Chesterton Community College

Inspection report for early years provision

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136887 Unique Reference Number 07 August 2007 Inspection date Claire, Alexandra Parnell 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 has been registered since 1992. She lives with her husband and two teenage children in a house situated in the London Borough of Bromley. Nearby are local schools, shops, parks, a bus route and railway station. All areas of the property are used for childminding with the exception of two upstairs bedrooms. There is a 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 six children at any one time. At present she cares for six children of which two are under five years and one is over the age of eight.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends a local carer and toddler group on a regular basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Secure systems are in place to ensure children's ongoing health needs are met. Consent is sought for administration of medication. Extensive details are recorded and shared with parents

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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 on their return to ensure that they know when medication was given. Accidents are recorded well, although there have been none recorded since the last inspection. The childminder clearly understands the importance of recording all accidents that occur in her care.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's self hygiene skills are promoted well. Children are encouraged to wash their hands after toileting and before eating. They access soap both upstairs and down stairs and can dry their hands on paper towels downstairs which prevents cross infection. However, children use a communal towel in the upstairs bathroom which promotes the spread of germs. The childminder encourages and shares good practices with parents to promote good hygiene levels for children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder enthusiastically promotes children's healthy eating. Parents are encouraged to provide healthy options for their children. The childminder is aware of children's preferences and restrictions in case of emergencies when she needs to provide children with meals, therefore meeting their dietary needs. Children are actively encouraged to sit and eat together to develop their social skills. Children have access to fresh drinking water throughout the day, either within the childminder's house or when on outings.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are encouraged to play outside as much as possible. The childminder ensures children have regular access to fresh air and physical activities to expel energy and promote their overall physical wellbeing. Children have access to large spaces such as local parks, where they are encouraged to play with small and large equipment to develop new skills and movements.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a safe, uncluttered and secure environment due to the childminder's thorough checks before the children arrive. Children are not able to leave the premises due to good security measures at the front door and garden exits.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children safely and freely access resources that are appropriate for their age and stage of development. The childminder ensures that small pieces are inaccessible to younger children to prevent choking incidents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's understanding of safety is promoted well by the childminder. Children are given clear guidance regarding fire safety. The childminder has taken active advice from fire safety officers to ensure children can be evacuated safely from the house. Children learn to cross the road safely due to the positive steps taken by the childminder to ensure that they cross at appropriate places, hold hands and walk sensibly along the road side. The childminder has taken positive steps to ensure children are transported safely in her car, such as allowing parents to fit their own car seats into the childminder's car. Children receive plentiful and precise explanations about promoting their own safety such as talking to strangers. The childminder is fully aware of promoting children's confidence and independence but still under effective supervision.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has efficient knowledge of child protection issues and how to safeguard children from harm. She regularly attends local child protection training to ensure she has up to date knowledge of local procedures. She is fully aware of her responsibility to record and monitor any concerns for the children in her care. Therefore, children's welfare is successfully promoted.

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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 good. Children's activities are planned for and effectively promoted to ensure children are busy, active and occupied. Children have access to a plentiful range of activities and resources for all ages, encouraging self selections and independent play. Children receive encouragement to participate in messy and creative activities such as cooking and craft, developing their imagination and social skills, learning to share and negotiate in their play. The childminder effectively pre-plans days out to ensure children of all ages make the most of the trip. She is aware of children's routines and successfully organises the day to reflect sleep and meal times, such as busy morning activities and quiet afternoon activities. The children are very confident in the childminder's care due to the stimulating encouragement from the childminder to try new activities and develop new skills. The childminder talks children through new activities, slowly building their

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has attended training for the Birth to three matters framework and understands the importance of promoting younger children's development. However, the childminder does not have a system in place to record or monitor children's development and progress.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individuality is strongly reflected and celebrated whilst in the childminder's care. She gains plentiful information about the children, both verbal and recorded, to ensure she can reflect their backgrounds positively, as well as meet their individual needs. Children gain pride and self esteem regarding their identity. Children access resources that reflect positive images of today's society helping them to understand people's differences. The childminder strongly encourages children's compassion and acceptance for people's differences, particularly disabilities through positive and in-depth discussions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is very willing to care for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is also very aware of her capabilities and the restrictions when meeting their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A positive behaviour management statement strongly reflects the childminder's positive practice. Children receive plentiful praise for their achievements and good behaviour. They have clear directives regarding right and wrong behaviour to help them understand appropriate actions. The childminder uses effective strategies to distraction from young children's unwanted behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnerships with parents is good. The childminder has strong and longstanding relationships with parents due to her continuous care of siblings in families. The childminder has written contracts for each child which includes comprehensive consent for certain aspects of care such as emergency treatment and transportation. Parents have access to information such as policies and procedures that strongly reflect her practices, including information regarding making concerns known to Ofsted. This information is also clearly displayed in the childminder's home. Parents receive full daily verbal feedback about their child's day. The childminder encourages reciprocal information about the child's achievements, activities and development at home to ensure children receive consistent opportunities to progress.

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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 good. Children are cared by a childminder who holds relevant checks and current certificates to promote children's welfare. The childminder has a clear understanding of who can have access to the children in her care and understands that unchecked people do not have unsupervised access to children.

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Organisation

The childminder is fully aware of her registration conditions and only cares for children within her registered numbers. Children are very content and confident in her care because of the longstanding close relationships that she has with them. Children's attendance is accurately recorded to demonstrate exactly who she has in her care at any one time.

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Organisation

Children's individual records are kept secure, safe and confidential. The childminder demonstrates how to keep children's information and personal details confidential by not sharing this with unauthorised people.

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Organisation

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 given two recommendations to improve child care practice.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder now records all children's attendance accurately, with the time of arrival and when they are collected.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has made her fire blanket accessible in the case of an emergency.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that requires 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 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): • consider using an informal process to record and monitor children's development

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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 • prevent cross infection when washing and drying hands

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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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