Kent College International Study Centre

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 134582 Inspection date 06 June 2005 Inspector Joanne Graham

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 registered in 1998. She lives with her husband and 2 children aged 7 and 11 in a terraced house on the Peachcroft estate in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. This is close to local amenities, schools and parks. The ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding with toilet facilities provided upstairs. There is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder may care for a maximum of 5 children under 8 years at any one time. She is currently caring for 4 children. One child attends full-time and 3 attend on a part-time basis.

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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 family has a dog.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children develop their physical skills from being able to move freely inside and outdoors. For example, they dance to Fun Song factory and follow the actions to the rhymes, ride on wheeled toys, steer with the steering wheel set and bang blocks together. The childminder provides activities, which further develop the child's existing skills, as well as encouraging new ones. For example; matching the stickers onto the correct outlines in the book. She makes good use of the Birth to three matters framework, ensuring the participation of younger children. The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of hygiene procedures, ensuring the children have a safe and clean place to rest, play and eat. The childminder cleans the toys, equipment and furniture regularly. Children wash their hands before and after they eat and after stroking the dog, developing their understanding of good hygiene practices. Children have regular snack and meal

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Helping children to be healthy

times, helping them to feel settled and secure. The younger child sits in the highchair next to the table, to eat and drink and the childminder sits with him to encourage him to eat independently. Older children sit at the table, and this becomes a lovely social occasion. The childminder stores the food provided by parents appropriately, ensuring the children's food is safe to consume.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder identifies and minimises most risks within the home and outdoors. Children are beginning to develop an understanding of staying safe and this enables them to move around freely, safely and comfortably. They know they wear straps in the highchair and buggy, car seats and seatbelts when travelling in the car and that the stair gates prevent them accessing specific areas. They are able to explore the surroundings safely and at their own pace. The childminder constantly supervises the children. This ensures she protects them from persons not vetted. She has an understanding of child protection in line with local Area Child Protection Committee procedures, ensuring she safeguards the children’s welfare. The childminder maintains and promotes children’s wellbeing and she adequately maintains documentation. Children use suitable age appropriate, interesting and sturdy toys and equipment. The childminder cleans and checks these

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

regularly, ensuring they are safe for the children to use.

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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 are confident and settle well in the childminder’s home. They are forming relationships within the family, with other minded children and through meeting up with friends. They choose their favourite toys and activities, developing their independence. They persist at activities and tasks well, reinforcing existing skills and achieving new ones. Children respond positively to the childminder’s questions, which help to make them think and extend their learning. They involve her in their play and she interacts well with them. For example, asking her how to complete the sticker book brought from home. Children have time to complete a self-chosen task, such as feeding themselves at lunch time, drawing on the chalkboard and ‘driving’ with the steering wheel set. The childminder provides a variety of stimulating toys and activities, in which the children

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

eagerly participate. Children are happy, comfortable and content. The childminder supports the development of younger children well. She is familiar with the ‘Birth to three matters’ framework.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder respects children's routines and cares for their individual needs well. She makes sure she provides sufficient time for rest and play, within the children’s own routines. This ensures children feel valued. The childminder keeps parents informed of their child’s day and achievements through daily verbal exchanges, ensuring the children receive consistent care. She provides a wide range of activities and outings to introduce children to the local community. This helps to foster their understanding of the world around them. They access a good variety of toys and equipment, which promote positive images of diversity, which develops a positive attitude towards others. For example, books, videos and small world toys. Children are aware of boundaries and their behaviour is good. They are beginning to develop an understanding to share and enjoy playing alongside one another.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are well protected and cared for by the childminder who has a good knowledge and understanding of child development. They receive sufficient care and attention from the childminder, contributing to them feeling settled and secure. She provides a calm, welcoming and spacious environment for children to explore freely and she does not leave children unsupervised with persons not vetted. This contributes to children’s health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and ability to take an active part in the setting. All legally required documentation that contributes to children’s health, safety and well-being are in place. However, the childminder does not always notify the regulator of changes which affect her registration or permanently displays her certificate of registration. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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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

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection, the childminder has developed and improved her documentation. She now obtains parental permission as directed, has devised a complaint’s procedure, records children’s arrival and departure times accurately and has a system to record existing injuries. She always ensures she has suitable equipment accessible, to meet the needs of the children she is minding. She has increased her understanding of child protection in line with the local authority procedures, and shares this with parents. The children’s welfare has improved because the childminder has met all these issues fully. The childminder has increased her knowledge of the National Standards principally of the type of significant event or change to notify the regulator. However, this continues to be on-going development as she does not always follow this fully, especially with regard to her conditions of registration.

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Complaints since the last inspection

A breach of conditions has been made by the provider regarding Standard 2 - organisation. The childminder was over minding for 2.5 hours on 2 days per week, for children under 5 years. This has been investigated and a compliance letter was issued. The childminder immediately stopped overminding child and remains registered.

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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 certificate of registration is displayed on a wall or notice board for parents and carers to see during hours of operation and the regulator is notified of changes which effect registration numbers • Ensure all risks to children's safety are minimised and made inaccessible.

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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 procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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