Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY363107 Unique Reference Number 15 May 2008 Inspection date Christine Stimson 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 good. 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 December 2007. She lives with her son aged seven in a house in Kingston very close to the Kingston gate of Richmond Park. The whole of the property is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed courtyard for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and there are currently four children on roll who attend on a part time basis. The childminder takes and collects children to and from local schools and regularly attends toddler groups, the library and makes visits to local parks.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children participate in and enjoy regular exercise as the childminder ensures they go on plenty of walks to Richmond park where they make the most of the facilities and the open space the park offers. The childminder also takes children to toddler groups where they use wheeled vehicles to manoeuvre and practise their pedalling skills. Older children are encouraged to ride

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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 on their personal scooters when out on walks and they also play ball, dance in the childminder's home and play in her courtyard.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children learn the importance of good hygiene practice as the childminder provides tissues for children to blow their own noses. All children have their own towels which are embroidered with their names and a picture so they can be easily identified. Children also have their own wash bag containing a toothbrush and paste, and are encouraged to clean their teeth after meals. They are taught to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's health is promoted as the childminder holds a 'food safety in catering' qualification and has been on a course for menu planning. Example menus have been devised to share with parents and these show children receive healthy choices for their lunch and main meal each day. They have frequent drinks of water or juice as the childminder replenishes their cups as soon as they are empty and provides snacks for children like grapes and pieces of fruit.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder holds a first aid qualification and ensures accidents and health information are well documented. She uses a good administration system to ensure parents are informed on the day about any accidents their children have and has obtained prior written consent from parents to take children to hospital in an emergency. A sick child policy shared with parents is in place stating she will not care for children who are infectious, however, this does not have procedure to follow if a child is taken ill whilst in her care.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The childminder's knowledge of child protection issues and procedures is based on information she received at a child protection course; she demonstrated a sound knowledge of how to proceed if she has concerns about a child in her care.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children play in a home that is well maintained clean and comfortable. Children's safety is important to the childminder who teaches children how to leave the premises quickly and safely during their regular fire drill practice. She makes sure children are safely strapped into age appropriate car seats when using her car and safely strapped into pushchairs when out for a walk. The childminder has risk assessed her property for hazards and made sure it is as safe as possible for children to play.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are plenty of resources for all the children's age and stage of development and the childminder makes sure they are kept at child level to enable children to make choices about their play. There are cars, dressing up clothes, dolls with their own accessories wardrobe, a dolls house and furniture, art and craft materials, construction kits, soft toys, a computer, a wooden fort and soldiers, and a wooden train track. Storage cupboards reveal many more colourful and good quality resources, and the childminder rotates toys to stop children becoming bored.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy, content and confident in the childminder's home. They turn to the childminder for help when faced with difficult challenges. For example, fitting train tracks together so they can play with Thomas the Tank toys in which the childminder takes the role of the Fat Controller, wearing a hat to show she is in charge.

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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 Children's interest and motivation to learn is fostered by the childminder's sound knowledge of their individual age and stage of development and interests. However, there is no list of activities showing a typical week to share with parents.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder is aware of the Early Years Foundation Stage, having attended a course recently and will introduce the principles into her daily activities. Regular cookery sessions are relished by the children, who make cakes and sometimes eat these as part of their snack time. Children take part in messy play using sand, water, dough and paints on a regular basis. Some of these activities are done at their toddler group sessions and others take place in the childminder's home. Children develop independence as the childminder encourages them to help tidy up toys they have played with, to put on their own outdoor clothing and supervises children whilst they clean their teeth after meals.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children's senses are explored through games where things are hidden under a blanket and children have to feel for them and describe what they are feeling, guessing what the article could be. They take part in dancing sessions and are regular members of the library where they choose books that interest them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Regular trips to the library, toddler groups, local markets and playgrounds introduce children to the local community and ensure awareness of the wider world. A wide range of resources showing positive images of other races, cultures, abilities and genders are available in the childminder's home and these help children learn about diversity. For example, children play with a small guide dog wearing a brace, Brazilian, African and European dolls, a number of play figures, some of whom are elderly and infirm, and an Asian family of play figures who reside in the dolls house. A good selection of musical instruments contain items that come from other countries and there is an igloo with wooden Inuit play figures, walruses and polar bears. Children have access to a wide variety of story books about people from other cultures and there is a large doll depicting an old man sitting in a toy wheelchair.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder's consistent use of praise as a natural part of her vocabulary encourages children to display positive behaviour. Children show her their constructions or drawings and she tells them how clever they are and encourages them to put them to one side to take home. She often takes photos of their work, proving to children she values their contributions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

High levels of communication with parents ensure children's individual needs are well catered for. The childminder gathers relevant information from parents about their children prior to them being cared for, however, she has failed to ask for written consent to take individual children to the swimming pool. The childminder notes children's individual likes, dislikes and stages of development so that she can build on these. Parents are kept informed about their child's day verbally and are encouraged to share any relevant information to ensure continuity of care for their child. In preparation for this inspection the childminder surveyed the parents she works for, asking for their opinion about the care she gives to their children. Sealed envelopes with parents signatures across the flap revealed they think highly of the care given to their children by the childminder with comments such as 'my child has fun and is given the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

opportunity to learn and develop' and 'she has been brilliant with both my children from the start, adheres to routines and is very flexible when required'.

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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

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are confident and content in the childminder's well organised home. Play resources are accessible for children to help themselves and toys are rotated regularly to add interest to their play.

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Organisation

All required records and documentation are in place and used effectively to promote good quality care and learning experiences. However, there is no list of activities to share with parents and the sick child policy lacks some required detail. Arrangements for children's daily care are agreed with parents, although consent to take children to the swimming pool has been overlooked.

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Organisation

The childminder embraces training opportunities to help improve her practice and has devised a few policies and procedures to support her in her role. She intends to increase these as her work evolves into full time childminding. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the 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. 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 good. 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): • devise a sick child policy that includes procedures to follow if a child is taken ill • devise a list of activities to share with parents • make sure written parental consent is in place prior to taking children to the swimming pool

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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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