Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY268252 Unique Reference Number 26 February 2008 Inspection date Debra Davey 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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her two children aged five and seven years in Orpington, Kent. The whole 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 four children at any one time and is currently minding two children under five all day, and two children over five before and after school. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local toddler group. The family have several small pets: rabbits, goldfish and a lizard.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder holds an appropriate level 3 qualification and is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA)

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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 good. Children are kept healthy in the childminder's home through good routines. They learn the importance of hand washing before meals and when using the bathroom, as well as after they have handled pets. The home is clean and well maintained which ensures that children are protected from cross infection. The childminder uses her documentation well to ensure that good attention is paid to health matters such as accident recording and medication records. She ensures that parents provide permission to seek emergency medical treatment although the document lacks some necessary details. The childminder keeps some small pets which are of great interest to the children and provide a valuable resource for their learning and understanding of the world. All pets are kept meticulously clean to ensure that they do not present a hygiene risk to children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a variety of fresh meals and snacks throughout the day. They especially like crumpets and fresh fruit for breakfast. Picnics are a favourite, both in the childminders garden and on outings. All meals are planned around the children's activities which ensures that they are well nourished. Physical play is given very high priority through a range of activity. For example, children love to bounce on the trampoline in the childminders garden as well as playing football and cycling to school. As a result children attending are kept healthy through a good balance of nutritional foods and physical activity to protect their well being.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are kept safe in the childminders home because she teaches them about safety procedures such as emergency evacuation. Details of fire evacuation procedures practised with the children are recorded to ensure that safety is paramount. She has all required safety features in place and conducts continual risk assessments; for example on the outdoor play area, which has a pond, to ensure that children are kept safe. The childminder also follows sensible precautions when children are taken on outings, teaching then road safety rules as well as keeping them within sight and hearing at all times. In this way, children are able to enjoy their exploration of the environment whilst being well protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from harm or abuse in the childminders home because she fully understands her training in child protection and her responsibility to act to keep children safe from harm. However, her current child protection policy has not been updated to reflect safeguarding children guidelines.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive in the childminder's home because she provides an excellent range of exciting and interesting activities, which allow for spontaneity and fun play. As a result, children relish their time with the childminder because they have lots of choices, are able to make their own decisions and follow their own interests, which supports their creativity and ability to learn. Children under five, for example, are allowed to use their imagination as they make camps in the lounge and create a tea party. They are encouraged to become independent when they put on their aprons for painting and help to set up the paints. All children are able to take part in

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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 the activity because they use age appropriate materials such as chunky paintbrushes for older children, who paint at the art easel and small soft paints for a younger child who paints in the highchair. They become engrossed in the activity because the childminder provides excellent support - in their language development, for example, as they describe their pictures to her and she extends their use of words. They also benefit from good quality of teaching when the childminder encourages them to have a go at writing their names on their paintings. Children show emerging self confidence because they choose what they want to play with from an extensive range of toys, books and other resources such as the family pets. For instance, they beg to be allowed to stroke Charlie, the childminder's bearded dragon lizard, and thoroughly

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

enjoy the experience of touching him, talking to him and even walking him with a little lead. The childminder ensures that children are well supervised and talks to them about being kind and gentle which teaches the children empathy and a sense of responsibility.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's achievements are celebrated because the childminder gets to know them well and uses a range of methods to record progress, such as diaries, artwork and photographs, some of which are displayed in the home. This works well because the childminder has an excellent understanding of the Foundation Stage from her professional child care qualification. As a result, she ensures that children are learning constantly through a good balance of home based activity, such as arts and crafts, games such as hop-scotch, music, role play, and small construction, as well as valuable outings, for example to local libraries, museums and soft play gyms.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children learn about their own and other cultures in the childminders home because she provides books and puzzles that positively reflect diversity. She uses ideas from the National childminding publications and magazines to explore cultural festivals and activities to help children learn about the society in which we live. Although the childminder is not currently caring for children with learning difficulties or disabilities she has experience of caring for children with additional needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children behave well in the childminders home through skilled support. She has a sound behaviour management policy which is shared with parents. Older children learn the house rules through discussion, support and praise. Pre-school children behave well: for example, when using different-coloured paints, saying "when you finish you can share with me". This means that they are learning to negotiate and take turns.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Partnership with parents is good. The childminder provides detailed and useful information in a clearly collated folder along with her comprehensive range of policies and procedures which are available to parents. Contact books are also used should parents require written daily information. This flexible approach means that parents are well informed from the start and they are able to provide feedback because their views are sought and valued.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children's care is enhanced by good organisation. All relevant documentation to support the smooth and efficient running of the childminding is in place, including details of children's dates and times of attendance, child record forms and a complaints log procedure. A useful folder has been collated which includes a comprehensive range of policies which support good

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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 practice. All documentation is organised well, stored securely and made available for inspection. The childminder holds a current certificate of first aid for babies and young children which protects the welfare of the children attending. She holds a level 3 qualification in childminding practice and has attended workshops to update her knowledge and enhance her skills, which contributes to the quality of care that she offers. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Improvements since the last inspection have been good. The childminder agreed to upgrade her behaviour management policy to include strategies for managing difficult behaviour from older children, which she has now completed. She has obtained written consent to seek emergency medical treatment which she is now in place.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder agreed to provide toys or equipment that reflect positive images of disability, and now provides a range of books and puzzles.

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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 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): • include details within the permissions for emergency medical treatment document to give parents the option to confirm whether or not they give permission • update the child protection policy to include safeguarding children's board guidelines.

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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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