Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY349150 Unique Reference Number 19 May 2008 Inspection date Anahita Aderianwalla 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 outstanding. 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 2007. She lives in a semi detached house in the Whetstone area of the London borough of Barnet and works there with her partner, who is also a registered childminder. The whole of the ground floor of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and is registered with the local childminding network. The childminder works with her partner, a co-childminder. They currently care for five children aged from 14 months to six years old.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has an exceptional knowledge of nutrition and plans a varied menu for children which is both healthy and appetising. Lunch and snack times are very well balanced and take account of the individual and cultural needs of all children. A choice of fruit, vegetables and salad are provided on a daily basis. Children are able to talk about 'healthy' foods that 'make

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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 you grow,' and activities on healthy eating are regularly reinforced at all meal times and children feel confident to discuss and indicate their choice of fruit, salad or vegetable for the day.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn about good nutrition and healthy eating as they enjoy home cooked food from an excellent range of fresh ingredients that they have selected themselves. The childminder promotes children's knowledge and understanding of nutritional issues through discussion and activities. The childminder is rigorous when dealing with particular allergies and demonstrates a strong knowledge of the dietary needs of children in her care to ensure that their specific dietary needs are met. The childminder and children always sit at the table to eat which underpins their good manners and social skills and helps them develop a positive attitude towards healthy eating. Children respond to the childminder with outstanding courtesy and care and treat each other with warmth and respect. Children have free and constant access to water and understand the need to replenish their fluid levels in order to stay healthy.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder offers a sizeable array of toys, games and play equipment which fully support the development of children's physical skills. Children benefit from regular visits to local parks and playgrounds which further underpins the improvement of their physical competence.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming home where they learn the importance of high levels of hygiene and personal care. Exemplary practices are strongly encouraged. The childminder helps children to gain an excellent understanding of hygiene and a real desire to become increasingly independent in their personal care. Children understand that blowing their noses into a tissue and placing used tissues in the bin reduces the risk of cross infection, keeping them strong and healthy. Children's clear understanding of why they must wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating substantially reduces the risk of cross contamination. Children are able to sleep and rest according to their needs in a suitable quiet area of the house, kept safe by the childminder through the conscientious use of a monitor and regular checks.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder consistently follows detailed, purposeful policies and procedures which she has devised in relation to health, hygiene, medication and illness. Each procedure has been individually tailored to meet the needs of the variety of children in her care. Extremely solid procedures are in place for children who are unwell to safeguard the good health of other children who attend her home. The childminder rigorously maintains an accident book in accordance with requirements. She holds and regularly updates a suitable first aid qualification and regularly checks the fully stocked first aid kit to ensure that children receive appropriate first aid. There are clear procedures for hygienic nappy changing in place to prevent the spread of infection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The childminder's meticulous procedures and excellent practice help keep children safe at all times. Children are protected by both the childminder's daily premises checks, thorough, clear policies and their own fast developing understanding of safety in and out of the home. The childminder has additional safety measures in place, in the form of id bracelets, and a personal safety alarm, which is given to the child on outings. It tracks the child's movements when out on trips. In the home, children have access to a large, child-centric space in which they can move freely between a choice of rooms. Two playrooms, for children's use and supervised access to a very well organised kitchen give children more than ample space to play safely. Children move with high levels of confidence around the home and show particularly good awareness of how to keep themselves safe.

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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 The childminder's extremely open and mature attitude to sharing information with parents conveys that children's needs are paramount to this setting. For example, the childminder readily updates a bulletin board; a very child friendly web site, which contains a variety of information about the childminding service and a large pack of information on the childminder's safety practices assure parents that their children are in safe hands.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has an intricate knowledge of the resources she has in the home and checks theses regularly to guarantee that they are safe and suitable for children's use at all times. She carefully monitors and supervises children's choice of toys, to ensure they are appropriate for their age and stage of development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected at all times because the childminder has identified and minimised all risks, expertly balancing freedom for children and setting safe limits. The childminder constantly adapts her plans to ensure maximum safety for children, for example, in the back garden there is a cctv in place to allow the childminder's to view who is a t the front door, whilst they stay in the garden. Children actively learn to keep themselves safe because the childminder has clear rules and routines in order to maintain their safety inside and outside the home. The childminder carries emergency contact details on her person on all outings.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children's welfare is strongly safeguarded because the childminder has an excellent knowledge of child protection issues and has a thorough understanding of her responsibilities to report any concerns to the appropriate agency. The childminder's comprehensive written policy is shared with all parents so that they have a complete awareness of steps that she would take to protect children in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children thrive in an environment that offers flexible care tailored to their personal needs. Stimulating and varied activities, both inside and outside the home, are provided that help the children develop and progress in all areas. They learn a great deal about the world around them and enjoy acting out everyday activities with each other such as going to the doctor and shopping. Children are encouraged to set up their own activities by the extremely attentive and supportive childminder.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The children have access to a vast array of regularly rotated toys and activities from which they can freely choose. The childminder offers children many activities to fully stimulate their inquisitive minds. For example, children play with water, a water wheel and a variety of containers and utensils to fill. The childminder's daily plan is particularly flexible to allow all activities to be child led and to allow spontaneous play to develop every day. Children's needs are met because the childminder has an excellent understanding of each child and their progress is monitored through records of their achievements in her care. The childminder and co-childminder encourage strong relationships between the children in their care and they look forward to the arrival of other children with great enthusiasm, becoming visibly excited at the mention of their names. Children are allowed to fully immerse themselves in an excellent range of creative tasks,

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

including messy play, painting and collage making.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder arranges a number of well prepared outings to increase the already strong range of experiences for children. On visits to the local park the childminder will take a picnic, bikes, balls and games to make the day an outdoor treat. Children are inquisitive and the childminder indulges their natural curiosity through an intuitive range of questions and varied

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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 discussions. Quiet times are included in their busy day, when they can rest and relax looking at books or listening to stories, before engaging in further, more energetic, activities. The childminder is extremely skilled at developing individual children's knowledge and understanding through discussions and play and effectively meeting their individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The childminder has a significant awareness of equal opportunities and her excellent example teaches children to value diversity both in the home and in the wider world. Children learn about diversity as information about other cultures and human difference is woven into daily activities. For example, the childminder plans stimulating activities around all the major festivals, and has an abundance of resources that promote many cultures, and teach children in her care about the understanding of the wider world.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Sensitive reminders by the childminder to put equipment away are all that children require to tidy up. The childminder has excellent procedures in place to manage any negative behaviour and she rarely has to intervene in disputes between children in her care. Children show a very mature understanding of right and wrong and well planned daily routines offer children suitable boundaries which enables them to manage their own behaviour.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children benefit greatly from the close links that the childminder has forged with all parents. All parents feel extremely comfortable in the childminder's home. Parents receive a very comprehensive range of information from the childminder when their children first attend the setting and there is a shared commitment to provide continuity of care for all. Parents are fully informed about the provision through daily catch up sessions, and extremely detailed and evaluative child diaries, a photograph development record which allow parents to gain a snap shot of the children's daily achievements, to keep parents in touch with their children's individual development and learning. Parents are also given an "Express wishes form", which are filled in by the childminder and parents to allow the regular exchange of useful information, or changes and are extremely child-orientated.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder is fully aware of the responsibilities surrounding her work and has extremely effective procedures in place to ensure that she meets the National Standards at all times and that children's needs are continuously met to a high standard. A fully comprehensive training portfolio enables the childminder to implement current best practice at all times and this ensures that children make impressive progress.

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Organisation

Her home is organised to meet children's individual needs and the children are relaxed and at ease in her home. Kind and caring support and consistent routines enables the children to feel secure and safe in her care. She supports children very well in their play which makes children feel cared for and valued.

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Organisation

A flexible daily plan means that the childminder can always respond to the spontaneous needs of the children in her care. She has a mature approach to dealing with any concerns about minded children, ensuring that their needs are always met. The childminder works very well as a team with the co-childminder and is very proactive in further her learning. She has a fully comprehensive training portfolio enables the childminder to implement current best practice

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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 at all times and this ensures that children make impressive progress. The childminder is responsible for planning, and maintaining excellent record keeping with the co-childminder. This contributes heavily to the excellent standard of care that children in the setting receive every day.

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Organisation

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

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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 outstanding. 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

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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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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