Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY278436 Unique Reference Number 10 July 2007 Inspection date Nigel Lindsay Smith 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 2004. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight and five in Honor Oak Park, Lewisham. All areas of the property are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time and is currently minding seven children, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to local schools and nurseries to take and collect children. She attends a range of groups, and takes children to the library and local parks. The family has two cats, a rabbit and a guinea pig.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are very well protected from infection through the childminder's excellent routines, such as using sterilising substances to clean areas used for food preparation, and regularly cleaning the toys. The risk of cross-infection is reduced as the childminder has agreements with parents that their children do not attend if they are ill. Children gain self-care skills to

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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 promote good hygiene, for example through regularly washing their hands after handling the pet rabbit and guinea pigs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has thorough procedures to ensure that parents give written consent and guidance in the event of a request for medication to be administered. Children are well-protected in the event of an accident as the childminder has a current first aid certificate and appropriate contents in her first aid provision. Unnecessary delay is avoided in the event of a serious accident as the childminder obtains permission for emergency medical treatment.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy healthy snacks of raisins and fruit, and freshly prepared meals using all organic produce. They experience a wide range of vegetables when helping the childminder to unpack her delivery box. She uses great initiative in finding different ways of making them attractive to children, such as making cake from courgettes. Children also regularly attend a session which teaches healthy eating through play.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are offered regular drinks of fruit juice, so that they have a good fluid intake. They are healthy because they have regular opportunities for fresh air and physical exercise.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are very happy and secure in premises which are welcoming and stimulating, with children's pictures displayed. They enjoy a great amount of freedom to move around and explore as a result of the childminder's excellent awareness of safety issues and rigorous procedures to reduce risk.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have access to a comprehensive selection of well-maintained toys and resources. The childminder regularly checks all resources and equipment to ensure their safety, and replaces them if necessary. Children develop good independence as they access resources appropriate to their age.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder is vigilant in her approach to safety, for example carrying out fire drills to ensure that children can be evacuated safely in the event of a fire. Thorough precautions such as a barrier to prevent access to the shed ensure that children play safely. The registration certificate is not always displayed prominently during childminding to ensure that visitors are aware of the conditions of her registration.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are effectively safeguarded by the childminder's good knowledge and understanding of the child protection procedures. She ensures that children are not left unsupervised with anyone who has not been vetted.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children thoroughly enjoy learning through play as the childminder ensures that they experience an excellent mixture of well-planned activities and free play. A child experiments and role-plays with high quality play people, cars and buildings in a model village. The childminder shows great interest in their play and encourages them, for example asking if the child will buy flowers in the florists. She skilfully introduces new ideas when appropriate, such as inviting the child to choose dressing up clothes for a forthcoming party at a toddler group, with which they carefully and proudly become involved.

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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 learn numbers, and letters through fun materials provided by the childminder. They greatly benefit from a daily structure which may include going to a toddler group, where they learn to socialise with other children, or to a variety of other settings, including music and dance groups and a local museum.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children of different ages work together on projects, such as collages or researching, growing and drawing sunflowers. The childminder has a comprehensive bank of resource ideas for craft activities, and older children can select the relevant materials for themselves. She researches and obtains resources to build on the children's interests and to support their school activities, such as a project on magnets, when she incorporated magic tricks to stimulate their learning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children benefit from the childminder actively ensuring that they enjoy stimulating activities, so that they behave well. She has appropriate strategies to deal with any unacceptable behaviour, which she shares with the parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have access to a good range of resources which reflect different cultures, for example multi-cultural play figures and books. The childminder provides a variety of different music, and resources such as toddler groups reflect the variety of different cultures attending, for example through providing different foods.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder does not have experience of childminding children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, but understands the importance of adapting activities so that all children can take part together.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the childminder's commitment to building good working relationships with their parents so that they settle well. She provides comprehensive information about her service, and daily feedback to parents. She makes written agreements with the parents and seeks relevant consents. She has appropriate procedures in place in the event of a complaint about her practice.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder provides a consistent environment where children feel safe, are empowered to practise learned skills, and are not afraid to try new activities. She organises her home well to provide appropriate areas for various types of play.

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Organisation

The childminder has all relevant documentation in place; it is shared in confidence with parents and stored securely for the required time.

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Organisation

Adults in the household have been appropriately vetted.

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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 asked to complete an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children. She has achieved this.

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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

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection 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.

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Complaints since the last inspection

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): • ensure that the registration certificate is always on display during childminding

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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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