Childminder in Westminster

Inspection report for early years provision

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155034 Unique Reference Number 26 November 2007 Inspection date Gill Moore 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 2001. She childminds from her sister's home, who is also a registered childminder, where her sister lives with her two children, both over eight years. They live in a basement flat in the W9 area within walking distance of Royal Oak and Westbourne Park tube station and community resources. The ground floor of the family home is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children under eight years at any one time. She is currently minding three children on a full and part time basis. The family have fish. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She attends and runs drop in sessions locally for other registered childminders.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children follow excellent hygiene routines whilst in the childminder's care, which helps increase their understanding of the importance of looking after their bodies. They wash their hands

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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 using soap and use individual hand towels, which helps reduce the spread of germs. Children brush their teeth after they have eaten their dinner talking about why this is important and discuss their own experiences of visiting the dentist. They discuss how they clean their teeth at home with mummy and talk about the different types of toothbrushes they use. Children stay healthy because exceptionally high standards of hygiene are maintained throughout the home. The childminder wears disposable gloves when changing children's nappies and individual changing mats are used and cleaned thoroughly, which again minimises the spread of germs. Children's health is well maintained because the childminder has up to date first aid training and responds effectively to accidents and administration of medication. Comprehensive records

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Helping children to be healthy

are in place, and parents sign to acknowledge they have been advised of accidents their child is involved in. They receive a written copy of the incident and provide much written information about children's medical conditions and allergies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children gain an exceptionally good understanding of the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet through discussion during play; for example, when pretending to cook dinner, children talk about the different play food, discussing which types of food are good for their bodies. Their understanding is enhanced through the healthy nutritious meals and snacks provided by the childminder. Children benefit from a nutritious healthy cooked lunch, such as spaghetti bolognaise, chicken and rice, shepherds pie and macaroni cheese. They are offered yoghurts and fruit for desserts and snacks across the day, including rice cakes, fruit and breadsticks. Children's individual dietary requirements are fully met and menus are discussed and displayed on the parent notice board. Children sit together with the childminder for meals, which helps promote their social skills, and young babies begin to develop very good

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Helping children to be healthy

independence holding a spoon and helping to feed themselves.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have ample opportunities to engage in physical activities every day and the childminder makes very good use of the garden, as well as inside the home, to promote children's physical development. They learn how to use slides, ride bicycles and cars confidently and enjoy playing on the bouncy castle and in the ball pool. Children benefit enormously from engaging in a wide range of physical activities during their time at drop in groups they attend with the childminder. They dance to music, go for walks every day and enjoy using more challenging apparatus developing their skills whilst visiting local parks. Consequently, children's understanding of the importance of regular exercise as part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is extremely well promoted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for in an extremely welcoming, stimulating and secure environment where their safety is of paramount importance. There are photographs and posters displayed and the play area is exceptionally inviting to both children and their parents. Children benefit from being able to wander freely and safely around the home because risks and hazards are minimised, which helps promote their sense of self assurance. The main play room is extremely well set up and all play resources are presented in an exceptionally attractive manner on open shelving units and in low level boxes. They have independent access to an extensive range of play equipment and resources, suitable for their age and stage of development. This is exceptionally well maintained and presented and secure procedures are implemented to check all furniture, equipment and play provision, ensuring it is kept clean and well maintained.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's safety is exceptionally well promoted because the childminder has an excellent knowledge and understanding around health and safety and takes positive steps to promote

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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 safety within the home. She implements formal risk assessments, completing checklists, and has attended training around health and safety. Consequently, the childminder is extremely vigilant ensuring she promotes a safe and secure environment. Stair gates are used to prevent children from accessing specific areas, plug sockets are made safe and dangerous substances, such as cleaning materials, are inaccessible to children. Excellent procedures are in place to promote children's safety when on outings and children learn how to cross roads safely. They talk about the procedure to follow in the event of a fire, and practise this regularly with the childminder, which helps increase their understanding about what to do in an emergency situation. Children learn how to handle scissors safely recognising the importance of keeping

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

these away from younger children. Written procedures, including an outings policy, help to highlight how children's safety is assured whilst in the childminder's care.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected and safeguarded from harm because the childminder has an in-depth knowledge about child protection issues and fully recognises her role with regards to protecting children in her care. She has completed extensive training in this area and has an excellent understanding about different types of abuse, and how to respond to concerns and disclosures made by children. The childminder is fully aware of the Local Safeguarding Children's Procedures and how to implement these. She has a written policy and ensures parents fully understand her role with regards to child protection issues. Secure systems are in place to discuss and record any injuries children arrive with, which helps keep them safe and ensure their welfare is fully promoted.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit immensely because the childminder has an excellent knowledge about child development and plans an exciting range of activities and experiences, which are matched to children's individual needs and interests. The childminder has written routines and plans, which help her to organise her day, although these are very flexible and are adapted around the children attending on a daily basis. Children are very much involved in the planning of experiences and are totally engrossed in their activities because they initiate much of their learning. The childminder is extremely skilful in the way she uses discussions, routines and opportunities through children's play to help consolidate knowledge and introduce new skills. Consequently, children become competent learners, develop at their own rate and engage in wonderful practical, exciting and challenging opportunities, which helps promote their early

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children become competent learners using shape sorters. They count the bricks and sort them into colours recognising how many they have in each set. The childminder plays alongside children supporting them as they complete puzzles. She questions them effectively helping children to solve problems around size and shape for themselves when trying to fit the pieces together. Children express wonderful imagination taking their baby for a walk in the pushchair and the childminder promotes discussion encouraging them to become skilful communicators. Children talk about places they visit with mummy and laugh with the childminder as she talks to them on the play telephone. Interaction between the childminder and children is really wonderful. She sits on the floor and explores books with children, using fantastic voices pretending to be the different characters, and fully involves them in the story. Children copy

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

language introduced by the childminder and laugh excitedly as they make predictions about what is going to happen next. They share their own experiences about going to the shops just like in the story, which really promotes their language development. Children really enjoy dancing and singing to music imitating the actions of 'head, shoulders, knees and toes' and

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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 babies babble with excitement playing 'peek a boo' with the childminder hiding behind their hands.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Babies and young children are exceptionally well supported and develop high levels of self assurance responding extremely well to the cuddles from the childminder. They develop extremely high levels of independence helping themselves to an exciting and stimulating range of play resources, which promotes their sense of self assurance within the setting. Children have marvellous opportunities to use their senses and explore creativity using sand, painting using different techniques and making play dough. They visit Queens Park and Paddington Wreck regularly, which provides additional opportunities for them to run around and engage in physical activities. The childminder has a very good knowledge of children's individual abilities and what stage they are in their individual development. She observes children as they grow and keeps written and photographic evidence of their individual achievements and progress

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

made. This information is gathered together in an individual journal and presented to parents showing each child's journey of self discovery in the very early stages of their learning.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are highly valued as individuals and benefit immensely because the childminder has an excellent knowledge and understanding about their individual needs. She has an excellent knowledge of equal opportunities and ensures she promotes a fully inclusive environment where every child is valued and treated as an individual. Children begin to gain a very good understanding about diversity through discussions and the use of resources reflecting positive images of culture, gender, disability and ethnicity. They dress up in costumes depicting different cultures from around the world and taste a range of dishes from different cultures. Children increase their understanding about Black history through activities and experiences planned at a level appropriate to their age and level of understanding. Excellent procedures are in place to support children and their families who speak English as an additional language; for example,

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the childminder obtains familiar words used by the child, and introduces these to all children, helping to increase her ability to fully communicate.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is extremely good. They develop exceptionally high levels of confidence and independence, which is really enhanced through the presentation of the resources, as children make their own decisions about what they want to play with. They are extremely self assured and play exceptionally well together. Children know the importance of playing nicely and this is promoted by the childminder through discussions and constant re-enforcement. They develop high levels of belonging and a sense of responsibility learning to help put resources away when they have finished playing and are extremely confident with the daily routine. Positive behaviour is encouraged because the childminder continually praises children for what they are doing and encourages them to develop new skills. Children have a very good understanding about what is expected of them, which really impacts on their overall behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

A written behaviour policy is in place and this is discussed with parents to ensure consistent strategies are implemented when dealing with children's unwanted behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit immensely because extremely friendly relationships are established and maintained between the childminder and their parents. The childminder has cared for children since they were babies and consequently has an excellent understanding of their individual needs. Wonderful relationships are established, which really helps develop children's sense of self assurance. Parents are extremely well informed about the childminder's service and their child's day through a variety of ways. They receive comprehensive information in a parent pack

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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 and a bright and colourful notice board includes written policies, photographs of children playing and detailed information about how the childminder promotes successful outcomes for children. Parents are provided with the contact details for Ofsted and a written complaints procedure is in place, although procedures to record and share information with parents about complaints, should any be received, are not yet fully developed. Much written and verbal communication takes place initially, which really helps to ensure the childminder has a secure understanding about children's individual needs and family and home circumstances. Parents are extremely well informed about what their child has been involved in through discussions when they collect their child and through a detailed personal journal. This is presented annually

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Helping children make a positive contribution

and includes photographs and written information about how their child has developed.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children really thrive during the time they spend in the childminder's care. They benefit enormously because the childminder is extremely well organised and works exceptionally well with another registered childminder at the same address. She plans her day extremely well around children's individual routines and provides an exciting and stimulating range of activities and experiences. Consequently, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. Children's health, safety and well-being are extremely well promoted because the childminder has a very good understanding of the regulations and the National Standards, which enables her to promote extremely successful outcomes for children. She keeps a detailed portfolio, which includes detailed information about her childminding service, qualifications and certificates of attendance and written policies and procedures. Accurate

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Organisation

records are maintained and stored securely and confidentiality maintained.

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Organisation

The childminder recognises her strengths and actively seeks to improve her practice by continuing to update her skills and knowledge through attending a wide range of training opportunities. She meets regularly with other registered childminders, and runs drop in sessions, which provides opportunities for all minded children to play alongside their peers and develop extremely secure relationships. Children really benefit because the childminder is fully committed to her role and has an excellent knowledge and understanding about child development. She provides a safe, secure and stimulating environment where every child flourishes and has a truly wonderful time in her care.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to develop knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. The childminder has completed training in this area, since the last inspection, and now has a very secure knowledge about child protection issues and how to implement procedures when concerns are raised. Consequently, this helps to safeguard children and protect them whilst in the childminder's care.

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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): • develop the procedure for making complaints to introduce the requirement to keep a complaints log

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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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