Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY233018 Unique Reference Number 07 February 2008 Inspection date Pamela Bailey Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged nine and 11 years in the London Borough of Bromley. The whole of the childminder's house except for the loft conversion is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five years.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder attends the local parent/carer and toddler groups. She takes the children to the local library and park and take and collect children from pre-school.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young children are able to rest or be active according to their needs. They have many opportunities to take part in physical play both indoors and outdoors. The large play equipment in the garden gives children plenty of opportunity to practice and develop their physical skills. They enjoy playing hockey and chasing the ball inside the home. This helps to develop their hand and eye coordination.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children receive a range of healthy snacks, drinks and water throughout the day. This encourages them to develop healthy eating practices from an early age. The childminder monitors the menu to provide a variety in accordance with parents wishes and any special dietary requirements. She also monitors young children's food intake, sleep and nappy change. This contributes to their physical well-being and ensures continuity of care.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children are protected from cross infection in most areas. For example, children who are infectious do not attend thus preventing the spread of contagious ailments. The childminder has effective nappy changing procedures in place such as children having individual changing mats and individual hand towels. However, young children are not developing good personal hygiene practices from an early age. For example, the childminder does not encourage children to wash their hands before eating snacks of finger foods.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder holds a current first aid certificate. She gathers all relevant information relating to children's health needs and ensures that all the required documentation such as accident records and medication records are accurately maintained. This means she can give appropriate care if there is an emergency.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from playing in a spacious and well organised environment. This allows them to move around freely and have easy access to a wide range of good quality toys and resources. These are carefully selected by the childminder to ensure that children have a good choice of safe and suitable resources.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children benefit from some good safety measures. For example, safety gates prevent children having unsupervised access to the stairs and kitchen. The garden is safe for children to enjoy fresh air and play with equipment that is suitable for their age and needs. Parents give prior written consent for children to play on the large equipment and the decking area is fully enclosed. This allows children to enjoy their play both indoors and outdoors. The childminder is vigilant about fire safety. Regular fire drills help children become familiar with the procedures so that they learn to leave the premises quickly and safely. The childminder has a system in place to monitor fire drills and ensure that smoke alarms are regularly checked.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are clear procedures for outings that ensure children's safety. The childminder obtains the relevant consent from parents, ensures that the required vehicle documentation is up to date and car seats are suitable for the age of the children. The childminder carries pocket size cards with the children's details in case of emergency. However, this does not accurately reflect the children's personal details such as the date of birth.

p.3

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 and promoted. The childminder has a sound knowledge of child protection issues. She has the required documentation such as the safeguarding children policy in place and has devised written policies of the procedures to be followed in the event of a child being lost or not collected. This ensures that she can quickly recognise when a child is in danger and act in the child's best interest.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young children are beginning to develop their own preferences and make choices for themselves. Activities are laid out for the children and there is a system so that children can choose other toys and resources that are not readily available. They confidently express their needs through words and gestures. Children are developing a healthy interest in books and enjoy listening to stories. They become actively involved as they help to turn the pages and name objects. The childminder uses good questioning and repeating of children's responses to encourage use of language.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have plenty of opportunity to recognise their name and begin to understand that print carries meaning. The childminder labels the children's individual coat pegs, hand towels and equipment. She skilfully supports activities and uses routine tasks to develop children's understanding of numbers, and recognise colours and shapes. Children are learning to care for living things. They help to make the rules for the care of the pet rabbit.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses the Birth to three matters framework to makes regular observations, record achievements and identify the next steps in children's profiles. However, the children's personal detail is not consistent such as the date of birth.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's creative and imaginative development is encouraged through activities such as role play, cooking and art and craft. For example, the children made pancakes and a pancake pan using materials such as paper, glue and glitter. Their finer motor skills are developing well as they explore a range of activities and find out how they work. For example, pushing or turning buttons and inserting shapes. They enjoy making towers using building blocks.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young children are developing good relationships. They are settled and have a sense of belonging. This supports their emotional wellbeing and gives them the confidence to explore new experiences. Children behave well and benefit from consistent praise and encouragement. The childminder's calm and gentle approach encourages children to respond effectively to any guidance and praise. For example, children persevere with challenging activities and help to tidy up. They automatically self praise by clapping and cheering when they have achieved well.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children gain an understanding of the wider world through looking at different festivals and celebrations such as Shove Tuesday, Chinese new year, Diwali and Valentine's day. They visit children's groups, parks and have access to a range of resources inside the childminder's home that reflect positive images of all aspects of society. The childminder ensures that she knows about children's spoken language, however, she does not gain relevant information about children's needs with regard to religion or culture so that she can help children to acknowledge their own culture and see it as important. Although there are no children currently attending

p.4

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 with learning difficulties and/or disability, the childminder was able to demonstrate how she would assess the children's needs to determine whether appropriate care could be provided.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is good. There are both formal and informal systems in place for the childminder and parents to share information about the service and the children. Parents receive sufficient information about the childminder's written policies and procedures, such as behaviour management and the complaints policy including Ofsted details are prominently displayed. The childminder completes a day book for parents giving information about their child's daily activities and continual assessments of children's individual learning and progress. This helps to provide children with consistent care and enhances their learning.

p.5

Organisation

The organisation is good. Children benefit from a well organised environment where they receive good adult support to help them feel secure and confident. The day is well planned allowing children time for rest and play. The childminder has good understanding of how children learn. She provides a stimulating range of activities and makes good use of resources to promote effective learning in all areas. Her flexible approach allows children the opportunity to pursue their own games and welcome her support.

p.5

Organisation

All mandatory records are in place and filed to ensure confidentiality. However, there are inconsistencies in the details recorded on children's individual records, progress files and emergency pocket cards. The childminder keeps a record of the children's arrival and departure times. However, this is not a accurate reflection of their attendance. For example, children who attend pre-school are recorded as present throughout the day.

p.5

Organisation

The childminder attends training whenever she can. This ensures she is able to provide appropriate care for the children. Written policies and procedures guide the childminder in her daily practice. This ensures that children's needs are met and all relevant information is shared with parents. A good two-way flow of information ensures continuity of care.

p.5

Organisation

Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to attend further training. The childminder has attended Child development in speech and language, Birth to three matters and Introduction to the Early Years Foundation Stage. This supports her in her role to ensure continual improvements in the outcomes for children and that she has the latest and most relevant information.

p.5

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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

p.5

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.6

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.

p.6

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 young children's understanding of good hygiene practices • improve details kept about children's individual needs • keep an accurate record of the children's daily hours of attendance and improve record keeping to show consistency in the recording of children's personal details

p.6

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

p.6

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

p.6