Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY291433 Unique Reference Number 30 June 2006 Inspection date Catherine Greenwood 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 satisfactory. 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 2004. She lives with her two children aged 10 and six years in a terraced house in Tooting, in the London borough of Wandsworth. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of two children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five years. She provides flexible hours according to the needs of the parents. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder supports children with learning difficulties. The sitting room and kitchen are used for minding and one of the bedrooms is used for sleeping purposes only. Younger children are supervised when using the bathroom on the first floor. There is an enclosed garden that is currently not suitable for children's play. The family have fish as pets.

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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 satisfactory. Children develop gross motor skills through visits to the local common where they can run freely, learn to fly a kite, play football, and use a playground which has large equipment such as a slide and climbing frame. The childminder has a good knowledge of the physical activities that each child prefers and takes them to outdoor facilities they enjoy. Consequently children develop a positive approach to physical exercise. Children enjoy healthy meals and snacks which include fresh fruit and vegetables. They have water to drink throughout the day, which the childminder makes easily accessible in beakers for younger children. Children are protected from cross-infection because the childminder ensures children wash their hands before mealtimes and after using the toilet and follows good hygiene practice when changing nappies. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are kept safe because the childminder ensures that everything potentially dangerous within the home is inaccessible to the children. She has a good awareness of what children are doing within the home and ensures they are supervised at all times. The childminder makes a range of safe and well maintained play equipment easily accessible which is appropriate to the children's age and stage of development. The childminder identifies potential hazards such as small construction resources and ensures that older children use them out of younger children's reach on the table in the kitchen. Children are kept safe on outings because the childminder puts younger children in buggies and holds their hands when out walking. Older children learn about road safety, because the childminder ensures they do not walk too far ahead and encourages them to tell her when it is safe to cross. Children are protected from risk of fire

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

because the childminder has a clear written fire evacuation procedure and has necessary equipment within the home. Children's welfare is protected because the childminder has a good understanding of child protection procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home because the childminder incorporates their individual routines within the day. They develop good personal independence as they choose their own play equipment from well organised boxes in the sitting room, and are encouraged to put toys away before they take out anything new. The childminder has a good knowledge of how individual children are making progress and supports children with taking part in games and using play equipment they find more challenging. Children have the opportunity to socialise regularly with the childminder's own children and her friends' children who live across the road. All the children get on well together. Children take part in creative activities such as drawing and sticking and use different textures such as felt and card. They enjoy using playdough and learn to use the cutters and rolling pins. Older children develop

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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 hand and eye co-ordination as they learn how to cut using children's scissors. However, the childminder does not yet have a full knowledge and understanding of the birth to three matters guidance. This means that younger children are not always provided with a wide range of experiences and creative activities within the childminders home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are well behaved because the childminder gives children clear boundaries, is consistent and follows through what she says. The childminder has experience of looking after children who present challenging behaviour and has worked closely with parents to give advice about appropriate methods to use for behaviour management. This means that children receive continuity of care and make good progress. Children benefit from the positive relationships which the childminder establishes with parents. Information about children's needs are exchanged and the childminder tells parents what children have done each day. The childminder talks to parents about children's individual needs, but has not yet managed to obtained additional information to help support children with special needs. This means that children's progress and learning is hindered. Children learn about different cultural festivals, for example,

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the childminder takes them to her children's school to watch a performance celebrating Diwali where they try Indian food. The childminder shares her own knowledge of celebrations such as Chinese New Year and Portuguese Independence Day. Children have the opportunity to look at flags and maps, watch and join in with videos of traditional Portuguese dancing, and listen to information read from books about Portugal which the childminder's own children are interested in. The childminder has a few resources and books that reflect positive images easily accessible in boxes in the sitting room, however, there are no resources that reflect disability and gender.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are happy and at ease in the well organised environment. They have access to a range of play equipment which the childminder makes easily accessible in the sitting room. The childminder provides care that meets the hours of parents work commitments. Documentation is well organised, and includes a wide range of written policies and procedures that the childminder shares with parents which contribute to children's health, safety and well-being. However, the childminder does not have current child protection documentation such as what to do if you're worried a child is being abused. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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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

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration. 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 satisfactory. 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): • develop knowledge of birth to three matters guidance in order to provide children with a wider range of experiences and creative activities. • continue to work closely with parents and other agencies to support children with special needs and ensure information is used to help them make progress • provide a wider range of resources that reflect positive images, particularly in relation to gender and disability • obtain current child protection documentation such as what to do if you're worried a child is being abused

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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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