Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY242545 Unique Reference Number 25 February 2008 Inspection date Helen Deegan 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 has been registered since February 2003. She lives with her family in West Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Children have access to the whole of the ground floor and two bedrooms on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family have a cat and a chinchilla. She is registered to care for five children aged under eight and currently has four children on roll. She regularly attends a local toddler group. She has the NNEB qualification and the PLA Diploma in Pre School Practice.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children play in a clean, well organised and well maintained premises. The childminder encourages them to develop good hygiene routines, by encouraging them to wash their hands thoroughly at the appropriate times. A hand washing poster with picture diagrams is displayed

p.2

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 above the sink and the children enjoy copying the actions to ensure that their hands are properly clean. However, the shared use of a hand towel presents a risk of cross infection.

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder provides a good range of healthy and nutritious meals, snacks and drinks which help to promote children's health. She encourages the children to help prepare their own food for example, on the day of the inspection a child enjoyed helping to peel the carrots and potatoes. Fresh drinks are easily accessible to children in their individual beakers. Parents are asked to provide information about their child's dietary requirements so that their individual needs are met.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The childminder provides a safe, warm and welcoming environment for children. Useful information is displayed for parents in the entrance hall, and each day the childminder displays the names of the children who will be attending below the welcome sign. The childminder has an excellent range of play equipment which is stored neatly and accessibly in a variety of storage boxes and low level shelves. This creates a stimulating environment which enables children to choose and access activities independently and helps to develop their self help and decision making skills.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Safety is a high priority for the childminder and she has taken appropriate steps to ensure safety in all areas of the premises. A fire blanket and smoke alarms are in place and the fire evacuation procedure is practised regularly with the children. To support the fire drill activity she has books available to the children about the fire service, toy fire engines and fire fighter dressing up outfits. She ensures safety on outings by using wrist straps and providing reflective tabards for the children to wear over their coats on dark winter days. She has produced a children's departure policy which informs parents that their children will not be released from her care to anyone that is not known to her and advises them of her password system. She has maintained a current first aid certificate which further protects children's safety.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a thorough knowledge of her responsibilities with regard to child protection, including the indicators of abuse and the procedures to follow should a concern arise about a child. She also has the Local Safeguarding Children's Board, child protection procedures available for reference and has attended child protection training. This ensures that children's welfare is protected.

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. The childminder provides an excellent range of activities each day. She joins in with the children at their play offering support, help and encouragement. She talks to the children, introducing new language and asking relevant questions to encourage them to think about what they are doing and develop their understanding. She follows themes that the children are doing at school, providing stories and activities to complement and extend their knowledge. On the day of the inspection a child thoroughly enjoyed pretending to bake cakes with play dough, the childminder asked him where he could bake them and he took them to the pretend cooker, she asked him what he needed to protect his hands from the hot oven, he replied that he needed the oven glove which he then wore. The childminder asked him how long he needed to bake his cakes for and set the alarm on her mobile phone accordingly. When the child asked if his

p.3

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

cakes were ready she showed him how the numbers were going down on the phone and said

p.3

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 he needed to wait until they all said zero. The child played with other activities until the alarm went off and then excitedly took his cakes out using the oven glove. The childminder encouraged him to use his imagination by talking about the smells and tastes from the cakes. The childminder speaks positively about the children, talking about the things they are good at and praising them at every opportunity. Children are happy, relaxed and confident because the childminder knows them well, responds well to their interests and ensures that they are well occupied with stimulating age appropriate activities.

p.3

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has an excellent understanding of equal opportunities and promotes it via a wide variety of equipment which reflects different race, culture, language, religion and disability. In addition the childminder carries out activities linked to different religious festivals and has produced a written policy about equal opportunities which she makes available to parents. This ensures that children gain positive messages about diversity. She obtains thorough details about children's individual needs from parents and has some experience of caring for children who have disabilities. She is proactive in obtaining information to help her care for children with learning difficulties or disabilities appropriately. For example, she was recently asked to care for a child who has a visual impairment. In preparation for this, before confirmation of the placement she accessed a course on 'playing with children with visual impairments', conducted

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

some research of her own and passed useful information and contacts to the parents.

p.4

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well because the childminder is calm, consistent and positive with them. She has a written behaviour management policy which describes age appropriate strategies for managing unwanted behaviour. She has excellent methods in place for keeping parents well informed about her provision. An information pack is available for new parents including policy information, useful information is displayed in the entrance hall and daily diaries are used to share information. Parent's are made aware of the process to follow should they wish to make a complaint via a poster in the entrance hall and by information included on the contract. The childminder informs parents via letter that she is due to be inspected and invites them to make any comments. In response to her recent letter parents of every child wrote an extremely complimentary reference about her service.

p.4

Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder has all the required record keeping documents in place and maintained up to date. She attends ongoing training courses to update and improve her knowledge. She produced a thorough set of policies which uses to guide her daily practice. She has maintain her first aid qualification and provides good information for parents, including information on how to make a complaint. The provision meets the range of needs of the children for whom she provides.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder was asked to ensure that an appropriate range of resources which promote equality of opportunity and anti discriminatory practice are provided. The childminder now has an excellent range of equipment which positively reflects different race, culture, language, religion and disability.

p.4

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

p.4

Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required either the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards. 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

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.5

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.5

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): • ensure that children do not share the use of hand towels.

p.5

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.5

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.5