Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY333880 Unique Reference Number 15 December 2006 Inspection date Fiona Sapler 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 was registered in 2006. She lives with her partner and two children aged five years, and 18 months, in Woodford in the London borough of Redbridge. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house and three bedrooms are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks and drives to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local carer and toddler group and takes children to the local library and park. The childminder has joined the local Childminders network and hopes to gain approved status. The childminder is registered to care for four children under eight years at any one time and currently cares for four children part time. The childminder has two rabbits.

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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 cared for in a clean home where they are beginning to learn to follow good hygiene practices. They are supported to wash their hands before eating and after playing with the pet rabbit and are told, by the childminder, why this is important. Laminate flooring and wipeable furniture ensures the childminder is able to easily maintain a level of hygiene that contributes to this healthy environment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are protected from the spread of infection as the childminder follows very effective procedures when, for example, changing nappies. There is also a clear sickness policy, that is successfully shared with parents, so they understand that their child will not be cared for if unwell or contagious.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are given appropriate care if there is an accident, because the childminder holds a current first aid certificate and knows what to do in case a child gets hurt.

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Helping children to be healthy

Nutritious meals and snacks help children develop healthy eating habits from a young age. The childminder is a qualified chef and places great emphasis on encouraging children to appreciate good food. She promotes their understanding by involving them in the choosing and preparation of ingredients and by introducing enjoyable cooking and baking activities. Food is mostly organic, fresh farm vegetables are delivered weekly, and a healthy varied menu is shared with parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Older children can help themselves to a drink whenever they need one and the childminder ensures younger children drink plenty to prevent dehydration.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of activities that contribute to their health and develop their physical skills. The childminder explains to them why exercise is good for their growing bodies. They regularly visit the park and local toddler groups, where there is large play equipment. They also benefit from walking to school whenever possible and take part in activities, such as gardening.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder uses her knowledge of the Birth to three matters framework to support her care of younger children. This helps her promote all areas of their development. They receive lots of warmth and affection to support their emotional well-being and to give them the confidence to explore new experiences. She encourages them to make choices for themselves because the toys are stored in such a way as to be easily accessible to even the youngest baby.

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Helping children to be healthy

Crawling babies and toddlers are learning about how their bodies are able to move because the childminder organises the furniture, and the room, to provide plenty of space for them to crawl around. She arranges the furniture in such a way that babies are confidently, and safely, able to pull themselves up to stand.

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Helping children to be healthy

Babies’ individual routines for eating and sleeping are followed and the childminder monitors their food intake and nappy changes to share these details with their parents. This ensures continuity of care for under threes and contribute to their physical well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

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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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from being cared for in a spacious, welcoming and well organised environment. This allows them to move around and play safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

They have easy and safe access to a wide range of good quality toys and resources appropriate for their ages. The childminder selects these carefully to ensure they meet the various needs of all minded children and keeps small pieces stored away so that younger children are not at potential risk of choking.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder caries out ongoing risk assessments of her home to make sure it remains a safe and suitable place to care for children. The layout of the home and the childminder's vigilance ensures that children are well supervised and safe at all times. The childminder has devised systems that further promote the children's safety, such as an emergency evacuation drill, that is regularly practised with the children, safe collection procedures and the use of identity wrist bands when children are taken on trips further afield.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Older children learn about road safety when they discuss this on their walks to and from school with the childminder. In addition, all children are provided with simple boundaries and reminders on outings and within the home that help them learn how to keep themselves safe when playing inside and outside the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and knows what action to take if she has concerns about a child in her care. She ensures that the information she has is updated regularly and is kept close to hand and accessible, if required. This ensures she is able to identify signs of concern and can act quickly in the child’s best interest.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children explore and experiment through a range of well planned and stimulating activities. The childminder ensures all the children are able to participate by considering the needs of them all and adapts the activities accordingly. For example, even young babies will attempt to decorate biscuits or dig in the garden.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has devised a system to record the children's progress in all areas of their development. This helps her assess each child's starting point and she uses this to help her plan activities that will benefit the individual child. In addition the childminder plans themed activities, such as autumn, to introduce even more learning opportunities and experiences for the children. They learn about nature and caring for the environment when the children take part in recycling and bird watching as part of the stimulating programme that is provided.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder encourages all children to share her love of books, and reading, by making good use of the local library and sharing lots of different stories with them. She also use books and the internet to provide ideas for activities that enhances the time she spends with the children.

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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 Young children enjoy listening to music and are beginning to join in action songs that help develop their co-ordination.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit socially and educationally when attending a range of toddler and childminding groups and from outings to places of interest, such as the farm and forest.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder has a very positive attitude towards diversity and seeks to update her own knowledge of different cultures and religions to provide a respectful and informative environment for the children she cares for. Children learn about themselves, and the world around them, through some well thought out activities, for instance when they eat doughnuts and light candles for Chanukah. A good range of resources, such as dressing up clothes from China and instruments from Spain, further develop their understanding of diversity and provide the children with a positive outlook on the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has not cared for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities but described effective strategies she would implement to ensure all children are included and to enable her to provide the best possible care for every minded child.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from lots of praise and encouragement and from some basic ground rules that are consistently applied. The childminder supports the children to learn important social skills, such as taking turns and sharing, especially when interacting with lots of other children at the toddler groups they attend.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A good partnership with parents contributes considerably to their children's well-being while at the childminder's and ensures continuity of care. Parents have access to a very comprehensive portfolio containing all the policies and procedures. This ensures they are fully informed about the provision and how it is managed, however, there is not a clear complaints procedure in place.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder gathers and records all relevant information before the children start to ensure she is knowledgeable about their individual routines to enable her to meet the children's needs immediately.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents receive daily written feedback about their child's day. This helps provide children with consistent care between their home and the childminder's.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder shows a clear understanding of her role in supporting the children in their play and learning. The children benefit from being cared for by an affectionate childminder who knows them well, helping them feel secure and confident. The childminder uses her time well and her flexible approach allows children a balance of directed and child initiated play while also providing opportunities for them to rest quietly, according to their individual preferences.

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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 is committed to attending further childcare training. This helps her to reflect, monitor and improve the quality of the care she offers. She is also working towards becoming an approved childminder through the local childminder's network.

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Organisation

The childminder has compiled an informative portfolio of written policies and procedures that guide her daily practices and; apart from the complaints procedure, these are used effectively to inform parents about the organisation of the setting. The children are protected, as all adults living in the home have undergone suitable checks and there is a complete record of children's attendances maintained.

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Organisation

All mandatory records are in place and stored confidentially. This guarantees the safe and effective management of the setting in order to promote children's welfare. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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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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): • make available to parents a written statement that provides details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint, including how to contact the regulator

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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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