Banham Marshalls College

Inspection report for early years provision

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121240 Unique Reference Number 11 March 2008 Inspection date Heidi Wilton 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 has been registered since 1989. She lives with her two daughters and son in Chobham, Surrey. The childminder is registered to mind six children under eight. She currently minds four children under eight on a part-time basis. The minded children have access to the whole of the ground floor including the enclosed back garden. There are toilet facilities provided on the ground floor and two bedrooms on the first floor are used as a sleep area for the minded children. The childminder has a cat. She is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and regularly attends a local childminding support group and a toddler group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The childminder cleans all work surfaces and eating areas with antibacterial cleaners to ensure cross contamination is prevented. Through discussion she states that children wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating meals. She has a hand washing sign in the bathroom and discusses how she talks to children about the importance of washing away the germs.

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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 However, younger children do not wash their hands before having lunch. This does not ensure cross contamination is fully prevented and hygiene practices are not fully promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a sickness policy and a list of infectious childhood diseases detailing incubation periods for parents. This ensures they are well informed should their child contract a communicable illness. The childminder has accident and medication records in place and records within these appropriately.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is happy to provide meals for the children but is also happy if parents wish to provide their own foods . The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of how to store foods appropriately. She cooks a main meal for the children and actively discusses the healthy benefits of the different foods with them. Children are involved with the whole process as the childminder takes them to the shops to help her weigh the fruit and vegetables and buy the food at the counter.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children engage with lots of physical activity. They enjoy walks to the woods where they have fun making bark rubbings and love to play on the equipment at the local park. Children enjoy outings to the local indoor play zone where they have fun jumping into the soft play areas and submerge themselves in the ball pool. During the summer holidays the childminder takes the children to local theme parks, to the zoo and to other places of interest. Children have fun playing in the childminder's garden and love partaking with activities the childminder has prepared for their 'Olympic games' day.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are kept safe because the childminder has robust systems in place to ensure children are collected by their designated person. However, children are not fully protected as the front door is not secured from the inside at all times. The childminder has good systems in place to ensure sleeping children are safe as she uses a baby monitor and visually checks the children. She has appropriate safety equipment in place, such as buggies, car seats and high chairs, and has gained required parental permissions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder practises road safety with children when they are out and about and older children have fun making road signs. The childminder has a fire evacuation procedure in place which she practises with the children on a regular basis to ensure they are well informed about what to do in the event of a fire. She has a good understanding of child protection procedures and demonstrates a clear understanding of recording signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect. She has a thorough knowledge of where to make referrals to safeguard the welfare of children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children of all ages interact with an extensive range of age and stage related toys and activities. The childminder carefully plans activities for the younger children in line with the Birth to three matters framework and skilfully differentiates activities for the range of different aged children she minds. For example, young babies and toddlers have a wonderful time having their feet and hands painted to make lovely hand and feet printings. The childminder uses her skills to extend this further for the slightly older children by talking to them and encouraging them to explore the different sizes of the hands and feet. The childminder makes detailed observations

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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 of the children and records these into their developmental records to give a clear picture of where children are with their individual developmental milestones.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder organises the environment extremely well and rotates the toys and resources regularly to ensure children are kept very interested and enthralled by new and exciting experiences. All toys and resources are positioned very well, either in low cupboards, storage boxes or simply on the floor at child level. This ensures children's independence is extremely well promoted as they can independently choose from the extensive range of activities and resources.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn through fantastic first hand experiences such as going to see the animals at the local zoo or to the local farm. The childminder observes and monitors the children very well to gain an insightful picture of what children are currently interested with. She skilfully follows these interests to extend the children's learning and plans wonderful activities. For example, if children show an interest with transport the childminder organises outings to the local airfield, canal and train station. Children have a wonderful time observing the planes take off into the sky and love to watch the boats move along the canal as they sit on the grass and eat their picnic. In addition, the childminder creates fun age and stage appropriate activities for children such as fun questionnaires to complete as they walk around the local zoo.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are wholly involved with all activities. For example, the childminder gives them the responsibility to select, weigh and buy the food at the local shops and to sieve and weigh the ingredients for cooking activities. They have immense fun as they scoop paint into their hands and splat these handfuls onto large pieces of black paper to make firework pictures. Young toddlers become extremely excited as they build amazing tunnels using the sponge building blocks and giggle excitedly as they crawl through the tunnel they have made. Babies explore a large variety of age and stage related toys with their mouths, hands and feet and become engaged as they shake rattles within their hands. Children develop a great understanding of working effectively together as a team such as finding large logs and twigs to create a camp fire in the woods.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are treated equally by the childminder who shows them respect as individuals. She encourages all children to access all toys and resources. The childminder plans various festivals throughout the year with the children and children love making arts and crafts and tasting multicultural foods. They enjoy listening to religious and cultural stories and the childminder extends the learning by encouraging children to find pictures related to the different stories. The childminder has experience of learning difficulties and/or disabilities and English as an additional language. Through discussion she states how she works with parents and outside agencies such as speech therapists to ensure consistency in care and learning is achieved for the children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder discusses her house rules and behavioural policy with parents at the outset and discusses children's behaviour with them at the end of the day. This ensures consistent behavioural methods can be achieved between the home and the childminder's. The childminder offers children lots of praise and encouragement for their good behaviour and achievements. Children love participating with sports events in the childminder's back garden for 'Olympic day'. They all receive certificates for their participation with the events.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

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 childminder meets with parents at the outset to discuss her provision and policies. She gives parents a parents profile which includes important information and some policies. This ensures parents can refer to the information within their own environment. Parents are given a feedback form to complete annually and this ensures parents have the opportunity to report on the provision being provided for their children. Parents are happy with the provision and state their praise in letters to the childminder. For example, '(she) keeps the children interested with lots of activities like learning all about different foods and where they come from, creative arts, drawing, sports in the garden with certificates, trips to the park and days out during the holidays'. Also another parent comments 'when I drop my child off, (she) is always at the door

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Helping children make a positive contribution

with a cheery good morning and it is very apparent she genuinely cares for all the children in her care'. The childminder speaks with parents verbally each day and supplies additional written feedback to support the verbal communications.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She has organised age and stage appropriate toys well to ensure children can independently access them. The childminder has maintained an up-to-date paediatric first aid qualification which ensures children are treated appropriately in the event of an accident. She has attended regular childcare training sessions to ensure her knowledge is updated.

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Organisation

The childminder records children's attendance at the actual times of arrival and departure. This ensures children are accounted for in an emergency. The childminder has gained all required information from parents regarding their children and stores this securely to maintain confidentiality. She has a comprehensive understanding of ensuring all adults living within the household are suitable and vetted to be around the children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last care inspection the childminder was asked to obtain written parental consent for children to travel in her car. The childminder has now obtained this written consent for all the children. This ensures all children are safe and parents are well informed.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Concerns were raised in February 2006 about the childminders suitability (National Standard 1 - Suitability) as she had failed to maintain direct supervision of her minded children at all times (National Standard 6 - Safety). We asked the provider to investigate these concerns and report back to us. From the information we received it was apparent that the provider had failed to comply with the National Standards as she had not been in direct supervision of children at all times. The childminder was reminded of her responsibility to comply with the National Standards. The childminder remained qualified for registration.

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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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Complaints 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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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 hygiene practices for all children are fully promoted with particular regard to hand washing • ensure all safety procedures are followed at all times particularly regarding securing the front door.

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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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