Childminder in Gateshead

Inspection report for early years provision

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311659 Unique Reference Number 22 June 2006 Inspection date Kathleen Snowdon Inspector

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Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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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

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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 1993. She lives with her husband and one child, aged 14, in Blaydon, Gateshead. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder has a pet hamster and a goldfish.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. She is currently minding three children under five years at staggered intervals and one child over five years after school. The childminder also cares for children over eight years. The childminder is a member of the Gateshead Childminding Network.

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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. Very young children learn about the importance of personal hygiene through observing daily routines. For example, they watch the childminder as she washes her hands before and after preparing food. The children copy her actions, to rehearse the skills that they need to eventually carry out this practice themselves. Older children wash their hands automatically, after using the toilet and before they eat, to minimise the spread of infection and common illnesses.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children sit together when they eat, which promotes good interactive skills and builds an appreciation of the social aspect of dining. Appetising meals, such as traditional roast dinners, provide the children with the nutrients that they require to grow and develop. Menus cater for the children's specific dietary requirements and include meals like quorn and pasta dishes, which they can enjoy along with the other children. A range of fruit, including apples, bananas and pears, is offered to the children at snack time to encourage the children to make healthy choices.

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Helping children to be healthy

During outings to the park and the beach, the children like to run around and play team games like football. In addition to this, they go for regular walks to the local library or to the nearby shops. These beneficial activities raise the children's stamina and show them that exercise is fun. The childminder's well-organised home allows the youngest children to move about safely to enable them practice new skills like walking and standing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. All the children take part in regular fire drills. The older children have simple tasks to carry out when these take place. For example, one child must retrieve the childminder's mobile phone while another child collects the book containing parents' telephone numbers. The older children know how to contact the emergency services and know where they must gather when they have left the house. These excellent arrangements equip the children with the knowledge that they need to survive emergencies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good use of safety equipment ensures that the house is a safe environment for young children to be in. For example, safety gates between the dining room and the kitchen restrict the children's access to potentially hazardous areas. Very young children are kept safe from sharp edges on the hearth, as they crawl and toddle around through the presence of a bolster type protector; the children refer to this as the sausage.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The older children understand boundaries. For example, they know that they must not, at any time, leave the childminder's house, garden or back yard without her. Even in circumstances where this might be permissible, such as if they kick a ball over the wall, they always inform the childminder first. Good supervision like this, alongside the childminder's awareness of child protection issues, keeps the children well-protected from dangerous situations and unsuitable people.

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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. The children have easy access to a wide selection of toys and resources, to encourage them to make choices and to use their initiative. The range includes role play props, books, jigsaws, table games, videos and craft materials. This helps them to make progress in all areas of their development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Lovely activities keep the children stimulated and interested. For example, they bake cakes, help to make sandwiches when they have picnic style meals, do a range of craft activities and they sing lively songs and nursery rhymes with the childminder. This ensures that the children enjoy themselves and spend their time productively.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

When the children walk to the local shops with the childminder, they can choose a treat. Helped by the childminder, the children must work out whether they can afford it by counting the set amount of money that they have to spend. This raises the children's awareness of money and how it is used and encourages them to use mathematics in day to day situations.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children form good relationships with each other and with the childminder. They interact well with one another, and they play happily with and alongside their peers. Positive early experiences, such as these help the children to form strong bonds with others and give them a sense of security.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Very good opportunities are in place to help the children to form positive views of diversity. For example, they have easy access to books, jigsaws and small world toys, which convey various aspects of culture, ethnicity, gender and disability. In addition to this, the children celebrate festivals, such as Halloween, when they paint their faces and dress up. At Chinese New Year, they wear mandarin hats and decorate the childminder's house with paper lanterns. These experiences bring diversity to life and increase the children's knowledge and understanding of the world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Highly effective boundaries teach the children how to behave acceptably. The children are asked to think about how other people might feel, as a result of what they say and do. This teaches the children right from wrong and helps them to understand that their actions have consequences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is good. Contracts are used, which set out clearly the expectations of both parents and the childminder. Daily discussions keep both parties well informed about the children's experiences at home and at the childminder's home. A number of the children have been looked after by the childminder since they were babies. This demonstrates how satisfied parents are in the service that they receive.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. All essential records are in place, which contributes to the children's safety and well-being. In addition to this, the childminder has written parental consent for practices that have not yet been tested out, such as those that agree to the childminder's husband assisting her if there is a real emergency. This demonstrates that the childminder thinks and plans ahead. The registration certificate is not displayed.

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Organisation

The childminder takes part in training, such as first aid and inclusion, to meet requirements and to keep abreast of issues that are relevant to her work. She is aware of the Birth to three matters framework and understands that this supports children in their earliest years. The childminder is an experienced and conscientious childminder, who clearly enjoys the company of the children she looks after.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection a recommendation was raised relating to equal opportunities. The children now have easy access to several resources, which reflect various images of culture, ethnicity, disability and gender. In addition, the children celebrate festivals from this and other cultures. These opportunities encourage the children to develop positive views of diversity.

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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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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): • display the registration certificate.

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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 set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) 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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