Big Wood School

Inspection report for early years provision

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122844 Unique Reference Number 04 February 2008 Inspection date Lorna Lorraine Hall 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 1990. She lives with her husband and two teenage sons. They live in an end of terraced house, in Wandsworth, close to local parks, shops, bus service and mainline station. Minded children have access to a through lounge/dining room and garden on the ground floor and bathroom and toilet on the first floor. The family have fish in an enclosed tank.

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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 over five; the children attend after school term-time only. The childminder collects the children from the school where she works as a teaching assistant.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children's health is successfully prompted because they enjoy fresh fruit after school. The childminder says that she knows the children have healthy meals at school. They engage in cooking activities such as making pancakes and fruit salad.

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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 Cross infection to the children is minimised because the childminder's home is clean and tidy. She said work surfaces are cleaned every day with antibacterial fluids. The arrangement for the children to wash and dry their hands is good. They use disposable paper towels and liquid soap.

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Helping children to be healthy

Good system are in place to inform parents about the care and exclusion of children who are ill. The childminder does not administer any medication, however, if children are on medication at school, she ensures that the medication is appropriately stored until their parents arrive to collect their children from her home. Suitable documentation is in place should the childminder need to administer any medication while the children are in her care.

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Helping children to be healthy

Every day the children have the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and engage in physical activities suitable to promote their physical development. They play football in the garden and walk from school.

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Helping children to be healthy

Accidents to the children are appropriately dealt with because the childminder has up to date first aid training.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children enjoy play in an environment where space is organised to enable them to play on the floor. They confidently help themselves to items in the drawer or on the shelf. Arrangement is made for the children to do their homework or read to the childminder. Children have supervised access to the internet. The lounge is created in a variety of scenes to extend the children's play. They play imaginatively with role play items and enjoy watching films and eating pop-corn. The childminder says that she ensures her home is safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder knows the children well and how they want to spend their time. Items, such as beads, paint, building blocks and box games, are some of the resources available. There is a good selection of reference books that the children can use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Effective systems are in place to promote safety, unused electric sockets are covered. Parents give consent for their children to travel on public transport and local outings. The childminder collects the children from a local school where she works. The children know that they must come to the nursery after school.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children learn about road safety; they carefully observe traffic signs before crossing the road. Within the home the childminder ensures that she complies with fire safety recommendations. During discussion, the childminder identified areas that could be used in an emergency escape plan. The procedure is regularly practised with the children. The childminder ensures that her home is safe. The childminder passes on information from teacher to parents.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Parents are asked to give information about person's authorised to collect their children from the childminder's home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The welfare of the children is protected because the childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of child protection issues. She has good documentation to refer to should a concern arise.

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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. The childminder cares for two children after school term-time only. Children can choose how they wish to spend their time. They play in the park on the way home. Indoors they use a variety of coloured beads to create beautiful patterns. The carefully put tracing paper over the beads and iron them to make strong plastic shapes that they can give as gifts.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They are happy and contented in their environment and tidy up before going on to the next activity. They relate affectionately with the childminder and talk to her about what they are doing while engrossed in activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Parents' evening at the school provides good opportunities for the childminder to talk to parents and to ask them if they need more input from her.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder's good understanding of child development means that she could care for younger children if needed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued as individuals; they confidently talk about themselves and where members of their family come from. One child said, "I am Jamaican" and proceeded to talk about spending time in Jamaica. They celebrate festivals such as Diwali and Chinese New Year. As part of the celebration they make dragons and eat noodles during Chinese New Year. Projects at school on food also promote their understanding. Resources, such as books and role play items depicting positive images of differences, are easily accessible to the children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has a good understanding of how she would adapt her service to meet individual learning needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children are well behaved and work harmoniously together because the childminder encourages them to treat each other how they would like to be treated. The level of discipline administered depends of the age and development of the chid. Strategies, such as time out, are used to manage the children's behaviour. The childminder has experience of dealing with challenging behaviour. Children's self esteem is promoted and they proudly show their work to their parents when they come to collect them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder enjoys a friendly and professional relationship with the parents of the minded children. To ensure consistency of care, parents are asked to provide detailed information on themselves and members of their family. The information is included in the written agreement which parents read and sign. Parents value the support they receive from the childminder.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has devised policies and procedures based on the National Standards and related guidance which she shares with new parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Parents receive information about Ofsted's complaints procedure. The parents' poster is on display.

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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 satisfactory. Children are cared for in a caring environment where they are fully supported to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve and make a positive contribution because their days are well planned.

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Organisation

The childminder works as a teaching assistant at a local school and provides after school childcare for children who attend the school where she works. The children attend term-time only. The childminder has links with the Early Years Childcare Partnership and regularly receives information from them.

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Organisation

Written information on the children is appropriately stored, confidential and up to date. The childminder reads periodicals to keep up to date with changes in her field of work. She said the training she attends in her role as a teaching assistant helps her in her childminding duties.

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Organisation

The childminder confirmed that all adults in the household completed approved vetting procedures as part of her registration. On the day of the inspection visit the childminder showed the inspector a completed Disclosure Application Form for her son who is over 16. Her son works shifts and usually he is not in the house during childminding hours. A recommendation has been made to ensure all checks are completed.

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Organisation

A record of the children's attendance is kept.

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Organisation

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

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the childminder agreed to meet four recommendations. Children now enjoy healthy and nutritious snacks, such as fruit. The emergency escape plan is now regularly practised with the children. The childminder has also increased her selection of resources that promote equality and diversity. The final recommendation is no longer applicable. The childminder has made good progress in addressing these recommendations to improve the outcomes for 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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Complaints 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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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): • ensure all persons over 16 living in the household complete approved vetting procedures

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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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