Barnehurst Infant School

Inspection report for early years provision

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140320 Unique Reference Number 04 October 2007 Inspection date Philippa Clare Williams 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 1988. She lives with her partner and adult son in Tottenham in the London borough of Haringey. The areas available to minded children are the playroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Children also have access to a fully enclosed garden. The family have a parrot.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 5 children at any one time and is currently caring for 4 children on a part time basis. They attend a music group, toddler groups, and a childminder's group on a regular basis.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminders Association. She holds a level 3 early years qualification.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay healthy because the childminder exercises good hygiene practices to minimise the risk of cross infection. For example, the premises are very well maintained and the childminder follows good standards of hygiene when changing nappies to help protect the youngest children. The older children learn about the importance of good hygiene and personal care routines as they wash their hands at appropriate times of the day. They independently use the bathroom and then wash their hands and they are familiar with this routine. Children are protected from sickness and infection due to the childminder's appropriate measures when children become ill in her care. There is a written sickness policy in place which is shared with parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

A healthy and balanced diet is provided for the children, which includes nutritious foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and regular drinks. The childminder carefully plans menus, taking into consideration the dietary needs and preferences of the children, and healthy eating options. For example, children enjoy lunch time meals such as spaghetti bolognaise, fish fingers, turkey curry, homemade chicken nuggets and chicken and vegetable risotto. They are helped to learn about healthy eating as they eat home grown products from the garden such as apples, pears and tomatoes.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy outside play and physical exercise through playing in the garden, going to the local parks and during visits to groups. They attend a regular music group where they enjoy playing a wide range of musical instrument, singing educational songs and action rhymes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The childminder offers very good supervision to ensure children are safe. Space within the home is very well organised and effectively meets the children's needs. Children use an excellent range of good quality toys and equipment appropriate to their age and stage of development. Toys and resources are stimulating, fun, interesting and provide very good opportunities for challenge. For example, the extensive range of multi cultural musical instruments provides excellent opportunities for children to explore different sounds.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are beginning to understand how to keep themselves safe inside the premises and on outings. The childminder gives explanations and reminders to help children learn about safe practices. The children remain safe during trips and outings because of the care undertaken. She ensures children are harnessed in the buggy, use wrist straps or hold hands, and uses different strategies to teach children how to cross the road safely. For example, she chalks out a road in the garden, and encourages children to practise crossing the road safely in their role play; she also uses books and stories to reinforce safety issues. Identification documents are scrutinised carefully by the childminder, who affords high priority to children's safety. The childminder has a very clear fire escape plan which is displayed in written and pictorial form and is regularly practised with the children. As a result children are very confident about the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

procedures and this ensures their safety in an emergency. Children confidently talk about what they would do if there was a fire and how to keep themselves safe.

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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 Children’s welfare is safeguarded because the childminder has a very good understanding of child protection issues and the procedures to follow if she was to have concerns about a child in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are very happy and settled because the childminder knows the children really well. Warm, caring relationships are evident. The childminder has a very good knowledge of child development which helps children to take an active role and develop their independence. They thrive and enjoy their time with the childminder as she provides an excellent range of developmentally appropriate and interesting play activities. Children access toys and equipment freely and confidently, they are offered choices and the childminder is exceptionally good at building on their likes and interests. For example, after practising the fire drill one child showed a particular interest in firemen; the childminder is aware of this and provides resources to extend his play by offering a role play extinguisher and water. Another child loves animals, they visited the animal park and made a book together of the photographs taken of his favourite animals.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

He now enjoys sharing the special book which helps him to recall the outing and contributes to his language and communication skills. Children are developing good early maths skills as the childminder successfully uses daily experiences to introduce counting, for example, she asks a child to count how many cakes left on the plate.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop social and communication skills that are appropriate or ahead of their age. Children play alongside each other very well and begin to play together, for example, with role play resources and with the sand and water. They become engrossed in their play. They develop their imagination as they build with duplo, use the small world toys and cars and pretend to be firemen. The childminder supports them well as she asks them questions to encourage them to think.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children benefit from an excellent range of activities outside the home such as a regular music group, toddler groups, childminder drop-in groups, local parks and other places of interest, such as the animal park. At the music group children participate in a range of action rhymes, craft activities and sensory play, such as exploring a leaf pond. This helps to widen children's learning experiences and gives them opportunities to socialise with their peers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have excellent opportunities to learn about the natural world; for example, they have grown and taken care of their own sunflower seeds. They enjoy picking fruit from the childminder's garden and eating it for their snack.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. All children are welcomed. They have equal access to all activities and experiences offered which are stimulating and age appropriate. Children are helped to develop a strong sense of belonging; through displays of their own art work and sharing books of photographs of activities which they have participated in with the childminder. They gain an understanding of diversity and knowledge of the wider world by seeing positive images in all areas of the play provided by the childminder. There are good systems in place to support children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. For example, the childminder is trained in 'Makaton' sign language to assist in communicating with a child with learning or hearing difficulties. Good communication and

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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 close links with parents and outside agencies ensures children’s individual needs are well supported.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is very good and they are happy and content in their play. Their self-confidence is evident and is very well promoted, as they receive lots of positive praise from the childminder, resulting in their enjoyment and contentment. They learn about expectations and boundaries of behaviour through discussion with the childminder. She also reminds them of the clear ground rules, which are displayed. A written policy is in place and shared with parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit from the warm and friendly relationship the childminder develops with parents. Children's ongoing needs are met well because the childminder has daily discussion with parents. She shares daily diaries recording their child's activities for the day, their food intake, and progress. Clear written information is made available to parents to ensure they are well informed of the service the childminder provides, her policies and procedures. The childminder has devised a questionnaire which she has asked parents to complete to ascertain their level of satisfaction with the care she provides. All responses and comments are very positive. A system for recording complaints is in place and parents have access to a complaint procedures. However, the procedure and system for recording complaints do not fully reflect new requirements.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's care, learning and play are well supported because the childminder has a regard for children's welfare. They enjoy and achieve through a wide range of activities in the well-organised and child friendly space. They benefit from the childminder's high level of expertise gained through a level 3 childcare qualification and her commitment to attend regular training to update and improve her practice. Children’s welfare is safeguarded because she is aware to notify Ofsted of significant changes.

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Organisation

Records, policies and procedures are all in place and kept appropriately. All records are shared regularly with parents to keep them well informed about the service and the activities, thus promoting children's well-being, development and progress.

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Organisation

Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous Inspection the childminder was required to develop her knowledge and understanding of special needs issues. The childminder has improved her knowledge of special needs issues, for example, she has attended inclusion training and a course of 'Makaton' signing.

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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

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): • update the complaints procedure and system for recording complaints to include the required information

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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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