Blaby Centre

Inspection report for early years provision

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135825 Unique Reference Number 14 May 2008 Inspection date Carolyn Mary Hasler 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 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 was registered in 1995. She lives with her husband and two children aged 15 and 12 in Bush Hill Park, within the London Borough of Enfield. The whole of the ground floor and first floor 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 four children all on a part time basis. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group. The family has a cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 satisfactory. Children have a clean environment to play in, the childminder's cleaning routines ensure that areas where they have access are cleaned daily. She encourages children to develop personal hygiene skills such as washing their hands at appropriate times of the day and there are tissues available in the event they have a cold. Children are encouraged to cover their mouths when coughing and sneezing. They have separate colour co-ordinated drinking cups to ensure they are not spreading germs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has recently completed a first aid course, she ensures that there is always access to a first aid kit, this means that in the event of an accident or a child becomes sick; they have access to immediate first aid. Information on children's medical history is recorded and there are systems in place to support the needs of all children should an emergency arise. However, there is no parental consent in place to seek emergency medical treatment. The childminder has systems in place to record accidents, incidents and the administration of medication.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder works with parents to ensure children receive healthy choices within their diet, she ensures that children have drinks available at all times. Through discussion she demonstrates a sound understanding of nutrition and is able to offer parents advise. There are appropriate storage facilities available to parents who choose to supply snacks, meals and drinks for their own children.

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Helping children to be healthy

Walking to and from school, the use of local facilities such as play grounds, and access to the childminder's rear garden where children can enjoy a trampoline, push and ride toys, scooters and a slide, all offer children opportunities to be active, develop physical skills and learn about their bodies.

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Helping children to be healthy

Younger children develop a healthy dependency on the childminder who sees to their personal needs and offers her time and attention to ensuring they are happy and settled. She encourages warm trusting relationships to help children feel secure.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children feel welcomed because the childminder ensures handovers are sensitively approached and children always have opportunities to say goodbye to parents helping them to understand that parents are going but will return. Colourful toys and play equipment set out at floor level offer visual enticement to engage in play. The use of comforters for very young children help them to make the adjustment from home to the setting.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children have access to most of the ground floor of the childminder's home, the first floor bathroom and when invited additional children's bedrooms. In addition they have access to the rear garden for outside play. The main play area is in the back reception room used as a joint dining room and play room, the rear garden can be reached from this area. They also have access to the front reception room which they use for quiet activities. Children have free flowing access to these areas. There are comfortable places to sit and rest or play actively. There are good sources of natural light both at the front and the back of the house, the heating is centrally

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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 managed and a comfortable temperature is maintained. The environment is organised to best offer children a play space which is conducive to playing and learning.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Low level storage of play equipment means that children have free access and are making choices in their play. Play resources, furniture, nursery aids and equipment are age appropriate, of good quality and well maintained. The childminder carries out a visual check of equipment to ensure that it is clean and in a safe condition. The organisation of appropriate resources enable children to develop their independence skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has addressed a range of hazards throughout her home, she has taken precautionary measures to protect children from house fires. Documentation confirms that they have practised fire evacuation. The use of house rules, discussions about road safety and how to stay safe when playing in the park, all help children learn about how to keep themselves safe. Although there is verbal agreement from parents to allow children to use the trampoline this has not been consolidated in writing and there is no policy on how many children can use this piece of equipment at any one time. Consequently this compromises children's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a sound knowledge and understanding of the different areas of abuse and their signs and symptoms. She is aware of her responsibility towards children's welfare when discussing her concerns with parents and she has systems in place to record her concerns. The childminder has a range of documentation issued by her local safeguarding board to follow should she have a concern.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are settled at the childminder's home, the accessibility of resources mean that they are self selecting play equipment and engaging in stimulating and interesting activities. For example, older children have a variety of challenging board games, access to computers and art and craft activities, while younger children explore and experiment with a variety of construction equipment, small world resources and books. Good use is also made of the outdoor environment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

They are building trusting relationships with the childminder who engages them in play, she is warm and affectionate towards them and involves herself in their games playing with them at their level and offering good eye contact with them. The interaction between them enables children to feel confident and self assured as they try new and more challenging experiences. They enjoy play and show this through smiles and chatter, they respond to the childminder's involvement favourably. Children's needs are effectively catered for and in particular those of younger children who gain a sense of security. This offers them a good model to copy in order to form friendships with their own peer group.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Well planned activities help children to gain confidence in communication skills, because their language development is encouraged by the childminder who incorporates language for learning while playing with them. For example, she talks about colours, numbers and shapes and helps them compare and match. She chats with children throughout their day about what she, and they are doing and provides them with an appropriate level of questioning enabling them to begin to learn how to express themselves.

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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

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children feel valued as individuals because the childminder has taken steps to inform herself about their likes, interests and dislikes. Through working with parents she has established any cultural, religious or special needs. She shows them an equal level of care and concern. Children come from a variety of cultural backgrounds and they play together. Older children are learning to be thoughtful of younger children and their differences help them to foster understanding and tolerance. The childminder provides children with positive images of diversity through thoughtfully chosen play resources which help them to explore and question their thoughts and feelings about their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Although the childminder currently does not care for any children with learning difficulties or disabilities, she demonstrates an open attitude to supporting the needs of all children within her care. She is committed to working with parents and other professional bodies in order to fully understand the needs of children and support their development. She ensures that they have access to all activities adapting where necessary in order that they do not feel disadvantaged and enabling them to meet their full potential.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are learning important social skills such as how to share and take turns while playing, they are learning to be polite and kind to one another. The childminder offers them a good role model and she talks about how she helps them manage their own behaviour through setting clear boundaries from the very beginning. She works closely with parents to maintain consistency. Her strategies include changing the intonations of her voice, distraction and sometimes time away from the main group to calm down. She builds children's self esteem through positive reinforcement of good behaviour, praising small achievements. As a result they behave well.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit through strong relationships between the parents and the childminder. The childminder describes how she initially works with parents to establish a working relationship. She collects all required information on the child in order to tailor care arrangements. There is inconsistent use of contractual agreements. However, when they are used, there are clear boundaries between roles and responsibilities. A sensitive approach helps children to manage separation and adapt to new care arrangements, they are building secure relationships with the childminder who comforts them and supports their play. Parents receive information about the setting both verbally and in written form, this includes information on how to make a complaint and helps them to make informed choices.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder has completed a basic course in childcare and first aid, she demonstrates a sound knowledge of the National Standards. All adults who have contact with children have completed robust vetting procedures to ensure they are suitable and she is aware of the procedure to vet all adults over the age of sixteen. The childminder's registration certificate is displayed on the wall for parents to see and she works within her conditions of registration. She organises her home to provide a child centred environment. At a satisfactory level children are learning how to live healthy lifestyles and important skills in staying safe. The childminder understands her role in supporting children's learning and play and they are successfully making progress. There are routines in place which allows for periods of quietness or active play. Children are sociable and this supports their contribution to the group and to the wider community.

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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 demonstrates a clear understanding of the regulations regarding the keeping of records which she generally does successfully. Her documentation is well organised and generally available for inspection. However, attendance records are not completed daily.

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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 was required to address the following actions within the timescales provided. She was asked to develop knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children procedures. This has been met and enables the childminder to safeguard children's welfare.

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Improvements since the last inspection

In addition she was asked to update the complaints procedure and system for recording complaints. This has been met and ensures that parents are now provided with information to voice their concerns and make suggestions.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Lastly the childminder was asked to complete an appropriate first aid course that includes training in first aid for infants and young children. This has now been met and ensures that children can access immediate first aid in the event of an accident or if they become ill.

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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. 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 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 attendance registers on a daily basis recording changes in times of arrival and departure • seek written parental permission for emergency medical treatment • risk assess the trampoline and devise a policy for its use, consider seeking written permission from parents

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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 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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