Knightsmead School

Inspection report for early years provision

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115476 Unique Reference Number 03 August 2006 Inspection date Jeannette Waring 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 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 has been a registered childminder since 1995. She lives with her husband, teenage daughter and 11 year old son in a three bedroom, end-of-terrace house in the residential area of Abbey Wood, on the border of Bexleyheath. The house is within easy reach of local shops, schools, pre-schools, parks and woodlands. Children use the whole of the ground floor as play space together with the enclosed back garden. The family have a cat, a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Golden Retriever.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under the age of eight years. She is currently caring for four children, all on a part-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 benefit from being cared for in a clean and comfortable family home. The childminder has good cleaning routines in place which help to protect children from the risk of the spread of infection. Children themselves are learning about the importance of good hygiene as the childminder reminds them to wash their hands after using the toilet. The childminder has two large well behaved dogs and she has organised her garden so that the dogs use only a large patio area which she routinely disinfects. Children use the large grass play area beyond the fenced patio for their play space.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is aware of the need to promote children's safety and health by keeping a record of accidents and medication and she has a National Childminding Association record book for this purpose. However, she has not been asked to administer any medication to minded children since her last inspection and there are no accidents recorded. Currently the childminder does not routinely record any bumps or bruises children arrive with. In order to ensure that she would be able to care for a child in the event of an accident the childminder has recently updated her first aid training and she keeps a well stocked first aid box.

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Helping children to be healthy

She encourages children to develop a healthy lifestyle by providing good opportunities for physical play in her garden. Children also walk to and from school and enjoy regular trips to the local parks and to toddler groups.

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Helping children to be healthy

Currently the childminder only provides lunch for two of the children in her care and the others bring lunch with them, she also provides only the occasional evening meal. The childminder is aware of the importance of promoting healthy options and usually offers fresh fruit for both dessert and snacks. She ensures children have free access to drinks and tries to limit the amount of squash children have encouraging them to drink water instead.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children enjoy the freedom to play in the whole of the ground floor of the childminder's welcoming home. They use the large through lounge for general play and take part in art and craft activities at the dining table in the kitchen/diner. A wide range of good quality toys are stored in a large toy chest in the lounge with others kept in the under-stairs cupboard and in the conservatory. All toys can be freely and safely accessed by children. There is also a ground floor toilet with hand washing facilities for children's use. Children enjoy playing in the childminder's secure garden where there is a range of garden toys for them to use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Because the childminder has carried out a thorough risk assessment of her home and successfully minimised potential hazards children are able to move about her home freely which helps them to develop independence and confidence. Children are also learning about how to keep safe when out and about with the childminder as she talks to them about road safety.

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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 The childminder is able to protect children from harm or neglect because she is confident that she would be aware of the signs that a child was or could be at risk of harm. She is also fully aware of her responsibility to refer any such concerns, however, she does not have a copy of the local authority's up-to-date guidance produced by the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The childminder forms warm and supportive relationships with the children in her care. She ensures that children receive good individual attention, takes part in their activities and spends time talking and listening to children. This helps children to feel confident and relaxed in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children take part in a range of activities. During the inspection they enjoyed a colouring activity, spent time playing with playdough and explored the contents of the toy chest in the lounge. The childminder took part in their play supporting them well without taking over. She spent time with the two year old helping him to learn how to throw and catch a ball and shared his delight when he managed to catch the ball. A good range of interesting toys are provided both indoors and in the garden and children also benefit from the regular outings to local toddler groups and parks.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

In order to help children feel settled and secure the childminder organises her day around the needs of the children in her care. During term time the school runs are a daily feature, meals are planned at regular times and she is careful to arrange outings around the nap times of the younger children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are met by the childminder who spends time talking to parents of new children about the family background so that she can provide appropriate care. Children learn about issues of equality because the childminder is aware of the need to promote play that is not gender stereotyped and as they play with a small range of toys and book which reflect the wider community. The childminder has a positive approach to issues of inclusion and would always discuss children's additional needs with parents in order to ensure she was providing good quality care for all children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very well behaved because the childminder has high but realistic expectations of children's behaviour. She helps them to understand what is expected of them by setting clear rules and boundaries which children know and understand. For example, when a two year old kicked a ball in the lounge the childminder simply asked him if he was supposed to kick a ball indoors when the child said 'no' the childminder asked where he should kick a ball and the child replied 'in the garden and in the park'. The childminder then said 'that's right, good boy' and offered to teach him how to play catch with a small soft ball. This positive approach to behaviour management helps children to learn right from wrong. The childminder also has a written

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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 behaviour management policy which is shared with parents which helps to ensure a consistent approach for children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Because the childminder forms good relationships with parents and is able to be flexible in her arrangements, children benefit from good continuity of care. Written contracts underpin all arrangements and these are supplemented by good written information about the childminder's service including copies of her policies and procedures. Time is spent each day talking to parents about children's needs and their day with the childminder and, in addition, the childminder uses a contact book when caring for young babies so that parents have details of children's eating and sleeping patterns during the day.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. Both the childminder and her husband have been suitably vetted in order to ensure children's safety, however, the childminder's daughter has not yet been vetted.

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Organisation

The childminder is very well organised. She has ensured that the whole of the ground floor of her home is safe for children to use independently, she has organised the storage of toys so that children can access them freely and she plans her day around the individual needs of the children in her care. This well organised approach helps children to feel settled and secure in her care.

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Organisation

The childminder keeps all required documentation up-to-date. Records are stored securely in files and are shared with parents. She keeps a careful note of days and times of minding for each child and has produced good written information for parents.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At her last inspection it was recommended that the childminder improve the quality of the information she provided to parents. The childminder now provides parents with printed information about her home and family and about the routines she follows with children in her care, there are also copies of her policies and procedures contained in the information pack. This supports the good partnership that the childminder forges with the parents of the children in her care.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 1 April 2004. 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 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): • ensure that all adults (over the age of 16) in the household are suitably vetted • ensure that even minor accidents are recorded and that any bumps or bruises children arrive with are noted in the accident book • update knowledge of the new local child protection procedures and ensure that own procedures are in line with those of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB)

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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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