Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY299611 Unique Reference Number 19 July 2007 Inspection date Elizabeth Juon 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 registered in 2005. She lives with her husband and two children aged three and two years in Slough. There are two rooms of the childminder's ground floor flat available for childminding. At present the garden is unsuitable for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder's registration is to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and she is currently minding one child on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to the local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local toddler group and takes children to the park.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder cares for children in a warm, clean home with suitable procedures in place to protect children from the potential spread of infection. For example, disposable gloves are worn when changing a nappy and anti-bacterial products help to keep kitchen surfaces hygienically clean.

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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 Children enjoy regular physical exercise indoors, for example babies can stretch and kick underneath the play gym. Children can play in the fresh air or on larger play equipment during outings to the park. Children are able to rest according to their needs in a travel cot or on the comfortable settee.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has completed a first aid course to ensure children have correct treatment in the event of a minor accident. Documentation is in place to record any accidents and medication administered to children to safeguard children’s welfare. However, written parental permission to seek emergency medical treatment has not been sought.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have their health and dietary needs met as the childminder works with parents to provide nutritious food for children. Any food provided by parents is stored appropriately to ensure it stays fresh for children. Children are held by the childminder when being bottle fed and older children sit at the table to eat which promotes good eating habits. They have milk or water to drink during the day, enabling children to make healthy choices.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a welcoming environment. Toys and play materials are appealing and easily available for the children to choose and develop their independence. Items used by the children are in a good, clean and safe condition and meet the needs of the children who attend. The childminder has taken steps to minimize hazards to the children by fitting smoke alarms throughout the premises and a fire blanket in the kitchen. Children are able to use two rooms in the home and can have free-flow play between the living room and bedroom. The rooms which are inaccessible to the children have a stairgate fitted to ensure children’s safety inside the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder promotes children’s welfare as she has a sound understanding of possible indicators of abuse and the correct procedures to follow in relation to child protection concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are settled, relaxed and happy because the childminder interacts with them in a positive and caring way. Children enjoy a warm and secure relationship with the childminder, which enables them to be confident and feel a sense of belonging. The children have familiar daily routines and have time to play, eat and rest to meet their individual needs. The childminder provides a range of activities to promote children’s development through play. Children settle to look at books or create with art materials at the table. Babies enjoy a good deal of physical contact and interaction with the childminder, this promotes their emotional wellbeing. The childminder encourages all children to share and play cooperatively, promoting respect for each other. Children enjoy watching children’s programmes on television and the television remains on as background noise during the day.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder treats children with equal concern and meets their individual needs through relevant information gathered form parents. Children enjoy close relationships with the childminder. She actively involves all children ensuring the immobile children are given eye

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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 contact and spoken to. Children gain some understanding of others and the wider world on outings to the toddler group, in books and on children’s television programmes.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are beginning to develop a simple understanding of acceptable ways to behave. The childminder is a patient, positive role model and praises and encourages children when they are sharing and playing cooperatively, promoting a sense of wellbeing.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from a friendly relationship between parents and childminder to effectively meet children’s health, dietary and care needs. The childminder cares for children according to their parent’s wishes and maintains relevant written information on children. The childminder has some understanding of her responsibilities in relation to complaints and displays the parent poster with the contact details of Ofsted as the regulators of childcare. However, there is no complaints record log. A daily verbal exchange of information between childminder and parents maintains continuity of care for children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The children receive good adult support to help them feel secure and relaxed in the setting. The childminder maintains appropriate ratios to support children’s care, learning and play. Children are supervised at all times to safeguard them from people not vetted. Inside the home, space is used appropriately allowing children to move around comfortably in a safe environment. However, to minimise the risk to minded children the garden is not available for use as hazards remain. The variety of toys and resources available maintains children’s interest. The childminder organises the children’s routine well to include time for an outing to the park for daily fresh air.

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Organisation

The childminder has most of the required documentation in place, for example there is an accurate record of children’s attendance, which helps to contribute to children’s safety. However, parental consent for emergency treatment and a complaints record log are not available. 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 monitoring visit, following a house move, the childminder was asked to ensure that children do not have access to the front room workshop and to fit a fire blanket.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has made these improvements in the new home by fitting a stairgate across the workshop door to prevent access and a fire blanket is fitted in the kitchen. These measures ensure children's safety in the home.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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. 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): • obtain written parental consent to seek emergency medical advice and treatment • devise a system to record complaints

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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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