Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY259697 Unique Reference Number 26 March 2008 Inspection date Helen Maria Steven 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 satisfactory. 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 September 2003. She lives in a one bed roomed second floor flat in the Isle of Dogs in the London borough of Tower Hamlets. The living room and hallway are the main areas of the home used for childminding. There is no access to an outdoor area but children are regularly taken to local parks and playgrounds.

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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, either independently or alongside another childminder. She currently has four children on roll. The childminder regularly works alongside another childminder who also has four children on roll.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends local drop in groups and is a member of a local childminder’s network. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 satisfactory. Children are cared for in a warm clean home which is well ventilated to support children’s wellbeing. There are resources in place to assist children’s personal hygiene such as colour coded flannels for hand drying. However, children are not routinely encouraged to hand wash prior to eating food such as toast. The childminder reports that she does not given children medicine but has suitable recording systems in place if children needing long term medication are in her care. Records show that since the last inspection the childminder has administered medication without prior written parental consent. This is a breach of regulation.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are able to instigate snack times when they identify they are thirsty and hungry. The childminder takes account of the wishes of parents to provide nutritious snacks and meals that appeal to the children. There is a menu available for parents, although some meals on display do not reflect that all food groups are included to provide a healthy balance. Through discussion the childminder demonstrates that children’s dietary needs are met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Regular trips to local parks, playgrounds and drop-ins improve children's physical skills. As a result they benefit from fresh air and develop a positive attitude to exercise which contributes to their good health. Babies pull themselves up and take steps across the room. They use push along toys to support them as they negotiate space within the living room.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder has taken precautions to reduce hazards for children, for example, she has fitted covers on electrical sockets and has fitted a safety gate to prevent children from accessing the kitchen. She reports that low level glass within the living room is ‘safety glass’ and therefore does not any risk. Children are becoming aware of how to keep themselves safe as the childminder has started to carry out fire evacuation practises. These drills are recorded, however the comments ‘not too good’ do not highlight the problems incurred and how the childminder will address them in the future. She reminds older children to keep younger children safe by closing the gate behind them and use small items such as felt tip pens with lids at the table.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children can move freely between the living room and hallway, other rooms are made inaccessible. Older children use the toilet independently. Children select activities from an appropriate range of toys and equipment, which are housed in various storage facilities, such as drawers and large boxes. Children need assistance in accessing these as the childminder reports they have too many resources in them, for example, making the drawers difficult to pull open. Toys are checked for safety and are age appropriate for the children currently attending. Children are protected from harm because the childminder has a sound understanding of child protection issues. The childminder has attended child protection training and has a copy of procedures for guidance.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children's independence is developed by having the ability to instigate snack time and access the toilet freely. The resources in place support them in carrying out day to day activities by

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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 themselves, for example the children put a step by the sink to enable them to wash their hands independently, and the childminder is on hand to support them if necessary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is aware of the children's individual needs and supports babies learning to walk. They access push along toys to support their mobility. Babies attempt to place wooden rings onto the post, persisting in this activity. They press buttons on electronic toys and bounce in excitement when they hear the noises. Children use crayons and pencils to colour in pictures in a colouring book and request plain paper to enable them to be more creative. The childminder sits alongside babies and children on the floor to share a book, however, children do not respond well to the activity and quickly lose interest. Children count the toy cars, when they falter at number 11 the childminder encourages and supports them to count to 15.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder uses many local drop ins and activities such as soft play, to entertain the children as she feels that they will be bored in her home. For example, Tuesdays the children attend a drop in the morning, later use the one o’clock club and then go to the park, they are only at home to sleep and eat. In addition the childminder meets up with another childminder whose children share lunchtime and sometimes have their nap in the childminder’s home. This schedule enables the children to socialise and explore many resources to aid development, but little time is afforded for quieter activities and 1:1 time with the childminder. Activities for older children include cooking and painting. They attend weekly dance class after school.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder has a good relationship with children's parents to enable her to gain knowledge of children's individual needs. Children use keywords in their home language which is translated by parents during their settling in to support the childminder in meeting their needs. The childminder has a short written complaints policy in place, which has not been updated since the last inspection. In addition she has a notebook available for parents to record any concerns, no concerns have been received. However, the childminder does not demonstrate knowledge of the regulation regarding complaints which has been effective since October 2005. This is a breach of regulation. The childminder states that parents have knowledge and are happy for their children to be cared for alongside another childminder, although their written consent has not been sought.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children’s individual needs are recorded at the start of the placement and information is gathered from parents during the settling in period. The childminder has very recently begun to record a daily diary to support the verbal information given to parents. The childminder does not have experience of caring for children with special needs, but has been proactive in attending relevant training to gain awareness. Children visit local 'drop in' centres daily where they socialise with children from many other backgrounds. They have the opportunity to play with a range of non discriminatory toys which the childminder has been developing. Children behave well in line with their stage of development and the childminder has some effective strategies for managing behaviour, for example, she is consistent when she says that a child is unable to have an item.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Most required paperwork promoting the welfare, care and learning of children is in place and is organised well. However, the childminder has not ensured parental consent is obtained prior to administering medication in line with regulation. The childminder has written policies and

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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 procedures which are shared with parents, although the complaints policy has not been updated to reflect regulation. The childminder is a member of a local childminding network and receives support from the local authority in the form of visits and children benefit from grants given to increase the resources available to them. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Organisation

The childminder regularly works alongside another registered childminder; they each remain responsible for specific children. The certificate of registration is on display enabling parents to be clear about the childminder's conditions. Children's times of arrival and departure are recorded meaning that there is an accurate record of attendance should it be needed. The childminder has recently begun to develop written information for parents in the form of daily diaries. She has records for this month’s schedule of activities and a menu, although no historic records are currently available.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection two non regulatory actions and six recommendations were set. The childminder states that she does not have a copy of the inspection report which was carried out in November 2004 and therefore has not addressed some of the issues. The childminder states that she has not pursued the missing report which was sent in November 2004, however the childminder did respond to the actions letter which was sent with the report.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was asked to make sure that low-level glass panels are safe; she reports on her actions letter that she has covered the glass in safety film. At inspection she states she has not addressed this issue as she is confident that the glass is ‘safety glass’ and therefore does not pose a hazard to minded children. She was asked to obtain written permission from parents before administering medication to children and keep a written record, signed by parents, of medicines given to children. The childminder states that she does not administer medication to minded children; however documentation shows that since the last inspection there has been an occasion when medication has been administered without prior written parental consent. This is a breach of regulation.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was asked to devise, practise and log a fire safety evacuation procedure and ensure parents complete existing consent forms for outings, transportation, medication and emergency treatment. Both these recommendations have been met to ensure the safety and welfare of the children.

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Improvements since the last inspection

In addition, she was asked to update the complaints procedure and ensure parents are aware of partnership agreement with another childminder and provide written consent. The childminder has not reviewed her complaints procedure and states that although she has made parents aware of her association with another childminder she has not sought their written consent.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Finally, she was asked to plan and provide a range of activities and play opportunities for children's overall development and update knowledge and understanding of appropriate play and activities to encourage creativity, and imagination, exploration and investigation. The childminder reports that she has increased her toys and resources and now has the support of a local childminding network. Children have access to a range of activities and play opportunities many of which are outside of the childminder’s home. Children currently spend much of their time when with the childminder at local drop in groups, toy libraries, soft play and in the company of another childminder and her minded children.

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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

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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 satisfactory. 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): • improve children's hygiene practices by encouraging them to cleanse their hands prior to eating food • obtain written permission from parents before administering medication to minded children • gain knowledge of how to effectively implement the regulation regarding how to proceed in the event of receiving a written or electronic complaint from a parent and develop the complaints procedure to reflect this

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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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