Childminder in Barnet

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY220973 Inspection date 01 March 2006 Inspector Kay Williams

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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 was registered in 2002. She lives with her husband and 4 children aged 8, 2 and twins of 5 years. They live in a residential area in Hendon, located within the London Borough of Barnet. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 2 children under 8 when working alone or with an assistant. She is currently caring for 3 children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group and takes children to the local library

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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 and the park.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children benefit from a healthy, well balanced diet which suits their individual needs as their food is provided by their parents. Children benefit from the childminder's good knowledge of the importance of healthy eating and she considers this when providing small snacks of fresh fruit and water. Children are also learning about the importance of healthy eating while they read a story about sweets and discuss the disadvantages of eating too many. Children are offered drinks on a regular basis, and they enjoy their food. Lunch times are calm sociable occasions where the children enjoy listening to a story while they eat. Effective domestic routines ensure that the children are cared for in a clean, hygienic home environment. They are protected from infection as sick children are discouraged from attending and children who become ill are made comfortable while they wait for their parents to take them home. The childminder protects children's

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Helping children to be healthy

health and welfare further by keeping comprehensive records and procedures for use in an emergency situation. Children are taught the importance of personal hygiene as they are encouraged to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating their food. Children are offered regular opportunities to enjoy fresh air and exercise. They are taken to the local park where they can have fun while they develop their large physical skills. They also make good use of the garden.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children feel safe and secure as the childminder's home is warm and welcoming. Children can move freely between the lounge/dining area and may, as appropriate, have supervised access to the kitchen. Children are kept safe through the childminder's good knowledge and understanding of health and safety issues. Their arrival and departure is carefully monitored as the childminder greets them at the door. They are taught the importance of road safety as they walk to and from the local park. The equipment available to the children is age-appropriate, safe and well maintained. The childminder has a good routine in place to ensure that the equipment is cleaned regularly. Resources are easily accessible to the children and the range is rotated to stimulate and retain children's interest. Children make good use of the resources available to them and consequently enjoy their play, asking for additional resources

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

such as using the library books as and when they wish to. Children are protected in an emergency situation as the childminder has a good understanding of first aid, although her qualification needs updating. The childminder has appropriate

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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 knowledge of child protection procedures and is able to act in the child's best interest.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children are happy and settled. They enjoy a positive relationship with the childminder and clearly enjoy her company. The childminder is kind and gentle and delights in her time spent with the children. She spends good amounts of time playing with the children and they respond well to her. They are developing well in her care and are offered a good range of activities which suit their level of development; for example, as the children enjoy a group story the childminder has the younger children sitting closest to her in order to enhance their feeling of security. Children are developing their communication and language skills well as the childminder spends lots of time talking to them, responding enthusiastically and asking children questions to promote their individual learning and thinking skills. Children enjoy looking at books, especially when sharing them with the childminder. As they look at books made from different textured materials the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

childminder encourages the children to touch and describe the different materials that they feel. The children are developing positive relationships with each other and play well together. They are offered additional opportunities to socialise with other children when they visit a neighbouring childminder and the local library. They enjoy using their imagination as they sing and dance to music. The childminder makes good use of the Birth to Three matters framework to enhance and evaluate her existing good practice with younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Their needs are well met as they follow their normal daily routine as discussed with their parents. Boys and girls are treated with equal concern and all children are encouraged to participate in all of the activities and resources offered to them. Children are very well behaved as the childminder creates a calm friendly and homely atmosphere in which they feel at ease. Children are well supported by the childminder when self control breaks down, and they are learning the difference between right and wrong. The daily routine flows smoothly, offering them time to relax and be active, coupling good care routines with age and ability appropriate learning opportunities. The children engage in meaningful discussion which promotes a positive view of cultural and social diversity. The childminder takes the children to weekly story sessions at the library purposely

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Helping children make a positive contribution

because this offers good opportunities for them to learn about social and cultural diversity. Partnership with parents is a strong feature. Children benefit from the effective communication that the childminder and the parents share. Past and present parents

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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 have written very positive reports regarding the levels of satisfaction that they feel towards the childminder and the service that she provides.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The environment is well organised and the children appear secure and confident within the daily routine. Policies and procedures effectively promote existing good practice within the children's care and learning. Documents are carefully collated and each child has their own personal records containing all of their individual information. This supports the childminder in knowing the children well and being able to best meet their needs. Some reference materials, such as the childminder's certificate of registration, is displayed on the wall for parents' information and ease of reference. New parents are offered good written information regarding the service that the childminder offers and ongoing discussions continue to foster effective lines of communication. All appropriate written consent forms are on file and the record of attendance is accurate and up to date. The childminder has good regard for the

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Organisation

National Standards overall although her complaints procedure is out of date. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to review her service to ensure that good practice is developed further. The childminder keeps her knowledge up to date, for example by making use of new guidance including the Birth to three matters framework.

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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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WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SECURE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT?

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that the first aid qualification meets the required standard • update the system for recording complaints in line with new childminding guidance to the National Standards 2005 in order to share this information with parents.

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The quality and standards of the care

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