Childminder in Norfolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 256546 Inspection date 09 March 2006 Inspector Jane Louise Tallent

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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 2000. She lives with her husband and 2 children in a bungalow in a rural village in South Norfolk. Currently there are 14 children on roll, most of whom are cared for part-time. Children have access to all of the premises including a Kitchen, bathroom, living room, play room and bedrooms. They can also play in an enclosed garden, where the family pet rabbit is cared for in a hutch. The childminder lives within easy reach of local shops, a playing field, school and pre-school groups.

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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 good. Children are cared for in a clean and hygienic environment where the levels of health and hygiene observed by the childminder are good. The children are able to play on clean floor surfaces, for example, to set out their card games and sort shapes. They are encouraged to assume some responsibility for their own personal hygiene as they wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Children sit at the kitchen table to eat nutritious and freshly cooked lunches. They show good levels of independence as they feed themselves and freely access their drinks. The children's dietary needs are well recorded and suitably promoted by the childminder in conjunction with children's family preferences to ensure that they eat healthy foods, such as bananas, grapes, pasta, cheese and ham. The children have regular opportunities to go into the garden where they can run, jump and play with the

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Helping children to be healthy

equipment provided. When they go on outings any minor ailments are competently dealt with by the childminder who maintains a well stocked first aid box and has a current first aid certificate. Overall the children's physical development is suitably promoted and the children have begun to lead healthy lifestyles. The childminder has a copy of the 'Birth to three matters framework' and uses it as a point of reference to improve the quality of care that she offers to young children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are well supervised while they play and regularly take part in outdoor activities. They use ample good quality toys and equipment, all of which are appropriate for their ages and stages of development. The children are offered a good selection of toys each day and overall they are confident as they move around the home. The childminder heavily relies on being able to closely supervise children in her care. She has devised some clear rules to help the children to understand how to stay safe but this is an impractical long-term method of ensuring children's safety. However because the children understand the rules that are in place to promote their safety they are often trusted rather than prevented from gaining access to some low cupboards and bedroom cabinets. The childminder reviews this practice to make sure that children behave responsibly and are not exposed to unnecessary hazards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

None-the-less children are well protected when they travel by car. They have appropriate car seats and restraints and the childminder makes sure that permission slips, insurance cover, first aid equipment and risk assessments are in place. There is also a suitable registration system and records are sufficiently well maintained for children's needs to be understood in order to promote their welfare to a good level. The childminder has attended training to familiarise herself with child protection procedures and understands how to make a referral in order to offer children protection.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children interact well very with the childminder, as they play games together and discuss their experiences and home life. The childminder makes good use of smiles and facial expressions to create a positive and friendly approach which helps the children to develop good levels of self-esteem. The children are able to choose toys from accessible storage units in the main play room which encourages their independence and they are able to ask for additional resources. The childminder responds favourably to these requests and her co-operation has a positive impact on the children's confidence as part of their emotional development. Children are stimulated by the excellent variety of toys available to them some of which assist them to count and recognise shapes and colours. The children are also happy to play alongside the childminder on the floor in the living room, where they match pairs as

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

they play card games and join connecting blocks together. Children show good levels of co-operation as they listen to stories and take turns in games involving other children. Older children show sensitivity towards younger children which helps them to develop good social skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a comfortable environment which is arranged to accommodate individual children's differing needs. All children have free access to toys in a well set out play room, some of which introduce them to positive images depicting people of various cultures, and people with differing abilities and disabilities. These resources enable children to widen their experiences through play. Children benefit from the childminder's attendance on training courses which enable her to understand how to adapt activities and create an environment that is suitable for all children, including those with specific special needs. Children settle easily into the setting. They behave well and respond positively to instructions from the childminder. The children are helped to do this by the childminder who repeats simple instructions for them to understand. There are daily exchanges of information that take place

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Helping children make a positive contribution

between the childminder and parents, when children arrive and depart, and the childminder routinely obtains parent's permission for their children to join in specific activities. The childminder has not yet devised a complaints register that can be shared with parents. Despite this the children's needs are understood and the parents are kept well informed about their child's care.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for in a welcoming, family environment, which is reasonably tidy and well organised. They benefit from the childminder's practical experience of raising her own two children and her attendance on childcare courses to keep her knowledge up-to-date. Children are taught about safety and co-operate well as they

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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 respond to instructions and follow set rules which enable them to play safely. They are well supervised and have developed good relations with the childminder. Children are able to choose what they would like to eat and healthy eating patterns are well promoted by the childminder. Children social skills are developing well and they confidently interact with all children and adults present. They are not left alone with adults who have not been vetted which has a positive impact on the children's sense of security and developing confidence. The children's individual details are also well documented in the childminder's records to make sure that their needs are fully understood and can be met. Good levels of confidentiality are maintained. Overall the needs of the range of children being cared for are being met. Their welfare is suitably

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was previously asked to record times of children's arrival and departure accurately. There is a registration sheet on the wall to sign children in and out as they arrive and depart. This reflects the numbers of children present at any one time.

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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 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 risk assessments and introduce preventative barriers where necessary to deny children access to potential hazards • devise a complaints register that can be shared with parents.

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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 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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