Hampstead Norreys C.E. Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

109964 Unique Reference Number 31 August 2006 Inspection date Jeannette Waring Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has been a registered since 1992. She has three children, an adult son and daughter and a 10 year old son, both sons still live at home with her. The family live in a three bedroom house in North Thamesmead. The premises are situated in a quiet residential area close to local shops, parks and bus routes. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family do not have any pets.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. She is currently providing care for 3 children. She is a member of the Thamesmead and Abbey Wood Childminding Network. She also belongs to the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and the Bexley Childminding Association and holds a NVQ 2 childcare qualification. She regularly attends local childminder drop-ins and toddler groups.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children's health and well-being is protected and promoted by the childminder, who cares for them in a very clean and well ordered home. Young children can play freely on the floors as outdoor shoes are not worn in the house and the floors are cleaned each day. Because the childminder follows scrupulous hygiene routines when dealing with children's personal care, for example nappy changing, children are protected from the risk of cross-infection. In addition toys that young children put into their mouths are kept clean, for example when two young children were singing into a microphone and placing it into their mouth the childminder stepped in to clean the microphone before the second child took it. The childminder ensures that her first aid qualification is regularly up-dated and that her first aid box is complete so that she is able to provide children with good quality care in the event of an accident. Children's health

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

is carefully protected by the childminder as she details all accidents and any medication she is asked to administer in a NCMA accident and medication record book, which is routinely shared with parents.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children have ample space to move around and develop their physical skills both indoors and in the garden. They enjoy playing in the garden and use the range of good quality large play equipment with enthusiasm. Even very young children use the climbing frame and slide with confidence and the childminder supports their efforts well. She plays ball games with children helping them to develop their hand-eye co-ordination and assists very young children to move around the garden on the wheeled toys. The childminder ensures that the garden is clean and makes sure that the sand-pit and sand toys are kept covered when not in use. Children also have opportunities for physical exercise as they visit local parks and toddler groups with the childminder or accompany her on walks in the local area.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Because the childminder works in close partnership with parents she is able to ensure that children have healthy and nutritious meals. She discusses children's dietary needs with parents and ensures that she respects their wishes at all times. Parents may opt for the childminder to provide meals or to provide them themselves or a mixture of the two. Meals provided by the childminder are freshly prepared and always include fresh vegetables and fruit. Children are able to refresh themselves when they feel thirsty as the childminder ensures that fresh drinks are available throughout the day.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from being cared for in an extremely welcoming, safe, secure and child-friendly home. They are able to play freely in the childminder's lounge, which resembles a small nursery room. Children's art work is displayed on the walls and toys are attractively presented in child height storage boxes where even young children are able to safely select resources for themselves. Child-size tables and chairs are provided so that children can sit comfortably and safely at activities and at meal times. Babies are able to sleep safely in a travel cot and older children nap on the sofa or on a cosy quilt covered with their own blanket.

p.3

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 Outside children enjoy playing with a range of garden toys and equipment in the safe, secure and level garden. They are able to ride wheeled toys on the patio or use the sturdy climbing frame which has been carefully positioned away from obstacles on an astro-turf surface. Children learn about road safety during outings with the childminder as she talks to them about how to cross the road.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Because the childminder has carried out a thorough risk assessment on her home and garden children are free to explore and enjoy their safe and secure environment. They gain independence as they select resources for themselves and they are learning to keep their play space safe as the childminder encourages them to tidy away activities they have finished using.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is able to protect children from harm or neglect because she has a clear understanding of her responsibility for safeguarding children. She has good, up-to-date information on child protection issues stored in her childminding files, knows how to make a referral, is aware of the signs that a child is or could be at risk and has all local contact details ready to hand. In addition, because the childminder recognises the importance of child protection, she has recently booked to attend a Safeguarding Children course offered by the local authority.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very happy, settled and secure in the care of the childminder who is warm and attentive to their individual needs. Children relate well to the childminder who is responsive and appropriately affectionate towards them. The childminder has attended training such as 'Birth to three matters' and 'Music for babies'. This has benefited children by enabling her to plan activities which are appropriate to young children's stage of development. The childminder plans her day around the needs of the children in her care, she makes sure that they have time to rest and provides meals at regular times. This helps children to feel settled and secure.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children play happily in the warm and cosy environment of the play room, they enjoy building with construction toys and playing with musical instruments as the childminder supports and encourages them in their play. They particularly enjoy snuggling up on the sofa with the childminder to look at favourite books or to sing nursery rhymes. In the garden children are free to explore the equipment provided and are gaining confidence and independence as they learn to use the climbing frame or move about the patio on the tricycles. They play happily together at the sand tray and show an interest in the natural world as the childminder points out a butterfly in the garden.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

As well as a range of interesting and stimulating activities provided in the home children benefit from outings with the childminder to parks and toddler groups and to other childminders.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are provided good quality care appropriate to their individual needs. The childminder spends time talking to parents about their family background including the family's religion

p.4

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 and culture and this enables her to gain a good understanding of each child. Individual dietary needs are catered for and the childminder enjoys sharing food and recipes with parents. Because the childminder takes positive steps to provide good anti-discriminatory care children learn to value and respect difference. Although the childminder has not been asked to provide care for any children with additional needs she has a very positive approach to the issue of inclusion.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very well behaved. They are calm, relaxed and happy in the childminder's care. She is a good role-model for children as she has a gentle, relaxed and patient approach herself, which children respond positively to. She uses distraction and simple re-direction to very good effect with young children. She explains simply what she wants them to do, gently encouraging them along. With older children the childminder sets clear boundaries and gives children explanations of why she wants them to do something. She encourages children to be polite to each other by always being polite and courteous to them. Her behaviour management policy is shared with parents so that children benefit from a consistent approach.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder establishes very good partnerships with the parents of the children in her care. She spends time getting to know families, has a settling in period for all new children and makes time every day to talk to parents about their children's day. She also uses a contact book with young children so that parents have a clear record of such things as children's meals and sleep routines. The childminder has many letters and cards from parents in praise of her service.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. Children benefit from being cared for in the childminder's extremely well organised home. She has created a warm and welcoming environment both indoors and in the garden, where children can play together freely and in safety. She has well thought out routines in place which meet children's individual needs for rest and play. She plans a range of activities that are appropriate to children's age and stage of development. Toys are well organised so that children can access them for themselves and children benefit from the outings the childminder arranges.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder is a member of a childminding network and makes sure that she keeps abreast of changes in the field of childcare by accessing training on a regular basis. All required documentation is maintained to a high standard and shared with parents. The childminder makes sure that all information for parents is regularly updated.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has made sure that the electric radiator in the lounge is safe by fitting a thermostat and by positioning storage boxes in front of it to prevent children touching it. In practice this is rarely used as the childminder said that the central heating system is sufficient to keep the room comfortably warm.

p.5

Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 1 April 2004.

p.5

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 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.

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

The quality and standards of the care

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

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6