Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY267244 Unique Reference Number 26 March 2008 Inspection date Jane Wakelen 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 outstanding. 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 2003. She lives with her husband and two school age children in Bexley, Kent. The ground and the first floor of the childminder's house is 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 five children at any one time and is currently minding one child under five years part time and five children over five years before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family has a hamster and a small snake.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children learn the importance of hygiene routines, such as washing hands after using the toilet and before eating. This is fully supported when they take it in turns to help prepare vegetables for tea and learn why hand washing is important before preparing food. Children use antibacterial soap to wash their hands and have separate hand towels to prevent the risk of cross infection.

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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 The childminder ensures she implements effective hygiene procedures, such as cleaning food preparation areas thoroughly and storing food appropriately in the fridge. Children are well protected in the event of an accident as the childminder holds a current first aid certificate and ensures the first aid box is updated on a regular basis. Parents give permission for emergency medical treatment or advice and all emergency contact numbers are with the childminder at all times to ensure children's well-being.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children gain an excellent understanding about healthy eating and are able to make choices from the healthy options available to them. Children are encouraged to try different foods and enjoy the social occasions of meal times. Children help to prepare the food for dinner, such as the vegetables and enjoy the mystery vegetable or fruit of the week. They learn about vegetables and fruits that they may not have tasted before and learn how to prepare and cook them. Children that have limited options of food they like to eat, are encouraged to try different foods and take part in the 'Good eater scheme' where they receive a sticker or smiley face on their chart for completing a meal. When they complete a row of stamps or smiley faces, they receive a small prize which is celebrated by the other children and helps promote children's sense of achievement. Children have opportunities to make their own pizzas and grow vegetables.

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Helping children to be healthy

They are able to make choices of meals to go on the menu and have given some of the meals names such as 'The Millennium Dome' which is mashed potato with sausages. Children always have access to fresh fruit and drinks throughout the day, with water being encouraged. Children's dietary requirements are always taken into account and partnership with parents ensures children's needs are met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have wonderful opportunities to extend their physical skills and benefit from fresh air to promote their healthy lifestyle. The childminder limits times children spend on the computer and electronic games and encourages children to be active. They build camps, both indoors and outside, they enjoy running and hiding in the plot, behind the garden and going on outings. Children are taken by various forms of transport to different places of interest. They are encouraged to improve their observational skills looking for items on their list of things to find and compete with each other. Children visit play centres and local parks using large play equipment, developing their skills of balance and co-ordination.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children play in a homely and cheerful environment, where they are able to safely access excellent resources on their own from low shelving, cupboards and storage boxes. Additional resources and toys are stored separately and rotated regularly to ensure children develop new interests and skills. Children take it in turns to choose a large toy to play with for a week and then the following week another child is able to choose. This allows children to fully enjoy the larger toys by spreading them out on the floor, such as the farm with all the animals, buildings and walls. This focused activity promotes children's interest and encourages them to extend their play, for example making walls with papier mache or making straw with strips of yellow paper. Children enjoy the opportunity to sit quietly, complete puzzles, read books or watch television occasionally at one end of the room, or play in the other part of the room on the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

floor with a good range of toys and resources.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a thorough understanding about organising play space for the children and regularly carries out risk assessments throughout the house and the garden. She has a comprehensive policy in writing which is shared with parents, promoting children's safety within her home. Fire prevention measures have been fitted, such as smoke alarms on each level of

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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 the home and a fire blanket in the kitchen. Fire drills are carried out every four months with the children to ensure they are familiar with evacuation procedures in an emergency and are recorded in writing. The fire department has been to the childminder's home to ensure that sufficient measures have been implemented allowing the children to talk to the firemen and see the fire engine, supporting their understanding. Children benefit from regular outings and trips away from the home which are carefully planned for by the childminder who carries out an assessment to ensure children will be safe. All emergency phone numbers are with the childminder and children often wear the same colour t-shirts, so that they are easily identifiable. Children understand this rule and take it in turns to choose which colour t-shirt they will wear,

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are fully protected and safeguarded whilst in the childminder's care because she has an excellent understanding of her role and responsibilities regarding the children and their safety. Children learn about stranger danger and share a book with the childminder helping children learn how to protect themselves. There is a comprehensive policy in place with relevant contact details for outside agencies if the childminder has any concerns about the children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children flourish as they receive attention and genuine affection from the childminder making them feel secure. Children participate in a huge range of activities, including organised outings, which develops new interests and extends children's knowledge. Children talk about when they found the frog spawn and are busy observing the changes of the tadpoles. They are able to use plastic ones to hold and examine and use books and pictures to follow the process. Children enjoy learning about the world they live in and enjoy a wonderful range of outings and travel on a range of transport, supporting children's knowledge and understanding. They enjoy completing small quizzes the childminder has devised to encourage children to observe different things whilst out and about in the community. They search for bugs and watch the vegetables growing, learning which ones grow under the ground or on top. The childminder is exceptionally

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

well organised and her skilful planning provides increased challenges to help children make all round progress. She has a good understanding about the ages and stages of development of each child and ensures activities are differentiated to accommodate all children.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children learn to play well together. The childminder ensures all activities and choices are shared amongst all the children, encouraging them to be patient and take turns. For example, each week one child is able to choose which large toy they have downstairs to play with. Children access a good range of additional toys, resources and art and craft materials. They learn how to make things with papier mache, such as the Tracey Island for Thunderbirds, learn about preparing and cooking different foods from around the world and enjoy using recyclable materials to create an end product.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children feel valued and respected in the childminder's home. They are cared for according to their individual needs because the childminder has obtained comprehensive information from parents regarding their child's personal details and family circumstances. All children are included within the setting and their differences celebrated and embraced. For example, one family introduced their traditional food to the childminder and the other children. Children have

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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 opportunities to learn about different celebrations from around the world, make flags and taste different food types. They see positive images of diversity in resources, such as books and small world toys and enjoy extending their knowledge and understanding about the world they live in. The childminder has experience of caring for children with additional needs and understands the importance of working closely with the parents and other professionals. This enables children to make good progress in their development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well and follow the house rules because they help to compile the list and are therefore able to take ownership of them. Older children help the younger children follow the rules helping to reinforce their understanding. Children learn to share the toys and take turns resulting in a settled and harmonious group. Children and adults build good relationships together which helps children settle into the childminder's home. They are able to follow the childminder's calm, positive approach providing a good role model for them. Positive strategies and rewards all support the children's good behaviour at the childminder's home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has excellent strategies for building good relationships with parents and carers, which contributes significantly to children's well-being. Each child has their own file which contains photographs, pictures and written information about activities the children have been doing, particular toys they like playing with and places they have visited. This provides a detailed record for parents to keep when they leave the childminder's care. Parents are given a set of comprehensive policies and sign to say they have seen them, ensuring they are fully informed about the care she offers and procedures in place. The childminder works with the parents to encourage the school age children to complete their homework and provides support and guidance when necessary. The exceptional paperwork and organisation by the childminder ensures parents are very well informed about the care their children are receiving and how well

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children benefit from an exceptionally well organised routine and stimulating programme of activities and outings. Children are settled and happy in a warm, caring environment, where their individual needs are met. The children spend their time purposefully with learning opportunities maximised because the childminder has an excellent understanding about how children learn. Children's needs are fully promoted and met because the childminder is extremely well motivated and regularly attends training courses. She liaises with other childminder's to enable children to socialise and to discuss current childminding issues and provide a support system, especially in the event of an emergency.

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Organisation

The childminder has written comprehensive policies and procedures which are shared with parents and clearly explain the childminder's role and responsibilities towards the children. There are extensive forms to obtain written consent for many different aspects of care from the parents, promoting children's welfare and well-being. Parents are kept fully informed about their child's day through verbal communication and the excellent folders which detail information, with photographs and pictures the children have made. All the required documentation is in place as well as many other forms of documentation, resulting in an excellent record of partnership with parents, plans and routines the children follow, such as fire evacuation drills, the written menu and calendar of special celebrations. In addition, the childminder continually monitors and evaluates her own practice to enhance children's play and learning

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Organisation

opportunities. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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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 She ensures records of activities and procedures are comprehensive and clear, and religiously shares information to ensure consistency and help parents and carers feel actively involved in their children's development.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were three recommendations from the previous report. To improve fire safety by providing a fire blanket in the kitchen, request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment and improve medication records and finally improve documentation by informing parents of contact details for Ofsted should they have a complaint.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A fire blanket is now situated in the kitchen and regular fire drills are carried out with the children promoting their safety. Parents sign to give permission for emergency medical advice or treatment and medication records now contain all necessary information. Parents have access to excellent information regarding all the policies and procedures including a complaints policy with the contact details for Ofsted.

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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 of 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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