Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY332464 Unique Reference Number 15 November 2007 Inspection date Jill Nugent 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 registered in 2006. She lives with her partner and five-year-old child in a house in Borehamwood. She uses the whole of the house for childminding and children have access to an outdoor play area.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight at any one time. Currently she is minding five children on a part-time basis. Of these, three are under five and two are over five. She travels to local schools to take and collect children.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is promoted well as there are generally good procedures in place. Parents are asked to exclude children who are ill so as to protect others from infection. Children are well taken care of in the event of an accident as the childminder has good access to first aid equipment. She maintains her medical records appropriately although she has not requested

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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 written permission from parents to administer non-prescribed medication, such as Calpol. In the event of illness this may result in a delay in treatment.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder is attentive to matters of hygiene. Children are cared for in clean and tidy surroundings. They are provided with individual hand towels in order to reduce the risk of cross-infection. Children's nappies are changed in a hygienic manner. These procedures contribute to keeping children healthy. Children are encouraged to wash their hands when necessary and clean their teeth after meals. In this way they are becoming aware of good hygiene practices.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are offered a range of nutritious and healthy foods. The childminder's menu is well balanced so that children eat a variety of meals, for example, pasta, shepherd's pie and sandwiches. She includes fresh fruit and vegetables so that children are well nourished. Drinking water is available at all times to help prevent children from becoming dehydrated. Children with special diets eat appropriately because the childminder liaises closely with parents to meet their needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy good opportunities for regular physical activity, for example, taking walks in the fresh air or playing games. They enjoy the outdoor play facility and various resources, including a trampoline, slide and ride-on toys. They like to visit parks and activity centres. The childminder helps children to develop confidence and skills through joining in play with them, for instance, organising ball games. As a result children keep fit and healthy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are cared for in a welcoming environment. The open-plan living room is comfortable and inviting for children with a variety of resources easily accessible. Children keep secure in the premises because a chain is fitted to the front door and safety gates are in use on the kitchen and staircase. When playing outdoors, or going on outings, they are well supervised. The childminder carries out regular risk assessments and safety checks to ensure that all potential risks in her home are minimised. Children do not have access to any hazardous materials and all low-level glass is safe. There are good fire precautions in place. Children practise an evacuation plan so that they know what to do in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children use a range of suitable and safe resources. The childminder checks her resources and equipment regularly and cleans her toys, especially those used by very young children. There is a wide selection of colourful and interesting toys for babies. Young children enjoy variety as toys and games are rotated with others kept upstairs. Older children can choose for themselves and know which toys are safe to use when younger children are present. In this way, the childminder maintains children's interest and children play safely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder talks with children about how to keep themselves safe when playing and on outings. They learn how to keep safe near to roads and older ones have an increasing awareness of 'stranger danger'. The childminder has a good understanding of child protection issues. She has attended relevant training and has the necessary information to enable her to seek advice if she has any concerns. She ensures that children are only collected by a known adult. Therefore, children are well safeguarded.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are settled and happy in the childminder's care. They enjoy sitting with her and exploring the various resources. She enhances their enjoyment as she interacts with them, encouraging communication and learning. She makes good use of the 'Birth to three matters' framework and Foundation Stage guidance to promote children's learning through monthly topics. She has introduced a system for recording aspects of children's development so that she can meet individual needs more effectively. Young children have good opportunities to be imaginative and creative. For example, they play with small figures and toy vehicles, devising imaginary play situations. They benefit from the childminder's involvement as she shows interest and offers support, taking on roles or making suggestions.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children enjoy a variety of organised activities. They particularly like to take part in creative activities using a range of materials, such as paints, pasta, leaves, rolls and boxes, as they create pictures and models. They like to take part in cooking activities, discovering how ingredients change. In free play children are encouraged to make independent choices and this helps to build their self-confidence. The childminder promotes learning through play as she increases children's awareness of letters, numbers and shapes. Children build close relationships with her and have fun joining in nursery rhymes and action songs. They have opportunities to mix with others on visits to toddler groups and the library. Overall they are developing good skills through the provision of a variety of learning experiences.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children feel valued and included. The childminder makes them all feel special and they quickly develop a sense of belonging. Young children enjoy sitting on her lap, sharing books and comics. They have fun talking about the pictures as they turn pages. Children get on well with each other and enjoy taking part in group activities, such as picnics. They learn about a wider society through playing with small figures which reflect different cultures and exploring library books. The childminder organises activities around different festivals. In this way she encourages children to respect others and their needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder offers good support to children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is attentive towards children's individual needs and researches any special needs in order to help children develop appropriate skills. She asks older children to fill in questionnaires so that she can find out how they feel about the care she offers. Children behave well and are aware of their boundaries. The house rules are on display and older children know these well, often reminding younger ones. Consequently, all children learn to behave responsibly.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works closely with parents and carers. She provides information about herself and her practice in a welcome folder and gives advice on settling in new children. She takes account of parents' wishes and exchanges information daily with them, either in the form of a feedback sheet or a daily diary. She also displays useful information on a notice board. Parents are highly satisfied with the care she offers. They appreciate the range of activities on offer and the progress that their children make in their learning. Children benefit from this working partnership.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder's policies and procedures work well in practice to promote the outcomes for children. Her paperwork is stored in files for ease of access and she has a collection of supporting literature and activity ideas. There are various written policies in place which are available to parents and carers. Parents complete written agreements and the childminder's attendance register is well maintained. Overall her documentation provides a good framework for her practice.

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Organisation

The childminder is committed to the ongoing improvement of her practice. She has passed her initial Childcare training and holds a current first aid certificate. She is keen to attend further training, such as Food Hygiene. She has a high regard for the well-being of all children. She spends her time with the children in her care in order that they always have quality time. She is well-organised, for example, sometimes preparing meals beforehand so that she can attend to the children.

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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): • request written permission from parents to administer non-prescribed medication.

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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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