Childminder in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY217357 Inspection date 29 March 2006 Inspector Jan Leo

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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 registered in February 2002 and has her mother and partner cleared as her childminding assistants. When working alone, she can care for up to 5 children under the age of 8 years and currently has 9 children aged less than 8 years and 5 aged over 8 years who all attend on a part-time basis. She lives with her partner and 5-month-old child in a property on the outskirts of Banbury, Oxfordshire. The house is within walking distance of local schools, shops, and parks, and is approximately a mile from the town centre. All areas of the property are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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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 The family has 2 small dogs and a parrot living in the house. There is a purpose built shed outside where a number of pet chinchillas and rabbits are housed. The childminder is a qualified NNEB nursery nurse with experience of working in a nursery. She accepts students on work experience placements, and is a member of the National Childminding Association quality assurance scheme. She receives support from the local authority.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are healthy because they play in a very clean environment and learn about good personal hygiene. For example, they brush their teeth after meals to avoid dental cavities, and regularly wash their hands to prevent the spread of germs. The childminder meticulously cleans up after meals and messy play to maintain the provision in a clean and hygienic condition. She provides freshly cooked food and covers the 'left overs' to avoid contamination. However, the eating of unwashed grapes compromises children's good health. Children eat varied and nutritious meals and snacks to ensure they thrive, and they have constant access to drinks to prevent dehydration. Injured children receive appropriate treatment in order to relieve distress swiftly, and the childminder shares her clear accident and medication records with parents and carers, to keep them fully up-to-date with their children's health issues.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children regularly play outdoors to get the benefit from fresh air, and they enjoy running around and bouncing on the trampoline to develop strength and co-ordination. The childminder has a separate area of the garden for the dogs to use, and keeps all her pets healthy to avoid putting children's health at risk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play with adults to learn how to do things safely, and they consistently receive lots of attention. The childminder goes to extreme lengths to limit movement around the house, to ensure she provides children with a high level of supervision at all times. Most doorways have safety gates in order to ensure children stay close by and exclude the dogs from play areas. As a result, young children make a game of running off when given more freedom, and this briefly distracts the childminder from the group as a whole. Well thought out security arrangements protect children from unwelcome visitors, for example, the childminder has a CCTV monitor to see who is at the front door, and her external doors are locked and alarmed. The childminder assesses hazards thoroughly to ensure she is equipped to deal with emergencies, and she provides children with appropriate safety equipment to keep them safe as

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

they play and rest. Children play in all areas of the property which results in them having ample space to move about safely, and they access resources for themselves without risk of injury. The childminder has a sound understanding of the child protection procedure, and she shares her child protection policy with parents and

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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 carers to ensure they are clear about her responsibility to protect children from harm.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Minded children enjoy the attention they receive and they interact well with adults. They show interest in things around them and choose what to do from a wide selection of activities. Children confidently ask for their favourite jigsaws and skilfully complete complex puzzles without the need for help. Children concentrate hard, turning pieces round until they fit. The childminder offers encouragement, and praises children's achievements to boost their confidence and self-esteem. As a result, children adapt activities and successfully create their own games, giggling as they repeatedly tip a marble onto the childminder's lap while marble painting. The children play in different areas of the home to provide a change of scene, and they occupy themselves productively for lengthy periods. Children get on well together and enjoy their day.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder values diversity and works closely with parents and carers to find out more about their family culture. She shares this information within the setting to help the children understand and accept differences as part of everyday life. The children receive the care and support they need to help them join in fully, and those with special needs fit in easily. The childminder obtains full information on specific care requirements and learns exercise strategies to help children with special needs make steady progress. The children get on well together and play harmoniously alongside each other. The childminder acts as a good role model and manages behaviour effectively. She remains calm, shows interest in the children, provides consistent messages, and gives clear explanations of expectations. As a result, children confidently express their feelings, eagerly join in play and behave well. The

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder provides parents and carers with comprehensive information about all aspects of the provision, and regularly exchanges details about the day verbally, to keep them up-to-date about their child's day.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She has exceptionally well organised paperwork to enable her to operate efficiently, and she collects ample information from parents and carers to adapt care to suit individual children. The childminder builds some structure into the day by following a basic routine and offering both planned and free play activities. This helps children to feel secure within the setting. The childminder monitors children's participation and progress to ensure they develop and learn. She builds valuable channels of communication with parents and carers to make sure children's care arrangements

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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 remain effective and they feel part of their child’s day. Practice is clearly outlined in formal policy documents and the childminder shares these with families to provide a clear picture of all aspects of the provision. The home is well organised to offer children a range of opportunities and a change of scene from time to time. All of the documentation, required by regulation, is in place but the daily record of attendance lacks detail. The certificate of registration is not displayed in accordance with the conditions of registration.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was asked to devise a risk assessment to protect children from hazards on outings. The childminder has implemented this and shares her written policy with parents and carers to ensure they are clear about the safety precautions that she adopts. All risk assessments are now well thought out and include details of safety arrangements within the home and the mini bus to keep children safe.

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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 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): • improve documentation by ensuring that the daily record of attendance accurately reflects children's arrival and departure times, and display the certificate of registration prominently for parents and carers to see.

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and

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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 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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