| Unique Reference Number | EY357903 |
|---|---|
| Inspection date | 18 August 2008 |
| Inspector | Jannet Mary Richards |
| Type of inspection | Childcare |
|---|---|
| Type of care | Childminding |
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.
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.
On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:
The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.
The childminder has been registered since 2007. She lives with her adult daughter and 20 month old grandchild in a house in Ashton-in-Makerfield. The family has a pet dog. The children have access to the whole of the ground floor of the house, including toilet facilities. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is currently caring for one child under five years, in addition to her grandchild. She has an early years qualification.
The provision is good. Children's health is well promoted as the childminder keeps her home, toys and equipment clean and follows good hygiene practices in order to reduce the risk of the spread of infection. The childminder has a current first aid certificate and deals with minor accidents appropriately to maintain children's health.
The children benefit from a varied and nutritious diet. The childminder discusses their dietary needs, likes and dislikes with parents and carers, taking care to provide meals which the children enjoy. Many meals are home cooked using fresh ingredients. The children have access to fresh drinking water at all times, ensuring they are appropriately hydrated.
Outdoor play is a daily part of the children's routine which promotes their healthy development. They play in the garden, visit local parks and benefit from being able to explore outdoors in all weather conditions. They enjoy watching ribbons blow in the wind and explore a leaf covered with frost, for example.
The provision is good. Children are made to feel welcome in the childminder's home. Their art work is displayed in the playroom and they have space for their belongings, which helps them to feel valued. They benefit from being able to select from a wide selection of toys and resources which provide them with plenty of choices. They can move freely around the downstairs areas as they play, with sufficient space to play meaningfully.
The childminder supervises the children well to ensure that they play safely. She has assessed the risks in the outdoor area and put safety measures in place to enable the children to play safely in this area. Indoors there are some safety measures in place, such as stair gates and fire guards, which reduce potential hazards. However, an exposed electrical socket and an insecure mirror pose potential hazards to the children at the time of the inspection. The children routinely take part in fire drills, which helps them to develop an awareness of emergency procedures. They are encouraged to learn the house rules which keep them safe, such as not climbing on the furniture.
The childminder has a good awareness of local procedures in order to safeguard the welfare of any children she may care for.
The provision is good. Children are happy, settled and enjoy the time they spend with the childminder. They enjoy a good range of age-appropriate activities which promote their development. Younger children benefit from being able to explore the texture of paint, play dough and sand, for example. They thoroughly enjoy developing their physical skills as the childminder supports them as they jump off a small box and on to the floor. Outings to places such as a safari park offer the children experiences to learn about the wider world.
The childminder has a good understanding of how to encourage the children's development as she notices what the children do and plans simple activities to promote their development. Children make good progress in developing self help skills and independence, for example, as she encourages them to learn new skills such as feeding themselves.
The provision is good. Children behave well in the care of the childminder, as they respond well to the praise and encouragement they receive. The childminder has a clear understanding of how to manage children's developmental stages, supporting them as they learn how to share and take turns with the toys, for example. The children play with a wide range of toys and books with positive images of different people in society. This helps them to become aware of, and to value, diversity.
The children's individual needs are met well by the childminder, who works with parents and carers to ensure that children have a consistent approach. The childminder has a sound commitment to including all children. Her flexible approach ensures that parents and carers are offered a childminding service which suits the needs of the family.
The organisation is good. The effective organisation of the childminder contributes to the good quality care provided. Her home, toys and resources are well organised to create a child-centred environment. The childminder has a good commitment to further development as she attends training courses regularly and uses her knowledge of childcare to benefit the children.
The documentation relating to the care of the children is well maintained and organised. The childminder ensures that parents and carers are well informed as they have access to her written policies and procedures.
Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.
Not applicable.
Since registration 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.
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.
On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:
The quality and standards of the care are good. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.
To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):
Any complaints about the inspection or the report should be made following the procedures 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