Childminder in Barking and Dagenham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY331949 Inspection date 29 August 2006 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 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 2006. She lives with her husband and four year old son in Barking in Essex. The whole of the childminder’s home is used for childminding and children are taken to local parks and play areas for outside play. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local groups, takes children to the local library and to local and wider places of interest. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five all day.

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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 are learning to use good health and hygiene routines with the childminder. The children have hand-washing routines and the childminder gives them gentle reminders about the routines. They wash hands before and after meals and snacks, when they come in from outings or arrive in the morning and after using the toilet. When children go on outings, for example to visit the farm the childminder ensures they clean hands after touching the animals. Children have toothbrushes and tooth paste so that they can brush their teeth after meals. Children have daily outdoor play at local community areas and parks. Children also go to local groups and local events where they can play with a variety of equipment and gain experience of social situations. Children go on regular visits to the local farm, and they have been on outings to places of natural interest. The outdoor and physical play activities support the children to develop a good range of skills and

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Helping children to be healthy

provide a wide range of experiences. The children are provided with healthy and nutritious meals, drinks and snacks through the effective partnership between parents and childminder. The childminder provides for all the children's dietary needs. She works closely with the parents to ensure that children eat a balanced diet. The childminder encourages children to try different foods which are presented to tempt the children. Effective records ensure that the childminder has information about any dietary restrictions the children may have. Children have rest and sleep times within the daily routine, the children sleep in the childminder's bedroom where they can be monitored. The children's needs are clearly met and routines are agreed with parents. The childminder has records for the administration of medication which are clearly shared with parents. She holds a current first aid certificate which means she can

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Helping children to be healthy

give appropriate care if there is an accident.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a safe and secure home; there is an entry phone for the main door to the block which is answered by the childminder. At the childminder's front door she checks for ID. This is a first floor flat with two bedrooms and an open plan living and dining area with a kitchen. Children have access to the balcony and for outdoor play they go down to the communal play area or to the park. Children play in the sitting room area which has lots of clear floor space for play. The children can move freely and safely around from the play area to use the toilet and go into the child's bedroom where there are more toys and play space. Younger children sleep in a travel cot in childminder's bedroom.

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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 have safe access to a wide range of toys and equipment for play. Children go to choose toys from the bedroom and bring them into the sitting room to play. The toys are safely stored in boxes so that children can easily access them. The children play safely and comfortably on the floor. Children can only access toys that are safe and suitable for them to use. Any toys that are not suitable for the children's ages are stored out of the reach of the children. The childminder monitors the children's choices and the way in which they play with the toys. The childminder has given thought to safety in her home and has assessed the risks to the children in her care. To minimise any risks the childminder uses a range of safety equipment including cupboard locks, a fire blanket, a locked medicine cabinet

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

and smoke alarms. An emergency evacuation procedure is in place and hazardous materials are inaccessible. Children are kept safe on outings. The childminder ensures she gets to know each child well and to find out how they will behave on outings she begins with short trips to local areas. Children are learning good road safety practice. The childminder ensures they hold hands when crossing or walking on the road. She teaches children the limits so that they know what the rules are for outings. The childminder ensures she balances the children's safety with opportunities for learning and development of new skills through exploring and investigating. Children are protected from harm because the childminder has a clear understanding of her role in child protection and has completed a course to ensure she is able to put appropriate procedures into practice when necessary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children take part in a wide range of well organised activities with the childminder. These include making models from re-cycled materials, cooking, creative activities, drawing, reading stories and inventing stories with puppets. The childminder makes good use of all situations to encourage children's learning and supports them to explore and investigate. The childminder takes time to get to know each child so that she is able to meet their individual needs. Children play in the sitting room and child's bedroom where they have access to a wide range of toys and are able to make independent choices about what they will play with. Children play on the floor in the sitting room with trucks and zoo animals. They use their imagination to develop a game with the small world toys; they use a wide range of language to describe what they are doing and develop the game. The childminder engages with the children talking about their game and helping them to

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

find different toys. Children have been making collage pictures which are on the side drying and they talk about going to the farm in the afternoon. Children go to local groups and events which provide them with a wide range of experiences and opportunities to explore and investigate. Children have been to the farm, to museums at South Kensington, to Greenwich, to the local theatre and library and to Kew Gardens.

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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 childminder has the Birth to three matters framework and has booked a course to help her become familiar with the framework.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have access to toys and resources that show positive images of people from different cultures and with different abilities. The childminder shows a very clear understanding of the importance of children learning about their own culture and she works with parents to ensure that children's culture is celebrated and valued. The children take part in a good range of activities and outings that provide opportunities for them to learn about the wider and natural world. The childminder feels confident about caring for children with learning needs. She would look at each child's individual needs to ensure she is able to give the appropriate level of care to a child. The childminder is happy to take training to support her. Children are well behaved, happy and at home with the childminder. She clearly knows each child well and uses behaviour management strategies that are appropriate to the individual child. The childminder supports positive behaviour by

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Helping children make a positive contribution

keeping children busy with activities, supporting them to make choices and develop good levels of independence. The childminder uses time out and takes time to explain to the children why some behaviour is not acceptable and ensure they understand the house rules. The childminder communicates well with parents and has built good professional relationships with them. She has worked closely with parents to ensure she knows the children well and can meet their needs and the parents wishes. The childminder takes a good amount of information from parents to ensure she has a clear understanding of the children. She speaks to parents when they arrive and come to collect their children. The childminder keeps daily notes of what the children have done, what they have eaten, the daily activities and outings and if there have been any problems.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children play in a well organised play space which provides areas for different types of play. The children are comfortable and safe in the play space. They are able to move around freely and confidently select the toys and resources. There have been no changes to the childminder's household and the childminder has completed courses for business skills, English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and has a food hygiene certificate. Children's records and a daily register are in place and up to date. The childminder keeps a daily written record of the activities children have done each day and what

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Organisation

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 they have eaten and if they have slept. There are medication and accident records and contracts for all children and all records are kept in a confidential manner. The childminder talks to parents about the policies and procedures used and has daily discussions with parents to ensure she continues to meet the children’s individual needs. The childminder does not have a formal complaints log. 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 registration. 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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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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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): • provide a formal complaints log.

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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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