Henry Hinde School

Inspection report for early years provision

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140372 Unique Reference Number 25 March 2008 Inspection date Gulnaz Hassan 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 1994. She lives with her adult son in a two bedroom ground flat in Tottenham in the London borough of Haringey. The living room, kitchen diner, the hallway and the bathroom are available for childminding purposes. The childminder is registered to care for a total of four children under eight years. There are currently two children under five years on roll. The childminder also cares for a number of children over eight years of age.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are well cared for in a clean and comfortable home where good housework routines are in place. Hygienic nappy changing arrangements, including frequent hand washing minimise the risks of cross infection. Sick or infectious children stay at home, helping to protect the health of all the children. Suitable records are kept supporting children's health and welfare, including consent for urgent medical treatment. However, the procedures in place for recording accidents and the administration of medicine are informal, and the childminder lacks knowledge

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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 of the necessary detail required to ensure that appropriate record keeping for these purposes is in place.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished and benefit from eating a range of healthy meals and snacks, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, in agreement with parental wishes and requests. Fresh drinking water is available throughout the day and at mealtimes.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are taken for walks and to the park to enjoy fresh air and exercise. Young children enjoy music and movement sessions with the childminder and they join in with dancing competitions organised by the older children in the evenings.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children are safeguarded because the childminder understands her role in child protection and is able to put some appropriate procedures into practice when necessary. However, because she does not have the required contact details for seeking advice or reporting any child protection concerns readily to hand, children's welfare is potentially not fully protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Resources are safe, age appropriate and adequately reflect most areas of play and there is plenty of space to meet children's care and play needs well. Children are kept safe in the setting because the childminder supervises them closely. Suitable safety precautions are taken, such as safety gates across the lower hallway to prevent access to the bedrooms and safety catches fitted to kitchen cupboards. Dangerous substances and sharp objects are kept out of children's reach and exposed electric sockets are protected with covers, helping children to stay safe. Smoke alarms and fire blankets are fitted in the appropriate places, however, although an emergency escape plan is in place, she has not practised this with children under eight years, this does not effectively ensure their safety in a real emergency or support their understanding of fire safety.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is satisfactory. Children settle and respond well in the setting because the childminder provides consistency and stability. Balanced, structured and familiar routines are helping children to feel secure and make satisfactory progress. The childminder ensures that she spends time with children on an individual basis giving them one to one attention. Whilst the childminder has attended initial training in the Birth to three matters framework, she has not implemented the framework into her practice in order to improve outcomes for children. For instance, toddlers access to messy play is limited, so that, although children under two years have access to some materials, such as chunky crayons and a chalk board, the childminder has not yet introduced aspects of messy play, such as paint and craft activities to children. This has an impact on the development of young children's creativity and learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder gets to know the children well and is aware of their specific interests, likes and dislikes so that she can meet their individual play, learning and care needs appropriately. Children enjoy being busy and active, they go for walks in the neighbourhood, for instance to the post office and occasionally visit local parks. In the home, children play well together, they choose from a suitable range of activities and resources that meet most of their developmental needs. Physical play equipment is available to children indoors where there is plenty of space for them to enjoy some wheeled toys and ball games. The childminder supports and encourages

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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 to develop some independence, especially with feeding, offering the young children suitable finger-foods and a spoon to help feed themselves. The childminder talks to the children all the time, plays with them and reads them stories, so that they receive plenty of attention.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from the consistent care provided by the childminder, who has developed positive relationships with the parents. The childminder creates opportunities at the end of each day to talk to parents about what the children have been doing, how they have been and what they have eaten, giving good opportunity for parents to be well informed. She establishes close relationships with parents, by being respectful of parents' wishes and supporting their preferences for their children. A brief complaints procedure containing information about the regulator, although not the contact details, is available to parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are well behaved and settled in the childminder's care, who is warm and gentle towards them. She offers the children praise for their good behaviour and gives them explanations to support their understanding between right and wrong.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children have regular access to an appropriate range of play resources, such as books, dolls and puzzles, which promote positive images of the wider world and gives them an understanding and awareness of the local community and other lifestyles.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are well cared for by the childminder who demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of the National Standards and of the conditions of her registration. Children receive good adult support and supervision, and enjoy a satisfactory range of activities.

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Organisation

Most of the necessary documentation for the safe and efficient management of the provision is in place, although the systems to record important detail for some documents have not been fully developed. A register of attendance, contracts, child record forms and consent forms are available to support children's safety and wellbeing. 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 was set a number of recommendations. The childminder was asked to improve her knowledge and understanding of the issues and implications of caring for sick and infectious children. To ensure that she had procedures in place with respect to notifying Ofsted about significant changes and events and to improve her knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. The childminder was also asked to provide a suitable range of toys and activities, including resources to reflect positive images for children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has good systems in place to inform Ofsted about significant changes and events, and is aware of the issues and implications of caring for children who are ill or infectious. This means that children's wellbeing and health needs are safeguarded. The childminder has a good range of activities and toys, including a number of resources that reflect positive images well, so that children are developing a good understanding of the wider community and have sufficient toys and activities to promote their play and learning needs. The childminder has a

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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 basic understanding of child protection issues and as a result children's welfare is safeguarded. However this is an area that requires further strengthening.

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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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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): • develop knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and procedures in line with those of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and ensure that necessary contact details for reporting concerns are available • ensure that emergency evacuations procedures are practised regularly with children • develop procedures to ensure that the recording of accidents and the administration of medication contains the required detail • develop children's learning and development by incorporating a framework such as Birth to three matters into the daily practice • ensure that the complaints procedure includes contact details for Ofsted.

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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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