Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY345734 Unique Reference Number 21 June 2007 Inspection date Kay Williams 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 registered in 2006. She lives with her husband and four children aged 11, nine, four and one year. They live in the Willow Estate area, of the Borough of Enfield. The whole of the ground floor and part of the first floor 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 three children at any one time and is currently minding one child.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She also attends local toddler groups and takes children to the library and the park.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's good health is effectively promoted by the childminder. Children are cared for in a clean, hygienic environment. The risk of cross infection is significantly reduced as the childminder

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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 has effective systems in place to ensure the appropriate care of sick children. Children who become ill are made comfortable until their parents collect them, then they are not permitted to return until they are non infectious. Like wise if the childminders own children become ill, parents are informed. Children are taught the importance of good personal hygiene as they wash their hands after visiting the toilet and before eating their lunch. They use their own personal bedding for sleeping and have their own nappy changing facilities.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a healthy, balanced nutritious diet. They are encouraged to make healthy choices as they select their own snack from the fruit bowl. They eat their banana and grapes at a low level table, while babies eat their food in the high chair and then snuggle into the childminders lap while they drink their bottle of milk. Children are fed according to their parents wishes and babies food is provided by their parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's healthy well being is promoted further as they enjoy daily opportunities to exercise in the fresh air. Children go for a walk every day, either to school or into town. They experience all weathers as the childminder ensures that they are suitably dressed and protected in order to have fun in the rain or play in the sunshine. Children make good use of the garden where they can strengthen their muscles and develop skills such as climbing, pedalling a bike or kicking a football.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's safety is considered as the childminder has reasonable regard for implementing safety measures. For example stair gates are strategically used to prevent children from having an accident on the stairs. A range of additional safety equipment also serve to prevent accidents, these include, socket covers, smoke detectors and a fire blanket. However there is some low level glass in the hallway and in a glass cabinet in the through lounge which pose a potential danger. In addition the damaged fence in the garden threatens children's safety as they play outside.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children feel at ease in the childminders house as she has created a comfortable child friendly home. She clearly delights their company and they respond well to her, holding out their hands in order to be carried and enjoying a cuddle as they sit on the floor to play with the childminder. The main play area is clean and bright and children are free to explore the easily accessible play materials. Resources and equipment are well maintained. The childminder checks them regularly as she re-organises them at the end of the day, ensuring that they are clean and in a good state of repair. Broken toys are fixed or discarded for children's benefit. Children can also make choices about whether to play in or outdoors. Children benefit from the childminders recently obtained first aid qualification as she is well placed to administer any first aid treatment and all accidents are appropriately documented.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are well protected as the childminders knowledge of child protection issues is up to date. She is able to identify potential signs and symptoms of abuse and has a system in place for recording her findings. She knows that it is her responsibility to act in the best interest of the children in her care.

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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 enjoy their time spent with the childminder, she has secured a strong bond with the children that she cares for. Babies are at ease as the childminder carries them around while she organises practical routines such as snack time. The childminder has a firm understanding of the Birth to three matters framework and implements features of good practice within the activities that she provides for the children in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are free too choose from a range of activities which include; books, cars and a road mat, musical instruments and construction toys. Younger children's physical development, especially crawling and walking is effectively promoted. This is because the childminder has cleared sufficient space for children to develop these skills and strategically sets out toys that encourage mobility including; cars, balls and two large activity cubes for babies to use to pull themselves up into a standing position. Children have fun as they learn. Children laugh and clap as they play hide and seek, squealing with excitement when the 'hider' greets the 'seeker' with a loud 'boo'. The childminder actively encourages their independence as they are given a task to do when it is time to tidy up. Children willingly co-operate as they collect and sort the toy animals and put them into the bags. Children's language skills are effectively promoted as

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

they are encouraged to say 'bye, bye' when visitors leave. Children enjoy looking at books which they can do independently or as a story telling session on the sofa. Their interest in books is encouraged by the childminder who takes them to the local library to select new ones. Children are offered opportunities to be creative as they paint and draw at the dining table. Physical activities such as, running, climbing, sliding and riding carts and bikes are regularly enjoyed by the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are offered a good variety of outings. They visit the park and the weekly toddler group. At the toddler group they are able to play with children of different ages and engage in more messy play activities such as sand, water and play dough. Children also enjoy observing and interacting with animals when they visited the wild life park.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for as individuals. They are well settled into the childminder home and have established a warm relationship with her. Children are able to sleep and eat according to their individual routines. They have a good sense of belonging and their sense of self is nurtured as they have their own familiar objects close at hand. For example they drink their milk from their own bottle and have access to their own changing bag which stores their personal belongings.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved in the main, although the childminder has to intervene on occasions when older children rival with each other. The childminder is calm and gentle and has sympathetic strategies in place to manage children's behaviour. She talks them through the situation which has caused them to looses their self control and offers an alternative activity in order to redirect their attention. The children respond well to the good sense of fun that the childminder has created. Children are developing friendly relationships with each other and younger children delight in the company of older children. Children respond well to the praise offered to them when they successfully complete a task such as tidying away the toys.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the positive relationships that the childminder endeavours to maintain with the parents. She makes time at the end of each day to talk to parents, advising them how

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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 their child has spent their day. She also records individual information on the children which she shares with parents, for example, where they went during the day and what they ate for lunch. This effectively supports the children's continuity of care. New parents are offered some information regarding the type of service that the childminder offers, although this is not always consistently applied. The childminder tends to assume that parent's are aware of childminding issues, for example, of the childminders responsibilities towards child protection issues.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are well cared for and the childminder organises her time around their daily routines. However, written information regarding policies and procedures is not very well collated and not all of the required documentation is easily accessible. This results in an inconstant amount of information being available for parents and not all documents are available for inspection. The childminder is not always confident in her knowledge of the role and responsibility of childminding, especially regarding the impact of safety issues. She is willing to further enhance her knowledge of the National Standards and guidance for childminding. The certificate of registration is not currently displayed.

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Organisation

The childminder has established effective systems for maintaining accurate records. For example the attendance register is detailed and up to date, appropriately recording the arrival and departure times of the children. The childminder is keen to enhance her knowledge of how children play and learn and has recently attended training around this subject. She is also due to attend training on the Birth to three matters framework in September of this year. This has had a positive impact on the play provision offered to the children.

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Organisation

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

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that require 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 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): • conduct a full risk assessment of the glass door in the hall way and in the dining room cabinet and take the necessary precautions to ensure children's safety • make the garden fence secure • provide parents with consistent and detailed information regarding the childminding service that is offered to them • ensure that all written policies and procedures are carefully collated and easily accessible • display the certificate of registration.

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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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