Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY260154 Unique Reference Number 01 February 2007 Inspection date Sue Boylan 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 outstanding. 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 2003. She lives with her husband and three children aged 17 months, five and 13 years in the London Borough of Croydon. The whole of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder walks and drives to local schools to take and collect children. She attends toddler groups and takes the children to the park and library.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for four children at any one time, if she works alone and five children at any one time, if she works with an assistant. She is currently minding 13 children all of whom attend on a full and part-time basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family have two rabbits, tortoise and fish.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is qualified to NVQ level three in childcare and is a member of the Croydon's Children come first Childminding Network. The assistant is qualified to NVQ level 2.

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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 outstanding. Children are cared for in a warm and clean home. The childminder gives very high priority to ensuring children from a young age start to understand the importance of good hygiene. For example, individual towels and cups are labelled with their photographs for instant recognition. The excellent support and guidance provided helps children gain a thorough understanding of being healthy. For instance, posters in the toilet remind children to wash their hands, this practice is reinforced when they respond to questions about health in a quiz, "we need to wash our hands because the germs might bite us".

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Helping children to be healthy

The procedures in place to maintain a high standard of hygiene are exemplary, for instance, toys and equipment are checked weekly and washed regularly. As the childminder and her assistant keep their first aid qualification up to date they are able to treat children who have an accident or minor injury quickly. The required records in relation to accidents and medication are well maintained and protect children's health. The first aid box is easily located by looking at the specific signs displayed in the kitchen and playroom.

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Helping children to be healthy

The menu is extremely well planned, the food provided is freshly prepared and provides a balanced and highly nutritious diet that takes into account children's dietary requirements. Activities promote the importance of healthy eating, for example, drawing their own food choices on a paper plate, talking about diet and making fresh fruit salad. The snack board in the kitchen indicates to the children what food is good for you, for instance, apples and plums for today had a smiley face. Water is available throughout the day and children help themselves. This ensures they think about their own personal needs and do not become dehydrated.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have excellent opportunities to lead a healthy life style. They learn about the importance of rest, fresh air and eating. Children participate in activities to extend physical development, such as, swimming during the school holidays, trampoline, climbing the equipment in the park, riding bikes and moving confidentially around an obstacle course.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from playing in an environment that is very safe, secure and suitable for the purpose. For example, the doors are fitted with alarms which go off and alert the childminder it is being opened. Children have access to an excellent range of good quality toys and resources. Independence is encouraged because equipment is within easy reach and children identify their chosen activity by looking in transparent, labelled boxes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are supervised at all times and are learning to keep themselves safe extremely well, for example, they participate in activities about 'road safety' and 'stranger danger' and older children help to devise the 'rules of the house'.

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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 The childminder gives high priority to safety. She has completed a thorough risk assessment of the premises, both inside and out, so children are protected at all times. There are excellent fire safety precautions in place. For example, the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detector are checked weekly, this is recorded and ensures they are in working order. Children practise the emergency escape plan monthly so they are familiar with the procedure.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safe-guarded extremely well. There is a well written child protection policy, the childminder and her assistant have both attended relevant courses, they are aware of who to contact if they have any concerns a child is being abused or neglected and the local safe-guarding guidance is in place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely settled and happy. They thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder and her assistant who are very committed to the role of providing a stimulating and exciting environment. Children thrive and are eager to attend because they receive a high standard of care and learning. There is excellent plans of activities which are linked into the Birth to three matters framework and children's individual needs. Their development is monitored and assessed through regular written observations. Children's profiles record achievements and help to identify their next steps in learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children become engrossed in a wide range of purposeful activities that offer high levels of challenge appropriate to their age and stage of development. For example, making Christmas cakes, hand puppets and the suitcase activity. There are excellent opportunities for children to engage in imaginative play, for instance, setting up a market stall, hospital and cinema, when they make popcorn for the interval, tickets for entry and show people to their seat using a torch.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are animated when they talk confidentially to the childminder and her assistant. They excitedly recognise themselves and others in photographs, pointing and laughing at the picture. Children love to take home 'Nuts and Chestnut in the bag', promoting language and caring for others. These toys go to stay with the child for a week, taking their tooth brush and a diary for the child to record how the visit went. On their return the child proudly tells the other children what they have been doing. This fosters positive self-esteem.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. An excellent partnership with parents contributes to children's well-being and consistency of care. The childminder works closely with parents ensuring she is clear about their child's normal routine, individual needs and any likes and dislikes. There is time made available on a daily basis to talk to the parents about their child, emailing photographs of their child at play if requested, this helps to promote a sense of belonging. They are kept very well informed about the provision through a detailed brochure, regular newsletters and notice board. Parents are

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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 asked to communicate their views about the care offered by completing twice yearly questionnaires.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are very good opportunities for children to experience the local community. For example, they participate in a recycling project, going to the bottle bank and making a collage using recyclable items. Children are taken on regular trips, for instance, the library, park, toddler groups and soft play. They are beginning to appreciate the wider world when they go, for instance, to the coast, Groombridge and Penshurst Place. An excellent range of activities provide opportunities to learn about different cultures and traditions, such as, making lights for Diwali and Red Envelopes for Chinese New Year.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works very well with children who have a learning, medical and physical difficulty. She ensures children are given every opportunity to participate in the day through regular consultation with parents and other professionals.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's self-esteem is fostered extremely well as the childminder's approach to managing children's behaviour is consistent with excellent use of praise and encouragement. They thrive in each other's company, older children like to help with the little ones and they learn the importance of sharing, being kind and taking turns.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Space and resources are organised very well. It allows the children to feel at home and comfortable in the environment. The routine ensures children's individual needs are paramount, for example, babies eating and sleeping patterns are maintained. Children receive excellent levels of adult support and enjoy the attention provided by the childminder and her assistant. There are effective procedures to ensure children are never left with any person not vetted. The childminder carries children's emergency contact details on her key-ring and provides parents with a credit card size information card. This states in the event of an emergency their children are cared for by the childminder.

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Organisation

The childminder and her assistant have good understanding of child development and attend training whenever possible to update knowledge and ensure appropriate care is provided, for example, Birth to three matters, food hygiene and makaton. There is a comprehensive range of policies and procedures. They are reviewed and parents given summarised copies. The required records are maintained to a high level. They are organised appropriately and contribute extremely well to children's health, safety and well-being. The childminder evaluates her practice regularly so she is able to look at improvement in the care and education offered. Overall 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 childminder was asked to ensure there is a system to record complaints. There is a file that parents can access containing a procedure to follow if a complaint is made.

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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 childminder or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards.

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Complaints since the last inspection

The childminder 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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