Childminder in Greenwich

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY285330 Inspection date 16 November 2005 Inspector Judith Harris

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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 outstanding. 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 husband and two children aged 5 and 7-years in Thamesmead South East London. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding two children under 5-years, one for full days and one child before and after school. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group.

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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 The childminder is a member of an approved childminding network.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children’s health is clearly very well supported; from an early age, children learn the importance of good personal hygiene through effective daily routines. The children have good hygiene routines they wash their hands after the toilet, before eating and when they come in from outside. The children all brush their teeth after eating with tooth brushes supplied by parents. To ensure the children maintain good hygiene routines at all times they have wipes to clean hands when they are on outings with the childminder. The childminder uses good nappy changing routines and appropriate health and hygiene guidelines are followed. Children play in a clean environment. Children take part in a wide range of daily outdoor activities; they play in the garden and go for outdoor play at local groups and parks where they can use larger play equipment. The childminder uses the Birth to Three Matters framework to help her

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Helping children to be healthy

provide a good range of physical play activities. Younger children delight in practising their physical skills both indoors and in the garden. They are well supported by the childminder who is helping them to gain good control of their bodies. The outdoor and physical play activities support all the children to develop a good range of skills and to exercise. The range of activities ensures both younger and older children are fully included. The children are provided with healthy balanced meals and snacks that help them understand which foods are good for them and they have drinks available while they play. The childminder takes information about any dietary restrictions the children may have and works with parents to ensure she is meeting the children’s individual needs. The childminder gives the parents daily information about what the children have eaten. The children are clearly beginning to learn about healthy living through the routines

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Helping children to be healthy

used and the healthy, balanced diet. There are written policies for parents about the exclusion of children who are unwell and infectious and the childminder keeps records of any medication given to children and any accidents that occur; these records are shared with parents. Children’s emotional well being is nurtured by the warm trusting relationships they have with the childminder. Children’s individual rest and sleep needs are met within the daily routine and the children sleep in play room where they can be monitored by the childminder.

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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 play in a clean and very well organised home; they play in the sitting room and large fully enclosed garden. The children move around safely in the childminder’s home and in the garden where they have space to play on ride-on and push-along toys. The childminder has carried out risk assessments on the home and has taken steps to minimise any risks. There are safety gates at the bottom of the stairs and at the kitchen door and locks on kitchen cupboards. Children are well supervised both in the home and in the garden. Children are kept safe on outings; the youngest children travel in buggies and older children hold hands when walking and they are learning the use of good road crossing practise. Children are collected from school in the car and the childminder has permissions for travel and uses age appropriate child safety

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

seats. The childminder checks out the safety of all locations that she visits with the children. Children have a very good range of toys and equipment that they have good access to. The younger children's safety is carefully monitored and they only have direct access to toys that are suitable for their ages. Toys and equipment are checked on a regular basis to ensure they are safe and clean. The childminder monitors the children's choice of toys to ensure that they are suitable for their age and ability. The toys for the older children are stored out of the younger children's reach as some are not safe for them to use. The children are learning about keeping themselves safe on outings and in the home. The childminder talks to children about climbing on and off the furniture. The children are learning about keeping things clean and germ free. The children are protected because the childminder is familiar with the paperwork

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and procedures for recording and reporting child protection issues. The childminder has completed the first aid course which ensures she is able to give appropriate care if there is an accident.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are happy and completely at home with the childminder which allows them to develop self-confidence and very good levels of independence. The children have a wide range and balance of activities and experiences both at home and at local groups. For the younger children activities are planned using the Birth to Three Matters Framework; the childminder makes very effective use of the framework to ensure the children have activities that effectively support their learning. The activities allow the children to make choices, to explore and investigate, to be creative and to develop problem solving skills. The children’s development is clearly nurtured by the childminder’s high levels of positive interaction and the way in which she makes best use of all planned and naturally occurring situations to extend the children’s learning. The children are clearly supported to become skilful communicators through the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

interaction with the childminder. The childminder talks with the children, she uses an effective range of language and open questions to extend and challenge the children and help them to develop their speech and thought processes. They look at books

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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 together; they read a story about animals and the childminder talks to the children about the names of the animals and the sounds they make. The children copy the childminder and they make the animal sounds together. The childminder describes what the children are doing while they play and she talks about the colours and shapes of things to extend their knowledge. The play is all child led and the children’s good relationship with the childminder allows them to be confident and independent and to make choices. They go to the shelves and choose toys and books for themselves and bring them to the childminder who plays with them. The childminder organises the day to allow times for different types of play. The children go to a toddler group where they can take part in creative play activities

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

where they have a wider range of physical play equipment and learn social skills. There are planned times for outdoor activities and times for quiet play and rest or sleep. The childminder takes a good amount of information about children from parents and she speaks to them daily and, keeps her information up to date to let them know what the children have been doing. She takes time to get to know each child very well to ensure she is able to effectively meet each child’s individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The children clearly have a very good sense of belonging; they are happy and at home. They move around the play space confidently choosing toys and books independently. The children know the routine well and the childminder deals effectively with any disruptions to the routine in order to minimise the effect on the children, so that they are able to feel secure and comfortable. The children are well behaved and the childminder has a very good understanding of their individual needs and what is likely to upset or disturb them. She is patient and calm with the children and takes things slowly if they become upset. The childminder uses distraction to help the children gain control of themselves and to calm down. The visits to the toddler group help the children to develop good social skills, they are learning about sharing and taking turns and playing together. When all the children

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Helping children make a positive contribution

are at home the childminder talks to them about being careful of each other helping them to understand about how their behaviour affects others. The childminder is a good role-model and uses effective positive behaviour management strategies that clearly support the children to develop good skills for self control. Partnership with parents is very good; the childminder has a good range of written policies and procedures for parents. She give copies of these to each child’s parents at admissions and parents are asked to read them and sign to say they agree with what the policies say. The policies and procedures are effective in providing information for parents about how the childminder’s service is organised and how she will care for children. The childminder also uses daily contact books; she writes information for parents in these as well as giving daily verbal feed back of the children’s progress and what they have done each day. The contact books can be

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Helping children make a positive contribution

used by parents to record any comments they may have. A complaints procedure is available for the 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 The childminder is confident about caring for children with special needs. She has done some voluntary work with children with special needs and she has a good understanding of the levels of care children with different needs may require. The childminder is aware of the ways in which she may need to adapt her home or the activities she provides to ensure that children with a range of needs can be included. The children are clearly learning about the wider world and take part in a range of effective activities. They have been looking at how different festivals are celebrated. The childminder has used the local library and the toy library to help her to provide activities that allow children to gain an understanding of these festivals. The children have just celebrated Diwali and they made Rangoli cards and Diwali lamps with the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder as part of this celebration.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder’s service is very effectively organised and written policies and procedures guide the childminder in her daily practice. The good levels of organisation ensure that all relevant information is shared with parents. All records are in place and the childminder uses contact books with parents where she records daily information and all Information kept about children is relevant and helps promote their welfare. Daily informal discussions with parents help the childminder to ensure she continues to meet individual needs The play space is very well organised and children are comfortable and safe. The toys and equipment are stored to allow children very good access to toys that are suitable and safe for their ages and levels of ability. The children are able to move around safely, they know where the toys are and can help themselves to toys and drinks. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association's children

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Organisation

come first network and is studying for an NVQ 3. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides care.

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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 records 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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