Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY263162 Unique Reference Number 23 November 2006 Inspection date Lilyanne Taylor 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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder registered in 2003. She lives with her mother and two adult sisters in a residential area of Southsea, Portsmouth. The whole of the premises is registered for childminding. However, the childminder chooses to only allow minded children access to the lower floor of the property and the upper floor bathroom. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. Currently the childminder has four children on roll; two attend on a part time basis and two attend full time. The family keep cats, birds, guinea pigs and rabbits as pets.

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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 inadequate. Children are not fully protected from the spread of infection and germs. Although the premises are reasonably clean, the dining table children eat at is not always cleaned prior to meals and snacks being served. At times the family pet cats sit on this table and children sit here to do their art / craft and model making activities. In addition to this toys that the family cats crawl over and sit on are not regularly cleaned; toys are normally only cleaned once a month. Children are not consistently supported to become aware of their own personal hygiene through daily routines. For example, they are encouraged to wash their hands after toileting but not prior to eating. Children that are related have use of one hand towel which is only washed weekly. An open top rubbish bin that contains food items children have not eaten is not emptied daily. Although appropriate procedures are in place for administering medication and for dealing with

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Helping children to be healthy

minor injuries, the childminder does not seek the necessary permission to be able to deal with emergency first aid situations for all children. All accidents to children are shared with parents. The premises are not maintained to a comfortable temperature; at times children comment on how cold they feel. Children bring in their own food and drinks from home; if the childminder needs to supplement these items then she supplies fresh fruit and drinking water. Children experience a range of outdoor activities which contributes to their good health and physical development. They have supervised access to the rear garden and are taken on regular walks around the local area and visits to the park where they have the opportunity to play on large equipment such as a swing, climbing frame and slide.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Although children are cared for in premises that are kept secure, the childminder shows little awareness of the hazards children are exposed to within the premises. Although she carries out a risk assessment prior to children attending she does not identify all hazards. As a result children are not fully protected from harm. For example, low level glass in cabinets is not safety filmed, wine bottles and carrier bags full of empty jars are left on the floor of the kitchen, a ladder is left propped up against a wall behind a door and a buggy is propped up against items around a gas fire. Ornaments that are broken and batteries and nail varnishes are all left within easy reach of children. Although equipment and toys children use are maintained in a safe condition not all equipment is suitable and appropriate for meeting their needs. For example, younger children sit on adult sized chairs at the dining table, without a booster seat or restraint.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Consequently, they have to kneel on the chair to reach the table and at times loose their balance and fall off. Gas fires used to heat the premises are not used while minded children are present because there are no fire guards fitted. As a result children sit and play in an environment that is not maintained at a comfortable temperature. Resources are not stored so as to be easily accessible to children; they are stored in boxes that are stacked up high and books are perched on top of a folded travel cot. Although the childminder has thought through the procedures for evacuating the premises in the event of an emergency these are not practised with children. Systems in place ensure children are only collected by persons their parents have authorised and records show the hours children are in the childminders care. The childminder has adequate

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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 knowledge of the procedures she should follow if abuse of a child were suspected. However, she does not maintain records of any injuries children arrive with. As a result children's welfare is not fully protected.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children arrive at the childminders happily and settle quickly. They have a good relationship with the childminder and enjoy her company while they play. Children use their imagination well. For example, they pretend they are on a train journey and open their purse to give the childminder the pennies for their journey. When they have finished their journey they use the phone to ring their nanny to tell her they have been on a train. The childminder interacts well with the children, extending their play and learning. For example, she asks the children to state the shapes they have made with the play-dough and while looking at their work displayed in the dining room she gets them to recall the materials they have used. Children respond well to the praise they are given in recognition of their achievements which raises their confidence and self esteem. Although children generally behave well they are not always made fully aware

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

of the reason why some of the behaviour they display is un-acceptable.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children have equal access to activities and play well together. They are learning to share and take turns and are encouraged to help the childminder pack away the toys. Children are not fully supported to gain an awareness and understanding of the reason why the behaviour they sometimes display is un-acceptable to the childminder. For example, a child banging a knife against a fork is just told to "stop, it's a knife remember" and when a child attempts to eat the play-dough they are told "it will be put away if you do that again". The childminder has knowledge of children's care needs through information obtained from parents. Parents are informed each day of the activities their children have undertaken and the care they have been provided with. Systems in place ensure any written concerns parents may have about the provision or the care their child has received are dealt with appropriately. Contact details of

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the regulatory body are made available to parents upon request.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. The childminder does not meet the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. The childminder provides a friendly environment where children feel at home and at ease. All persons living or working at the premises have been suitably vetted. Children are cared for by a suitably qualified and experienced childminder. However, because some procedures and practices she works to are poor this has an impact on her being able to fully promote and protect children’s health and her ability to ensure children's safety at all times. Although there is sufficient space to accommodate the number of children the childminder is registered to care for at any one time, she does not organise her home effectively to ensure children can move around freely; rooms are cluttered with furnishings and the personal effects of other members of the household.

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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 The childminder displays her registration certificate for parents to see and documentation that requires parental permission is sought for most children. The childminder is aware that information she holds about children is confidential so is careful to keep it safely.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to take the following action, develop a system to keep a written record, signed by parents, of medicines given to children, ensure all records of accidents are accurately dated and details of children's arrival are recorded promptly.

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Improvements since the last inspection

All records are now maintained as required which has contributed to the health and safety of children. Children's attendance is now recorded as they arrive and depart, written records of medication administered are maintained and countersigned by parents and accidents are recorded in detail to show the actual date they occurred.

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Improvements since the last inspection

It was further recommended that the childminder gave consideration to ensuring all areas accessed by children and pets are suitably clean at all times and to provide further toys and resources that provide positive images.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Most areas children access are now maintained in a reasonable state of cleanliness; carpets are vacuumed each day and the hard surface floor covering in the hall is swept. Food for cats and their litter trays are kept out of reach of children and bedding for animals is kept in shed with a lock on it. Animal cages outside in the rear garden are cleaned out regularly and bird cages inside the home are cleaned out every other day when minded children are not present. The improvement made is not yet sufficient which is why there is an action in this report.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Children's awareness of others is raised through additional resources the childminder has purchased, for example, various ethnic dolls and books that show children from various countries. In addition to this children borrow books from the local library.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints since the last inspection

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they may 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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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, the registered person must take the following actions: • conduct a risk assessment of the premises and equipment ensuring appropriate action is taken with identified hazards so children are kept safe and free from harm at all times • improve existing health and hygiene procedures and practices to ensure the good health of children is effectively protected and promoted at all times. These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

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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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