Childminder in Greenwich

Inspection report for early years provision

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510737 Unique Reference Number 22 June 2006 Inspection date Justine George 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 lives with her husband and three children, aged 21,18 and 15 years. They live in a three bedroom semi-detached house in Blackheath. The property is close to local shops, schools, parks and transport links. Minded children have access to most areas of the home. They play in the living room and dining room/kitchen, and use the upstairs bathroom and front, main bedroom for sleeping purposes only. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been registered since November 1997. At present, she cares for two children aged two and four years, on a full-time basis.

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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 good. Children have access to a clean and hygienic environment and procedures are in place to minimise the risk of infection. The childminder ensures good hygiene procedures are in place for keeping the kitchen and bathroom areas clean, and children and adults remove their shoes before entering the home. The provision of soap and clean towels in the bathroom, encourages children to wash their hands after toileting. Children also know to flush the toilet after use. In the event of a child becoming unwell, parents are contacted and children are excluded from the setting until well. The childminder is aware of the requirements in obtaining written parental consent to administer medication. Once medicine has been administered, the required details are recorded, in line with regulations.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are fed in line with parents wishes as the childminder takes time to liaise with parents about their dietary requirements. Parents provide food for children which is suitably stored and prepared. Children are encouraged to wash their hands before eating and sit at the table or in a high chair. Children are independent at feeding themselves using cutlery. The childminder is willing to provide meals for children. A written menu gives examples of the healthy meals on offer which includes cuisine from Asian and Turkish influence. Healthy snacks of fruits and yogurts are available. Regular drinks are given throughout the day.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit as they have regular opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They visit local groups, walk to the shops and also use the garden. Children have access to a range of equipment including sand, wheeled toys and a well resourced play house with cutlery. Children are well rested as the childminder is aware of their sleep routines and encourages children to rest in areas of the home that provide peace and quite. However, children lay awake for a long period of time before falling asleep, rather than using such time more effectively, participating in quieter activities. Children are regularly checked to ensure their wellbeing. As a result, children's physical health is fostered.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are warmly welcomed into the setting and are confident in using available areas, wandering in and out of the rooms freely. As a result, children are secure and settled in the home. The childminder ensures the smooth transition from home to the new environment by having a settling in period suited to the needs of parents and children. The family is encouraged to visit the home and gradual periods of separation are introduced. Although, for very young babies, if parents are comfortable, the settling in period is minimal. As a result, very young babies' emotional wellbeing is not fully fostered, as they do not have the opportunity to explore the new environment in the secure knowledge of parents being close by.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play in a safe environment where hazards have been identified and minimised. Safety precautions of stair gates and plug socket covers are in place and the premises are secure, preventing children from leaving unsupervised. Garden areas are also secure as fencing ensures

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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 children do not use the rear of the garden, gates have locks applied and drains are covered. The childminder ensures children are protected in the event of a fire. Fire detection equipment of smoke alarms are in place, and a fire blanket is mounted in the kitchen. The childminder has emergency evacuation procedures planned and practises these with children. As a result, children are aware of the procedures to follow.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder ensures children play in a safe environment as toys are cleared away when children have finished playing. As a result, tripping hazards are minimised. In the event of a child having an accident, they are well protected as the childminder has kept her first aid knowledge up-to-date. Accidents are recorded, including those that happen at home. However, details of how accidents occur are not consistently recorded. Good practice of parents signing the accident book ensures they are informed of their child's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for in line with parents wishes. Written parental consent is in place for the childminder to take children on outings, be transported in the car, to seek emergency medical advice/treatment, to take photos and to apply sun cream. Furthermore, the childminder ensures car insurance includes business cover, and public liability insurance is in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's wellbeing is well protected as the childminder is aware of adults who collect them. Should an unfamiliar adult turn up, children would not be allowed to go off with them, and contact is made with parents. The childminder is aware of her responsibilities with regard to child protection. She has good knowledge of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse and the referral procedures of contacting social services and Ofsted. The written policy also informs parents of the childminder's responsibilities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children benefit as the childminder provides a range of equipment suitable for their age and stage of development. Toys include a range of games, dressing up clothes, books and puzzles, construction bricks, small world equipment of dinosaurs and dolls. Children further benefit as they are taken to nursery and local groups to gain social experience and creative opportunities. The childminder also uses local toy libraries to extend on the toy provisions and sustain children's interests. Some toys are available in the living room which are readily available for children, and children can also request other provisions such as games or puzzles.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy playing with jigsaw puzzles and are independent in fixing pieces together. When finished they identify the animals and objects and count them to identify numerals. The childminder supports children, encouraging them to count the objects one at a time, helping children to develop one to one correspondence, enabling them to count accurately.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy using the provisions borrowed from the toy library. These include books and story props. Children enjoy using the puppets and the childminder sits with them to read familiar stories including 'The three little pigs'. Children sit with puppets on their fingers then show other adults their puppet, saying familiar phrases from the story, ''little pig, let me in, not by the hair of my chinny chin''. As a result, children show an enjoyment of using books, promoting language and literacy skills.

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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 Children enjoy playing with construction bricks, fixing pieces together and using play people to extend their play. Children enjoy using the dressing up clothes and pretend to be a doctor, using the stethoscope to listen to peoples chest. As a result, children learn about others in the community that help us, and act out real life experiences. Children also enjoy experiences of planting, they are growing tomatoes and help to water them. Therefore, children learn to care for living things, developing a caring attitude.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has no direct experience of supporting children with learning difficulties/disabilities. Although, she ensures the environment is inclusive to all. In caring for children with additional needs the childminder would take into consideration other minded children, the environment and her skills and knowledge. Should the childminder identify that minded children may not be developing to their full potential, she would share her concerns with the parents and encourage them to seek support from other professionals.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Equal opportunities are suitably promoted in the setting. The childminder knows the children well and is familiar with their cultural backgrounds, fostering and valuing children's identity. Children are multi-lingual and the childminder uses and understands familiar words, and supports children in learning English as an additional language. Children also learn about other cultures as the childminder shares her cultural experiences with them. For example, talking in Turkish, sharing family experiences and using an atlas to show children where she comes from. Children have access to some provisions that reflect positive images of culture and learning disabilities. Puzzles, books and dolls depict positive images of culture, and the use of play people show children how support aids are used. For example, people using a wheel chair or a walking frame.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Overall children are well behaved. They are encouraged to respect others by using their good manners of please and thank you, and sharing toys and equipment. Children are also encouraged to respect the environment by removing shoes when they enter the home and not jumping on furniture or damaging toys. Should children challenge the boundaries, they are encouraged to say sorry and explanations are given to develop their understanding and reinforce positive behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is good. They receive written information with regard to the childminder's responsibilities in ensuring children's health and safety. All required details of contact numbers, work and home address', and emergency contact details are in place. As a result, the childminder is able to make contact easily, if required. The childminder has developed open and honest relationships with parents. In the event of a complaint, parents are advised to share their concerns with the childminder in the first instance. If the are not happy, they are encouraged to seek further advice from the local borough or Ofsted. However, Ofsted's contact details are not available. Parents receive good information about their child as contact books are used. Details include what the children have been involved in and their physical needs of sleep, meals and general wellbeing are recorded. As a result, parents are well informed of how

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Helping children make a positive contribution

their child is and how they spend their time.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She has completed the required level of training and shows commitment in attending regular training courses. The childminder has recently completed an NVQ level 3 in child care and other training includes a policy writing and food hygiene course, and Birth to three matters training. As a result, children benefit as the childminder keeps her knowledge up-to-date to ensure the care offered reflects current practice. The childminder has had the required checks carried out to ensure suitability. However, adults over the age of 16 have not had the necessary checks completed to ensure their suitability, as required, in line with regulations.

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Organisation

The childminder complies with her certificate of registration in ensuring adult to child ratios are adhered to and attendance records are in place to consolidate this. The childminder ensures her registration certificate is displayed during hours of operation, as required. The required paperwork is in place and written policies and procedures are in place for the safe and efficient management of the setting. However, in the event of a compliant, Ofsted's contact details are not available to parents.

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Organisation

Children benefit from how the childminder organises the space and resources to ensure children's needs are met effectively. Children have access to a range of toys and are taken out to various places of interest including local groups, parks and shops. As a result, children enjoy their time at the setting.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection an action was raised for the childminder to ensure that the garden is secure and that children are unable to leave unsupervised. The childminder has addressed this by using fencing to prevent children from using the back of the garden, therefore leaving the premises unsupervised.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Two recommendations were also raised. The childminder was to increase her range of multi-cultural provisions, in which children have access to Asian dressing up clothes, some puzzles, books and small world play people and dolls that reflect positive images of culture.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was also to ensure that dangerous items in the garden and bathroom are made inaccessible to children. This has been addressed.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

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Complaints 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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Complaints 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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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): • ensure accident records include full details of how injuries occur • ensure the complaints procedure includes Ofsted's contact details • inform Ofsted of all adults living on the premises who are over the age of 16 to ensure the required checks are carried out

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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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