For example, they use anti-bacterial soap to wash their hands, and children with infectious diseases are excluded for appropriate lengths of time. The childminder encourages them to carry out some simple, good health and hygiene practices such as washing their hands after using the toilet and to dispose of tissues carefully when they have blown their nose. This helps them to begin to develop some good hygiene habits for later life. Children are adequately nourished and their food likes and dislikes are taken into account when the childminder plans meals. She offers parents the option of providing their own meals if they wish to do so and seeks information about any health and dietary requirements their children might have so that these are met. However, she does not ask parents to give written

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Helping children to be healthy

permission to seek any necessary emergency medical treatment or advice. This means that their wishes are not taken into account and children's health and safety is compromised due to a possible delay in receiving treatment if they become ill or are injured. Children have opportunities to enjoy physical activity and fresh air both in the garden and at the local park. They play with bikes, scooters, balls, a climbing frame and a slide in the garden and access swings and rocking toys at the park. In the summer they take a picnic to a larger park with lakes and go for walks around the local environment. This helps to encourage an enjoyment of exercise. Children's sleep routines are respected and they can rest and sleep according to their needs. If they attend for the whole day, such as in the school holidays, quieter activities are interspersed with more active play so they do not become overtired.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children use well maintained, suitable and safe equipment, which is age appropriate and meets their differing needs. They are cared for in a welcoming, secure indoor and outdoor environment but some risks to their safety need to be addressed. For example, access to sharp items in the kitchen, uncovered electrical sockets in the hall and living room and storage of the fire blanket in the kitchen. The childminder does not have any current public liability insurance. In the event of an accident leading to a claim for compensation, there is a risk that her ability to provide continuity of care for children would be compromised. Some appropriate procedures keep children safe on outings. For example, young children are strapped into a buggy and walking children must hold onto the buggy or the childminder's hand. She also limits the number of children she takes at any one

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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 time in order that she can provide adequate supervision. Children sometimes learn to keep themselves safe through discussions with the childminder as situations arise within their everyday routines. They talk about road safety as they go for walks and rules such as not running in the house or walking around with lollypops in their mouth help them to think about the possibilities of falling or choking. The childminder has some understanding of her role in child protection and has the necessary contact details to hand in order to seek advice if she has concerns about children's safety. She holds a current first aid certificate and so can provide appropriate treatment if children are injured.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children can acquire new knowledge and skills through the varied play activities and resources provided for them. For example, they have access to activities such as dressing up, construction, cutting, gluing and sticking and sometimes cooking. They play with playdough, puzzles, electronic games and board games and look at books. This means that they can extend their creativity, imagination and thinking. Older children develop their own play scenarios with little or no intervention but the childminder offers some support to younger children to help them to extend their concentration and interest. This encourages them to develop the skills that they will need for later learning. Children develop confidence and self-esteem because they understand the routines and house rules and can therefore be independent. For example, they use their initiative to select their own resources and activities from low level storage boxes and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

cupboards and on arrival quickly remove their coats and shoes before going off to play. They confidently ask questions to seek information or help if needed and make positive relationships both with each other and with the childminder and her family. The childminder helps them to begin to distinguish between right and wrong through discussions and explanations as to why some behaviour is inappropriate.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children feel a sense of belonging and are comfortable and settled in the childminder's care. With her support they begin to understand responsible behaviour and to develop social skills such as politeness and the ability to work harmoniously with others. Through discussions, they begin to develop respect for others and to become aware of their own needs as well as those of other people. For example, children are encouraged to explain how they are feeling if they are tired and not interested in conversation rather than to just ignore what another child is saying to them. They are able to make choices and take decisions, such as going to the toilet without having to ask for permission or choosing to play upstairs rather than downstairs. As a result they develop self-esteem and confidence. The childminder discusses individual children’s needs with parents and provides

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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 some appropriate support to meet them. For example, children who are toilet training are encouraged to continue a routine agreed with their parents in order to provide continuity and avoid confusion. Currently, the childminder does not have a system to record complaints. Therefore parents' views and concerns may not be respected or acknowledged and children's welfare cannot be fully monitored. Children have some opportunities to develop a positive understanding of the differences between people through discussions of situations as they arise within their environment and through some resources such as books and dolls.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The adult to child ratio positively supports children’s care, learning and play because the childminder limits the number of children for whom she cares. This means that she can spend time playing and interacting with them to extend their development. She gained the equivalent of a level 3 qualification in childcare in 1988, which along with her experience of working as a nanny, has given her some knowledge and understanding of child development. This enables her to monitor children's progress. She has not attended any recent training other than to renew her first aid certificate. The childminder's policies and procedures generally work in practice to promote children’s health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to make a positive contribution. Some of the necessary documentation for the effective management of the provision is in place but the childminder does not keep a separate daily record of the names

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Organisation

and times of attendance of the children for whom she cares. Consequently, she cannot accurately show that she is complying with the conditions of her registration regarding the numbers of children being minded at any one time. This means that children's safety and welfare cannot be fully monitored. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to improve children's health and safety by renewing her public liability insurance, obtaining written parental permission to seek emergency medical treatment or advice and to ensure that her vehicle insurance covered business use. She has spoken to her vehicle insurers regarding her cover but has not completed any of the other agreed requirements. She also agreed to maintain attendance, accident and incident records, ensure parents had access to Ofsted's contact details and expand her resources to reflect positive images of culture, gender and disability. She has set up an accident record and a partial attendance record but has not made the remaining improvements to her practice which would help to promote children's understanding of diversity and develop her partnership with parents.

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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

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 1 April 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): • obtain written parental permission to seek any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment • ensure public liability insurance is maintained • ensure electrical sockets and sharp knives are made safe or inaccessible to children • ensure fire blanket is easily located in kitchen • keep a written record of complaints, any action taken and the outcome of any investigation, as detailed in ‘Day care and childminding: guidance to the National Standards revisions to certain criteria October 2005’ • set up a separate daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of attendance.

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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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