Childminder in Bromley

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY317272 Inspection date 06 July 2006 Inspector Susan Linda Capon

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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 2005. She lives with her husband and two children aged five and two years in a flat situated in the London Borough of Bromley. All areas of the home are available for childminding. There is a secure garden for outdoor play. The family has two goldfish. The childminder is registered to care for three children under eight years and is currently minding three children on a part-time basis. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. The childminder regularly uses the local parks.

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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. The children enjoy regular physical exercise and fresh air on a daily basis as they walk to and from school. This contributes to their good health. They visit the local parks to use the large play apparatus, developing their climbing, jumping and sliding skills. The children play in a clean home as the childminder uses good hygiene practices throughout the day, ensuring her home is free from infection. For example, she cleans her work surfaces with anti-bacterial wipes. The children have a good awareness of the importance of washing their hands before meals and after using the bathroom. Pictures in the bathroom depicting good hand-washing routines help them to do this thoroughly. They use the liquid soap and paper towels which prevents cross-contamination. They cover their mouth when they cough and use a tissue to blow their nose. This is immediately disposed of in a covered bin. They are aware

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Helping children to be healthy

they do these things "to prevent them getting germs". Children receive appropriate treatment when they have an accident. Parents see the well-recorded information. However, the childminder does not have written consent to seek emergency treatment if required. The children receive any medication required in accordance with the written parental consent. Parents see the records. Children do not attend the setting when they are unwell. This helps to prevent the spread of infection. Additional health information is available for specific illnesses. For example, she provided e-coli information following an outbreak in the borough. All the children enjoy healthy, nutritious home-made meals and snacks. The childminder uses minimal processed foods. Children are developing their understanding of eating five-a-day and enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables on a daily basis. The childminder has completed a safe food handling course and ensures all

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Helping children to be healthy

her food is suitably stored, prepared, cooked and served appropriately to prevent cross-contamination. All the children have access to drinking water throughout the day and are encouraged to drink more water during the hot weather to prevent them getting dehydrated. The children sit together at the kitchen table to eat their meals. This extends their social development and provides them with additional opportunities to develop their good manners. For example, encouraging the children to use "please" and "thank you" appropriately. All the children receive appropriate food in accordance with their individual needs and parents' wishes.

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Helping children to be healthy

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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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children play in a warm, friendly, child-orientated home. They have sufficient space to move around freely and to explore their environment safely. The well-organised space provides suitable areas for "messy play" and cooking activities. All the toys, activities and equipment the children use are suitable and safe for their needs. All the hazards have been minimised, enabling the children to play safely throughout the home. For example, all cleaning fluids are inaccessible to the children and a gate on the stairs to the basement prevents the children accessing this area unsupervised. The childminder uses regular risk assessments inside and outside the home. These keep the children safe and secure at all times. The children have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe when they are walking to and from school. They hold hands with the childminder and use the Green Cross Code to cross the road.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder transports the children safely in her vehicle, using suitable car and booster seats relevant to their individual needs. She has appropriate insurance cover. The children are fully aware of the emergency evacuation procedures as they regularly practise the fire drill together. The childminder ensures her fire safety equipment is in place and in good working order. For example, there are working smoke alarms on each floor and a secure fire blanket in her kitchen. The children are very safe and secure through the childminder's excellent working knowledge and understanding of how to manage child protection issues. The childminder has recently updated her training in this area and ensures the policy and procedures are fully available to the parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children are fully stimulated through the extensive range of toys, equipment and activities readily available to them. They enthusiastically make their own selection from the range provided and play imaginatively with one another. For example, they enjoy playing with the Tiger who came to tea book, tea set and blanket as they re-enact the story. They develop their imagination as they pretend to be lions. The children enjoy pretending to run a café, ensuring the premises are clean before they admit their customers. The children are developing their language and mathematical thinking as they regularly participate in cooking activities. They are encouraged to copy down their favourite recipes. This helps them to develop their reading and writing skills while doing something they enjoy. They use these recipes to make their favourite foods.

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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 The children enjoy regular "messy play" and art and craft activities, they particularly enjoy painting and drawing. The childminder displays their works of art, developing their confidence and self-esteem. The childminder regularly rotates her toys and equipment to maintain a stimulating environment. She knows the children's individual favourites and ensures these are always available on the days they attend. The children are very confident in their surroundings. They have developed good relationships with the childminder and her family. This makes them feel at home and part of the family. The childminder praises the children's efforts and achievements, helping to develop their self-esteem and confidence. All the children interact well with her and feel able to ask for help when required.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children are developing their understanding of right and wrong and know they must share the toys with one another.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All the children and their families are fully valued, respected and treated as individuals. Children attend from other cultures. They play with a good range of toys and equipment which reflect positive images for race, culture and disability. These help them to extend their knowledge and understanding of the world about them and other people. They particularly enjoy looking at the "Big book of little children". The children are developing their independence skills, as they make their own choices and selections from the resources available. The childminder incorporates their individual needs into the setting, for example, specific dietary needs at mealtimes. Children with special needs receive appropriate care and attention. She regularly updates her training in this area to extend her knowledge and understanding of specific areas of special needs. For example, she has recently attended a training

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Helping children make a positive contribution

relating to the autistic spectrum. She supports children's individual needs well, providing activities relative to their individual needs enabling them to develop to their full potential. All the children behave well. They share, take turns and co-operate with one another. The children know the rules and understand the consistent boundaries within the setting. For example, they know the house rules. The children are encouraged to behave well through the positive behaviour management used by the childminder. She regularly praises and encourages the children. The children benefit from the excellent relationships the childminder has developed with the parents. She provides good quality care, following the detailed information provided by the parents. She keeps the parents fully informed about her provision through regular discussion and updated policies and procedures provided in her portfolio. Parents are encouraged to provide feedback about her provision through

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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 the evaluation forms provided. The childminder uses this information to develop her service as required. The current parents are very happy with the provision and their children enjoy attending the setting. She provides a flexible service enabling parents working shift patterns to maintain continuity of care for their child. This in turn helps the children to feel safe and secure in their environment. The parent is able to go to work secure in the knowledge that their child is safe and receiving good care.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children are very well cared for in a well-organised provision throughout. They have access to suitable areas for resting, sleeping, eating, playing, "messy" activities and time outdoors on a regular basis. All the toys are of an excellent quality and very well-organised throughout the home. The children benefit from the childminder's professional approach to her work and sound knowledge and experience of working with children. She has undertaken an extensive range of training since being registered, showing dedication to her role as a childminder. This training includes managing behaviour, health and safety and policies and procedures. She has fully implemented this training into her setting. The childminder's well-organised portfolio of policies and procedures and detailed records all demonstrate how she organises her business professionally, offering good quality care for children. All her records are suitably stored maintaining confidentiality.

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Organisation

The childminder keeps fully abreast of changes to the National Standards. She implements these in her setting, keeping the children safe and secure at all times. For example, she displays her certificate and makes a copy of the inspection report available to parents. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints 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

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 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): • request written parental consent for permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment.

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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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