Weekes, Violet

Inspection report for early years provision

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155035 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 lives with her two children, both over eight years, 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 one child on a part time basis. The childminder works alongside her sister, who is also a registered childminder, in her own home. Both childminder's have joint responsibility for the childminding practice. 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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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 outstanding. Children develop an exceptionally good awareness of the importance of exercise as part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The childminder plans an exciting range of physical activities, both in her home and garden and through groups she attends with children, which promotes their physical development extremely well. Children confidently use equipment, such as bicycles and slides and negotiate more challenging apparatus through visits to the local parks. This enables them to increase in confidence learning to take risks in a safe and secure environment. Babies learn to crawl and walk unaided using ball pools to climb in and out of and enjoy dancing to music with the childminder.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's understanding of healthy eating is really enhanced because the childminder provides wonderful nutritious healthy meals for them across the day. She takes into account all children's individual dietary requirements and uses this information to help plan menus tailored to their individual needs. Babies develop their self care skills helping to feed themselves and children's social skills are enhanced through mealtimes as the childminder and children sit together to eat. Home cooked meals, such as macaroni cheese and spaghetti bolognaise are provided at lunch times and lighter snacks across the day, including various different fruits, rice cakes and crackers. Menus are discussed with parents and these are displayed on the parent notice board, reminding them of the meals to be offered for the week.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children use soap and individual hand towels when washing their hands, which really helps promote their understanding of how to reduce the spread of germs. They know to follow this routine after going to the toilet and before sitting down to eat and talk about why this is important with the childminder. They bring toothbrushes and toothpaste to the childminder's home and use these after lunch talking about why it is important to look after their teeth. Children's health is exceptionally well promoted because the childminder implements highly effective health and hygiene procedures within her home to minimise the spread of germs and reduce cross infection; for example, she cleans baby changing mats after use and wears disposable gloves to change nappies. Extremely secure systems are in place to respond to accidents, record comprehensive information about these and discuss the incident with parents,

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Helping children to be healthy

helping to maintain children's health. Parents receive a written copy of the incident and provide much written information about children's medical conditions and allergies.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children benefit immensely because they can wander freely and safely around the childminder's home. The environment is extremely attractive and welcoming with posters and photographs displayed and the childminder makes excellent use of space to maximise play opportunities for children. Resources are attractively presented on low level storage units, which enables children to independently access the full range of equipment and play provision. The wonderful array of resources available are clean and safe and the childminder implements highly effective procedures to ensure all equipment, furniture and resources are kept 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 is vigilant and ensures all areas of her home, both inside and out are safe and secure. She uses her excellent knowledge and understanding around health and safety to take positive steps to promote safety within

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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 her home implementing formal risk assessments regularly. The childminder continues to update her knowledge around health and safety legislation by attending any new training courses and workshops offered. Children's safety on the stairs and around plugs is ensured through the use of stair gates and socket covers and dangerous substances, such as cleaning materials, are stored out of children's reach. Children's understanding of how to keep themselves safe is exceptionally well promoted as they practise fire drills learning what to do in the case of an emergency. They learn how to cross roads safely practising this with the childminder when on outings and excellent procedures are in place to ensure their safety when out of the home. The childminder is highly effective in the way in which she uses play situations to talk to children

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

about safety issues and raised their awareness of potential dangers.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is promoted because the childminder has an extremely secure knowledge about child protection issues and knows how to implement Local Safeguarding Children's Procedures. Comprehensive systems are in place to record injuries children with and discuss these with parents and the childminder's commitment to continual training in this area ensures she knows how to deal with any disclosures made. Children are protected and safeguarded from harm because the childminder fully understands her role with regards to protecting children in her care and liaises extremely closely with parents, and outside agencies, where appropriate, to ensure children are not put at risk. Detailed written policies and procedures, which are shared effectively with parents, help to ensure children are kept safe and protected whilst in the care of the childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children participate in an exciting and varied range of stimulating play opportunities whilst in the childminder's care. Highly effective systems are in place to plan these, matched to children's individual needs, interests and abilities. Planning is exceptional and used extremely flexibly, following the lead of children attending each day. Children thrive during the time they spend with the childminder and develop exceptionally high levels of self assurance and independence, which is enhanced through the childminder's excellent knowledge of child development. She recognises how young children learn most effectively and provides an exceptional environment and exciting play programme. Consequently, every child is fully engrossed in their play, develops at their own rate and becomes a competent learner.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children laugh and giggle as they chase around the room after the balloon. The childminder joins in their game and supports a younger child who shows interest although appears a little reserved. Children have marvellous opportunities to express their real and imagined ideas through role-play. They iron the clothes, cook the dinner and offer everyone a nice cup of tea. The childminder is exceptionally effective in helping children to extend their imagined ideas and questions them about things they do at home, which really helps promote their early language development. Interaction is wonderful between the childminder and children. The childminder sits on the floor and uses the crocodile puppet to sing with them and chase after them. Babies laugh and giggle as they race across the floor running from the crocodile. They play 'peek a boo' together and dance with the childminder to music, holding hands. Children

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

participate enthusiastically in songs and action rhymes, which helps develop their communication and language skills. They become competent learners using scissors and pencils confidently and show great interest in how things work when the childminder shows them how to stand the ironing board up.

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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 and young children cuddle into the childminder displaying extremely secure relationships and a high sense of self assurance. Their independence is exceptionally well promoted as they help themselves to the wonderful play provision and resources. Children benefit from ample opportunities to explore their senses and experience a range of tactile experiences, for example using dough, paint and sand. Planned outings to places, such as Queens Park and regular attendance at various toddler and childminding groups enhance the opportunities provided for children, enabling them to progress in every aspect of their development. Children's ongoing progress and individual achievements are monitored and recorded by the childminder and this information is used to help plan their future learning experiences. Each child has an individual

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

journal, which includes detailed evidence of how they have developed using written information and photographs. This information is shared exceptionally well with 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 develop exceptionally high levels of belonging and establish extremely secure trusting relationships with the childminder and their peers. Their understanding of playing nicely with their peers is extremely well promoted as the childminder helps children learn to take turns, negotiate and learn to respect and value one another's feelings. Children confidently pack away resources when they have finished playing and the presentation of these helps boost their sense of responsibility as they learn to look after the toys. Their confidence and independence is exceptionally high and children respond well to the continual praise and encouragement from the childminder. They have a very good understanding about boundaries and display extremely good behaviour. Secure procedures and consistent strategies discussed and implemented between home ad the setting really help to promote children's understanding of right and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Every child is valued and treated as an individual, which impacts on children's confidence and the relationships they build with their peers. The childminder has an in-depth knowledge of children's individual needs, interests and abilities, as well as their home and family circumstances. Children are exceptionally well cared for in a fully inclusive environment where they become aware of diversity through play and discussions with the childminder; for example, children taste different dishes, use books to help locate information about different countries and cultures and play with resources reflecting positive images of culture, ethnicity, gender and disability. Practical and exciting activities are introduced, matched to children's age and level of understanding, helping them to become aware of the similarities and differences between themselves and others. Every child's home language is valued and highly effective systems are

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Helping children make a positive contribution

in place to effectively communicate and support children and families who speak English as an additional language.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children really benefit because wonderful relationships are established between their parents and the childminder. Highly effective procedures are in place for registration and settling in, which ensures much formal, and informal, information is exchanged. Consequently, the childminder gains an excellent understanding about the individual children in her care and is fully able to meet their individual needs. The childminder has cared for children since they were babies, which really helps to secure relationships and promote children's sense of belonging. Wonderful information is provided to parents about the childminding service through a range of different ways; for example, much information is displayed on the notice board, including policies and menus, and a comprehensive parent pack is also provided to new parents. This includes information about how to make a complaint and the contact details for Ofsted, although

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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 procedures to record and share information with parents about complaints, should any be received, are not yet fully developed. Photographs of children participating in a range of play experiences are displayed, which help promote parent's awareness of how children learn through play. Links between the home and the setting are extremely well developed and the childminder provides much informal feedback about children's day, ensuring parents are well informed about what their child has been involved in. In addition, parents are presented with a detailed personal journal from the childminder providing a clear picture of their individual child's progress and achievements over the last year.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Every child thrives 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 in her own home. She makes excellent use of time, space and resources to provide an exciting and varied range of activities and experiences, which are well organised around the children attending each day. Consequently, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She promotes extremely successful outcomes for children ensuring they are healthy, safe and well cared for. As a result, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. The childminder has a very good understanding of the regulations and the National Standards and keeps a detailed portfolio, which she shares effectively with parents. This includes detailed information about her

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Organisation

childminding service, qualifications and certificates of attendance and written policies and procedures. Secure procedures are in place to keep accurate records and store these securely in her home, ensuring confidentiality is maintained.

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Organisation

The childminder meets regularly with other registered childminders, runs drop in sessions, and acts as a support childminder and mentor to new childminders, enabling her to share her skills and well established practice. She has a very good knowledge of her individual strengths and continues to identify areas for development actively seeking to improve her practise. Children really benefit because the childminder is fully committed to her role and has an excellent knowledge and understanding about child development. She updates her skills and knowledge regularly attending training opportunities. Overall, every child thrives and has a truly marvellous time during the time they spend in the childminder's 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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