Childminder in Enfield

Inspection report for early years provision

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135705 Unique Reference Number 05 July 2007 Inspection date Gulnaz Hassan 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 has been registered since 1981. She lives with her husband. They live in a three bedroom house in Edmonton in the London Borough of Enfield. The whole of the ground floor is available for childminding purposes. A fully enclosed garden is available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to look after six children under eight years. There are currently eight children under eight years on roll, two children under five years are cared for on a full time basis. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are well cared for in clean and hygienic premises. The risks to children from infection and cross contamination are minimal because the childminder has good systems, such as suitable nappy changing and food preparation routines and procedures, in place. Even the youngest children are developing an awareness of the importance of hand washing. There are good procedures in place, including contingency arrangements, in the event that the children or the childminder become ill or has an accident. A range of detailed policies and procedures, for

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Helping children to be healthy

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 instance, with regard to infectious illnesses and the care of sick children, are in place to support and inform the childminder's provision.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a range of healthy snacks, such as salads, carrot sticks, sandwiches and toast and lunches such as pasta and sausages with mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy. The childminder ensures that children eat a range of fruits and vegetables and that they drink plenty of water and fruit juice. Meals are cooked using freshly prepared ingredients and the childminder ensures that children do not have additives in their food and drink. Children with special dietary requirements are well catered for in consultation with their parents, ensuring that their developmental and health needs are being met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are very well looked after and feel at home in comfortable and spacious premises. Children have space to move around, to play with balls, lay train tracks, do homework, to rest and relax. Children have access to a great variety of play materials, activities, games and books. Resources and equipment meet the individual needs of the children cared for and are regularly checked for safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for in a safe environment that the childminder risk assesses on a regular basis to prevent accidents. The childminder ensures that children are helping to take responsibility and to learn about keeping themselves safe. For instance, the childminder discusses emergency evacuations with children and practises these on a regular basis with children. There are very good lost children procedures in place and children know what to do, for instance, if they become separated or loose sight of the childminder during an outing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected from harm because the childminder has a good understanding of child protection. She has policies and procedures in place that inform parents and carers of her responsibilities to safeguard children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children have affectionate and loving relationships with the childminder. They are settled and confident in the family environment and are comfortable with the family members.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder plans for children's activities and she ensures that she is meeting the needs of younger and older children. She organises the day so that when children under three will not be attending she can plan interesting and exciting outings for the older children in her care. The childminder has a good understanding of language development and she helps children to develop their levels of communication and expressive language through activities that she plans with the needs of specific children in mind.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children under three are developing very well, this is because the childminder has incorporated the Birth to three matters framework into her practice. For instance, children enjoy exploring treasure baskets, they investigate a tea strainer and they crumble biscuits through the holes of the strainer. Young children play with the small world people and they develop their fine motor skills by dressing and undressing the dolls. They develop their language skills as the childminder discusses the different materials, such as plastic and wood, that the dolls houses are made from. Children engage in imaginative play as they discuss what the dolls are doing,

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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 such as resting their feet up on the sofa, putting their clothes in the wardrobe and so on. Children enjoy building with the train tracks and helping the small world people to travel on the trains. Children blow and catch bubbles, and they like to get in and out of boxes. The younger children enjoy tidying up, they scoop small toys into small containers before emptying these into the larger boxes, they persuade the childminder to help them tidy up in this innovative way.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn to respect and look after the environment and they are learning about planting and growing food. For instance, the childminder keeps her recycling materials for the children to sort out. On the way home from school, children spot a plastic bag in a tree and they discuss with the childminder the consequences for the environment and for the birds who live in the trees. Children plant tomatoes seeds in plastic cups filled with earth. When the tomatoes have grown the children measure them and discuss the different sizes and shapes of the tomato fruits. Children enjoy painting activities, cutting out, and modelling with play dough. As well as reading books and listening to stories at home, children visit the library on Thursdays for special story time sessions.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Older children do their homework together, helped by the childminder who helps to develop their interests and learning. For instance, for a school project for 'Book Week', children extend their learning with the childminder when they look at a newspaper together to discuss the pictures and the layout of the print. The older children enjoy visits to the cinema, travel on a 'bendy bus' and climbing the steps of the Monument.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are developing well physically, they throw and catch balls, go for walks and visit the local parks to play on the apparatus.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are looked after in a supportive and nurturing environment where they feel happy and confident in the absence of their parents and carers. Children are valued as individuals and respected for their different needs by the childminder who has a good understanding of the children she looks after. Children's knowledge and appreciation of society and the world about them is developing well as the childminder promotes and appreciates diversity. The multi-cultural community is reflected well in the childminder's provision, for instance, in her resources, books and during discussion with the children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well and they have very good relationships with each other, they share and play happily together. Behaviour is managed positively by the childminder, who rewards good behaviour and manages behaviour consistently. The older children enjoy taking responsibility, for instance, when the smoke alarm goes of by mistake when the childminder is making toast, the older children prepare to evacuate the younger children to a place of safety.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are good relationships with parents and carers. There are very good levels of communication on a daily basis and parents feel confident to contact the childminder during the day to discuss the children's needs and to receive feedback about their children. A range of policies and procedures are shared with parents. Although there is a good complaints procedure in place, some information with regard to Ofsted contact details is not entirely up to date.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are cared for very well, they are settled and they enjoy their time with the childminder. The childminder is organised and plans her routine well to meet the wide range of ages and the differing developmental needs of the children she cares for. Children have benefited extensively from the childminder's commitment and dedication to improving her standards of child care. For instance, she has attended a variety of courses such as Birth to three matters, managing behaviour, child protection and the Extending Childminding level 3 course.

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Organisation

The record keeping is good with attention given to detail. The policies and procedures available are comprehensive and enhance the welfare and care of children. 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 it was recommended that the childminder developed her knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and of effective ways of managing behaviour, that toys and equipment were well maintained and clean and that the arrival and departure times of children were recorded.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has attended training in child protection and in managing behaviour. Toys and equipment are clean and well maintained and the attendance register accurately records the arrival and departure time for each child attending.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since April 2004 Ofsted received one complaint that required Ofsted to raise an action in order to meet the National Standards. The complaint related to National Standard 1 (Suitable Person), National Standard 2 (Organisation) and National Standard 6 ( Safety).

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Complaints since the last inspection

Concerns were raised regarding children's safety whilst picking up children from school and the over minding of children. Ofsted investigated these concerns by carrying out an unannounced visit on the 5 July 2006. Ofsted did not find evidence that these standards were being breached.

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Complaints since the last inspection

However, as a result of the visit, actions were raised in relation to National Standard 14 (Record keeping - to ensure all the required records were readily accessible for ) and National Standard 2 (Organisation - to maintain the daily attendance register with the details of arrival and departure times). A further unannounced visit was carried out on 17 July 2006. The provider had addressed the actions and they have been met. The childminder remains qualified for registration.

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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): • ensure that the complaints procedure for parents and carers includes up to date contact details for Ofsted

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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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