Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY337292 Unique Reference Number 16 October 2006 Inspection date Virginia Cooper 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 2006. She lives with her husband and one pre-school age child in Gravesend. The whole ground floor and the toilet upstairs of the childminder’s house are used for childminding and 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 five children at any one time and is currently minding one child full time before and after school. The childminder can walk or drive to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent and toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of National Childminding Association.

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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's emotional development is nurtured; they enjoy a close relationship with the childminder in a warm, caring environment helping them feel secure. Children enjoy a clean and well-ordered environment allowing them to move around easily and safely.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder takes steps to prevent the spread of infection to promote the good health of children in her care. Her written service statement makes it clear to parents that she does not care for children who are contagious ensuring other children are not at risk of cross-infection. Good hand washing procedures are in place; children are encouraged to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder holds a current first aid qualification enabling her to administer help in the event of an emergency. The childminder understands the importance of having good procedures relating to the administration of medication to protect children's health. She has record books for medication and accidents available although she has not yet had to use these.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy plenty of fresh air; they regularly play in the garden and visit the park and go for walks ensuring they get plenty of exercise. Their physical development is promoted in other ways, for example, in school holidays they go swimming and visit large indoor play activity centres.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides freshly prepared, nutritious, home cooked meals for children and considers she can cope with most dietary needs; therefore, children will be provided with food that takes account of their individual needs. The childminder helps children develop an awareness of food that is good for them, for example, she explains to the child that she will remain healthy because although she is not keen to eat fruit she eats lots of fresh vegetables. The meals provided are varied encouraging children to try new foods and develop a discerning palate. When children say they have eaten enough the childminder gently negotiates with them to eat a small proportion of what is left. This is done with kindness and the children willingly eat a few more mouthfuls ensuring they are well nourished. Children are regularly offered drinks to prevent them becoming dehydrated. They sit at the table to eat, and the childminder eats with

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Helping children to be healthy

them making meal times a social occasion when they discuss what the child has done at school. They also learn good table manners.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy an environment that is child friendly. Children choose what they want to play with from a good range of well-maintained toys; the childminder checks these regularly to ensure there are no broken parts that could harm a child. The conservatory doubles as a playroom and most of the toys are stored here. They are easy for children to access enabling them to make choices about what they play with. They are kept safe because they cannot access areas that are not suitable for play, for example, a stair gate is fitted at the kitchen entrance. They

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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 cannot access hazardous materials; these are in a cupboard with a child lock. The garden is secure and fully enclosed and children cannot escape or wander off. The childminder has planned what she would do in an emergency and has arranged back up care if this is necessary. She ensures that all required safety equipment is in place each day; she carries out a visual check of the premises to maintain the safety standards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder understands her role in the protection of children. She holds information about the signs and symptoms of abuse. She feels confident that she would recognise if a child were being abused and knows who to contact and where to find the telephone numbers for these agencies, however, these numbers are not to hand in her childminding paperwork.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children's emotional development is nurtured they enjoy a close relationship with the childminder in a warm, caring environment helping them feel secure. The childminder has a settling in procedure ensuring children are happy in her care before they are left.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children get changed when they arrive home after they are collected from school and play before they eat their dinner. The childminder prepares something for them to do when they get home so they can play immediately; colouring pencils are out today encouraging children's creativity. They can choose what toys to play with from a varied selection that are stored in the conservatory. They enjoy role play and the childminder becomes actively involved in their games. School holidays are used to undertake activities or outings that require a longer period of time, for example, making cakes and attending indoor play centres. The childminder also takes children shopping, they prepare a pictorial list so they can take an active role and they enjoy this activity. Meal times help encourage children's social skills. The child is keen to tell the childminder what she has done at school and she listens attentively. After dinner the

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

childminder helps the child read a book from school, developing reading skills and encouraging a love of books.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The child present has not been with the childminder for long but is already settled and looks very at home. Children talk about their home life, and what they do at school, they confidently chat with the childminder who always stops what she is doing to listen to them carefully. She records children’s specific needs enabling her to provide a personalised service that takes account of children's individuality.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has no experience of caring for children with special needs but she has a very willing attitude. She is happy to accept a child after satisfying herself that she can provide them with an appropriate service bearing in mind that her own child is young and still needs lots of attention.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well; their behaviour is rarely challenging because they are kept busy and amused. The childminder is a good role model, she is very calm and children benefit from this

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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 tranquil atmosphere. Children benefit from lots of praise and encouragement so that they understand which behaviour to repeat.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are made very welcome and they chat easily with the childminder; they exchange lots of information verbally but the childminder also writes contact books providing them with a permanent record of their child's time and development. One parent expresses how pleased she is with the service provided; she says the home is always clean and confirms how quickly her child settles and how she loves to attend. The childminder's policies state that she will obtain written permission to access emergency medical advice and treatment and to transport children in a vehicle to ensure her agreements with parents are understood clearly. She has not, however, got around to this yet.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder and her husband have Criminal Records Bureau checks available for parents to see.

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Organisation

Children benefit from a well-organised environment, routine and sufficient resources. They are happy, settled, and receive attentive adult support to help them feel secure and confident. The activities are varied and cover all areas of development; the children are kept amused and are learning new skills as they play. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Organisation

All the documentation that relates to the safe and effective management of the setting and for the welfare and care of the children is organised and stored confidentially. The childminder keeps all the required records that relate to the children but is yet to obtain all the written parental permission she thinks it is wise to hold. The written statement of service and easily accessible certificate of registration enables parents to confirm details of the childminder's registration. The childminder has not received any complaints but is aware of the new regulation that requires her to record complaints relating to the National Standards and any action taken. She has an exercise book ready for these records should the occasion ever arise.

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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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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 telephone numbers that may be required for child protection are recorded and easily accessible • obtain written permission to access emergency medical advice or treatment in an emergency and to transport children in a vehicle

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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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