Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY240767 Unique Reference Number 28 February 2007 Inspection date Maggie Thorp 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 a childminder for a number of years and after a break registered as a childminder again in 2003. She lives with her adult son in a two bedroom, second floor flat in East Finchley.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder may care for a maximum of two children under eight and currently she has two children on roll. Children play in the front room, hall and one bedroom which is also available for children to sleep in. There is no outdoor play space, however, children are taken to the local park a short walk away. The family has no pets. The childminder is a member of the 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 satisfactory. Children play in the childminder's clean, well organised home. They are learning about how to keep themselves healthy as well as being kept healthy by the measures the childminder has taken. Children are helped to understand which foods are healthy, to wipe their own noses, and to remember to wash their hands. The childminder has a thorough cleaning routine, all areas of her home are kept clean and good hygiene is practiced when she is preparing food. The children receive good care when they are ill. However, children's well being is only partly protected by the childminder who has some knowledge of first aid but has not got an up to date first aid qualification.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children eat well prepared nutritious food which is freshly made by the childminder. They are gradually widening the different types of food they will eat with her encouragement including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. The childminder has not recorded the children's dietary needs. This is a regulation. However, she knows what they can and cannot eat, she adheres to this when preparing food for them and has agreed to put this information in writing with immediate effect.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy and benefit from the exercise they get from walking to and from school and nursery and playing in the local parks. The childminder does not have a garden but in good weather, under the childminder's close supervision, children also use a communal lawn beside the childminder's block of flats.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are relaxed and at home at the childminder's flat. They move around the rooms confidently helping themselves to the games and activities they enjoy. The resources for play, sleeping and eating are all in good condition so children use these in comfort and safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe by most aspects of the childminder's care. She makes a careful check of her own home to ensure children are not exposed to hazards. Medicines are kept in a high cupboard, toughened glass is used where it is at children's level and electrical wires and sockets are made inaccessible.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are kept safe out of doors by the childminder's close supervision and the rules children have to follow for how to behave when walking down the street. However, children are not always in the childminder's sight when she takes them to play at friends' homes and other adults are present. The children are safeguarded by the childminder's knowledge and understanding of what to look out for regarding child abuse.

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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 good. Children are happy and learning as they play at the childminder's home. They enjoy acting out stories as they use the wide variety of role play materials she has available. They dress up, cook for the childminder and the dolls, and are doctors to sick toys lined up on the settee. The childminder becomes the baby to be fed or the patient alongside the toys.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are very creative whilst in the childminder's care. They enjoy using all the art resources in the special drawer the childminder has for children to explore. They draw, cut, stick and make greeting cards and pictures using a variety of recycled materials. In one picture a foil cup cake case is a sun and cut out squares of paper are flags.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy puzzles and playing board games. The childminder encourages this. She helps children learn to count, take turns and understand how to follow rules as she plays such games as Snakes and Ladders with the children. Older and younger children are given good support so that they can each pursue their interests. They enjoy looking at books and the childminder takes children to the local library where they borrow books to take home and read.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are happy, confident and secure in the care of the childminder. She knows children's individual needs well and provides the care and activities that she knows are right for them. Children behave well and their self esteem and sense of well being is effectively encouraged by the childminder's very positive approach to encouraging children's good manners and behaviour. She frequently praises children and she sensitively explains why they must do or not do things so children are not embarrassed because they have been corrected.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Whilst children are learning to value their own backgrounds they are not learning very much about those who are different from themselves. The childminder has few play materials and books that encourage this.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the close working relationship between the childminder and their parents. However, although the childminder has long chats with parents about their children, she has not recorded detailed information about children's individual needs to ensure all the relevant information regarding their care is at hand. Parents are given a helpful information sheet about the services the childminder provides and her philosophy regarding children's good care but not information about how they can contact Ofsted with any complaint.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are happy and enjoy their time at the childminder's home. It is well organised for children's play and care. The childminder has built strong supportive relationships with both children and parents and this adds to children's sense of self confidence.

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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 However, children are not fully safe guarded by the childminder's understanding of regulation as she is not sure of all that is required of her and what new legislation has been introduced regarding childminding. She has organised her home and care well to ensure children are safe indoors and when outdoors but this is less well planned for when children are taken to visit other homes.

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Organisation

Children's well being is safeguarded by the accurate records kept of their attendance and accidents, and by appropriate written consent being obtained from parents but less so by the amount of details she records of children's individual needs. The setting meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has made some improvements to her service, but she has not fully implemented the recommendations made. Children benefit from her providing parents with more information about her service. They are not well protected by her lack of records about children's individuals needs or information provided on how parents can complain. Young children have enjoyed a wider range of natural play materials but children have yet to have more play materials that reflect diverse cultures. Children's care is enhanced by the childminder gaining a level 3 qualification in childminding practice but not from her lapsed first aid qualification.

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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 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): • gain an up to date knowledge and understanding of first aid by completing an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children

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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 • ensure that adults who are not checked by the childminder as suitable have no unsupervised access to children • update knowledge and understanding of regulation and implement this more fully particularly about recording information about children's needs and how parents can make a complaint • develop resources that help children learn about and value those different from them

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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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