Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY100530 Unique Reference Number 29 October 2007 Inspection date Helen Deegan 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 2001. She lives with her family in Merton Park in the London Borough of Merton. She currently cares for five children part time. The whole of the ground floor is accessible to children plus two bedrooms and the bathroom on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder attends local toddler groups on a regular basis and takes children on regular outings to parks and the library.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder provides a clean, well organised and well maintained environment. She provides individual cot bedding for each child and ensures that children wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating so that they develop good personal hygiene practices. However, they sometimes share the use of hand towels which presents a risk of cross infection. She asks parents to keep children with infectious illness away from the setting so that other children are protected from the spread of infection.

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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 The childminder has produced a healthy food policy. She provides fresh fruit and regular drinks for the children so that their health is promoted. Parents provide lunchboxes each day and food is refrigerated as necessary to ensure that it stays fresh.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy regular opportunities for physical play in the childminder's garden which is safely enclosed and offers climbing equipment, wheeled toys and a play house. In addition they visit local parks, play groups and soft play activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children's safety is promoted because the childminder has a current fist aid certificate and has taken appropriate steps to ensure safety in most areas of the premises. Cupboard locks, a safety gate, smoke alarms and a fire blanket are in place and children regularly practice the fire drill. A large tree house has been built in the garden and a hammock is in place, however they have not been thoroughly risk assessed to ensure that risks to children are minimised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are cared for in a warm, welcoming environment. The childminder provides an excellent range of toys and equipment which she stores in neatly labelled boxes. She rotates the toys, providing a different selection on the floor each day for children to access independently so that their interest is maintained and they remain occupied and stimulated.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities with regard to child protection. She has recently attended training on child protection and has produced a policy detailing the procedures she would follow in the event of a concern arising about a child. This helps to ensure that children's welfare is protected.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder uses information from the Birth to three matters framework to plan a range of themes and activities for children throughout the year so that they receive variety and learn through their play. She keeps photographs of children's activities and outings for enquiring parents to see and writes observations of children's achievements in daily diaries so that parents are well informed about their progress.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder sits with the children and joins in with their play, asking simple questions and commenting on what they are doing so that their developing language skills are encouraged. She praises the children's efforts and achievements and provides help and encouragement as needed so that they gain the most out of the activities. The childminder responds well to the children's needs and interests, for example, when a child began singing a nursery rhyme the childminder joined in and then encouraged the other children to participate. This delighted the children who clapped and cheered at the end of each song. The childminder then extended the activity by putting on a nursery rhymes CD and the children enjoyed dancing.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children play purposefully with a wide range of interesting and age appropriate activities. They can choose from toys which are presented in boxes on the floor and this helps them to develop their independence and decision making skills. The range of resources and additional planned activities that the childminder provides ensures that children remain well occupied and stimulated in her care.

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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. The childminder has a good understanding of what equal opportunities means and has produced a written equal opportunities policy. She provides a range of toys which reflect different race, culture and ability so that children gain positive messages about diversity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder provides an information pack for enquiring parents with details about her policy and practice. She provides detailed written information for parents about activities, food and sleep in daily diaries and consults with parents about children's requirements. This ensures that parents are well informed and enables children's individual needs to be met. The childminder uses a parent questionnaire to request feedback which she uses to evaluate and improve her provision.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder uses positive reinforcement to promote good behaviour. She verbally praises children's efforts and achievements and uses a star chart so that children generally behave well. Minor disagreements between children are managed calmly and effectively using age appropriate strategies such as explanation and distraction.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has all the required documentation in place and maintained up to date. She has produced a thorough set of policies which guide her daily practice and inform parents about the provision. She displays her certificate of registration prominently and makes parents aware of the procedure they should follow if they have a complaint. She has a current first aid certificate and has attended other training to update and improve her knowledge. The childminder has achieved a level three qualification in childminding practice and a level three quality assurance certificate. She organises the space and resources effectively so that children can play and rest in appropriate surroundings. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At last inspection the childminder was asked to improve her record of children's attendance, provide resources which provide positive reflection of disability, to ensure that parent's and children's details are recorded on contracts and to obtain written parental consent for assistants to be left in sole charge of children. The childminder now keeps a thorough attendance record and has written parental consent to leave assistants in sole charge of children. She now includes the details of children and parents on contracts and she has obtained an appropriate range of resources which positively reflect disability.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since April 2004 there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required either the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards. 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 that children do not share the use of hand towels • conduct a risk assessment of the tree house and hammock and take any steps necessary to ensure that hazards to children are minimised.

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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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