Childminder in Barking and Dagenham

Inspection report for early years provision

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504285 Unique Reference Number 15 March 2007 Inspection date Caroline Preston 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 2000. She lives with her husband and three children aged 10, 12 and 15 years in Dagenham in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham. The whole of the childminder's house is 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 six children at any one time and is currently minding one child under five all day and one child over five after school.

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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 warm and clean environment where they benefit from high levels of cleanliness and hygiene throughout the home, which effectively contributes to limiting the risk of cross infection. The childminder encourages children to wash their hands before and after eating, and after using the toilet. She has good systems in place for nappy changing, wearing appropriate gloves to stop the spread of germs. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and shows she has good knowledge of emergency procedures. She has mounted on the kitchen wall a fully stocked first aid box. Therefore, she is able to reach any necessary first aid equipment easily. Parents give prior consent for the childminder to administer medication, which ensures children receive the correct dosage according to their needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides healthy and nutritious snacks and meals, which support children’s health. She offers a variety of fruit including grapes, oranges and apples, Spaghetti Bolognese, salads and vegetables. Babies under two years enjoy sitting in the highchair and feeding themselves, showing growing independence and confidence. Children enjoy physical activities including trips to the park, the use of the outdoor garden and babies move across the front room with ease, as they develop their physical skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder has developed a child friendly environment where children can freely access a good range of play resources that are age and stage appropriate. These include puzzles, programmable toys, books, dolls and play resources for babies. They are all stored in a large plastic toy container with a flexible lid, so that children can make choices and take what they want to play with.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has minimised all safety risks to children by installing smoke alarms on both levels of the house, placing a safety gate at the bottom of the stairs. She has also put in place safety socket covers and ensured children cannot escape or intruders enter the home. The childminder has a good knowledge of child protection procedures including types of abuse, signs and symptoms of abuse and has readily accessible relevant contact numbers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are made to feel welcome by the childminder; she interacts very well with them. They smile, laugh and acknowledge her showing they have developed good relationships with her. Babies are confident to move around the room choosing from the many toys available, they smile and babble, looking affectionately at the childminder. She talks to babies often, developing their language and communication skills. The childminder keeps a written record of individual children’s progress, which is shown to the parents, which covers all their areas of development.

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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 Babies have their individual needs met, as the childminder shows she has developed a good daily routine for the baby in her care.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder acknowledges children’s efforts by praising them, which helps them feel good about themselves. They are able to play with toys and resources which reflect positive images of the wider world. This therefore helps to teach children about diversity. The childminder is currently undertaking further training about disability awareness. This means she is able to implement positive childcare practice and shows she is willing to care for children with any learning difficulties.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well, they respond well to the childminder who supervises them at all times. She uses appropriate behaviour management strategies including discussion with older children, distraction with younger children, she is consistent, and therefore children understand right from wrong. The childminder has developed good relationships with the parents, she describes the relationships she has and ways that she works with parents. She exchanges daily information with them, and they are offered relevant policies and procedures, and information about the childminding services. Therefore are made aware of relevant childcare practices and relevant information.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from the childminder’s good organisation of her childminding service. She ensures children have a good daily routine, have plenty of space to move and play freely, have access to a good range of play resources and are kept safe and well fed. Children are safe because all household members have undergone appropriate suitability checks. All relevant documentation are in place, including a daily attendance register, however not signed by parents, accident and medication records and a current first aid certificate. The childminder has also developed her knowledge of childcare by undertaking further training, including Child Protection, Birth to three matters, Messy Play and Partnership with Parents. 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 last inspection the provider was asked to devise a complaints procedure and develop an information booklet for parents. Also to devise an emergency escape plan and ensure gas appliances conform to safety standards, ensure there are systems in place to record administration of medication and that there are systems in place to monitor children’s developmental progress.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Available to parents is a well written complaints policy, an emergency escape plan and evidence of gas safety checks. There are also appropriate systems in place to record administration of medication and there are systems in place to record children’s developmental progress. Therefore the care children are offered and information given to parents has improved.

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Improvements 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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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. 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): • ensure parents sign and date children's attendance register.

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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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