Newlands Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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116119 Unique Reference Number 02 October 2007 Inspection date Jane Nelson 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 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 was registered in 1997. She lives with her husband and teenage daughter in a town house in Chiswick, in the London Borough of Hounslow. The ground floor of the home, only, is used for childminding, where there is a self contained playroom with kitchen and a bathroom, which are used only for childminding. There is no outdoor play area, suitable alternative arrangements for outdoor play are provided by, daily walks, visits to nearby parks and local places of interest.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for four children aged under eight years or six children when working with an assistant, which the childminder is not doing at present. She is currently caring for two children aged under five and two children who attend after school. The childminder has NVQ levels 2 and 3 qualifications in childcare, is a member of the Hounslow Childminding Network and the National Childminding Association. She speaks Swahili, Gujarti, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.

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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 good. Children are cared for in a clean, welcoming and very well maintained environment, where good standards of hygiene are followed. The childminder encourages good hygiene practices, such as, reminding older children to wash and dry their hands and using wet wipes to clean younger children's hands before meals. Children see the childminder following good practices, such as, washing her hands, after nappy changing and before handling food, which reinforces their understanding. Good hygiene procedures, such as, wearing disposable gloves when nappy changing, are followed, which minimises opportunities for the spread of infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a current first aid certificate and has attended food hygiene training. Written records indicate that basic first aid is administered appropriately for minor accidents. Information relating to accidents and the administration of medication is recorded and parents consent for emergency medical treatment is obtained.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a healthy diet, and have regular drinks, which encourages their good health and awareness of healthy eating. Younger children have access to drinks from their feeding cups or bottles, and enjoy their lunch of pasta and broccoli or mashed sweet potato. They are fed, comfortably, in low chairs or on the childminder's lap and enjoy close interaction with the childminder talking to them while they eat their lunch.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities for physical exercise, which encourages their good health, for example, they go on outings to local parks, visit places of interest and have daily walks in the neighbourhood. Young children have space in the home, to gain and increase confidence as they move independently and enjoy moving their bodies in time to music.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children gain an awareness of their own safety through reminders from the childminder, to be careful as they move around, and use play materials. They are encouraged to help put toys away when they have finished playing, and the childminder explains, that if toys are left on the floor they might fall over them or hurt themselves. The environment is safe and secure and children are closely supervised by the childminder.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use a range of safe equipment, furniture and toys which are in good condition and well maintained. Space is well organised enabling children to move around and use play equipment safely. They are able to play and eat safely, using sturdy child height tables and chairs, with safe and suitable seating provided for babies, and play safely with toys set out on a mat on the floor. However, not all equipment used for toddler's rest is suitable and safe for their age and stage of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Safety precautions are in place and minimise risks to children. Fire precautions, such as, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, are located on each floor of the premises, a fire blanket is located in the kitchen. Plans are in place to evacuate the premises safely in the event of an emergency and records show this is practised regularly with children, which reinforces their understanding of the procedure to follow in the event of an emergency.

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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 Children's welfare is protected by the childminder's awareness of child protection issues and her responsibilities if she has concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care, their daily routines are followed which helps them to feel secure and at home. They have access to a good selection of well organised play materials and equipment which encourage their interest, exploration and development.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children enjoy exploring soft toys and discovering the noises made by rattles and musical instruments. They are gaining independence as they help themselves to some toys and play equipment and make some choices about what to play with. They feel the texture of paper in catalogues and books and recognise familiar objects in books, such as, animals and babies. Children's language is encouraged well by lots of verbal interaction with the childminder, who responds to their vocalising and first words, repeating familiar words, such as, book and biscuit. The childminder counts the number of stacking beakers a child is playing with and praises them as they build them. Children enjoy hearing music, they move their bodies and sing along with a familiar nursery rhyme 'old Macdonald had a farm'. They are learning to recognise and repeat the names of animals from pictures on a play mat. Babies are supported in their exploration by

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

soft cushions being placed around them as they explore and investigate a selection of textured toys and shakers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Older children who are collected from school have access to resources and activities to support their learning, for example, the childminder helps with home work and records what she is doing, such as, practising letter formation, in children's individual folders. Children have access to a range of board games, and creative materials and activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are well known by the childminder and she follows similar routines to those followed by parents at home, which helps young children feel secure and settled. Children see diversity reflected in the range of play materials they use, such as, dolls, books, and dressing up clothes. They learn about the childminder's own culture and language and taste different foods included in their daily diet, which encourages their understanding of the world they live in.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well, they are happy and interested in the toys and play materials provided. Young children respond to requests from the childminder to help tidy away or to put something down. They receive frequent praise, and respond with smiles, to the childminder, who gives praise, when they succeed in a task, such as, stacking the breakers. When young children are distressed, the childminder recognises they may be tired or hungry, and reassures them, diverting their attention, feeding them or settling them for a rest.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder and parents share information well, ensuring children's routines are followed and individual needs are met. Written information about the childminder's service is provided for parents detailing some polices and procedures and providing additional information. Other information is displayed on notice boards, encouraging parents interest. The childminder provides good opportunities for parents to give feedback, in the form of questionnaires and

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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 written information asking if they have any complaints. Responses to these indicate that parents are very happy with the service provided by the childminder.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder provides a well planned and organised environment which meets children's needs. Individual folders are maintained for each child, containing relevant information, examples of their creative work and photographs of what children do during their time with the childminder. Detailed written records are maintained relating to most of the children, however, not all the necessary information for children attending on a short term or temporary basis is obtained.

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Organisation

The childminder has a commitment to increasing and updating her childcare knowledge through attending training and reading information relating to childminding. She is a member of the local childminding network, and receives regular monitoring visits.

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Organisation

The childminder provides a good range of play materials, and plans activities and play opportunities for children, that she hopes they will enjoy and that will encourage their development and support older children's learning.

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Organisation

Children's health and safety are protected, with the exception of all the equipment provided for younger children's rest being suitable for their age and stage of development. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

During the last inspection a recommendation was set relating to contracts and parents written consents being obtained and available for inspection. The childminder has completed contracts and obtained parents written consent for outings and emergency medical treatment for most of the children, with the exception of a short term or temporary placement. A recommendation has been set regarding this as a result of this inspection.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since 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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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 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): • make sure all furniture provided for children's sleep is safe and suitable for their age and stage of development • make sure all the necessary information and parental consents are obtained for any children attending on a short term or temporary basis.

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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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