Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY266170 Unique Reference Number 18 January 2008 Inspection date Linda Close 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 2004. She lives with her child who is eight years old and attends primary school. The family home is a two bedroom flat, situated on the third floor of a low rise building in the Colliers Wood area of southwest London. The local authority is Merton.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The flat is within walking distance of shops, parks, a tube station and bus links. Most areas of the home are used for childminding apart from the master bedroom. The childminder takes the children to local carer and toddler groups, the library, parks and other places of interest on a regular basis. At the time of this inspection there are two minded children on roll and both are present. They are aged 20 months and almost three years.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are cared for appropriately if they have an accident, because the childminder has recently attended a relevant course in first aid. Written permission has been gained from parents

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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 to seek emergency medical treatment or advice if necessary. Records about accidents, existing injuries and medication are kept correctly. The childminder has a first aid kit which is suitable apart from a tube of antiseptic cream, which is unacceptable because parents have not provided it or authorised its use. The childminder keeps her home clean for the children and she helps them to learn about good personal hygiene through talking to them about hand washing. Nappy change routines are hygienic and the childminder ensures that children are clean and comfortable at all times.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children only have foods that their parents approve of because the childminder takes information about children's individual needs at the time of registration. She is flexible to meet the needs of each family and is happy to serve children with food that she has prepared or food that parents have prepared at home. A sample menu is on display in the kitchen, which shows that the childminder has a good understanding of healthy eating. The children can be given a good range of tasty meals based on fresh ingredients if parents wish. Children enjoy fresh fruit snacks and they are encouraged to take frequent sips of fresh water throughout the day.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have some space to play ball games indoors and they make daily outings with the childminder to places where they can run and play freely. They play energetic games at the toddler group and they walk and play in the park and in the local playground.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are welcomed into a secure home where strangers cannot enter unnoticed and children cannot leave unattended. The home is warm, well lit and well presented in most respects. The furniture is carefully arranged to give children space to play, eat and rest in comfort. Posters make the room interesting for the children and they have easy access to a good selection of toys and resources which suit their age and stage of development. Toys are checked and washed often to ensure that they are clean and in good condition for the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safe in the childminder's home because she does visual checks every day before they arrive and takes steps to minimise risks. She keeps electric sockets covered and ensures that all sharp knives, cleaning materials and cosmetics are stored out of children's reach. Children are protected from fire hazards because the childminder has a fire blanket and working smoke alarms in place and she carries out fire evacuation procedures with the children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are safeguarded in relation to child protection issues because the childminder is well informed. She can confidently describe the different types of abuse and knows what signs or symptoms indicate ill-treatment. She knows what to do if she has concerns for the welfare of the children in her care and has relevant contact details to hand if required.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children benefit from the childminder's knowledge and understanding of the Birth to three matters framework. She is well informed about children's developmental milestones. Children enjoy a good range of activities when they are with the childminder. She enters into their games and actively helps them to learn as they play. All children are involved in play because the childminder encourages them to join in. Children share books with the childminder and they are learning many new words as they look at the pictures and answer questions that make them

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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 think. The childminder is very patient and she makes sure that the children understand by observing them and listening carefully to what they say.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children choose a birthday cake at the local shop on a special outing with the childminder and they also choose a birthday present. They gain self-esteem from this activity and they confidently tell visitors all about this special event. Children thoroughly enjoy their outings to the park, the library and to the local playgroup and they happily describe their favourite activities at these venues. Children play imaginatively with musical instruments and they explore books that make noises. They use small world toys, such as woodwork tools, with growing expertise and they enter into elaborate games with sensitive support from the childminder. The children enjoy making marks in drawing books and they happily describe what they have drawn.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's individual needs are shared at the time of registration. Their usual sleep pattern, likes, dislikes and favourite comforters are known to the childminder, which helps her to provide continuity of care. Children's home background, language and culture are also known to the childminder, which helps her to understand them, respect them and meet their needs. Children meet a range of people on their outings and they have suitable toys and resources, which helps them to become accustomed to diversity. The childminder has no experience of caring for children with learning difficulties. However, she is happy to work with parents to assist children in making the best progress.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children play happily together and they are very well behaved because the childminder is very patient and calm in her management of the children. They are busy and involved in their play and the childminder quickly notes if they are losing interest in their activities. She brings their play to a close and encourages them to begin a new game. The children are charmed by her gentle ways and they learn to share and take turns through her guidance. She helps them to consider each other's feelings and play happily together. The childminder has suitable strategies planned if children cannot get along with each other, which include 'time out' as a last resort.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has established a good working relationship with parents and carers. She provides them with ample information about her service in the form of policy and procedure documents, which are mostly up to date and kept in a file ready to share. Parents have written very positive references for the childminder, showing that they are happy with the standard of care that she provides for their children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder understands her responsibility to keep children safe from non-vetted persons and she keeps the children in her sight at all times to ensure their safety. She plans her time sensibly and she ensures that her home is well organised so that she can give the children her full attention. She attends useful training courses on a regular basis to keep her knowledge and understanding of childcare up to date. Her training helps her to provide a good range of activities for the children. She has made improvements in the light of recommendations made at the last inspection, although her first aid kit is not wholly suitable. The childminder maintains her attendance registers correctly and keeps them ready for inspection at any time. She keeps medication and accident records according to regulation. The childminder has useful policy 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 procedure documents in place to share with parents and most are up to date. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were three recommendations for improvement made at the last inspection. The childminder agreed to devise and implement an emergency evacuation plan. This plan is now in place and children follow the evacuation plan with the childminder, which helps to keep them safe. The childminder agreed to provide an appropriate range of activities and resources that promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice. The childminder now has a good collection of resources which help children to understand and respect diversity. The childminder agreed to provide a first aid box and to check and replace the contents as required. The childminder now has a first aid box which is suitable in most respects. She checks and replaces the contents as required, so that she can care for children appropriately if they have an accident.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required either the childminder or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the National Standards. The childminder is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents that 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): • update the complaints procedure document giving current contact details for Ofsted • ensure that the first aid resources do not include any preparations that are not authorised by parents.

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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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