Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY276430 Unique Reference Number 07 November 2006 Inspection date Elaine Simmons 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 satisfactory. 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 three school aged children in Redhill, Surrey. The whole of the childminder's house, other than one bedroom is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children at any one time. She currently cares for four children aged from 11 months to three years, on a part time basis over the course of the week. One child only attends during school holidays. The childminder walks and drives to the local shops, parks and schools.

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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. The children benefit from the childminder's good hygiene routines. She has a good nappy changing procedure and ensures the children clean their hands with hand cleaning gel before meals, after toileting and playing in the garden. Children who have a sleep have their own bedding, this is washed once a week or as required. This ensures children's good health is promoted successfully.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder advises parents when her own children are ill and has suitable procedures in place for recording accidents and any medication required. Although she has obtained permission in advance to give children Calpol, she does not record the time given or the amount of medicine administered. Consequently, children's wellbeing is not sufficiently safeguarded.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good opportunities for physical exercise and play. The childminder routinely walks to the local school and takes the children to visit the parks close to her home. Children visit indoor play centres with the childminder when the weather is inclement and one child is taken to a regular dance class, this ensures their physical health is suitably promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder prepares a nutritious and well balanced, home cooked meal for the children. She uses fresh vegetables and provides them with a varied menu. They are offered a piece of fruit or a biscuit at snack time. When they are going on an outing with the childminder they are given a sandwich lunch. Children have their own individual beakers and enjoy filtered water, this is available to them at all times, especially during hot weather, which helps to prevent them becoming dehydrated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children and parents are made welcome in the childminder's clean and tidy home. They have access to the lounge and dining room where they can play safely and freely. Most areas of the home are safe. However, the garden has some steep steps going up to the lawn and the childminder ensures children's safety by remaining with them at all times when they play outside.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The children have a varied selection of clean, safe, toys and sufficient equipment to suit the age range. The toys are changed over regularly, to provide them with variety and to give them interest and enjoyment. Toys are cleaned in the washing machine and any broken toys are thrown away by the childminder to maintain children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder teaches children road safety routines when walking to and from school and the park. She has sufficient and suitable car safety seats available for each child, to protect them when they are travelling in her car. They also benefit from her clear understanding of all child protection requirements. However, she does not have the local safeguarding children procedure to refer to and this could impact on the children's well-being.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy a range of activities organised by the childminder. They enjoy making cakes with her and doing gardening. The children also enjoy going for walks in the local parks where they recently collected conkers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has a box of very good resources that enable the children to do lots of craft activities. For example, they paint and draw, and have opportunities to paint their own designs on T- shirts, socks and cups. They also enjoy making bead necklaces and bracelets to take home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Very young children sit and play on the floor supported by the childminder. She reads stories to them showing them the pictures in the book. She also encourages them to listen to music and to explore toys by feeling and touching them. Their daily routines are followed ensuring that sleep and rest periods are incorporated into the day's activities appropriately, meeting their individual needs successfully.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Older children enjoy outings to indoor play centres with the childminder, where they can use their physical skills on large play equipment. Children also benefit from being able to attend classes arranged for them by their parents for dance and music because the childminder is willing to take them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children have a good range of resources provided by the childminder. These promote equality of opportunity and reflect the modern world in which we live. She speaks to children in French and English and treats children as individuals meeting all their different needs successfully. Children's questions are answered according to their level of understanding and other peoples' points of view are respected. She has some experience of caring for children with special health needs and is willing to work with parents to ensure they receive appropriate care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has good strategies to help children behave well. She uses distraction and explanation to help children learn right from wrong. Children are given lots of things to keep them busy and involved by the childminder, and this helps to prevent unwanted behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are given good verbal information about her childminding service. The childminder is willing to work with parents to provide the care they require. She provides written details in a daily contact diary for busy parents, who find it difficult to stop and discuss the day's activities with her. This ensures they are kept up to date with their child's day and progress.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The children are cared for successfully by the childminder. She organises her home so that children can play safely and freely. She ensures that the National Standards are met by keeping to the correct adult to child ratios and provides constant supervision to keep children safe at all times.

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Organisation

Most paper work is up to date and in order, to ensure the effective organisation of her childminding service. She has ample details about the children and written parental permission to take children on outings and to travel in a vehicle. Although, the childminder has obtained parental permission to take children to hospital. She has not obtained permission to seek emergency medical treatment or advice. As a consequence, children's welfare is not sufficiently safeguarded. All paperwork has been retained and is stored securely to ensure children's personal details are kept confidential. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous Childcare inspection the childminder agreed to, ensure a record of information is kept about each child and to maintain a daily attendance register, setting out the times of children's arrival and departure. She also agreed to provide a suitably stocked first aid kit, and to obtain written permission from parents to seek emergency medical treatment or advice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has obtained and uses the National Child Minding Association children's information forms for each child. She accurately records the children's arrival and departure in a daily diary, which means suitable information is recorded to promote children's well-being. The first aid kit is suitably stocked. However, parents' written permission has only been obtained to take them to hospital, this does not include seeking emergency medical treatment or advice. As a consequence, children's welfare is not sufficiently safeguarded.

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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 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 satisfactory. 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 written permission is obtained to seek emergency medical treatment or advice in the future. • record the time and the dose given when administering medication and obtain parents' signature as confirmation that they have been advised. • obtain information on the Local Safeguarding Children policy and procedure. • minimise the hazards in the garden to ensure children's safety at all times.

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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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