Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY232051 Unique Reference Number 31 January 2007 Inspection date Arda Halls 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 2002. She lives with her husband and two children aged six and 10 years in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom and one bedroom of the first floor of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. Children are regularly taken to the local park.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight at any one time and is currently minding two children (one part time) under five all day.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local drop-in groups and the local library for Arabic story telling. The childminder is a member of a local childminder support group. 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 The childminder has experience of supporting/caring for children with special needs and caring for children who speak English as an additional language.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health and hygiene is promoted as the childminder sustains a good level of cleanliness throughout her home. Shoes are removed at the door to ensure floors are kept clean which benefits young children who may play on the floor. Children at a very young age are learning about personal hygiene as the childminder has effective procedures in place to help stop the spread of germs. Children wash their hands frequently and brush their teeth after meals, they know which towel is theirs and they delight in the ritual which is helping them form good habits at an early age. Parents are well informed from the onset of the childminding agreement that children do not attend if they have an infection and children are safeguarded by the childminder's sound understanding of emergency first aid measures. Children participate in a range of daily outdoor play activities for fresh air and exercise which promotes their well-being

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Helping children to be healthy

and helps them to acquire good physical skills as they play ball, ride bikes and run in the park. Daily excursions to the local drop-in groups also helps children develop physical skills as well as the opportunity to socialise with other children of a similar age.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy nutritious meals and snacks which establishes healthy eating habits from an early age. Great care is taken to provide fresh food prepared each day to eliminate reheating. Plentiful supplies of children's favourite fruits are served for snack accompanied by fresh milk or homemade juice. Plentiful supplies of drinking water are made available as the childminder takes care to ensure children do not become dehydrated. All arrangements about individual children's eating habits are discussed with parents to ensure children are not in danger of having an allergic reaction. Care is taken with specific foods such as nuts as the childminder knows they cause frequent allergic reactions in young children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe, well maintained family home where they receive a warm welcome. Good use is made of space for example having fitted settees which leaves a large play area free. Children are able to explore independently and to rest, eat and play comfortably in this spacious environment which opens out into a small enclosed garden. Children are encouraged to self select toys for themselves and are taught how to safely navigate the stairs with the assistance of the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Toys and equipment are meticulously clean and well-maintained. Children enjoy playing with the toys such as building blocks, puzzles and play dough as they are appropriate for their age and development. Children are able to access a good range of play equipment that is easily accessible at a low level and toys from the store cupboard are rotated from day to day to keep children's interest. Good quality equipment is used throughout the home such as a travel cot, children's low feeding chair and small table and chairs. Toys from reputable sources are

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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 purchased, checked regularly and cleaned frequently. This means children are safeguarded from any hazardous equipment which reduces accidental injury.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for in a child focused environment where risks are identified and reduced to keep children safe. Safety gates are strategically placed at the entrance to the kitchen and at the bottom and top of the stairs. There is no low level glass accessible to children and emergency escape plans have been devised with copies supplied to parents. Smoke alarms are fitted and maintained and a fire blanket is easily accessible if needed in an emergency. Appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure children are kept safe on outings with written consent for the outing and for transporting in a vehicle. Children are learning about keeping themselves safe as the minder talks about road safety even to the youngest children she cares for.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is protected through the childminder's sound understanding of her role and responsibility in child protection. She is aware of the indicators of abuse and aware of the importance of recording any concerns or incidents that may occur to children. The childminder knows how to seek advice and understands the importance of keeping the regulator informed of her concerns. However, the childminder was not aware of the procedure to take if an allegation of abuse was made. It is therefore recommended that the child protection procedure is updated to include the handling of an allegation.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are met and their welfare is promoted by the care, learning and play provided to the children in the childminder's care. Children enjoy playing with play dough at a small table and chair. They go out on a daily basis to drop-in centres and the library where they enjoy a wide range of toys and activities to help their development. Children run around and laugh, they play hide and seek and they enjoy being caught by the childminder. The children talk in their mother tongue and the childminder translates what they are saying. They discuss what they see in the garden and they smile at each other as they pretend to make dinner in the play kitchen. They play with animals that fit into a train. The train sings the song of Old McDonald and they laugh together. The song is sung in English and in Arabic and the children never tire of fitting the animals into the train. Children are reminded gently to say thank you,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

first in English and then in Arabic. The minder repeats the word "chokren" (thank you) and explains that this is the language she uses each day which helps the children understand more what she is saying. There is constant conversation and children listen intently, they answer with the few words they have in their vocabulary. Some of the time children babble in their own way, they are acknowledged and this helps them become self-confident and self-assured. They listen carefully when it is explained that they must not touch the laptop. They delight in looking at pictures of themselves using a laptop on another day. The album is full of pictures and each one indicates what they have been playing and learning throughout their stay with the childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children laugh as they climb the stairs, they listen to the counting in two languages, they squeal with laughter as they hold the childminder's hand. They are encouraged to hold the banister with their second hand and this keeps them safe.

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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 Children pretend to be the doctor and they look after the childminder, they play well together and the children learn a lot from their play. Children are offered story books from an extensive range of good quality books, they decline and it is explained that "today is different". Children are very content in this setting, they concentrate and they develop confidence and self-esteem. They begin to distinguish between right and wrong and they understand the moral codes of their own cultures. They are forming constructive and harmonious relationships and learning to make sense of the world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are happy at the childminder's home. They are familiar with the daily routine which enables them to feel safe and secure. They have their normal routine as discussed with their parents, for example their sleeping and eating routines. It is recognised that the parent knows the child best. They enjoy mutually respectful relationships with the childminder. The childminder knows the children's individual personalities and needs very well. Children respond to her and are happy and secure in her care - she respects the children's backgrounds and the languages they speak at home. Individual children's needs are discussed with parents which enables the childminder to provide foods that the children enjoy. Special foods are prepared that are from the Pakistani culture one week and the Swedish culture the following week. Children have access to all the toys and activities, everyone has an equal chance to play and learn. Children

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Helping children make a positive contribution

learn about the world they live in as the childminder provides suitable toys and resources including a selection of dolls from other cultures and books that reflect the community in which they live. Children learn about different cultures and festivals such as Chinese New Year and Christmas. They are learning to value diversity at an early age and they are growing up acknowledging cultural differences. They are taught to be fair and non-discriminatory with one another.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children with special needs are welcome in the childminder’s home as she has a positive attitude towards this area of childcare. Children benefit from the childminder's training and experience in looking after children with special needs. She ensures that the appropriate care is given by working with the parents and other agencies. Children's needs are looked at first, then the professionals are consulted to find out more.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and are developing their confidence and self-esteem, because the childminder encourages the children in their behaviour. They are developing a positive self-image of themselves as the childminder offers praise and encouragement in their daily activities. They voice their opinions and make choices and decisions about their play which promotes their self-esteem. Age appropriate techniques are used with the children if any difficulties arise that need to be addressed. Young children are distracted to other activities to prevent incidents happening and explanations are given about what is right and wrong. It is clearly explained that children may not come into the kitchen while food is prepared, it is explained that it is not safe.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder establishes good working relationships with parents to ensure the well-being of children and completes and shares information such as contracts and care information. All consent information is in place and parents are kept well informed each day of what their child

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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 has eaten, activities they have done, and how they have played. Parents are also well informed about how to make a complaint and how to contact the regulator. Excellent references are available for parents to read from past and present parents. They write that the childminder is a wonderful and patient person with excellent caring and development skills for children. They state that the childminder and her family provide a home from home environment to care, love and provide safe and clean living. Another parent comments that the childminder is gentle, loving and very sincere with young children and is honest, open minded and a good listener to parents and their needs.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from the time and attention the childminder is able to give to them, due to her good organisational skills. She is warm and affectionate towards the children and they are very happy and settled in her home. The childminder has a sound knowledge and understanding of the needs of young children. She has established routines which ensures children are confident and secure. The childminder is diligent in ensuring that most of her polices and procedures are in place and up-to-date. She shares with parents on a regular basis to make sure they are kept well informed about the service she offers and that their children are well cared for.

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Organisation

The childminder has sound strategies in place to maintain her very good record keeping systems. As a result the children's overall welfare is promoted as discussed and agreed with parents.

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Organisation

The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A child protection procedure to share with parents has been developed since the last inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has increased her understanding of equality of opportunity and has attended an Equal Opportunities and Diversity training course in 2005. A policy has been made that states that the childminder helps children to consider and value diversity and learn about cultures different from their own and to develop positive attitudes towards people who are different from themselves.

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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.

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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 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): • update child protection policy including what to do if an allegation of abuse is made.

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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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