Wellington Lions Primary Academy

Inspection report for early years provision

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140224 Unique Reference Number 26 September 2007 Inspection date Maggie Thorp 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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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 1993. She lives with her two secondary school aged children in a first floor two bedroom flat in Highgate in the London borough of Haringey. Children play in the living room. The childminder does not have a garden but takes children to local parks and play groups.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

She is registered to provide care for three children under eight years. At present, the childminder cares for four children, two who are two years old and a four and seven year old. Children attend for a variety of times.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder drives to take and collect children from local schools and nurseries.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is inadequate. Children play in sufficiently clean environment, the floor, surfaces and play materials are clean. However, children's health is not promoted by the poor hygiene practices and cross infection

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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 is not prevented by children sharing a towel, unhygienic nappy disposal and the childminder not ensuring children wash their hands after using the toilet.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a first aid qualification so can act appropriately when a child is hurt. However, suitable measures are not in place to care for children who are unwell. The childminder does not keep a record of any medicine she gives a child. This is a regulation. She does not obtain parents' consent in writing to give the medicine. This is a regulation. Nor does she ask parents to sign to say they have been informed that a medicine has been given.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well fed with home cooked food including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables However, good food safety is not practiced to protect children. Drinks are offered to children but milk is left out of the fridge throughout the afternoon and children sharing a drink use the same straw. The systems in place to ensure that children's particular dietary needs, preferences and eating routines are met are weak. The childminder depends on remembering to ask parents and remembering what they reply rather than having the questions about children on information forms and writing the information provided down. This does not ensure children's individual needs are well met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have plenty of exercise each day. The childminder has a small area for indoor play and no garden but she takes children to near by parks and to local play groups everyday. Here they run, climb, play ball games and use wheeled toys.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Children are not sufficiently protected by the measures the childminder has in place to prevent children's access to hazards. Children are able to go into the kitchen when the oven is in use and the storage of cleaning materials and sharp utensils do not prevent children accessing these effectively.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

During the day children play happily in the living room and the bathroom is sited nearby so children can use this easily. However, the play area is rather small and other rooms are not made suitable for children so they have more room to play, especially after school when more people are at home. Children have appropriate equipment and furniture for mealtimes and rests. There are sufficient toys but these are not stored so that it is easy for children to see what is available and make choices.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder's knowledge of what to do if she has concerns about a child and of the signs of abuse are insufficient to safeguard children. She is not aware of safeguarding children guidance and the importance of recording concerns and she does not have a clear idea of who to contact to ensure swift action is taken to protect children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children are learning as they play. The childminder encourages this well. A child trying to open a shape sorter toy asked for help. The childminder asked him how he thought it opened and let him try his idea. When this did not work she showed him how to do it, let him try and praised his success.

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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 becoming independent. They choose from puzzles, a sorting box, play dough, drawing with wax crayons and books. However, the small area for indoor play and the way toys are stored limits how much children gain from these resources. Children enjoy taking toys out of the storage box, but then these get muddled up, and children walk on them as there is little floor space.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy going on interesting outings. At Highgate woods they enjoy the space and freedom to run and play and explore amongst the trees and in the playgrounds there. At a local city farm they really have fun seeing and handling the animals. At home children enjoy doing such activities as baking cup cakes.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are becoming good communicators because the childminder chats to children throughout the day. She talks to children about what they see on outings. She asks children to state their preferences when there are decisions to be make for example, about where they want to store their things from home and what activity to do next.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's creativity is encouraged as they play with dough and make models, paint and draw. When they are visiting playgroups they enjoy dressing up and pretend play.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are helped to feel secure as the childminder encourages parents to stay and settle their child slowly and chats to parents about their child each day. However, children do not fully benefit from the partnership between the childminder and parents. Parents are not asked for written consent for their children to be taken out and to travel in the childminder's car. Children are not protected by the childminder knowing about and giving parents clear information about how to complain to the regulator.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are confident and independent when with the childminder who encourages this well. She plays with children and allows them to be as independent as they are able. She gives both boys and girls the opportunity to learn the fun that can be had with all her toys. However, children have limited opportunities to explore their own and other's cultural similarities and differences and to learn to value these. This is because the childminder has a poor understanding of how to promote this.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well and are helped by the gentle approach and realistic expectations of the childminder. She gives children lots of praise, and recognises when little ones are too tired to comply with requests for example, to help tidy away toys. She talks with parents about how children's behaviour is managed to ensure a consistent approach.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. Children's well being is not safeguarded by the weak record keeping in place. The childminder does not have a record of the name, date of birth, address and telephone number of all the children attending. This is a regulation. All the appropriate consents are not obtained from parents and accidents are recorded but these records are not shown to parents and they are not asked to sign the record to ensure that they have been informed.

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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 Children enjoy the outings and activities the childminder organises and they are happy in her care. However, their health and safety is not adequately protected. The childminder is not proactive in assessing risk and taking steps to reduce hazards. She has a good understanding of how to encourage children to eat well, but not of how to prevent the spread of infection. This poor practice is underpinned by the childminder's lack of knowledge and understanding of the requirements set out in regulations. The setting does not meet the needs of the range of children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has made poor progress in improving her service in response to the two actions made at that time. The childminder was required to keep a record of accidents occurring on the premises, which she now does but she does not ensure that parents see and sign these to fully protect children. The other action was to keep a record of any medicinal product administered to any child on the premises, together with a record of parent's consent. The childminder did start to do this but has now let this lapse so children's health is not fully safeguarded.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last 1 April 2004 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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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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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, the registered person must take the following actions: • obtain written permission from parents before administering medication to children • keep a written record, signed by parents, of medicines given to children • assess the risks to children in relation to their access to hazzards and take action to minimise these • ensure that the child protection procedure complies with those of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) • ensure that all records relating to childminding activities are readily accessible and available for inspection at all times • improve knowledge and understanding of the requirements set out in regulations

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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 These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

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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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