Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY274305 Unique Reference Number 02 October 2007 Inspection date June Fielden 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 2004. She lives with her two children aged six and eight in Oxted, Surrey. 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 a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding six children under five part time and three children over five after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent and toddler group. The family have a pet bird, guinea pigs and a rabbit.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for in a clean and tidy home. The childminder maintains children's health through appropriate hygiene routine. She ensures that children wash their hands after using the toilet and before they eat, to prevent the spread of infection. Each child has their own towel in the bathroom, to avoid the risk of cross-contamination. The childminder excludes sick

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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 children in order to protect others from infection, and records all accidents. On one occasion the childminder omitted to obtain prior written permission from parents before administering medication, which is a breach of regulations, and impacts on children's wellbeing. Since then she has reviewed her medication procedure and has printed slips which parents sign.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with nutritious meals by the childminder, as she has an appropriate understanding of healthy eating. She offers children a mixture of healthy food and dishes that they particularly like. The childminder ensures that fruit and vegetables are included in children's diet. Water is always available to them to make sure they are not thirsty, and older children pour their own drinks.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children exercise on the equipment that is available in the childminder's garden, including sit and ride toys and play tunnels. She takes them on walks to the library, woods and parks to keep fit. Children rest in a travel cot in a bedroom, or on the settee in the childminder's living room if they are tired.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children move around freely between the different rooms on the ground floor of the childminder's home, selecting the resources they wish to play with. The toys are suitable for the needs of all children, and most are easily accessible to them. They are cleaned regularly and broken toys are removed. Appropriate equipment is available and conforms to safety standards.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has taken steps to ensure children's safety in the home. A gate has been fitted at the bottom of the stairs, to prevent young children having unsupervised access to the first floor. The fire blanket is easily accessible in the kitchen and the smoke alarms are checked regularly, to ensure children's safety in the event of an emergency. However, the low level wine rack in the kitchen and ivy in the garden could impact on children's welfare.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from harm, as the childminder has a suitable understanding of child protection issues. She knows the signs of abuse to look for and is aware of the procedure to follow when concerns are raised.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are spoken to in a friendly manner by the childminder. She explains things carefully to young children, and is aware of their particular interests. For example, she assists one child in dressing up because she knows that they enjoy putting on different shoes. The childminder then raises their self-esteem by letting them know how good they look. She tells children the names of the animals in the toy farmyard and gets them to engage in conversation with her about the noises they make. Children bake cakes with the childminder during the day, so that the older ones can decorate them after school. The childminder effectively gives children responsibility by getting them to help clear away the toys, and assist with the washing up after cookery activities. The childminder enthusiastically develops children's creative skills by supporting them in tasks involving colouring or using stickers and stencils. She encourages

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

them to become familiar with numbers during everyday activities, such as counting the number of dolls they have placed in the toy buggy.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are all treated with equal concern by the childminder and she effectively liaises with parents to meet their individual needs. She has a broad range of resources to promote children's understanding of diversity, including appropriate books and dressing-up clothes. The childminder celebrates festivals from other cultures with children, and discusses any issues regarding disabilities with them as they arise. She does not currently have any children with learning difficulties or disabilities on roll, but has a good understanding of how to adapt her practice to meet their requirements.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder uses a notice board to keep parents well informed about the setting, and displays information such as her weekly menu and timetable on this. Parents have the opportunity to talk to the childminder about their child’s progress at the beginning and end of the day. She completes a daily sheet for parents of younger children, to make them aware of the food they have eaten, when they have slept and what they have been doing. Parents know that they can telephone the childminder at any time if there is something they wish to discuss with her.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is efficiently managed by the childminder. She has well organised strategies in place, and house rules for children to follow. She discusses inappropriate behaviour with parents, and works with them to resolve any problems, to ensure continuity of care. The childminder promotes positive behaviour with praise and uses rewards such as stickers, when appropriate.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder regularly updates her policies and procedures, and reviews the records she keeps on children at the start of each school year. She has a folder of information for new parents, to make them aware of how she manages her practice. This contains details of the childminder's routines and policies, including her complaints procedure. Her registration certificate is on display, to inform parents of the conditions under which she operates. The childminder remains with children at all times when visitors are present, in order to safeguard their wellbeing. The childminder keeps the contracted hours of the children's attendance on view in the hall. However, she does not keep a daily record of children's hours of attendance, but completes this at the end of each week, which is a breach of regulations. The childminder now understands the need to fully complete the register on a daily basis. The childminder meets

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Organisation

the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The last care inspection recommended that the childminder ensure children's information is recorded and kept readily accessible on the premises, and available for inspection at all times. It was further recommended that she make available to parents a written statement that provides details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder now records all the necessary information on children to enable her to meet their individual needs, which are easily accessible for inspection. The childminder has a written complaints procedure that is in line with current legislation, to keep parents well informed of how any concerns raised will be handled.

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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 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): • ensure that written permission is obtained before all medication is administered to children • ensure the house and garden are free from hazards • ensure that children's hours of attendance are recorded daily.

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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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