Dawlish College

Inspection report for early years provision

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128742 Unique Reference Number 26 February 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 1991. She lives with her adult daughter in the London Borough of Lewisham. The whole of the childminder's flat is used for childminding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at anyone time and is currently minding two children under five years one of whom attends before and after school and one child over five years after school.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent/carer and children's groups and takes children to the local parks.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children have opportunities to take part in a range of outdoor activities that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Outings to the park and adventure playgrounds where there are large climbing

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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 equipment, swings and slides, give children plenty of opportunity to develop their physical skills.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy healthy snacks such as yogurt coated raisins. The childminder gathers all relevant information regarding children's health. This ensures that any special dietary needs are met. Children wash their hands after using the toilet, however, they are not reminded to wash their hands at other times such as before snacks.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder does not hold a current first aid certificate. However, she has taken positive steps to ensure that she attends first aid training in the very near future. All the required documentation such as accident records and medication records are in place. However, the childminder does not keep an accurate record of medicines administered to children. The childminder ensures that parents are kept informed about her sick child policy and obtains prior written permission from parents to seek emergency treatment of advice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children play in a warm and welcoming environment. They have easy and safe access to a good range of toys and resources that are suitable for their age and stage of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit from a good range of safety measures. The childminder has taken positive steps to ensure that potential risks and hazards to children are minimised inside the home. For example, the front door is secure and prevents children leaving the premises unsupervised, socket covers are in place, dangerous substances and sharp knives are inaccessible to the children. Children are learning to keep themselves safe when outdoors and there are clear procedures for outings. Consistent boundaries help children learn about safety when using the outdoor stairs and about road safety. Parents give prior written consent to outings and travelling on public transport. However, children have less opportunity to learn to take responsibility for keeping themselves safe inside the home because the childminder has not yet devised or practised emergency evacuation procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is promoted and safeguarded. The childminder has a sound knowledge of child protection issues. She understands the procedures to be followed if she has a concern about a child in her care or if an allegation is made against the childminder or a member of the household. All the required documentation is in place and the childminder has devised a written policy of the procedures to be followed in the event of a child not being collected. This ensures that the childminder can act in the child's best interest.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children gain much from being together. The childminder talks to children about what they are doing and respond to children's interests. Children speak confidently to each other and adults. They talk openly about themselves, their families and express their ideas and experiences well using good vocabulary. Children are curious about how things work. They ask questions relating to the laptop and talk about their experience of using computers at school. Children count confidently and recognise numbers that are important to them. For example, children identify numbers on the puzzle associated to their age and that of others. They discuss their different coloured clothes and patterns such as stripes.

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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 Children use their imagination and express their ideas when playing with small world equipment. They make up and tell their own stories using different types of transport and the train tracks. They childminder uses free play to develop children's understanding of the people who help us in the community such as emergency services and their roles. Children have opportunities to take part in creative activities such as making Mother's Day cards.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children are relaxed, happy and settled at the childminder's home. They behave well and are developing good relationships. They socialise with others as they attend the local children's groups and learn about the local community through trips to the park and activities. However, children have access to a limited range of resources that reflect positive images of different culture and disabilities. The childminder does not gather information from parents with regard to religion or culture so that she can help children to acknowledge their own culture and see it as important. Although there are no children currently attending with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, the childminder was able to demonstrate how she would assess the child's needs to determine whether appropriate care could be provided.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents receive information about the childminding service. For example, the childminder's shares her written policies and procedures such as behaviour management and parents are provided with sufficient information about the complaints procedures.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children benefit from a well organised environment where they receive good adult support to help them feel secure and confident. Written policies and procedures guide the childminder in her daily practice. This ensures that information is shared with parents and information kept about children is relevant and helps to promote their health and welfare. However, the childminder has not attended any training and as a result has not maintained a current first aid certificate. All documentation is in place and most are accurately maintained. For example, the children's attendance record note their daily hours of attendance. However, the medication records do not note the time medication is administered or the dosage.

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Organisation

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 documentation and aspects of children's safety. The childminder has made significant improvements which promotes children's health, safety and welfare and partnership with parents. She keeps an accurate record of the children's daily hours of attendance, devised a policy about the exclusion of children who are ill or infectious, devised and implement a policy regarding the safe escort of children on the stairs and improve fire safety by ensuring that a fire blanket is accessible in the kitchen.

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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

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 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): • improve hand washing routines so that children learn the importance of good personal hygiene at all times • ensure that the medication records are accurately maintained • devise and implement emergency evacuation procedures • improve information kept about children's individual needs • provide a range of resources that reflect positive images of different culture and disabiltities

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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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