Christopher Whitehead Language College

Inspection report for early years provision

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136890 Unique Reference Number 26 October 2007 Inspection date June Fielden 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 was registered in 1998. She lives with her husband and three children aged three, 12 and 15 in Anerley, London. The whole of the ground and first floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder occasionally works with an assistant.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five part-time. She regularly attends toddler groups and visits local parks and shops. The family have a pet cat.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a warm and friendly environment. The childminder excludes sick children and isolates any taken ill while in her care, to protect others from infection. All accidents are well recorded, and prior written consent is obtained from parents before medication is administered. The childminder has written permission for emergency medical treatment of

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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 children, to ensure their wellbeing. She has effective hygiene routines to maintain children's good health. Children each have their own flannel, to avoid the risk of cross-contamination. They wash their hands after using the toilet, touching the cat, or blowing their nose, to prevent the spread of infection. However, children do not always wash their hands before they eat, which impacts on their welfare.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has a good understanding of healthy eating, and children are offered nutritious meals made from fresh ingredients. She follows parents wishes and offers children a cooked meal at lunch time, and caters for their individual requirements. The childminder enquires about children's allergies, and has recently attended training to enable her to handle any allergic reactions children may experience. Drinks are always available to children, to ensure they are not thirsty.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children exercise in the childminder's garden, using the wide range of equipment available to them, including sit and ride cars, a slide and trampoline. Children regularly visit parks and keep fit walking to different groups, where they socialise with others. Children have a regular sleep time each day, when they rest quietly in a bedroom.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children mainly play in the dining room where their toys are stored. There is a stimulating range of resources that are appropriate for all minded children's needs. The childminder makes a selection of toys available to children each day, and rotates them regularly, to maintain their interest. She ensures that all the toys conform to safety standards, and immediately removes any that are broken. Children move around freely, selecting the resources they wish to play with. There are colourful posters and children's work on display to make the childminder's home welcoming to children and parents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are a broad range of efficient measures in place to maintain children's safety. The childminder has a written evacuation plan which she practises with older children, to make them familiar with the procedure to follow in case of an emergency. She conducts regular risk assessments, and checks that everything is safe for children on a daily basis. The childminder has gates fitted, to prevent children having access to the stairs and other areas of the house unsupervised. However, there is ivy accessible to children in the garden and some wires in the house, which impact on children's welfare.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are effectively protected from harm, as the childminder has attended training in child protection since her last inspection. She is aware of the signs of abuse to look for, and has the necessary information available to enable her to seek advice and report her concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are provided with an extensive range of play opportunities by the childminder. She stimulates their imaginations by making purposeful role play equipment available to them. Children are given substantial support and individual attention by the childminder, to assist them in their play. For example, she helps one child to build a tower of bricks, discussing with them the different pictures on the blocks as they complete the activity. The childminder develops children's understanding of colour as she talks to them about the different objects in the role play kitchen.

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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 explore toys which have flashing lights and make different noises to motivate them and attract their attention. One of these toys sings the alphabet, making learning a fun activity for children, as they join in the song. The childminder plays music for children to dance to, enabling them to develop a sense of rhyme and rhythm. They confidently practise mark making, as the childminder provides children with wipe clean boards to use, allowing them to be creative and rapidly alter their work.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children are all treated with equal concern by the childminder, who liaises effectively with parents to meet their individual needs. She enquires about children's likes and dislikes when care commences, and is dedicated to fulfilling parents wishes. There are excellent resources available to support diversity, and her equal opportunities policy informs parents that she celebrates festivals from around the world with the children. Although the childminder does not currently have children with learning difficulties or disabilities on roll, she has an exceedingly good understanding of how to adapt her practice to meet their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents are exceptionally well informed about their child's care through the contact books completed by the childminder. They have the opportunity to talk to the childminder about their child’s progress at the beginning and end of the day, and know that they can call her at any time, or send a text message. Parents have been informed of the childminder's complaints procedure, to ensure that they are fully aware of how any concerns raised will be handled. The childminder has efficient strategies in place for managing challenging behaviour. She promotes positive behaviour by praise and rewards children by giving them small responsibilities, to raise their self-esteem.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is enthusiastic about attending training and developing her knowledge, in order to improve outcomes for children. For example, she has recently attended three workshops on the Birth to three matters framework. Her attendance register is well completed. The childminder's registration certificate is on display, to inform parents of the conditions under which she operates. Parents are also provided with information about her weekly routines, her daily timetable and menus. She has a well organised folder of qualifications, references and policies to show new parents, to inform them how she organises her practice. The childminder's assistant is appropriately supervised and knows the children and their individual requirements. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The last care inspection recommended that the childminder include the arrival and departure times of the children as part of the attendance record. The childminder now includes this information in her register.

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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 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 appropriate hand washing routines are in place • ensure that the house and garden are free from hazards.

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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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