Cliftonville Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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140012 Unique Reference Number 25 March 2008 Inspection date Pamela Bailey 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 satisfactory. 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 1996. She lives with her husband and two teenage children in the London borough of Lambeth. The whole of the childminders' house except for the bedrooms is 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 a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding four children under five years, of whom three attend on a part time basis and two children over five years before school.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/carer and toddler groups and takes children to local parks and library. The childminder occasionally works with an assistant. The family has two cats.

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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 satisfactory. Children play in a clean environment. There are effective procedures in most areas to prevent the spread of infection. Daily routines ensure that young children learn good personal hygiene from an early age such as washing their hands before eating. However, all children share the same hand towel. Children who are infectious do not attend thus preventing the spread of contagious ailments.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are developing healthy eating habits from an early age. They receive nutritionally balanced meals and snacks and plenty of water throughout the day. The childminder ensures that she gathers relevant information relating to children's health needs. However, the childminder does not ensure that she gains prior written consent from parents to seek emergency medical advice or treatment.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder ensures that she maintains a current first aid certificate and all documentation is in place such as the medication and accident records. However, she does not ensure that all entries in the accident records are countersigned by parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have lots of opportunity to develop their physical skills and gain plenty of exercise on a daily basis. They walk to and from school and visit the local parks where there are large climbing equipment, swings and slides. Activities such as music and movement helps young children to learn to control their own bodies, gaining physical skills appropriate to their age and stage of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from playing in a spacious environment. This allows them to move around freely and independently make choices from a good range of toys and resources that are carefully selected by the childminder to ensure that they are suitable for the children attending.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit from some good safety measures. For example, regular fire drills help children become familiar with the procedures so they learn how to leave the premises quickly and safely. Fire guards ensure that heating systems are inaccessible to the children and safety gates ensure that children do not have unsupervised access to the stairs or kitchen. Although children are supervised when using the garden, the condition of the low level fencing has deteriorated producing gaps between the ground level and fencing and maybe a potential risk to children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is safeguarded. The childminder has effective procedures in place in the event of a child being lost or uncollected. All documentation such as the Local Safeguarding Children's Board procedures and contact details are in place and the childminder has a sound knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. This ensures that the childminder can quickly recognise when a child is in danger and act in the child's best interest.

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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 independently choose from a range of activities according to their interests and are supported well by the childminder to enhance their learning and development. Young children are able to make themselves understood through words and gestures. They are developing a healthy interest in books and enjoy being involved in stories as they help to turn the pages, name objects and echo the childminder as she reads and ask questions. The childminder relates stories to the children's experiences, use rhyming words and introduces familiar action songs that encourage children's use of language and develop their coordination. Young children enjoy playing with building blocks. They learn to count and identify colours during play as they stack one on top of the other and then knock them down. Children benefit from regular visits to children's groups where they are able to socialise with others and take part in a broader range

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Young children are happy and settled at the childminder's home. They benefit from lots of praise and encouragement when participating in activities which helps to build their confidence. However, the childminder uses inappropriate language such as 'naughty' when helping young children to understand right from wrong. For example, caring for books.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are learning about the wider world through a range of resources that reflect positive images of all aspects of society inside the childminder's home. They participate in activities that introduce them to different festivals and celebrations and the childminder uses free play to enhance the children's learning about differences. Although there are no children currently attending with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, the childminder has a system in place to gain all relevant information about the children's individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has effective systems in place to ensure that parents are made welcomed, share information about the childminding service and the children. For example, parents are provided with a sample questionnaire which they may use to ask the childminder any questions about the service and the childminder shares her written policies and procedures. This ensures that parents are provided with satisfactory information about the complaints procedures.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder is in breach of her conditions of registration. This is because she did not display her registration certificate when required to do so. Children may be at risk as a result of parents' inability to check registration status and conditions.

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Organisation

Children feel at ease in the well organised environment. This gives them the confidence to initiate and extend their own play and learning. Children's health is promoted well in some areas. All the required documentation is in place and most are accurately maintained. For example, the daily attendance register notes the children's arrival and departure times. However, the accident records are not consistently maintained. Written policies and procedures guide the childminder in her daily practice and promotes the children's safety and welfare. Most relevant information is shared with parents and regular informal discussions with parents ensures continuity of care.

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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 Overall, 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 agreed to improve aspects of children's safety. The childminder has made significant improvements. She has devised an emergency evacuation plan of the premises and procedures which is regularly practised with the children. This helps children to learn how to keep themselves safe.

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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 satisfactory. 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): • obtain prior written consent from parents to seek emergency medical advice or treatment • ensure that the no smoking sign is displayed • provide sufficient hand drying facilities • assess the risks to children in relation to the low level fencing and take action to minimise these • develop awareness and understanding of effective ways to manage children’s behaviour, taking into account their age and stage of development • make sure that all records are accurately maintained. In this case, the accident record • make sure that the registration certificate is displayed at all times

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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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