Waterhouses CofE (VC) Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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124306 Unique Reference Number 05 November 2007 Inspection date Sandra Patricia Jeffrey 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 has been registered to care for children since 1999. She works as a joint childminder with her husband from their family home. Their grown-up son lives with them and is their assistant.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The home is a three bedroom house in a residential area of West Croydon. The whole of the ground floor is dedicated to childminding activities. Children do not have any access to the first floor. There is a fully enclosed back garden available for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder has a Level 3 childcare qualification and has worked in a variety of schools and childcare settings for over 20 years. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time and had five children on roll at the time of the inspection.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

When working with the joint childminder, together they may care for a maximum of 10 children aged under eight at any one time. There were eight children on roll in total at the time of the inspection and five children were present during the inspection visit. The childminder takes the lead role and responsibility for the childminding practice and her co-childminder works in a supportive role.

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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 The family have a pet dog who is kept apart from minded children.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder speaks Hindi, Bengali, and English.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Young children are cared for in a warm and clean environment where they receive appropriate support to develop their personal care, such as by having their hands and faces wiped before and after meals, for example.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a secure knowledge of children’s development and encourages young children to enjoy a range of daily physical activities, including playing in the garden, visiting local toddler groups and parks and taking part in music and movement and P.E. sessions in the home. The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of the benefits of exercise and healthy living and is aware that regular physical exercise contributes to keeping children healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

The procedures in place for administering medication to children are effective and the childminder holds a valid first aid certificate. This safeguards children's health and welfare. Some dressings within the first aid box were observed to have expired the 'use by' guide date and some were in damaged packaging and therefore no longer sterile. This does not fully promote the children's wellbeing. Nappy changing procedures are safe and effective and incorporates the use of gloves and cleaning of the changing mat between each child. This helps to prevent the risk of cross infection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from being offered a variety of healthy meals and snacks, including lots of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. Sweets are limited and the children are encouraged to learn about healthy eating through monthly topic work. The minded children were seen to enjoy a lunch of pasta with vegetables and a tomato sauce on the day of the inspection. Menus are displayed in the hallway for parents to view.

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Helping children to be healthy

Drinks of water, milk and diluted juice are available throughout the day. The childminder discusses children's dietary needs with the parents at the beginning of the placement and ensures that she is aware of any special requirements, this ensures that food meets all of the children’s dietary needs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Young children benefit from playing in a spacious well-organised environment, that allows them to move around and play freely. The children choose from a suitable range of toys and activities, which the childminder ensures are suitable for their age and stage of development. Children can independently select some items from this range of toys, which gives them freedom of choice. Clear and consistent boundaries, along with the close supervision, enables young children to play safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young children's safety is supported well in the home, because the childminder has assessed the risks in her home and has taken appropriate steps to keep the children safe. For example, electrical sockets are fitted with child proof covers and the childminder's husband and

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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 co-childminder has made and fitted safety gates in the home. However, a broken pane of glass in the garden shed poses risks to the children when using the outside play area.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder demonstrated a clear understanding of the need to keep children safe when out of the home. She advised that the children all wear sticky labels with the childminder's name, address and mobile telephone number on, in case they become separated. The use of a double buggy, close supervision and the presence of a travel first aid kit, when out, also ensures the safety of the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Emergency evacuation procedures are in place and children have opportunities to practise emergency evacuations once every eight to 10 weeks. Detailed written records are maintained which allow the childminder to evaluate the evacuations. This helps children become familiar with the routine to be followed in the event of an emergency and safeguards their wellbeing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young children are provided with suitable sleeping facilities in the form of travel cots for children under a year and duvets on the lounge floor for toddlers. All children are given their own bedding, which is washed on a weekly basis.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a clear understanding of safeguarding children (child protection) issues, including whom to contact in the event of any concerns and has attended recent training in this area to increase her knowledge and understanding. The childminder has a devised a written policy that is shared with the parents, explaining her role and responsibilities. This promotes and safeguards children’s welfare within the setting.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Young children have good relationships with the childminder, who responds to them warmly and is attentive to their needs. She settles them quickly with support and reassurance, so consequently the children enjoy the time they spend in the childminder's home. Young children receive lots of affection and respond well to the attention given to them. This fosters their sense of belonging.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is skilled at planning a broad range of stimulating and challenging activities based on monthly themes and topics, such as transport, animals, shapes and the weather for example. She ensures these are age appropriate and of interest to the children and at a level they can understand and enjoy. The children respond well to the childminder's enthusiasm and motivation as they colour in the pictures of cars and planes as part of the current transport theme. The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of age appropriate resources and activities for the children in her care and demonstrates a clear understanding of meeting the children's individual needs.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder dedicates her time to talking and playing with the children and actively encouraging them to make decisions in their own play. For example, children are asked what song they want to sing next during the music and movement session, where the children were seen to enjoy joining in with obviously familiar songs and actions. This means the children have opportunities to take the lead in their own play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children are very well supported in the setting by the childminder who has many years of experience working with children in various education and child care settings. The childminder

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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 supports their all-round development and confidence, which in turn, helps the children to make all round progress in their learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The parents of the children are given progress reports on how each of their children are developing. They are taught basic pre school reading and writing skills including their ABC, how to write their own names and basic counting, by the time they are ready to start school.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young children are encouraged to enjoy and learn how to use books for pleasure. They were observed to enjoy several stories with the childminder, who chose a book called the 'Surprise birthday', as the children had all been invited to the party of one of the minded children who had just celebrated a second birthday. This helps children to have a sense of belonging and sense of security in the setting.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. All children are welcome into the setting and valued as individuals by the childminder who treats all children with respect and uses praise and encouragement to promote their self-esteem. This in turn contributes to the children’s sense of well-being. Children learn important social skills, such as, why it is important to be kind to each other and to have good manners. They are encouraged to say please and thank you for instance and are taught this by the example of the childminder, who is very gently spoken and treats the children with respect and consideration.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young children are encouraged to understand right from wrong. Their behaviour is managed appropriately by the childminder who ensures that they understand when their behaviour is not acceptable and distracts their attention if necessary.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Although the childminder has no experience of caring for minded children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, she has gained knowledge and experience in this field in previous roles and demonstrated a sound understanding of how to meet and plan for children’s individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a positive attitude towards diversity. Young children become aware of their own and other cultures and develop a positive attitude towards diversity themselves, through a range of resources and planned activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works closely with the parents, sharing information verbally on a daily basis. The childminder demonstrated a clear understanding of the benefits of working in partnership with parents. These close working relationships help to ensure the children receive continuity of care. Daily verbal feedback takes place, to ensure that parents are kept well informed about their children's individual experiences. Partnerships with parents are well fostered.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder is aware of changes in legal requirements in relation to complaints and investigations and is aware that she is to provide details of the procedure to follow if they have any cause for concern about the service or the care of their children. The childminder has talked to all parents and has given them all the Ofsted contact number.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder demonstrates a clear understanding of her role in supporting children in their play and learning. The layout is organised appropriately and the daily routine, is well thought out allowing children time for indoor and outside play.

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Organisation

Children move freely and confidently around the home because generally effective safety precautions are in place, although the broken window in the shed in the garden does pose a risk to children playing in the garden. The childminder uses her time well and the children benefit from her support and guidance. This promotes the welfare of the children in her care.

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Organisation

The childminder takes overall responsibility for maintaining appropriate documentation and has devised comprehensive and detailed records, polices and procedures to guide her in her daily role and to ensure the safe and effective management of the setting. Some items in the first aid box, however, are not suitable for use with minded children. This issue may have an adverse impact on the health and safety of the children.

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Organisation

The childminder has breached the conditions of her registration in relation to the ages of children she can mind at any one time and a warning letter has been issued. However, she is compliant and proactive in relation to rectifying this situation and ensuring that these breaches do not occur again.

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Organisation

The childminder ensures that information obtained from parents helps to promote the children's welfare. Records relating to the children and their families are confidentially stored by the childminder. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

During the previous inspection, the childminder agreed to improve the quality of the service that she provided in several areas. This included developing her knowledge and understanding of local child protection procedures. This has been accomplished by the attendance on child protection training, and results in the childminder's improved ability to meet the needs of the children in her care in relation to any concerns about their wellbeing.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was also asked to ensure that there were cots and pushchairs available to meet the needs of babies and young children. Additional equipment has been purchased and was observed to be in good working order. Therefore enabling the babies and young children to rest and travel in comfort.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was also required to maintain a daily record of which adults looked after the children and to update the written agreements to reflect the names of both childminders. Both of these records are now in order and help to ensure the effective organisation of the setting.

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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. 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 then 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 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 the contents of the first aid box are checked frequently and replaced as necessary • take appropriate steps to minimise the risks to children in relation to the broken glass window in the garden shed • ensure conditions of registration are met 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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