Childminder in Derbyshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY225473 Inspection date 10 February 2006 Inspector Janice Broddle

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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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged 12 and 7 years. The childminder is also a registered foster carer and is currently caring for a 10-year-old child. The family live in Ripley, within walking distance of all local amenities such as the library, parks and health centre. Childminding takes place on the ground floor of the premises with toilet and sleeping facilities within this area. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has a pet cat. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 5 children at any one time

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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 and is currently caring for 3 children aged under 5, all on a part-time basis, and 2 children aged over 5 years, before and after school, and during school holidays, on a part time basis. The childminder has use of a vehicle. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and plays an active part in the local childminding support group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are very well protected from the risk of infection through the childminder’s very high standards of cleanliness within the home and her robust written procedures regarding sick children. They are developing excellent personal hygiene awareness, for example, they demonstrate a clear understanding of the importance of cleaning their hands before meals and know to cover their mouths when they cough so that they don’t spread germs. Through daily routines, activities and discussion with the childminder, children are learning about how to keep themselves healthy. They enjoy daily walks for fresh air and exercise and engage in discussion about different types of food; children know which ones are healthy and which are unhealthy. Children are exceedingly well nourished. The childminder provides nutritious, fresh, home-cooked meals that include a variety of fruits and vegetables. She skilfully

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Helping children to be healthy

encourages children to eat foods they are not so keen on, and those that they think they do not like, for example, by pretending that the vegetables are asking to be eaten. Children eat heartily and with evident enjoyment. Children develop a positive attitude to physical exercise. Along with daily walks, they have opportunities to develop their physical skills through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. This includes regular access to the garden and local park where they run, climb and balance on a wide range of equipment, which promotes their co-ordination. Children continue to have excellent opportunities to develop their physical skills in poorer weather. Indoors, they dance and move to action rhymes and they regularly visit a local soft play resource where they crawl, balance and climb on apparatus presenting a variety of challenges.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a warm, child-centred and very well maintained environment. The childminder has an excellent awareness of safety issues. She has identified and reduced potential hazards, therefore minimising the risk of accidental injury to children. She is extremely vigilant in her supervision of the children. Her clear procedures for outings contribute to children’s safety when outside of the home environment. She makes very good use of resources within the local community to raise children’s awareness about possible dangers outside of the home. For example, they learn how to cross the road safely and have safe procedures for

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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 walking. The childminder has excellent systems in place to ensure that she promotes children’s safety at all times. For example, she has appropriate insurances in place and has a carefully considered procedure in place, which she has shared with parents, which ensures that children can be well cared for in the event of an emergency. Children use high quality toys and equipment that are appropriate to their age and stage of development. The childminder ensures that she checks these regularly in order to ensure that she maintains them in good, clean condition so that they do not pose a risk to children. Children are learning about safety issues within the home through daily routines and discussions. For example, they help to tidy away after finishing with toys to prevent trips and falls and the childminder reminds them to be

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

careful as they dress up so that they do not trip on long dresses. Children are very well protected as the childminder has a comprehensive understanding of her responsibilities regarding child protection. She has a thorough written procedure, which she shares with parents so that they are clear of her responsibilities. She has attended recent training to reinforce her knowledge. This ensures children’s welfare is an utmost priority.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy good relationships with the childminder and consequently move around the home confidently. They are developing very good social skills as they have many opportunities to play with other children outside of the home at various community groups and with other minded children. The childminder promotes this particularly well at meal times, which she organises effectively and children sit nicely, eat well and display very good table manners. Children enjoy a broad and varied range of activities where they learn through play. They particularly enjoy role-play and their imagination is developing well as they participate in lengthy make-believe play, which is well supported by a wide range of resources. Children eagerly engage in pasta play where they explore the qualities of the pasta by using a range of other resources such as weighing scales, vehicles and cutlery. They are developing very good concentration skills; they choose to do jigsaw

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

puzzles and persevere for lengthy periods until they have completed them. Children are happy, confident and settled in the childminder's care. They freely move around the home making choices in their play. The childminder offers very good levels of support, suggesting changes to activities as children begin to show signs of tiring, and engaging with them during play to extend their language and learning. She meets children’s individual needs well as she establishes daily routines around these. For example, she ensures children eat and rest in line with home routines and parents’ wishes and children are able to engage in quieter, restful activities when they are tired. The childminder has some basic planning in place and is beginning to use the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework, although does not yet use this to evaluate young children's progress in order to identify the next steps in their development.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are learning about the local community through daily walks in surrounding areas and routine visits to local amenities such as the park and library. They also regularly access various social groups where they mix with a variety of adults and other children. They are beginning to learn about the wider world through the provision of a wide and varied range of toys and equipment that promote positive images of differences. The childminder builds on this by planning activities such as food tasting, to raise children’s awareness of different festivals. The childminder has appropriate systems in place to support children with additional needs and demonstrates a willingness to work in partnership with parents and relevant professionals to promote the welfare and development of all children. Children’s behaviour is excellent. The childminder has established clear boundaries within the home and gently reminds children of these when necessary. Her calm and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

patient manner and the respect she shows children actively encourage their good behaviour. They readily share and take turns and engage in meaningful co-operative play together. The children are learning good manners and to respect each other by imitating the childminder’s good example. The childminder shares a good range of written information with parents, keeping them well informed about her practices. She exchanges ongoing detailed information with parents to ensure all children are cared for within their usual routines and to keep them well informed about children’s daily care and activities. Children benefit from this positive working relationship, which promotes consistency and continuity of care.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are happy and confident in the childminder’s care. They benefit from her good organisation of space, which allows them to eat, rest and play in comfort. Children are beginning to develop their independence through being able to choose toys themselves and move around whilst they explore them. The childminder organises daily routines well to ensure that children spend time indoors and outdoors and are involved in activities outside of the home. The childminder holds a recognised childcare qualification. She is developing her service well using the knowledge she has gained through this, along with knowledge gained through attendance at numerous relevant courses. She has all the necessary documents in place in order to safeguard and promote children’s welfare. She has devised a wide range of informative written policies regarding her practice, which she shares with parents and which promote children’s continuity of care. Overall, the

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Organisation

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

At the last inspection the provider agreed to review the security of the side gate and to increase children's access to play equipment which promotes positive images. The garden gate is now secure which improves children’s safety. The childminder has also acquired a wide selection of toys and play materials which portray positive images of diversity, therefore improving children’s awareness of differences and subsequently their ability to make a positive contribution.

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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 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): • improve the outcomes for children from birth to three by developing the use of the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework.

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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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