Childminder in Cheshire West and ChesterOfsted inspection, 28 Feb 2006

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 304130 Inspection date 28 February 2006 Inspector Gillian Sutherland

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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 good. 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 1991. She lives with her husband and two adult children near Chester. The house is within walking distance of local schools and parks. The areas of the house which are used for childminding are all on the ground floor and minded children have no access to the upstairs rooms apart from the bathroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play activities. The childminder is registered to provide care for five children at any one time and

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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 there are currently five children on roll, the majority of whom attend on a part time basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a very wide and varied range of activities and experiences, both indoor and outdoors, which promote being healthy. Children access such physical activity either in the childminder's garden or the local park and in both areas they access age appropriate swings and climbing equipment. However when visiting the local park they also benefit from the open spaces where they can safely run round and play more vigorous games. Examples of such games are football, cricket or rounders. Children learn about the importance of good health and personal care as part of their daily routine. For example, they wash their hands before mealtimes, after playing outside or going to the bathroom. Children's individual dietary needs are fully discussed with parents prior to care commencing and specific needs are recorded on the children's enrolment form. This ensures the children are looked after in accordance with their parent's wishes and

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Helping children to be healthy

their individual dietary needs met. Children learn the importance of healthy eating as the childminder provides them with a good range of nutritious foods and snacks. A choice of meals and snacks are offered to children and the range includes many different fruits and vegetables. Children are also made aware, through discussion and pictorial evidence of the benefits of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Regarding drinks which are freely available to them throughout the day, children are offered a choice of water, milk or juice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are allowed to move round and play safely, as the childminder ensures that any risks inside and outside the home are minimised. Inside the home the childminder has in place equipment that ensures children are safe. Examples of such equipment includes locks on low level cupboards within the kitchen and also on the bathroom cabinet. However, two issues related to safety were raised, noted and discussed with the childminder. The first one related to the position of the wine rack in the kitchen, as this could easily be accessed by children and the second related to fire safety. The childminder stated that she has not actually practised fire drills with the children she currently cares for. Children can freely self select from a varied range of good quality toys and resources, which meet safety standards, and are clean and well maintained. The selection of

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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 toys and resources available is appropriate for children in the different age groups for which the childminder currently cares for. Children learn about safety during outings because they are well supervised, and the childminder talks to children about road safety and stranger danger as she takes them to and from school and also on outings to local places of interest. Inside the home the children are made aware of the 'house rules' which ensures that children are aware of which areas of the house they can safely access and play in. The childminder has a range of the required procedures and documents in place to ensure that children's welfare is safeguarded; for example she holds a current first aid certificate, she has a sound knowledge of child protection issues and has

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

appropriate child protection reference material, which she would refer to if she had any concerns about a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children access a wide and varied range of play experiences all of which contribute to their learning and development. Activities available to them are all age appropriate and meet the children's individual needs. Children access outdoor play activities either in the childminder's garden at the rear of the house, or by going out with the childminder to a nearby park and to other local places of interest. Children are encouraged to become confident and independent, and this is achieved through the use of support and praise from the childminder during their play activities. Interaction between the childminder and the children is good and she does participate in their play activities. This was observed during the inspection visit as the childminder sat with children during a play session and participated in an activity involving a range of cars, a colouring and drawing activity plus a story time. Children

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

develop play activities well, either by themselves or with additional participation from the childminder. Children are encouraged to make choices throughout the day as they freely self select which activities they want to participate in, or which toys and resources they want to play with.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children settle well and those present during the inspection chatted freely to the childminder. Children's progress and development is shared effectively with the parents. The sharing of such information is carried out verbally with parents of the older children, but the childminder seeks parents' wishes regarding this and would complete a daily diary for younger children and babies if requested. Some of the children's art and craft work completed during the day is displayed around the areas accessed by children or given to them to take home, enabling their

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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 parents to see the types of art and craft work undertaken. Children's individual needs are identified during a detailed pre-admission discussion with their parents and an agreement reached as to how each child's individual needs will be met. The childminder ensures that her policies and practices are also included in a detailed pre-admission discussion. Children have access to a broad range of toys, resources and activities, some of which increases their awareness of diversity. Children have the opportunity to self-select which activities they want to participate in and which toys they want to play with; there is no gender bias.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for in an environment where they feel at home and have access to bright and welcoming play areas. They also have access to a range of comfortable adult and appropriate child sized furniture. The childminder discusses her policies and procedures with parents as part of the pre-admission discussion, thus promoting working in partnership with parents. Also available for parents to look at is her first aid certificate, evidence of other training undertaken and current insurance details. The childminder ensures that all her documentation relating to childminding is stored appropriately and was easily accessed on the day of the inspection. The documentation is stored in such a way that ensures confidentiality for the children and their parents. Parents are aware of the registration conditions of this childminder, as her registration certificate is on display.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has, since the last inspection, updated the documentation used relating to the administration of medication, and written consent for the collection of children is now in place. This ensures that the childminder operates in accordance with the national standards.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report. 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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Complaints 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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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 good. 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): • practise fire drills with the children to ensure they are aware of the evacuation procedures that would be implemented in the event of a fire • ensure the kitchen is made safe and children have no access to low level glass. e.g. wine rack

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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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