Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

EY354309 Unique Reference Number 08 May 2008 Inspection date Martha Naa Ahimah Darkwah Inspector

p.1

Childcare Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

p.1

This inspection was carried out under the provisions of Part XA of the Children Act 1989, as inserted by the Care Standards Act 2000

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.2

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.2

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.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2007. She lives with her husband and three children aged 10, seven and four years in a house located in the Barnes area of southwest London. The local authority is the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

A maximum of four children may attend at any one time. There are currently three children on roll. Areas used for childminding are the ground floor of the house with a dedicated playroom. Children sleep upstairs and use the bathroom and toilet upstairs. There is a secure garden for outdoor play. Children are taken to local playgroups, parks, the library and other places of interest.

p.2

WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and disabilities and children who have English as an additional language. She is a member of the National Childminder's Association.

p.2

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

p.2

Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children gain an excellent understanding of good hygiene practices and personal care through well organised daily routines. Carefully planned activities and excellent interaction between the childminder and children promotes their understanding of staying healthy. For example, children learn how to wash their hands after toileting, learn to wipe their noses when necessary and discard used tissues in the bin. They know why they have to use anti-bacterial gels and wipes after wiping their noses.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

The childminder has devised an excellent range of polices and procedures, which are shared with parents, to support her childminding practice. The comprehensive pack for parents includes informative leaflets, such as, 'The importance of hand hygiene' and a comprehensive list of infectious diseases and their incubation period. For example, children who are infectious are not allowed to attend, in order to prevent the spread of contagious ailments to other children. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate, which means she can give appropriate care to children if there is an accident. She is meticulous about recording any accidents in a log book, which is then brought to parents notice.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from very healthy and nutritional meals and snacks, which are prepared and presented to encourage children to eat a variety of different foods. Children's enthusiasm for food is encouraged, as they talk about fruits and vegetables through activities and create place mats to use at meal times. Children enjoy mealtimes because sufficient time is given for them to savour and enjoy their food in as sociable setting. Meals are exceptionally social occasions, where the children and childminder sit together to encourage positive social interaction. Children are able to help themselves to drinks throughout the day and enjoy a range of fresh fruit, vegetables and finger foods at snack time. The childminder is very aware that children need to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and is vigilant about ensuring they always have a drink of water to hand. A daily diary containing specific details of the children's food intake is

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

given to parents each day. The childminder works closely in partnership with parents on meeting children's individual dietary requirements.

p.3

Helping children to be healthy

Children join in all areas of physical play enthusiastically, because the childminder plans and organises a stimulating and diverse range of activities. They benefit from balls, ride-on toys and push-a-long toys at the childminder’s home and larger play equipment and trampoline. Children enjoy moving their bodies in different ways as they stretch their arms out wide and close them in an exciting outdoor ball game. Children’s fine motor skills are progressed by activities that, for example, encourage them to use tools, such as, cutters and rolling pins to manipulate play dough. Children experience fresh air daily as they are explore stimulating activities set out in the garden and enjoy time spent in the park.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children and young babies play in a secure environment where they can move around safely and where high priority is given to their personal safety. The childminder takes effective precautions to prevent accidents, for example, by using socket covers and safety gates in areas where children could be at risk. She has an excellent understanding of creating a balance between encouraging children's freedom and setting limits to maintain their safety. She has

p.3

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 been proactive in ensuring her home is as safe as it can be, for example she conducts regular fire drills with children and records them in sufficient detail. The childminder fully develops children's interests in fire officers by organising a trip to the local fire station. Children benefit as they are excited to get a close up experience of a fire engine and fire officers.

p.3

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Both indoors and out in the garden children have easy and safe access to an excellent range of toys and resources appropriate for their age and all of which are maintained in very good condition. High priority is given to helping children understand how to keep themselves safe. Safety issues are regularly discussed and explained to the children in line with their level of understanding. The childminder is vigilant about children's safety when on outings, travelling on foot and in a vehicle. She ensures children travel in a double buggy that has a harness for each child and use age appropriate seats and boosters in a vehicle with adequate insurance and with parent’s written permission.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are very well protected by the childminder who has a dynamic and robust understanding in all aspects of safeguarding children. Comprehensive and effective policies and procedures are in place to promote children's welfare, which includes what will happen if an allegation is made against her or any member of her family. Parents sign a written declaration to indicate a clear understanding of the childminders duties to safeguard children if there is suspicion of abuse.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children settle into the environment exceptionally well and are happy, confident and eager to learn. They have easy access to a stimulating range of activities, which are interesting, fun and develop their curiosity, creativity and imagination. Activities are carefully organised in a dedicated play room to match the needs and ages of the children attending. Children have choice of in and outdoor play.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Meaningful observations of children's development are undertaken by the childminder and these are used exceptionally well to plan activities and are shared with parents. She has a very good understanding of how children learn and uses the Birth to three matters framework to meet children's individual needs. She has a clear indication of the learning intentions each of the activities offer. Children's care, welfare and development are highly promoted as the childminder has obtained additional training. For example, Observation and Planning and the Early Years Foundation Stage training, which is being used successfully in the childcare setting.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children are totally absorbed and interested in everything they do and are confident to try new experiences. Children seize opportunities to develop their independence and take great pride in demonstrating what they can do. Children's curiosity is heightened as they have fun with the exceptionally well resourced treasure basket.

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Numerous opportunities and activities develop children's knowledge and understanding of the world. Children develop an interest in nature as they feed and observe the ducks in the local park. The childminder sets out a range of themed resources about the fire brigade to support children’s interests. There are regular visits to places of interest, such as, the Butterfly House, Snakes and Ladders, and library. Children talk fondly of recent visits to the local school to see numbered eggs in the incubator, which eventually hatched. Photographs reflect the excitement on the children's faces on seeing the transition from eggs to live chicks.

p.4

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 All areas of children's development are significantly enhanced by the exceptional quality of the childminder's interactions. Children are listened to and their communication skills are well promoted as the childminder positively responds to their gestures, sounds and questions. The children clearly understand what is being said and respond in their own way, trying to communicate with her and each other. They thoroughly enjoy listening to stories and learn about the meaning of words through the childminder's expressive reading. Children have excellent opportunities for mark making and to develop early writing skills, both indoors and outdoors. They enthusiastically sing familiar rhymes and songs that develop their language and encourage colour and shape recognition, counting and calculating. Their understanding of

p.4

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

mathematical language is good, as they discuss the sizes of resources, are able to count to 20 and count down for rocket blast-off in role play. Children's regular use of creative material enables them to develop a wealth of imaginative, exploratory and sensory experiences. For example, young children explore the feel of sand, play dough and paint.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. All children are made extremely welcome and the childminder ensures that each child, including those arriving later than others, are greeted with resources that are presented attractively. Each child is highly valued and included in every aspect of the daily routine. Activities are interesting, meaningful, stimulating, fun and adapted to meet the interests and individual needs of each child. Consequently, children relish their time in the childminder's home and are extremely confident and full of self-esteem. There is a very good balance between planned and child initiated activities and includes quieter as well as active times. Children have sufficient choices in their play, which ensures that they are interested in what they do.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder gives children regular opportunities to learn about the world they live in through outings and activities that introduce them to other cultures. For example, by regularly attending pre-school groups, where they socialise with a rich ethnic mix of local people. Their appreciation of other cultures is enhanced by the variety of resources that reflect different cultures. The childminder has a very good understanding of how to support children with learning difficulties as she has a comprehensive policy and procedure in place to meet this need.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

Children's behaviour is excellent due to the clear boundaries and positive role model set by the childminder. She continually reinforces positive behaviour by thanking children for listening and responding to requests. Children understand the difference between right and wrong and are encouraged to develop good manners and respect for others.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder has developed superb relationships with parents, who are kept informed of how their child is progressing. This is both verbally, by email and in the form of extremely detailed daily diaries, which gives a vivid account of how the children spend their day. The childminder takes spontaneous photographs of children whilst engaged in focussed activities and sends them via email to parents, to give them an insight to the stimulating range of activities they are involved in.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder observes the children's development and progress and uses this to produce message books for parents to keep. These records chart children's progress and development and are supported by a wealth of animated photographic evidence. For example, photos show babies playing with a treasure basket, holding wooden objects and exploring them with their mouths. Observations describe how babies love exploring the natural objects in the treasure

p.5

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 basket and highlight how babies learn about the texture, size and shape of things by putting everything into their mouth.

p.5

Helping children make a positive contribution

A comprehensive complaints procedure, with the complaints form and a complaints log, is in place in line with current legislation. Parents are given opportunities to suggest ideas to help with their child's care and learning and the childminder values their contributions. For example, a parent's suggestion on keeping a detailed food diary to help with meeting children's individual dietary needs and monitor the daily food intake is working very well. Consequently, children make significant progress in all areas of their development.

p.6

Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children benefit from an exceptionally well organised routine and stimulating programme of activities. Children are very happy, comfortable and settled in a warm and caring environment where their individual needs are met. The children spend their time purposefully. All activities are planned to maximise play, learning and development opportunities for the children, taking into account each child's individual needs and interests.

p.6

Organisation

Excellent and comprehensively written policies and procedures are in places which are individual to the setting. They address all aspects of the National Standards and have a positive impact on children's safety and overall wellbeing. All documentation is shared with parents to keep them well informed about the childminding service.

p.6

Organisation

The childminder is very aware of her role in delivering a unique service that enables children to make good progress towards all areas of development. Very informative and detailed daily diaries record children's progress in all areas of their development and these are shared with parents

p.6

Organisation

Children benefit from the care of a childminder who is highly motivated, has a wealth of knowledge and experience which subsequently ensures that all children are able to develop their full potential. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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

p.6

THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

p.7

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.

p.7

The quality and standards of the care

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

p.7

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

p.7

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

p.7