Victoria Drive Primary Pupil Referral Unit

Inspection report for early years provision

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132077 Unique Reference Number 14 January 2008 Inspection date Christine Stimson 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 outstanding. 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 1996. She lives with her partner and three children aged 15, 11 and 10 years old in a house very close to Richmond Park and within a short distance of Kingston-upon-Thames town centre. The childminder uses all areas of the home for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden to the rear of the property for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently caring for four children on a part time basis. The childminder is NNEB qualified and during the latter part of the week assists another childminder at her home. She is only available to mind within her own home on Monday and Tuesday of each week. The childminder takes children out to local parks and events on a regular basis.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in a clean tidy home where they learn the importance of good hygiene through daily routines, with the childminder using effective procedures to reduce cross 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 For example, providing paper towels for children to dry their hands and separate cots and bedding for the younger children in her care. The childminder wipes the hands of babies after each nappy change to help them to develop good practice.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and regularly updates the contents of her first aid box. This ensures children receive the best care in the event of a minor accident. She has obtained parent's written permission to seek emergency medical treatment, which means that further essential treatment is not delayed. The childminder has devised a sick child policy that she shares with parents. Suitable procedures are indicated and put in place if a child becomes ill or arrives and is obviously not well. The childminder also has a list of infectious ailments to refer to if in doubt.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides children with their main meal of the day and with some children their tea as well. Children have their own beakers of water, which the childminder refreshes as needed. Children benefit from a healthy diet that meets their nutritional needs. She encourages healthy eating as all the main meals are home cooked, usually prepared the night before and chilled until ready to re-heat. The childminder displays a beautiful menu chart on the parents notice board, made and decorated by the older children. Today the children were having a lunch of fish pie followed by a bio yoghurt. Fresh fruit is always available for children to snack on.

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Helping children to be healthy

Daily walks to Richmond park, which is a very short distance away, gives children regular opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They are able to access a small playground within the park to practise their physical skills, and have opportunities in the childminder's own paved garden to play with hoops, bikes, scooters and bubbles. Children have regular events to move to music, run, chase, climb and use their fine motor skills whilst in the childminder's care. She makes batches of play dough for the children to experiment with and they have drawing, painting and sticking sessions where they practise their fine motor skills using one handed tools.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has a very good understanding of her role in child protection issues and the procedures to follow should she have concerns. She keeps guidelines in her files to refer to and attends child protection courses every three years to make sure she has up to date knowledge. This supports children's well being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder's home is warm and very welcoming for both parents and children; it is maintained in a very good state of repair. Space is organised well to enable children to move around freely and select resources independently. The toys offered are of excellent quality, plentiful, stimulating, maintained in very good repair and organised for children of varying ages. Meticulous security measures within the childminder's home and garden ensure children are safeguarded. Effective use of large plant pots in the garden restricts children's access to certain areas when necessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Written risk assessments demonstrate the childminder's commitment to ensuring children's safety. Stair gates, covers for electrical sockets, sharp implements kept above child height and dangerous substances kept in a locked laundry room minimize risks in the home. Children are familiar with the written emergency escape plan the childminder has devised for her home, as they regularly practise this, with the childminder noting down how long it took each time. This helps children learn how to leave the house quickly and safely in an emergency. The childminder

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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 keeps children safe when taking them out as she makes sure very young children are strapped into a buggy, with those able to walk wearing reins and holding the handles of the buggy 'helping' her push the others along. Children are encouraged to think about their own safety during outings as the childminder talks to them about crossing roads using the green cross code.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit from being cared for by a childminder who is lovely with the children. Her gentle voice and manner entice the children to her and they all respond well to her cuddles, closeness and excellent interaction. The childminder has devised a list of activities under each of the five outcomes showing how she will help children to develop. For example, under Enjoying and Achieving she has a list of craft activities, outdoor activities, resources and books. There are details of planned visits, how friends will be invited to play, details of imaginative, mathematical and gardening activities, together with areas she will cover relating to the Birth to three matters framework. This list is shared with parents when they make enquiries about her childminding service.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder provides a constantly changing variety of activities for children on the two days they are in her care. All resources are kept at child height and the childminder allows children to self-select. She then joins them in their play, extending their learning and vocabulary with her skills and experience. The activities the children participate in encourage them to make all round progress.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has interesting puzzles for children to try. One the children are playing with depicts a lady in a wheelchair; this instigates a conversation about why she in this chair. The childminder explains 'her legs don't work all the time and this is what she uses to get about'. The children accept this with quiet contemplation. Other characters in the puzzles show the elderly with walking sticks, a man with a hearing aid and various people from different cultures. The children enjoy the puzzles offered and they not only learn about people who are different from them, but have their mathematical thinking developed at the same time.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children love to sing gestured rhymes with the childminder and are confident to practise the gestures and attempt the words, knowing their efforts will be appreciated by her. The childminder encourages children to develop their vocabulary and share their thoughts and ideas by talking to them, paying interest to their replies and giving them her time and patience when they try to express themselves.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has a very good attitude to inclusion and ensures all children are cared for and valued as individuals. She has undertaken training in how to include and integrate children with learning and physical difficulties into her home. The childminder has an excellent selection of resources that children access as an integral part of every day play to enable them to develop a positive awareness of other races, cultures, abilities and genders. For example, there are lots of puzzles showing people from other cultures, people with disabilities and images of the elderly and infirm. The childminder's book collection covers areas about children with disabilities, about feelings, beliefs, looking different from each other and moods. She has books about visiting

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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 dentists, doctors and hospitals and several dolls and play figures representing different nationalities with various skin tones.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder encourages children to understand right from wrong and to be aware of her expectations. She does this by talking to children, making sure she is consistent in applying the same rules for all. The childminder reads stories to younger children to help them develop an understanding of right and wrong. Her collection of books have stories about grumpy children, rude children, about words are not for hurting and feet are not for kicking. This helps children make sense of their feelings and to understand how they may effect others. If children show inappropriate behaviour the childminder changes the tone of voice when asking them to behave and at the very worst children are sent to sit away from the others. The childminder then joins them and talks to them about the problem. They are soon encouraged back into the fold with a cuddle and are asked to apologise if they have hurt someone either by words or

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Helping children make a positive contribution

deeds. The childminder knows her minded children well and anticipates mood swings, putting distraction measures in place to avoid confrontation.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed professional and friendly relationships with parents who speak very positively about the care given to their children. They comment that their children love going to the childminder's house to play and are involved in activities that stimulate and interest them. They comment on how easily their children settled into being cared for by the childminder and praise the way she adapts the daily routine to fit in with children's needs. When parents make enquiries about the childminder caring for their children a service statement is given to them showing parents what her service consists of. It has details of her childcare experience and qualifications and copies of the checks undertaken on the family members over the age of 16 years. The childminder keeps daily diaries for the younger children in her care detailing activities, food and drink intake, moods and nappy changes. This supports children's well being

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder has very good organisational skills and makes sure she has clear recording procedures for necessary information such as registering attendance and noting accidents and incidents. Resources are arranged effectively to enable children to make independent choices about their play and the childminder is skilled in extending children's learning. The childminder embraces training opportunities and updates her knowledge by attending early years courses; this ensures she is up to date with the latest childcare practice.

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Organisation

Children benefit from the efficient organisation of the childminder. Documents are organised well and used effectively to support the welfare of children. Parents are informed about all aspects of the provision and relevant permissions are sought. For example, parents give written permission for children to be taken in the childminder's car on outings. Personal details about children are kept up to date and stored confidentially. The daily routine is organised around the needs of the children and offers time for relaxation as well as play. 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 recommendations were made to improve the care for children. Since then very good progress has been made to improve health and safety measures for children. The childminder now keeps her cleaning materials in a laundry room, which is kept locked to prevent

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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 children entering. She regularly practises her fire evacuation procedure with the children and has informed parents of her sick child policy and the regulator's details.

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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 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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