Childminder, Out-of school day care in Medway

Inspection report for early years provision

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156032 Unique Reference Number 12 February 2008 Inspection date Linda Patricia Coccia 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 2001. She lives with her husband and two children aged 10 and 14 years in Frindsbury, Kent. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house, an upstairs playroom and upstairs toilet and bathroom are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding six children from four years to ten years on a regular basis. The childminder walks and drives to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent/toddler group and local childminding groups. The family has two pet cats. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are kept healthy by the childminders outstanding procedures which deal with health and hygiene. Her accident and medication records are extremely well maintained. Parents must

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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 sign if medication is to be administered. Parents also give written permission for emergency medical treatment. Children follow very good hygiene procedures and always wash their hands after using the toilet and before meals. They use paper towels. They all know why they must do so as there are pictorial reminders posted in the bathroom. The childminder also operates a sick child policy which includes the procedures for her own sickness. She has arranged emergency cover for these eventualities. Children's health is promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

The children eat meals which are always freshly cooked and are agreed with parents from a menu list prior to being served. The childminder tries to incorporate foods that the children like on their plates. For example they all have meat and potatoes but some may like carrots whilst others have broccoli. Vegetarian options are always available. Children's individual needs are catered for and healthy eating is very well promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children participate in a very wide range of regular physical play activities, both indoors and outside. In the garden they play football and rounders, use the swing and basket ball nets. Indoors they play with the TV game machine which necessitates doing physical movements to make the characters work on the TV. Children also walk to and from school each day and use music tapes and videos to move to. Children enjoy their physical play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The premises are bright and welcoming to children. Everywhere is clean and exceptionally well maintained with plenty of floor space for easy movement. The childminder has appropriate safety equipment in place, suitable for the ages of the children attending. Currently socket covers are in use but other equipment such as stair gates and fireguards are available in the loft. This means that children can move around safely and independently. Toys are in very good condition, safe, hygienic and well maintained. Regular written risk assessments are carried out on the premises.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are also kept safe when off the premises. The childminder takes a written record with her giving details of parents contact numbers, doctors details and such like. The eight seat people carrier is well maintained with appropriate business Class 1 insurance and suitable car seats and booster seats. A good range of fire safety equipment is readily available and tested regularly. The children practise the childminders well thought out emergency evacuation procedures, using different escape routes each time. The childminder notes that she has carried out the drill but does not evaluate them with the children. Children have the opportunity to keep themselves safe in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected by the childminder's written policy and procedures regarding Safeguarding children. She has a good awareness of safeguarding children issues and shares her knowledge and information with parents. She has protection agency contact numbers readily available. She regularly spot checks the children who elect to play upstairs in the play room and can generally hear them playing. Children's well being is very well promoted.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The children have an extremely close relationship with the childminder. Many of them have been cared for by the childminder since babyhood. They laugh and joke with her and obviously

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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 enjoy lots of fun and laughter in her company. They report that she is outstanding because of the different activities she provides.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children play with an excellent range of activities which are suitable for their ages. The childminder also has a very good range of activities for younger children, covering all the areas of development. When toys are currently not being used they are stored in the loft. Toys that are being used are stored on suitable shelving in the play room or in the sideboard in the dining room. Toys are regularly rotated to give the children much more choice. Children can elect to do the activities they want. They use electronic games or watch television. They have access to a wide range of drawing and craft activities. They can play in the garden or play upstairs in the play room with role figures such as Action man or other small world figures. They regularly dress up to get into character for their games.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

During holiday periods when the children are off school they go out with the childminder, swimming or to the cinema. They spend time at local places of interest such as at Leeds castle and at various parks and farm areas and spend time in indoor activity centres. The children report that they love meandering around the countryside because they see so many nice things. Children participate in interesting and exciting activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children benefit from the childminders open attitude towards equality. The childminder has a full written policy which covers all areas including catering for children with learning difficulties and disabilities. She has a nice range of toys and books with positive images of race and culture and all the children use the dressing up clothes. Children acknowledge each others differences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children learn about their behaviour through the childminder's strategies for dealing with behaviour. She discusses any unwanted behaviour with the children and their parents. However, the childminder reported that she does need to resort to this very often. The children are all advised of the sort of behaviour she expects from them and generally they comply. Children play within well defined boundaries.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children benefit from the childminder working in partnership with their parents. She uses a service contract with them which is regularly reviewed. The childminder has some very good written references from previous parents which comment on her 'professional attitude' and her 'trustworthiness'. Previously minded children have also sent her cards which nominate her 'the best childminder in the world'. Each child's information is kept in an individual folder. Parents receive regular daily updates on their children. Children benefit from continuity of care.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder is very well organised. All persons in the household have been vetted. The childminder is aware of her responsibility to ensure persons in contact with children are suitable, including the emergency cover minders and members of her family. She has attended a number of training workshops in the last year and has plans to do more. Children benefit from her commitment to training.

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Organisation

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 childminder displays her registration certificate. All regulatory paperwork is in place and well maintained. Records are easily available in her portfolio and arranged in folders. Her service statement offers parents a good insight into her service. She has a complaints log and her written procedures are shared with parents.

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Organisation

An appropriate range of paperwork is being kept on each child which is confidential and stored appropriately. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has followed a recommendation from a previous inspection to assess the current dressing up clothes for equality content and increase the range if necessary. She found that the clothes she provided were suitable for the children giving positive images of equality especially gender.

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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 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): • consider ways to improve the emergency evacuation procedures. For example, carrying out an evaluation

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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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