Childminder in Bolton

Inspection report for early years provision

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315460 Unique Reference Number 08 May 2006 Inspection date Susan Janet Lee 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 1992. She lives with her husband and up to four foster children in a five bedroom terrace property in Breightmet, Bolton. The childminder holds an early years qualification.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The lounge, kitchen, dining area, conservatory and bathroom facilities on the ground floor and the bathroom and toilet on the first floor are used for childminding purposes. There is a rear garden available for outdoor play. The family have a dog as a pet.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently caring for five children. The childminder is able to take and collect children from the local primary school and she is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 well maintained environment. The childminder exercises good hygiene practices to minimise the risk of cross infection. For example, she uses antibacterial spray to wipe tables and work surfaces, and ensures that the children have access to appropriate toiletries and that they have individual towels. The children learn about personal care routines as they wash hands at appropriate times of the day. The written sick children's policy and the childminder's good understanding of childhood illnesses and exclusion periods help to protect children from infection. Effective arrangements are in place in relation to the care of pets.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has attended training in relation to food hygiene and the provision of good nutrition for children. She has a clear understanding of the importance of healthy eating and provides a well balanced menu for the children. For example, she ensures meals are home cooked and include lots of fruit and vegetables, aiding children's growth and development. Children have access to drinks at all times and they are able to independently quench their thirst. The childminder reminds the children to have regular drinks, for example, after singing as she explains their throats may be dry. Meal times are relaxed, social occasions. The children are able to sit together, eat at their own pace and chat with the childminder and the other children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Younger children benefit from routines which are consistent with home as the childminder follows children's individual routines. For example, a child becomes tired, the childminder lies him down with his comforters and puts some music on to help him settle him; the child is soon fast asleep. The children have lots of opportunities to enjoy and develop their physical skills as they play outdoors in the garden on a daily basis and take regular trips to the park and a soft play centre. Photographic documentation shows children playing on swings, slides, using a climbing frame and the monkey bars which all contribute to children's good health and physical development. A child recalls a visit to the park and talks about having fun going high on the swings. The children clearly enjoy playing in the garden. They are able to extend their imaginative play outside as they have access to small world resources and tents with connecting tunnels.

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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 very warm, welcoming and child centred environment. Children's art work and posters are displayed on the walls. Extremely good use is made of space to accommodate separate active and quieter activities. There is a good selection of furniture available to allow the children to play, rest and eat in comfort. The childminder provides an excellent range of equipment and resources to meet the children's needs. She utilises the local library to enhance the provision of books and she rotates resources on a regular basis to add variety for the children. The childminder checks and cleans equipment and resources regularly to minimise risks to children.

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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 The childminder has an excellent awareness of safety and she has taken extremely good steps to ensure that the environment in which children are cared for is safe and secure. She has developed a detailed risk assessment of the areas used for childminding and she conducts a safety check of any area to be used prior to children using the area, for example, the garden. The childminder supervises the children extremely well enabling them to play safely and independently. The emergency evacuation procedure is practiced with the children on a regular basis. This is made into a game where the childminder's husband rings a bell, which the children have named "Bill's bell"; the children are told where the fire is and they escape from the house. As a result, children develop an awareness of what to do in the event of an emergency, such

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder keeps children safe on outings as she takes all the necessary precautions. For example, she takes a first aid kit, children's contact details, a mobile telephone, drinks and spare clothes to cover any eventualities. The children learn about keeping themselves safe. They have a clear awareness of the house rules and boundaries at a very young age. They learn about the Green Cross Code when going to school, they know they stop at the road, look both ways and only cross if there are no cars coming. The children are given responsibility and trust. For example, they know they are able to walk slightly in front of the childminder when they are in the school grounds but that they must stop at the classroom.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Very clear written child protection policies and procedures are available. The childminder has attended lots of training in relation to child protection and she has secure understanding of child protection matters and procedures ensuring that children's welfare is safeguarded well.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has attended training in relation to the Birth to three matters frame work. She has an excellent understanding of the frame work and uses her knowledge very skilfully to plan a considerable range of stimulating activities for children aged under 3 years to foster their all round development. The children also benefit from activities outside the home as the childminder utilises local amenities, such as the library, park, shops and parent toddler group. This widens the children's experiences and gives them opportunities to socialise with their peers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder observes the children at play and uses this information to chart the children's progress and to plan activities to meet children's individual needs and interests. The childminder records children's developmental milestones and shares this information with parents on a regular basis. She also uses such records to produce transition records for children when they start nursery.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children share wonderful relationships with the childminder and other family members. They are very confident, happy and settled in her care and home environment. The children develop strong social skills from a young age. Very young children relate well to each other.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder dedicates much time in supporting the children in their play and learning. She sits at the same height as the children as they play, gives lots of eye contact and interacts with them at every opportunity to extend language, encourage imaginative play, support mathematical

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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 thinking and develop social skills. The childminder is also highly skilled in knowing when to move into the background and allow the children time to explore on their own.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children play with bricks. They show high levels of involvement and perseverance and then extend their play by adding a roadway and animals. The childminder and the children join in a circle and sing songs and action rhymes. They all have lots of fun joining in the actions and exploring sound as they begin a song quietly and extend their voices until they are very loud.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children develop good self-esteem as they are able to choose freely what to play with. The childminder includes the children in all decisions. For example, each child has a turn in picking a story. Each child is able to talk in turn as the childminder links the pictures to the children's own experiences. The children sit and listen intently as the childminder reads the story and uses different tones in her voice to make the story and pictures become alive.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder gathers a wealth of information from parents to enable her to be in a position to best meet children's needs. She has a very good understanding of children's individual needs and meets these needs well. Trips to local amenities help children to develop an awareness of their local environment and a range of resources that reflect diversity help children to become aware of the wider world. The children develop an awareness of the importance of taking responsibility for the environment in which we live through role models and discussion. The childminder works well in partnership with parents to meet children's additional needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder sets a good role model to the children. She treats the children with individual care and respect, uses please and thank you and encourages the children to share and take turns at every opportunity. As a result, children are polite and behave well from an early age. The children receive lots of praise for their efforts and achievements, giving them a sense of achievement and developing their confidence and self-esteem. For example, sharing, helping to tidy up and making a model with bricks; the childminder takes a photograph of the children with their models to share their achievements with their parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children develop a very good sense of belonging. They are involved in making decisions and fully involved in daily activities, such as shopping and pegging washing out on their own little washing line in the garden. The children show care and concern for other living creatures as they stroke the family's pet dog carefully.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed a comprehensive port folio which includes information about herself, policies and procedures and previous inspection reports. This is shown and discussed with parents at the initial meeting. Parents are given a copy of all the information and sign to confirm they have understood, helping to forge good working relationships and a shared understanding from an early stage. Very good systems are in place to keep parents informed about their children's activities and progress. Parents are very happy with the service provided, levels of care and activities afforded.

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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. The childminder keeps herself up to date with any new legalisation. She has a very high regard for children's well-being and she attends training on a regular basis to further develop her childcare practice. The childminder indicates that she will continue to develop her childminding practice by continuing to attend ongoing training.

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Organisation

The children's record of attendance shows that ratios are maintained to promote children's care. The childminder organises space, time and resources very well to meet children's needs effectively.

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Organisation

The childminder has developed written policies and procedures and these work well in practice to promote children's health, safety, welfare, enjoyment and ability to make a positive contribution. All required documentation is in place and it is well organised for easy reference. The childminder maintains individual children's records to ensure confidentiality.

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Organisation

Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, recommendations were agreed in relation to the vetting procedure, first aid training, written information available to parents and the availability of records.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder ensures that any persons over 16 living in the household complete appropriate forms to enable Ofsted to undertake reference checks; ensuring children are protected. She has a valid first aid certificate ensuring she has up to date knowledge of what to do in the event of an accident or minor injury. Written information informing parents of how their child is cared for has been reviewed and all documentation is now readily available.

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Complaints 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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Complaints 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

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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): • Continue to develop the existing qualitative service provided to children by attending ongoing training.

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The quality and standards of the care

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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