KWS Milton Keynes

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 148420 Inspection date 10 August 2005 Inspector Judith, Mary Butler

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 first registered in 1998. She lives with her husband and 3 children aged 13, 11 and 8 years. The family live in Lower Earley. The property is close to local shops schools and amenities. The children have access to the ground floor with sleep and bathroom facilities available on the first floor and a further bedroom on the ground floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder may care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently caring for six children on both a full and part time basis. The childminder attends local toddler and carer groups. The family have two cats as pets.

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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 remain healthy due to the effective systems in place for the recording of all accidents, medication and emergencies. The childminder has a good awareness of hygiene procedures. Children are encouraged to be aware of good personal hygiene and are developing their independence skills, for example, one child is able to go to the toilet unaided but is gently reminded by the childminder to wash her hands. Children benefit from the good relationships in place between the childminder and parents. Parents discuss their child's individual dietary needs and the childminder plans meals in accordance with these. Children receive healthy snacks and meals as part of their daily routines. Drinks are readily available throughout the day and children are encouraged to develop their independence skills, for example, one child is encouraged to pour the drinks for all of the children present.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children experience a variety of physical play within the weekly routines, for example, time spent in the garden, trips to parks, country parks and toddler groups. They access a good range of toys and resources to further develop their large motor skills such as, sit and ride toys, a trampoline and climbing apparatus.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children independently select the toys and resources they wish to use. The childminder rotates toys weekly to ensure children access a good range within the time they spend at the childminders home. The childminder ensures that the toys and resources in place are in good condition and are age and stage appropriate to the children she is caring for. This ensures that children can play safely within the home and garden. Children benefit from the safe and secure environment. They move freely and safely around all areas of the home. The childminder identifies and minimises risks to children through regular safety checks and risk assessments. She gives a high priority to keeping children safe and supervises them at all times both in the home and when on outings. Children are developing an awareness of keeping themselves safe, for example, older children are aware of the procedures to follow when they

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

need to make an emergency evacuation. Children benefit from the understanding that the childminder has regarding child protection and the procedures to follow should she have concerns regarding a child in her care. All of the required policies and procedures are in place to ensure children's welfare.

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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 The provision is good. Children enter the setting with confidence. The childminder provides children with toys and resources suitable to their individual preferences, ages and stages of development. Children gain from the individual attention they receive from the childminder within the daily routines. Children are fostering good relationships with their peers and the childminders own children. They are happy and content within the home. Children's communication skills are developing as a result of the time they spend with the childminder. She encourages the children to extend their vocabulary and introduces them to new words, for example, aquarium. Their language and understanding are developing well through conversations they have with the childminder. The childminder has a fun and relaxed approach to children that ensures

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

they feel at ease and are comfortable within the home. Children have opportunities to play with a good variety of resources and are able to make individual choices about the toys they wish to play with. The childminder plans outings for the children on most days including trips to parks, shops, toddler groups and as a special treat, lunch in a Chinese restaurant.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have many opportunities through different trips, events and resources to find about the world around them and discover that people are different. They undertake outings to toddler groups and access a range of toys that reflect different cultures, age and disability. Children learn to understand about the feelings of others through the clear explanations given to them by the childminder. Children play happily alongside each other and are beginning to share the toys and resources and show co-operation with their peers in their play. The childminder gives children simple tasks enabling them to feel valued within the home, for example, asking one child to find another child's changing bag. The childminder has established rules and boundaries in place and gently reinforces these within the daily routines. Children are secure in their environment due to the close relationship between the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder and parents this ensures that consistency is in place between the two homes. They verbally share information about the child at the end of each day ensuring that the childminder is able to meet their individual needs. The childminder provides some written information about the policies and procedures in place, however no formal information is available to parents to inform them of the daily routines, food available and all of the policies and procedures in place.

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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 are comfortable and very settled within the home. They benefit from the well-organised play space and move confidently and freely around all areas identified for their use. The childminder has a good knowledge of the children she cares for. Children receive individual support and a good range of activities and resources to suit their individual preferences and ages and stages of development. The childminder develops good relationships with the children and this enables children to feel safe and secure within the environment. The childminder has a business like approach to childminding and uses the policies and procedures in place to support her care of the children and partnership with parents. She attends regular training sessions to update her childcare knowledge

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Organisation

and enable her to fully support and protect the children in her care. The childminder verbally shares information about the children with parents at the beginning and end of the day. This ensures that she meets the children's needs and parents are aware of their child's daily routines and activities they have undertaken with the childminder. 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 requested to obtain the Area Child Protection Committee procedures and extend her knowledge of National Standard 10. The childminder now holds the Area Child Protection Committee procedures and contact numbers for referral should she have concerns regarding a child in her care. She has read the National Standards and would discuss individual children's needs with parents prior to caring for a child with special educational needs starting.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since April 2004 there have been two complaints relating to National Standard 2: Organisation about the childminder exceeding the numbers of children on her registration certificate. Ofsted requested that the childminder complete an internal investigation and following this carried out an unannounced visit. It was found that the childminder was within the number of children she is registered to care for and no further action was taken. The childminder remains qualified for registration.

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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

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

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • improve the partnership with parents by providing written information about the service offered and policies and procedures in place

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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