Childminder in Lancashire

Inspection report for early years provision

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403510 Unique Reference Number 26 September 2006 Inspection date Joan, Patricia Flowers 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 became registered in 2001. She lives in a house in a suburb of Preston in Lancashire with her husband and seven year old daughter. She is registered to care for five children under eight years of age and has three children on roll, one aged five years and two aged seven years. The childminder is providing out of school care for these children. Additionally she is registered to provide overnight care for a maximum of two children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The lounge, kitchen and a rear room, designated as a playroom, are areas used by minded children. The children do have occasional access to any of the rooms upstairs and there is a cot situated in one of the bedrooms for use by a baby who requires undisturbed sleep or rest. There is a toilet and hand wash basin situated off the downstairs hall as well as the family bathroom upstairs.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The secure rear garden is accessed via the patio doors in the lounge and older children also play to the front of the home. The family have two cats as pets. The childminder is a member

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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 of the National Childminding Association and she also acts as a support childminder for newly registered childminders.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder is very effective in meeting children's dietary needs. She provides a selection of nutritious home cooked meals for example, baked potatoes with cheese, roast dinners, fresh fruit and dairy products such as yoghurts. Children are introduced to a wide range of healthy foods so they can develop good eating habits helping them to learn about making healthy choices for themselves. Children understand the importance of healthy eating and good nutrition because they talk about what they are eating when seated together at the table.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a varied range of indoor and outdoor physical activities that contribute to their good health. They enjoy playing in the garden and going to different activity events such as Worden Park and an indoor sensory activity centre. They walk to and from school each day thus helping to build their physical strength and stamina. Children use tools during art and craft activities, play ball games and use climbing apparatus in the garden and at the park as they develop good control over their bodies. They play safely outdoors as the childminder is aware of sun safety. She takes appropriate steps to protect children by applying sun cream according to parents' and carers' instructions or otherwise ensuring that they stay out of the sun therefore ensuring their continuing good health is promoted effectively.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about the importance of personal hygiene. They are encouraged to wash their hands and are provided with individual face cloths and toothbrushes. The childminder regularly cleans the toys, bathroom and kitchen areas to ensure that cross infection and contamination is minimised so that children stay as healthy as they can. The childminder's clear sick child procedures also minimise the spread of infection to children as her policy is shared with parents when their child is enrolled.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are kept safe and secure because the childminder takes positive steps to ensure the children's safety both inside and outside the home. She has all the necessary health and safety equipment in place, such as stair gates, cupboard catches in the kitchen and window locks. Children learn about their own personal safety when walking and playing out in public places. They learn for example about road safety during their daily walk to and from school and how to cross the road safely. The childminder encourages children's understanding about how to maintain a safe play environment by not having too many toys out at once which minimises the risk of tripping. Children practise the emergency evacuation procedure so gain an understanding about not only their own safety but that of others also.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children feel secure and at ease because they are cared for in a family environment that is welcoming. Space is organised well. Children have access to all ground floor rooms which

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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 encourages their sense of independence. Children happily select activities from the accessible range of toys and equipment which are regularly monitored by the childminder to make sure they are safe and appropriate for the children's ages and stages of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The overall welfare of children is positively protected. Children's welfare is safeguarded because the childminder has a secure understanding of child protection issues. For example, she is alert to the signs and symptoms of abuse and knows the procedures to be followed if she was concerned about the well being of a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are happy, confident and extremely well settled and benefit from the warm and motivated approach of the childminder. They respond well to her because she uses good communication and listening skills and participates in their play in a sensitive and supportive way.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy an interesting range of learning experiences through play because the childminder has developed a good understanding of how children learn and develop. A wide range of stimulating activities are provided that are appropriate to children's ages and abilities and children are actively encouraged to make choices. Children enjoy participating in interesting art and craft activities which cultivate their creative development very effectively. They enjoy dressing up in costume and performing plays, such as the Jungle Book, from the script they have produced themselves to perform for an audience of relatives and friends. They relish going on outings during the school holidays to places of local interest such as the sensory room at a local children's centre or to the park to play on the outdoor climbing equipment. These experiences create opportunities for children to develop their social skills by mixing with other

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The selection of toys, books and activities that reflect other cultures and disability are satisfactory and help children to develop their awareness and understanding of diversity. They learn about others peoples' similarities and differences through craft activities and eating different foods connected to various festivals. Children effectively learn about their local community and environment on frequent trips to the park, to activity centres and on nature walks as well as the daily walk to school.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents and children are warmly welcomed into the home and useful information is exchanged daily in order to meet the individual needs of each child. Positive relationships between the childminder and parents benefit the children by enhancing the consistency of care provided. The childminder provides good and meaningful written information about her service to help keep parents informed. Daily discussions take place and the children's art work and photographs are displayed so that parents can see the activities their children become involved in.

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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 Children learn to manage their behaviour well because the childminder has developed positive strategies such as talking to children, giving explanations and distracting them onto other topics and activities. The childminder sets appropriate boundaries and guidelines so that children are clear about what is expected of them. She assists them in managing their own behaviour and helps them to share and be kind to each other. They learn to be respectful because the childminder shows them respect.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a very warm and welcoming child centred environment. Areas of the home used by children are organised in a way that is attractive and inviting and are well prepared in advance of children's arrival. Children enjoy the freedom to move around using all the downstairs area and can make choices from the organised and accessible resources. The childminder has an informal routine in place which incorporates activities both inside and outside of the home. The childminder takes and collects children from school each day on foot. Daily routines are well planned and sensitively organised by the childminder, which helps build children's confidence and sense of security. The home is organised so that older children can play and relax undisturbed, if they wish. All required information is clearly recorded and documentation securely stored.

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Organisation

The childminder has a satisfactory understanding of most aspects of her regulatory duties and how these contribute to the safe and consistent care for the children. These include retaining required policies, procedures and information from parents to ensure that the children's needs and preferences are attended to in a practical manner. However, the childminder has not obtained parents' written permission for them to play outside of the home at the front of the premises.

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Organisation

Overall the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection two recommendations were made to improve practice. These were to provide correct details in the child protection policy and to obtain all necessary permissions from parents or guardians for the seeking of any necessary emergency medical treatment or advice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

During the intervening period the childminder addressed both these areas satisfactorily by amending her written policy documents to include details about the regulator. She also now obtains written permission from parents/guardians for the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment.

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Improvements since the last inspection

As a result of these recommendations being addressed, children are better protected and parents/guardians are given correct information within the written policies provided for them.

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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

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the 1st April 2004 there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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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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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): • obtain parents'/carers' written permission for children to play off the premises in the cul-de-sac and devise and maintain a complaints record that can be shared on request with parents/carers.

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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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