Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY279109 Unique Reference Number 17 July 2007 Inspection date Mauvene Burke 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 2004. She lives with her husband and four of her six children in a five bedroom purpose built maisonette flat, situated in the Walworth Road area in the London borough of Southwark. The maisonette is situated over three floors. Children have access to the lounge and dining room plus the bathroom. There is fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of two children under eight years at any one time. There is currently one child on roll who attends on a part time basis. She takes children to the local childminding drop-in group and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a warm and clean home. They are beginning to learn about the importance of good hygiene through the daily routines. For example, the childminder helps

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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 to wash their hands before snacks and ensures that she washes her own hands before preparing food; this helps to prevent the spread of infection. Appropriate documentation for accidents and medication needs are maintained satisfactorily, although the childminder has yet to seek parents permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment. Children's welfare is further promoted because the childminder has an awareness of first aid procedures and holds a valid first aid certificate.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are adequately met because the childminder works in partnership with their parents. Although most meals are provided by children's parents, the childminder is responsible for the preparation of meals and provides children with a daily snack of fruits and a drink as part of the day's routine.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have good opportunities for physical exercise. They make regular visits, as part of the daily routine, to local parent and toddler groups and a local play gym, where they can climb and run.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children have access to adequate space, and are cared for in a generally safe and secure environment, where they are supervised well by the childminder. The rooms which children are minded in, generally depends on the number of children the childminder has on any particular day. For example, if there is more than one child attending, then children are looked after in the living room where there is more space for them to move around freely. At other times children will be looked after in the dining room where space is more restricted because of the large imposing dining table and chairs in this room. Children's complete safety is at risk when they use the childminder's bedroom because they have access to a large area of glass. Other than this, children's safety is promoted well in this environment as the childminder has taken steps to minimise hazards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are able to select from toys which the childminder pre-selects and use equipment which is in good condition. However, this selection is not always sufficient or suitable for the children attending, for example, children are not always able to eat their meals in comfort as they are seated on an adult size chair and are unable to reach the table. This prohibits their independence as they are unable to feed themselves.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's well-being is safeguarded in this environment because the childminder has a satisfactory understanding of child protection issues and the procedures to follow if she is concerned about a child's well-being.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children enjoy their time with the childminder and have developed a secure bond with her. The childminder helps them to learn about the routine of the day as she talks to them, telling them what they will do next. Children can mostly help themselves to the toys on the floor in the dining room which the childminder pre-selects for them but have no access to resources in the cupboard. Children enjoy playing with the shape sorters and the pull-along-car which they pull along from room to room. The childminder gives appropriate support as she engages children in the play activities such as the nursery rhymes which she sings. For example when singing the nursery rhyme "Incey Wincey Spider", she demonstrates this to children by using a puppet

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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 spider prop which she uses to walk up the arm of children. The minded child clearly enjoys this session; they laugh an mimic's the actions. Children are taken out almost daily to local support groups such as the childminding drop-in centre located on the estate in which the childminder lives. Here children have good opportunities to engage in a range of activities not provided in the childminder's home such as water and sand play and creative activities such as painting.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Although the children are having a good enough time with the childminder who supports their learning as well as she can, she currently does not have a secure enough understanding of how children's learning can be extended through their play. Further to this, she does not always provide children with an appropriate range of age appropriate stimulating activities which will keep children occupied and interested when indoors. Although she has attended training in the Birth to three matters, she has yet to use the framework as part of her daily plan for children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children's individual needs are known and followed by the childminder, this helps children to feel secure and settled. Good communication between the childminder and parent also ensures that children's familiar habits and eating patterns are followed. The childminder has recently started to make a record of the children's in-take of food, their sleep times and nappy changes, including an account of what the child has been doing, this information is shared with parents on a daily basis.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have some opportunities to learn about differences and diversity, for example seeing differences reflected in a few of the childminder's books. However, their experiences are limited because the range of resources available and activities provided, do little to reflect the wider world. Nonetheless, children receive some of these opportunities when they attend the local childminding group, here they have a chance to socialise with children from different cultural groups and are able to engage in a range of planned activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are settled and relaxed in this environment and as a result, they behave well. The childminder demonstrates a satisfactory knowledge of different methods or behaviour management. Although the children attending are quite young, they are learning right from wrong as the childminder gently coaxes them to come back into the main room when they walk off to another area of the home, by means of distracting them and through the use of praise. This in turn develops children's confidence and self-esteem.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a suitably organised environment; they are settled and relaxed. All areas of the premises used for childminding that are currently accessible to children are safe with the exception of the main bedroom.

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Organisation

Many of the required records to meet the children's individual needs are in place and stored confidentially, although relevant detail which is required on certain documentation is missing.

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Organisation

The childminder has devised a set of policies and procedures about her child care practice which she shares with parents. Parents are kept informed by daily verbal and written communication about their child's daily routine, this contributes to the continuity of the children's care. Most

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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 adults in the home have been suitably vetted; systems are in place to ensure that those not yet vetted, will be.

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Organisation

The childminder is keen to continue to update her knowledge and skills by attending relevant training in order to enhance her childminding service; for example, child development and equal opportunities issues.

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Organisation

The provision meets the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was set a number of actions to improve. She agreed to ensure that children's attendance records is maintained accurately; to assess risks to children in relation to fire and improve the snacks given to children. The childminder was further asked to develop her understanding of child protection procedures and to develop an awareness of effective ways in managing children's behaviour.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has made significant progress in addressing these actions. She has attended training in child protection and sought advice as to how to manage children's behaviour effectively. Records relating to children's attendance is now maintained accurately and snacks given to children are of a healthy variety. This has gone some way to somewhat improving the outcomes for children in this setting as their welfare is now better safeguarded.

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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 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): • ensure there is written parental permission to seek emergency medical treatment or advice • ensure that children are able to eat in comfort by providing them with suitable equipment • assess the risk to children in relation to the glass mirrors in the bedroom and take steps to minimise this

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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 • continue to develop knowledge and understanding of the Birth to three matters framework to further enhance the support and learning for children under three years • develop resources that reflect diversity in order help children to learn about and value differences • ensure that all household members reaching 16 years old is suitably vetted.

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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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