Hillview Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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115494 Unique Reference Number 28 March 2008 Inspection date Sarer Marcia Tarling 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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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 July 1992. She lives with her husband and two adult daughters. They live in a five-bedroom semi detached house situated in a residential area of Bexley, which is within walking distance of local schools, shops, parks and community resources. Minded children spend their time in the playroom, which is also a dining room, and use the ground floor bathroom. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder may care for up to four children under eight and currently has one child on roll.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from being cared for in a clean and hygienic home. For example, children's health is protected as the childminder has good cleaning routines in place and makes sure that

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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 food preparation areas and the bathroom are kept scrupulously clean. Family cats receive routine vaccinations and health care, their food is kept out reach and they do not sleep directly on the furniture where children play or eat.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are offered a range of healthy meals and snacks. For example, they enjoy cereals such as weetabix, fruit flavoured porridge, multigrain cheerios and toast for breakfast. Throughout the day children are offered milk or, 'no added sugar' orange or blackcurrant juice. At dinner time children tuck into a variety of home cooked dishes including; meatballs, spaghetti bolognaise, fish with rice and traditional chicken, lamb or pork roasts. Children are offered plenty of fresh vegetables and on the day of inspection were enjoying brussels, carrots, turnips and peas. Plenty of fresh and dried fruit are offered as snacks. The childminder records details of each child's individual dietary requirements and specific needs with regards to religion, culture or known allergies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is promoted and they learn about the importance of good hygiene. The childminder has stringent routines in place which help prevent cross infection such as a highly effective nappy changing routine which ensures children are clean and comfortable all day. The childminder ensures she washes her own hands regularly and always has wet wipes close by. She helps the children to wash their hands before they eat and after using the potty or toilet and ensures she has spare clothes in case a chid accidentally wet themselves. Children are learning how not to spread germs as they are gently reminded to cover their mouth when they cough.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder makes sure her first aid training is up-to-date and that her first aid box is appropriately stocked. She also carries a portable one with her on outings. As a result, in the event of a minor injury children receive appropriate care and attention and all accidents are recorded. However, children's health is not fully protected as the childminder has not requested parental permission to seek any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment. Information regarding individual children's health care requirements is recorded on a child record form. The childminder requests that parents write a letter giving her permission prior to the administration of any medication. If a child becomes unwell whilst in her care the childminder contacts parents and, if serious, asks them to collect their child.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children enjoy a broad range of appropriate activities which contribute to their general good health, growth and development. They benefit from walking in the fresh air every day when they visit local parks and have great fun exploring on the large apparatus. Children practise their crawling, balancing and jumping skills as the childminder takes them to Tumble Tots and they are becoming confident in the water as they go swimming with the childminder. When young children feel tired they can sleep in the travel cot or rest on the low settee in the play room.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is inadequate. Children are cared for in a comfortable, warm and welcoming playroom where they can move around safely. This is because the childminder has minimised any hazards. For example, electrical sockets are protected, there are no trailing wires and a safety gate prevents unsupervised access to all other areas of the house. The childminder confirms that all internal glazing is safety glass and that young children are escorted to the ground floor bathroom and older children are safe as any potentially hazardous items in the bathroom have been removed.

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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 Children are protected in the event of a fire as smoke detectors are located on both floors of the home and a fire blanket is positioned in the kitchen. The childminder has carefully considered her emergency evacuation procedure. Toys and activities are appropriate to the age and stage of development of the children attending. They are stored safely in stacking boxes in the play room. As a result children are encouraged to independently access these resources, promoting choice and independence.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children enjoy playing in the garden on the see-saw and mini trampoline and the childminder directly supervises their play at all times. Although the childminder has placed a net over the pond, and positioned large plant pots and garden ornaments to prevent children gaining access to this area, the precautions she has taken are not sufficient. The garden is secure. However, there is a greenhouse and the glass has not been made safe or inaccessible, this poses a risk to children.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Permission is sought from parents to take children on outings and to transport them in a vehicle. Children are protected as the childminder ensures they have suitable car seat/restraints when travelling in her car. Young children wear safety reins in their buggy and the childminder ensures she holds their hand whilst out walking.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are suitably protected as the childminder is aware of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect. She has a satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the procedures she is required to follow should she have a concern about a child. However, although it does not affect her ability to protect children, she does not have up-to-date information regarding the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are at ease and play happily in the relaxed and welcoming home. They benefit from the close relationships that have been formed with the childminder and the individual attention and support they receive from her during their play and learning. The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of the different stages of development and encourages each child's individual learning opportunities. She makes written observations of children at play, records their current interests, general progress and makes plans for their next steps in learning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are able to draw, colour and use paints and particularly enjoy hand painting and using glitter. Children have opportunities to paint pasta and spend time carefully threading them to make a necklace. The childminder uses these activities to reinforce young children's knowledge of different colours and shapes and to practise their counting skills. The children like to spend time playing with snap cards and the matching Nemo memory game.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are encouraged to use their phonic sounds as they play with alphabet blocks. Time is spent looking at the good range of books together and children enjoy visiting the local library. Young chdn enjoy having a cuddle with the childminder and watching favourite programmes such as Fifi and the Flower Tots and the Teletubbies. Children like to dance around to music and spend time listening to nursery rhyme tapes, singing along. Children build with Duplo lego, play with toy cars and complete inset puzzles.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have plenty of opportunities to socialize with their peers at the toddler groups the childminder takes them to. Regular outings are organised and the childminder visits places such as Godstone Farm Park where children can wander around the farm, hold baby animals and

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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 explore on the adventure playground equipment. They play in the sand and paddle in the pool at New Barn Park and walk by the lake, feed the ducks and have tremendous fun in the splash zone at Danson Park.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is inadequate. The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge of behaviour management, giving clear examples of how she would deal with incidents involving children at different stages of development and understanding. The childminder discusses behaviour management with parents in order to try and establish a consistent approach. She skilfully distracts and re-directs young children whose confidence and self-esteem is continually promoted through the regular praise and encouragement they receive. Children are well behaved as they are always occupied and receive a lot of time and attention from the childminder. In the event of unwanted behaviour children are encouraged to sit quietly and think about what they have done before quickly becoming involved in a different activity.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's individual needs and home routines are discussed with parents during the settling in period. This helps children to feel comfortable away from their own home environment and to settle in happily. All children are welcome and are valued as individuals. The childminder says that she helps children to learn about others in the community by taking them to organised events at the toddler groups. However, there are limited activities and multi-cultural resources available to help children to learn about diversity and to respect others.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder demonstrates a positive, yet realistic, approach to minding a child with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. For example, she would assess the level of care and support required and consider her other minding commitments prior to agreeing to care for a child. She demonstrates a commitment to working with parents and health care professionals to support children according to their needs. However, she has limited resources to promote positive images of disability.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are provided with continuity of care because the childminder has forged good relationships with parents. These are underpinned by the written contracts, parental consents and the routine sharing of records, such as the accident and medication record. The childminder also ensures she has regular discussions with parents about their about their child's care, development and progress they have made. However, the childminder does not have a secure knowledge of the procedure she is required to follow in relation to investigating complaints or maintaining a complaints log. As a result parents are not provided with details of the procedure to follow should they have a concern.

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Organisation

The organisation is inadequate. The childminder is very experienced and continues to develop her practice by attending courses such as the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children are secure and settled because the childminder has flexible routines in place which are built around the needs of the children in her care.

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Organisation

The playroom is organised so children can play safely and independently select their toys. Although the childminder directly supervises children whilst they play in the garden not all hazards have been removed or minimised.

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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 The childminder takes time to share information with parents, children's individual records are carefully stored and confidentiality is maintained at all times. Public liability insurance is in place and the childminder is aware of her conditions of registration in relation to the numbers of children she may care for. The childminder has a generally satisfactory understanding of the requirements with regard to maintaining regulatory documentation. She displays her certificate of registration, records children's attendance, any accidents and medication and has most parental consents in place.

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Organisation

The childminder has not ensured that all household members over the age of 16 years complete the required vetting procedure to determine their suitability. As a result, the childminder does not meet the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the previous inspection the childminder was set three Actions.

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Improvements since the last inspection

In relation to National Standard 14 the childminder was asked to ensure a record of children's attendance is maintained. As a result, a record of children's arrival and departure times are maintained, readily accessible on the premises and available for inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

In relation to National Standard 6 the childminder was asked to ensure that the glass in the greenhouse is made safe or inaccessible. The childminder has taken no action to make the glass in the greenhouse safe or inaccessible. This has been discussed with the childminder and a further Action set.

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Improvements since the last inspection

In relation to National Standard 1 the childminder was asked to ensure all household members are suitably vetted. The childminder has taken no action and as a result not all household members are suitably vetted and as a result a further Action has been set.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder was also set several recommendations.

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Improvements since the last inspection

In relation to National Standard 6 the childminder was asked to make sure that the contents of low-level cupboards and drawers in the kitchen, and the low-level glass panels in an internal door, are safe or inaccessible. As a result children's safety has improved as potentially hazardous items in the kitchen have been made inaccessible and the childminder confirmed that the glass in the internal door is safety glass.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints 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 inadequate - notice of action to improve. The registered person does not meet 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, the registered person must take the following actions: • ensure that the garden pond and the glass in the greenhouse are made safe or inaccessible to minded children • improve knowledge and understanding of the procedure to follow in relation to complaints and maintaining a complaints log • ensure that all household members over the age of 16 years complete the vetting procedure to determine their suitability These actions are set out in a notice of action to improve and must be completed by the date specified in the notice.

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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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