Childminder in Bedford

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 259901 Inspection date 02 March 2006 Inspector Gyatri Rupal

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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 2001. She lives with her husband and their three children aged 11, 12 & 16 in Bedford, Bedfordshire. The whole ground and a bedroom on the first floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding . There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent and toddler group and the local childminding group. The childminder is registered to care for maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding three children. The childminder is a member of the Nation

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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 Childminding Association The family have two birds.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy a wide range of activities which contributes to their good health. They rest and sleep according to their needs. Each day there are indoor and outdoor activities to help them develop control of their bodies. For example, they play with a good range of outdoor play equipment such as a 13 foot trampoline, basket ball, badminton, cricket, climbing frame, tunnel, and regular visits to local parks and playgrounds, all of which improve children’s physical skills significantly. Younger children join in the activities enthusiastically because the childminder makes good use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework. Her good understanding of appropriate types of physical activities and levels of support gives children confidence to try out new skills, set their own limits and know when to ask for help. Children are cared for in a warm, clean home where they learn the importance of

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Helping children to be healthy

good hygiene and personal care. Their clear understanding of why they must wash their hands after using the toilet, before eating anything and after touching the birds reduces the risk of cross-contamination. Children are learning good hygiene practices through their daily routine. For example, children wash their hands before lunch. Children are beginning to learn about the benefits of a healthy diet as the childminder encourages parents to provide healthy packed lunches for their children. She ensures that children have plenty of drinks during the day. Children learn about healthy food through their daily play as the childminder talks about healthy food when children eat their lunch. There is also evidence of children's project work on healthy eating. Children are well protected from infection due to excellent procedures the childminder has in place. She uses anti-bacterial spray and notifies parents of any illness within

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Helping children to be healthy

the family or minded children. The childminder ensures children’s well-being is promoted as the childminder has in place comprehensive policies and procedures, including all the required documentation. For example, she has all the required parents' consents in place and has updated her first-aid course so that she can treat minor children's injuries.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children feel secure and safe as they are fully supported by the childminder’s excellent understanding of balancing freedom and setting safe limits. The good organisation of space and well maintained play resources means children can move around safely and have an independent and safe access to available resources. This

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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 allows children to trust and explore, they use opportunities to try new experiences and challenge themselves. Children benefit from a good range of safety measures as the childminder carries out daily risk assessments to ensure that the environment is safe. She gives high priority to helping children understand how to keep themselves safe and to maintain children’s safety outside the home. For example, children are learning fire safety through practising fire drills regularly and discussing the reasons for this with the childminder. The childminder ensures children are aware of the dangers and how they can keep themselves safe. Children are encouraged to learn a sense of risk, danger and how to protect themselves from harm. Children are kept safe on outings because the childminder has robust systems in place such as talking to the children

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

before they go out about boundaries, holding hands and road safety rules. Children are well protected as the childminder has a secure understanding of child protection procedures in line with the local Area Child Protection Committee procedures. The parents are also made aware of the adult's duty to protect children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children settle well with the childminder and feel secure in the stimulating environment as the childminder plans her daily routine and activities according to the individual child's interests by consulting parents. This helps children to gain their self-esteem as they independently select a variety of learning resources which appeal to them. Children enjoy learning by taking part in a wide range of stimulating and challenging activities. Children develop their mathematical thinking through their daily activities. For example, the childminder asks the children to count the number of objects in the book and talk about different shapes and colours in the book. Children learn to take turns as the childminder is an expert in organising activities for different ages of children ensuring that all children can participate. For example, she used a musical toy to hold the baby’s attention and encouraged the older child to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

push the toy to turn it around by taking turns with her and baby. The childminder’s well planned activities and good use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework improves children's achievements. They become confident communicators as children share their ideas when reading the book. The childminder encouraged the new baby to become a strong communicator by responding to baby’s babbling sounds. The childminder encourages the baby to talk by listening to nursery rhymes, introducing new words as she used the baby activity centre. Children make connections in their learning as they freely explore sand and different textures. Their regular use of a wide range of creative materials, such as, paper, glue, wax crayons, paint, stencils, beads and laces, play dough, and pencils encourages them to represent their experiences, feelings and ideas in a variety of ways.

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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 highly valued, respected as individuals and treated with equal concern as the childminder has a good understanding about equality issues, in addition to experience of working with children with special needs. The childminder ensures that all children’s needs are met effectively. Children's needs are met well as the childminder follows their normal daily home routine, as discussed with their parents. Their day is full of experiences which ensures they are making connections with their environment, through regular visits to parks, attending toddler's group and places of interests. Children have a good rapport with the childminder, which contributes to their sense of belonging. They feel comfortable asking the childminder what they need. For example, the child told the childminder that she is feeling hungry, and asked if she could have her lunch now please. The childminder quickly responded to

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Helping children make a positive contribution

her request. Children behave well all the times. They respond to the childminder’s highly effective and clear boundaries. They know what is expected of them. The childminder praises children for good behaviour constantly, by telling children how proud she is of them when they do something well. Children are rewarded by stars for their good efforts which encourages them to learn new skills. Children's feelings of security, consistency and belonging are promoted through the childminder's professional relationships with the parents. The childminder has a good systems in place to share information with the parents ensuring parents are well informed about her practice and about their child’s day with her. For example, she provides an information folder to parents which holds comprehensive details about her policies and procedures. Daily information is shared with parents about their child’s day and their achievements. At the end of the year the childminder provides

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Helping children make a positive contribution

parents with a photo album of some of their child’s activities, in which they have been involved throughout the whole year. A good partnership with parents contributes significantly to children’s well-being in the setting.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are well settled due to the childminder’s good quality of organisation of play resources and activities; this has a positive impact on the children’s learning and development. Children feel at home because the childminder organises the space effectively to meet the individual child’s needs. They move around safely in the house and independently select their own play resources. Most of the policies and procedures are used effectively to promote the welfare, care and learning of children. They are shared regularly with parents to keep them well informed about the service and their child's activities. This contributes to continuity in the children’s care. The childminder has a good professional approach and ensures most of the legally required documentation which contributes to the children’s health, safety and well-being is in place and is regularly reviewed and shared with the parents.

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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 However, the childminder does not have an effective system in place to keep a track of the changes made to the National Standards. For example, she does not display the registration certificate for parents information and last year's daily attendance records are not available for inspection. The childminder is committed to continuous improvement and development. She has attended several training courses, including Macintosh sign language and 'special needs' training. She currently provides training, to other childminders, on ‘Birth to three matters' framework. This training involves workshops which enhances her own good practice and increases her knowledge about good childcare. The childminder’s commitment, enthusiasm and enjoyment of what she does is reflected in the positive

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Organisation

impact her service has. Overall, children's needs are met well.

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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 complaint made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaint record may contain complaint 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): • Make sure Registered certificate is displayed in the house where parents can easily see it • ensure that all records relating to childminding activities are readily accessible and available for inspection at all times.

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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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