Childminder in Salford

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 307225 Inspection date 15 August 2005 Inspector Verlyn Ulanda Blake

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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 outstanding. 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 for 13 years. She lives with her husband and three sons aged 11, 16 and 18. Occasionally, her husband works as an assistant, with written parental consent from parents. The family live in a five bed roomed semi detached property. There are local groups, a sports centre, library and shopping precinct nearby. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom and front bedroom on the upper floor are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed back garden available for outside play. A maximum of six children may attend, there currently are five children on roll who

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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 attend for a variety of sessions across the week on a full or part time basis. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association, and she has recently completed the childminders Quality First course.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. All children's health is very well promoted because the childminder follows highly effective hygiene guidelines. Children learn about keeping clean and how to avoid the risk of cross infections. They have a thorough awareness of the practice to follow prior to and after eating meals, such as wiping down the dining table and washing their hands without prompting from the childminder. Toddlers use the step to reach the sink to wash their hands or use wet wipes. The childminder is very aware of each child's health and physical needs as there is excellent verbal and written communication gathered from parents. The childminder is extremely attentive to children's individual needs allowing them to rest and sleep according to their respective needs. Furthermore, their awareness is consolidated and extended through discussion and the excellent use of books and the internet to order materials

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Helping children to be healthy

and resources about healthy eating. All children are well nourished and benefit from healthy, nutritious meals. Children have excellent choice about what they eat according to their individual preferences. Meal times are a rich and social occasion where all children sit together. Older children support and successfully encourage the younger children to eat their meals, offering them lots of praise. Meals are freshly prepared each day, such as curries, spaghetti bolognese, pasta and salads. Children help themselves to fresh snacks of oranges, nectarines, grapes and bananas, which promotes their awareness of the need to eat healthily. Fresh drinking water and juice is available in the fridge. All children know where drinks are kept and help themselves. Babies have their drinks prepared in their baby cups and know where to find their drinks as they needs it. All children relish physical activities spending much of their time playing outdoors.

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Helping children to be healthy

They have many varied and enjoyable opportunities to exercise and develop their balance, large and small muscles skills. Such as using the large trampoline, doing weekly yoga exercises and taking part in planned or spontaneous music and movement sessions, with babies often leading the singing of nursery rhymes. Children regularly go for walk to the local park and often collect seasonal items such as leaves, twigs and conkers which raises their awareness and understanding of the world around them. Planned activities covering the aspects of Birth to three, stimulate baby's mobility, physical skills and control of their growing bodies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. All children's safety is assured because the childminder pays great attention to

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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 minimising the risk of injury in the home, by closely supervising children at all times. Children are cared for in a risk free environment which is achieved by the childminder as she carries out thorough risk assessments indoors and outdoors. She also provides an extensive range of safety measures such as additional internal locks with keys located close by for quick access, stairgates, cupboard locks and smoke alarms to the three levels of the premises. She is highly skilled at distracting children and reminding them for example to 'sit on the chair or they will fall and injure themselves'. Children also have an excellent understanding of keeping themselves safe and demonstrate a good awareness of keeping others safe. They know to use sharp implements such as scissors away from young children and return them to the draw

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

when they have finished using them. They take part in fire evacuation practices regularly and have reminders of the escape route as these are clearly on display. Children confidently share information about the road safety project they completed during road safety week. They comply with house rules designed to teach them how to play safely and not endanger others, for example when using the trampoline they know that one child goes on at a time, other children stand around the edge and the childminder must be present when it is being used. All children access a wide range of outstanding, safe, developmentally age appropriate, high quality resources that are of suitable design, condition and conform to British safety standards. Children of all ages are able to reach toys and equipment easily thus allowing for choice and independent play. Children are well protected through the childminder having an exceptional knowledge of child protection

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

procedures that are in line with Local Area Child Protection Committee procedures. She recently attended child protection training and wrote an assignment regarding protecting children for which she undertook high levels of research. She is therefore able to safeguard children's welfare in the event of a concern.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. All children make choices, take responsibility for, lead and extend their own play. Children's learning and enjoyment are exceptionally well supported and extended by the childminder in all areas of their development. She carefully plans exciting and interesting activities which allows children to make substantial progress bringing them onto their next steps for development. Babies acquire new knowledge and skills because the childminder devotes some quality time each day to helping them explore and learn about their environment. They make exemplary progress because their senses are stimulated through, for example, different tactile experiences with paints, sand and play dough. They access an excellent variety of toys and resources which are made from natural materials. The contents are changed frequently to guarantee babies interest and enjoyment are sustained at all times.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Older children make equally exceptional progress because their play is planned to complement themes that they are experiencing at playgroup or at the local school that the childminder helps out at. Although it is not a requirement the childminder ensures that these conform to the Foundation Stage, early learning goals and again

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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 plans are based on children's individual progress and development which makes this over and above the standards. Children benefit from the considerable attention they each get from the childminder who spends her time playing with and talking to all children, showing an interest in what they are doing, valuing their opinions and praising their achievements. The childminder successfully gauges the degree of support she offers, providing children with the challenge of solving problems on their own, thereby developing new skills and independence. Children are involved in the inspection process as they use the computer confidently making a list of all activities they have completed over the previous months. They know how to explore the internet and undertake research in relations to themes,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

topics and homework. Older children support younger children on the computer, all have well developed computer skills and know where to access the programmes and games they want to use. Children have a superb awareness of past and present events and recall past events completed in a vibrant and animated way, such as when they made a house out of cardboard boxes carefully decorating it, making a different room for each child. All the new experiences gained by the children whilst they are in the childminders care are captured by photographs and shared with parents allowing them to see for themselves their children having fun, enjoying and achieving.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. All children benefit from a home from home atmosphere where a wealth of their artwork, creations along with colourful posters are displayed adding appeal to the dedicated playroom, developing children's sense of belonging. The childminder is enthusiastic and works extremely hard to create a richly stimulating environment for children of varying needs and abilities. Children are exceptionally well behaved and have an excellent understanding of the boundaries in place such as older children reminding younger children not to eat the play dough, as it does not taste very nice and is not good for them because of all of the salt in it. Children know this as they have made play dough with the childminder. All children form excellent relationships with the childminder, they also have outstanding relationships with each other. All children play co-operatively, sharing toys and activities. They wait, allowing younger children to go first when for example

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Helping children make a positive contribution

playing on the dance mat. The childminder treats all children with considerable respect. Good behaviour is acknowledged, praised and encouraged. As a result children are extremely confident and have high self esteem. All children practise their mark making skills and develop purposeful independent writing together. Demonstrated as toddlers and older children sit together making marks for a purpose and colouring pictures consistent to their own level and stage of maturity. Children learn about the world we live in through highly stimulating, well planned themes, topics and the excellent range of multi cultural resources that are in place. Children's knowledge and awareness of the local community is enhanced through trips to the park, swimming centre, playgroups and shopping trips. Children

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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 talk with excitement about the shopping trip they went on where the younger children were choosing outfits for the older children to wear. All children eagerly contribute at snack times by choosing the fruits for snack time. Children thoroughly enjoy learning about history and their local environment as they go on visits to Manchester museums and National parks where their knowledge of the wider world is extended. The highly effective recording systems and communication with parents support children with specific and individual needs. The robust information sharing between all agencies ensures that individual needs are addressed and reviewed on an ongoing basis.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children make huge strides as the childminders planning is highly effective in promoting the aspects of Birth to three and the early learning goals and stepping stones. Children's individual records cover all areas of learning and examples of their progress and work are collated as evidence of their development. The childminder is committed to providing a highly effective, good quality service and attends relevant training courses to keep herself updated on childcare issues. She uses the knowledge gained on the various courses attended to inform her day to day practices. All children's progress is thoroughly supported by the childminder's excellent organisational skills and the thoughtful use of space. There is a dedicated playroom which is extremely well resourced. Different areas of the home are thoughtfully organised to allow children to relax in comfort or take part in more active or energetic

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Organisation

play. Daily routines are innovatively planned to offer balance and variety to children's play. Children's care is managed in a highly professional manner. The childminder has excellent policies, procedures and documentation which she uses to ensure that from the outset, she has a comprehensive understanding of children's individual needs, preferences and stages of development. This allows her to effectively monitor and plan for their future progress. Parents have daily feedback in regard to their child's day and are provided with ongoing developmental assessments ensuring that they have good information about their child's progress and achievements. Overall, the provision meets the needs of all children exceptionally well.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection two recommendations were raised. These were to provide a first aid box the content of which are checked frequently and to keep Ofsted informed of all significant changes and events. Both recommendations have been successfully addressed, these ensure that the appropriate care can be given to children in the event of an accident and passing on

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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 all relevant information keeps all parties informed of changes that may effect day to day practices and the care offered to children.

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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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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