Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY358835 Unique Reference Number 17 June 2008 Inspection date Jeannette Waring 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 has been registered since 2007, she is an experienced, and NNEB qualified (NVQ level three) childcare worker. She lives, with her husband and three year old daughter, in a three bedroom house close to Woolwich Common. Shops, schools, pre-schools and parks are located close by. Children have use of the whole of the childminder's house, the main play space being the lounge and dining room. The garden is not currently included in the registration. The family have a pet cat.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under the age of eight years at any one time and is currently caring for one child. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and also a member of the Woolwich Common Childminding Network.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children's health and well-being is exceptionally well promoted by the childminder. A clear and detailed health and hygiene policy is in place, this includes information for parents on exclusion

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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 of children with infectious illness in order to protect others from infection. The childminder's accident and medication record is carefully detailed and routinely shared with parents, effectively promoting good continuity of care for children. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate and ensures that her first aid box is fully stocked. In addition she has a small first aid kit which she takes with her on all outings.

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Helping children to be healthy

Careful household cleaning routines ensure that children play in a clean and hygienic environment. Children learn about the importance of good personal hygiene as they wash their hands before meals and after using the toilet. During the visit children invited the inspector to share snack time with them, and a child called the inspector to wash her hands when snack was served.

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Helping children to be healthy

Although the childminder's garden is not currently registered, she ensures that children have regular opportunities for exercise. Children regularly walk to the local shops with the childminder to choose fruit for snack time, they visit Oxleas Wood, and every Friday they enjoy a visit to nearby Woodlands Farm. They also attend a local drop-in group once a week where physical play is available.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children benefit from the healthy and well balanced meals and snacks provided. The childminder ensures that dietary requirements are fully discussed with parents and she displays a daily menu board. On the day of inspection the children had a lunch of pasta with home-made tuna and tomato sauce followed by yoghurt. At snack time children were provided with some rolls and a selection of spreads. Children enjoyed choosing between hummus, taramasalata and fish pate which they carefully spread onto their rolls. This was followed by some fresh fruit.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The childminder provides children with care in a warm, welcoming, safe and secure home environment. She has carried out a careful risk assessment and successfully minimised all identified hazards. As a result children quickly develop their independence as they move confidently around their play space. An excellent range of toys and resources are attractively presented and accessibly stored, so that children can select activities for themselves. Children learn to keep their play area safe from hazards as they mop up water spills at the water tray, or sweep up spilt sand. When out and about in the community the childminder teaches children about road safety and the importance of staying with their carer.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are protected from harm or neglect because the childminder has a clear understanding of her role and responsibility to keep children safe. She is aware of how to make a referral to Children's Services and, in order to ensure that her knowledge is kept up to date in this area, she has recently booked to attend a Safeguarding Children workshop.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are extremely relaxed and happy in the childminder's care. The childminder is an experienced child care professional and she carefully plans activities which are tailored to meet the needs of the children in her care. She makes sure that the day/week has a regular pattern in order to help children to feel secure, and she plans a good balance of home based activities and outings.

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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 Recently children visited the National Portrait Gallery and have since enjoyed craft activities making collage pictures of faces for themselves.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children thoroughly enjoy the activities provided. The childminder is skilled at setting out activities which children enjoy and which support their learning and development. For example, during the inspection children enjoyed several activities, one of which was water play. They spent a long time filling a five litre water bottle with water in order to free some table tennis balls the childminder had placed inside. They concentrated on the task in hand and squealed with delight when they finally managed to extract the balls. They also enjoyed singing action songs and rhymes with the childminder, who used glove puppets and picture boards to illustrate some of the songs. At snack time children put together their own snack and sat chatting happily with the childminder, and before parents arrived to collect children, they enjoyed sitting with the childminder for a relaxing story time.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children learn to value and respect each other because the childminder has a positive approach to issues of equality and inclusion. She encourages children to be kind and courteous, she takes time to get to know individual children and their family background, and she plans activities to meet the needs of the children in her care. A positive and personal equal opportunities policy is shared with parents and children have access to books, toys and artefacts which reflect the wider community. In addition the childminder plans activities which celebrate some of the festivals which are relevant to the local community. Children with disabilities and/or learning difficulties are welcome, and the childminder has a strong commitment to working with parents and other professionals to ensure that all children have care appropriate to their individual needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children are very well behaved. The childminder sets clear boundaries which children understand and she has high expectations of children's behaviour. She encourages children to share and take turns and remembers to give appropriate praise for good behaviour, such as when children sit nicely to table at snack time, when they mop up spills at the water tray or when they offer to share toys.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There are good arrangements in place to cement effective partnerships with parents. Detailed contracts and consent forms are in place, all records are routinely shared with parents and a daily journal is in place. Parents questionnaires show how highly parents value the service provided. The childminder spends time each evening chatting to parents about children's day and will call or text parents in the evening if necessary.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. She plans and provides children with a rich and varied play programme within a warm and welcoming home. Her good organisational skills ensure that children are safe, healthy, happy and making good progress in their learning and development. The childminder ensures that children are always under her direct supervision, she makes sure that she stays within the terms of her registration, and she has a sound knowledge of the requirements of the National Standards and associated regulations. Her home, resources and the daily routines are well organised and she ensures that all documentation is in place, up to date and securely stored to ensure

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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 confidentiality. She has a commitment to making continued improvements to an already high quality service, for example, she regularly evaluates the effectiveness of her practice and is keen to access training to keep her knowledge up to date.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration 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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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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