Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY261505 Unique Reference Number 24 August 2007 Inspection date Kim Mundy 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 has been registered since 2003. She lives with her husband, son and daughter in Ruislip Manor in the London borough of Hillingdon. The ground floor and an upstairs bedroom are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has no pets.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five and one child over five. She walks/drives to local schools to take and collect children, and attends the local parent/toddler group.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the approved Children Come First Network, which is a quality assurance scheme for childminders.

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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 thoroughly enjoying the outdoor play experiences available to them. They have marvellous opportunities to develop their physical skills as they use the climbing equipment, tunnel, trampoline, push and pull-a-long toys. They are developing their hand/eye coordination as they knock down skittles and paint water on the fence.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are learning excellent hygiene routines as they wash their hands after outdoor play, using the toilet and before meals. Their health is fully promoted as the childminder has very thorough policies and procedures in place for accidents and medication. Visitors are required to remove their outdoor shoes to prevent cross-contamination, therefore protecting babies who are crawling. Parent consent is in place to apply sun cream and to seek emergency treatment and/or advice. Children receive suitable first aid treatment as the childminder ensures that her first aid certificate is maintained.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has an excellent understanding of food and nutrition and she gives high priority to ensuring that children receive nutritious snacks and meals that encourage healthy eating. Children enjoy helping with food preparation tasks, such as washing fruit for snack time. A sample menu is available to parents and children's individual dietary requirements are catered for.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a very warm and welcoming home. They move around comfortably as they help themselves to very good quality toys and resources. The childminder makes excellent use of the space available in and outdoors. Comfortable furniture and good quality equipment is also available, for example, travel cot, high chair, buggy and car seats.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are very well supervised and lots of positive steps are taken towards accident prevention and encouraging children to learn how to keep themselves safe. The childminder places a very strong emphasis on their safety and she carries out her written risk assessment in practice. Children are protected in the event of a fire as they regularly practise the fire evacuation procedure. Smoke alarms and a fire blanket are in place ready for use. The childminder has devised and implemented very clear contact information for use in the event of an emergency. Consent from parents is in place for the use of the trampoline and the childminder teaches children on a one-to-one basis about how to bounce and fall safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are extremely well protected from possible abuse or neglect. There is a clear, up-to-date written policy that is understood by the childminder, shared with parents and reflects current local guidance. The childminder regularly attends training in this area to refresh her knowledge and to ensure she remains up-to-date with current procedures. She is fully aware of the types of abuse, the appropriate action to take and the importance of ensuring that a child's safety is her paramount concern.

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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 outstanding. Children are having a wonderful time and they are very keen to investigate the excellent range of activities on offer. The childminder has gained knowledge and understanding of the Birth to three matters framework and the Foundation Stage of Learning and she uses these to plan exciting activities for the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are learning through using their senses as they explore play dough, sand and water. They listen to sounds, for example, as they pour lentils and peas, and they pick these up with tweezers to help to develop their hand and eye co-ordination. Paper and pencil materials are available to enable them to practise their mark making skills. Outdoors, children have opportunities to recognise letters displayed on the fence and numbers on the hop scotch game. Children enjoy story time and the childminder uses puppets to capture their interest. They are able to respond to the world creatively and imaginatively as they paint with their fingers, dress up and participate in role-play, for example, feeding the dolls.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have excellent opportunities to recognise colours, shapes and numbers, for example, as they build with bricks and fit puzzles together. They are finding out about living things as they plant and care for cress and observe mini-beasts in the garden when digging.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Opportunities for socialising, play and learning are extended outside the home through regular visits to pre-school groups where children have the opportunity to join in group activities and socialise with children of their own age. They also enjoy educational visits to the museum. Children are introduced to very positive learning experiences and above all, they are having lots of fun.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are highly valued as individuals. The childminder works individually with parents to ensure that their child's needs are met. Children are gaining an excellent understanding about the wider world and community through access to a good range of play and resources that encourage positive images of culture, ethnicity and gender. Children enjoy participating in festival celebrations such as Thanksgiving, and the childminder encourages discussions about other people's culture, disability and beliefs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very well behaved. They know what is expected of them as the childminder has consistent boundaries in place and she uses positive strategies according to their age and level of understanding. The childminder has developed written policies to help her care for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities as the need arises, and she has attended a sign-a-long training course.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents and carers is excellent. Children's emotional well-being is nurtured as the childminder requires parents to settle their children until they are happy to be left in her care. Children benefit from very close communication systems between parents and the childminder. Parents receive copies of the childminder's comprehensive policies, photos of their children at play and informative information about their developmental progress. Very positive comments from parents include the childminder as being 'conscientious, reliable and professional, caring and nurturing'.

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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 outstanding. Children benefit because the childminder is extremely well-organised and she plans the day so there is a variety of activities and opportunities for the children both in and out of the home. Her home is set out to provide a very stimulating learning environment for young children and they enjoy the free choice of activities. The childminder is fully committed to ensuring that all children receive the highest quality of care and education by actively reviewing and monitoring her practice. Children benefit from the childminder's great commitment to training which enables her to keep up-to-date with current ideas.

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Organisation

The childminder has exemplary policies and procedures in place which are linked to the Birth to three matters framework, and put them into practice to provide this excellent childminding service. The childminder is highly motivated and committed to providing a positive experience for children and their health, safety, care and learning are her priority. Children are having a marvellous time and their care is significantly enhanced by exceptional organisation of all aspects of the childminder's provision. 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 required to: ensure that smoke alarms are provided at every level of the house; ensure that the appropriate registration training course is completed; maintain a record that shows children's progress; and provide resources, which reflect positive images of differences. The childminder has installed appropriate smoke alarms; completed a registration course; and maintained a record of children's progress. Therefore, children's safety, care and well-being are promoted. Further resources are accessible to children to help them to develop an understanding of diversity.

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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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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

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000 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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