Childminder in Southwark

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY221043 Inspection date 18 August 2005 Inspector Alison Joan Wadley

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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 has been a registered childminder since March 2003. She is currently registered to take two children under five years and currently has three children who attend part time. The childminder lives with her 20 year old daughter in a terraced house in a quiet road close to Peckham Rye in South East London. There are no pets in the house and it is a non smoking household. The childminder has worked in child care for 25 years. This includes crèche worker, support worker with children with special needs, playgroup worker and voluntary work in St Thomas hospital.

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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 The children will have the use of the dining room that has been made into a play room. There is a garden for play outdoors.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children enjoy good health and a healthy lifestyle and are encouraged, even at an early age, to follow routines such as hand washing and tidying up. The childminder attended a recent 'Birth to Three Matters' course and clearly understands what is needed to promote a 'healthy child'. She provides clear procedures for nappy changing and maintaining an ordered and clean environment with the help of the children. As a result the children are involved in their environment and show a growing understanding of keeping clean and healthy. The children enjoy a varied and well balanced diet including regular drinks and snacks and the childminder consults with parents about their child's interests and any special dietary requirements. They benefit from daily outdoor play, particularly enjoying the freedom of the childminders garden and at the local Peckham Rye Park.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder helps to safeguard children's welfare and helps children to know how to keep safe. She provides a well organised and clear environment which the children feel at home in. As a result the children move around with confidence with a growing sense of their own safety. Resources are clean and meet safety standards and the children access them easily. The childminder has a clear understanding of her role to keep children safe and keeps full records of attendance and emergency numbers. She is not currently obtaining parents signatures in this area, however. The childminder has trained in child protection procedure and information is clearly shared with children's parents. As a result there is an open and clear understanding of the childminder's aims and procedures. Accidental injury is clearly recorded and the childminder is fully trained in first aid in the event of an emergency.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy and make good progress in learning and personal development. They benefit from being involved in a range of fun and interesting activities provided by this experienced and well trained childminder. Recently she attended 'Birth to Three Matters' training and has put this into practice; demonstrating a keen understanding of how children of this age learn.

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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 children point out shapes in resources, listen to stories, 'cook dinner' on their toy stove and help to make play dough to use in their play. They demonstrate, in particular, increasing confidence in communication skills when chatting to and making their needs known to the childminder. The children feel at home in the environment, are eager to come and show enthusiasm for available resources. Their behaviour is good as they learn to negotiate with each other under the gentle guidance of the childminder. The children demonstrate their increasingly independent as they help the childminder to wipe the table for lunch and help to tidy up.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The childminder knows the children very well and talks at length about their personalities and interests. She shows a commitment to providing for their needs and works well in consultation with parents to achieve this aim. The childminder provides a meaningful range of activities and resources to meet their individual needs and to promote their understanding of the wider world, for example, through positive images in puzzles, books and photographs. She provides variety in their diet to meet their cultural need and preferences. Children show care and consideration for each other and play together harmoniously. They behave well and are fully included in what is going on. This helps to make them feel at home and settled. The children demonstrate increasing confidence, deciding what to do and play with. They are active and at times rest. The provision fosters children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development well.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder shows commitment to providing an inclusive environment in which every child matters. She is very experienced and well trained in childcare. The childminder is generally well organised and has a good written daily routine which she shares with the children's parents. Space and resources are well set out so that the children have a variety and scope of activities. The children benefit from following the routine which includes regular time outside, together with time to be active and rest. The childminder displays her certificate and uses her policies and procedures for the most part to promote the safety and wellbeing of the children; however, some disorganisation of paperwork means that she cannot always locate policies and parents are not currently signing the attendance register. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Improvements since the last inspection have been good overall. The childminder has refurbished her garden so that the children now have a safe outdoor space to play in.

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Improvements 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 She has made glass in the living room area safe so that the children can now safely use this room. The childminder now keeps a detailed record of each child's attendance but this is not currently signed by parents.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints since the last inspection.

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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): • ensure children's details are available at all times for inspection and that the daily register is signed by parents.

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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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