Oasis Academy Watermead

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 140219 Inspection date 14 September 2005 Inspector Asia Islam

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 satisfactory. 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 in1993. She lives with her husband and their two adult children near the Turnpike Lane area of the London borough of Haringey. The ground floor middle reception room, rear kitchen and dining area, garden and the first floor bathroom and two bedrooms are accessible for childminding. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children aged under eight years at any one time and currently has five children aged between one and three years on roll. They attend various days of the week.

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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 She regularly takes the children to the local library and drop-in centres.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is satisfactory. Children are looked after in a very clean and caring environment. The childminder's routines include regular nappy changing for younger children. She explains the importance of hygiene practices and healthy eating to support children’s learning. They have freshly cooked lunch, which consists of a beef and vegetable stew, and an option of fruit or yoghurt for desert. Snack times they are offered rice crisps, fruits and or sandwiches. Drinking water and juice is readily available. The childminder provides meals and snacks that meet their individual requirements and preferences. Children’s need for emergency treatment is not fully adhered to at present. The childminder does not currently have a valid first aid certificate. Therefore, children are potentially at risk from invalid application of first aid measures. A fully stocked first aid box is kept within easy access for emergency and prior written permission is in place

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Helping children to be healthy

to seek medical advice and treatment. Children regularly visit the local resources, where they have opportunity to access resources to promote their large motor skills. They also have regular access to childminder’s garden for running, jumping, playing with skipping rope, balls and a car. Appropriate types of activities and levels of support are provided for their interest and development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children benefit from an environment that is positively welcoming, safe and secure. Risk assessments are regularly carried out by the childminder, who ensures children safety when playing indoors, in the garden and when going outside. Children learn about the risk from hot food during lunch time. For example the childminder explains the importance if cooling food down before eating. Emergency evacuation procedures are currently explained to the older children but not practised with younger children. The fire blanket is provided in the kitchen but not wall mounted. This means that not all potential risks has been minimised for safety. There is a suitable range of resources and equipment for children's play. These are of good quality and condition. The available resources for their physical development are mainly appropriate for the younger children and the available constructional

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

resources do not always offer older children sufficient challenge. Children are adequately protected and safe guarded by the childminder, who understands the signs and symptoms of abuse but is unsure of the correct child protection procedures. Though, she knows the authorities to contact for advice and has the procedures booklet in place.

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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 satisfactory. Children are settled and happy. They have established good relationships with each other and the childminder. They confidently talk to each other and the childminder about their activities. The childminder shows good interest and support in what they do and say. A selection of play resources are set out for them to choose and play with at a time. They play together and on own in the play area. The childminder closely monitors their interest and preference. She anticipates their restlessness and introduces new activities to keep their interest. Older children are very familiar with the childminder's routines and help her to tidy up before she takes out different play resources for them. Children express verbally, with gestures and sounds that the childminder understands and responds to appropriately. They draw and colour. They have access to books to help their early recognition of letters. They play imaginatively with

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

the wooden bricks and blocks. For example the older children enjoy making a long snake with the bricks and problem solving with the train-set and lego. The Birth to three framework for younger children is in place and occasionally used by the childminder. The Curriculum guidance for foundation stages for older children is not currently used to plan older children’s activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children's understanding and awareness of diversity is encouraged through regular visits to local drop in centre, where they meet children and people from the community. They have opportunities to play with books and dolls that reflect positive images of culture in the childminder's home. Both boys and girls enjoy equal access to activities and resources. Children benefit from the good working relationships held between the childminder and their parents. Information on children's need is initially obtained by the childminder to help them settle. Thereafter, regular information is exchanged verbally about their progress between the childminder and their parents to provide a consistent care. Children's established relationship with the childminder, the availability of their own sleeping clothes supports their sense of belonging. Children play, behave very well together and show concern for each others welfare.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

For example children offer to open the yoghurt for younger children.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children are comfortable and relaxed. They benefit from organised routines, which takes into consideration their individual needs for care, play and learning. They are cared by an established childminder who has a satisfactory understanding of the requirements of the National Standards for childminding and the Birth to three framework for supporting younger children's development.

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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 Children are secure and settled in her care. The childminder meets the required adult child ratio and offers them good supervision. All the required records for children's attendance, accidents and medications are in place and support their well being. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the childminder has improved children's record keeping. She now has an appropriate system in place for recording their accident and medication. For children's safety she has decided to keep the garden out of bounds.

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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 satisfactory. 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): • complete an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children • extend resources to meet the developmental needs of children from five to under eight years • improve knowledge and understanding of the correct child protection procedure • assess the risks from fire and take effective actions to minimise these

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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