Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY356956 Unique Reference Number 18 June 2008 Inspection date Deirdra Keating 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 with her husband and three children aged 12, eight and two in Chingford, London. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of eight children at any one time and is currently minding two children who attend part-time. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools. The childminder attends the local parent and toddler group and takes children to the local park.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder is a member of a local childminder support group.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children's health is extremely well promoted because the childminder follows very thorough procedures that are consistently followed. Children know to wash their hands after going to

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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 the toilet and before meals because they are reminded and their learning about hygiene routines is reinforced by making colourful prompts with the childminder. The childminder always washes young children's hands after playing in the garden and gives clear and effective explanations as she does so. Children receive excellent care if they have an accident because the childminder follows clear procedures that she has been taught whilst attending paediatric first aid training. A first aid kit is stocked well and stored centrally to all activities. All written consents are carefully sought regarding children's care and any accidents or medication requirements are meticulously recorded and signed off by parents on collection. Children are protected extremely well from cross-infection by the childminder who refers closely to communicable disease

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Helping children to be healthy

guidance. Children have considerable opportunities to enjoy fresh air which the childminder strongly promotes. They have daily access to a well-maintained garden through sliding doors leading from the kitchen. Children use a small slide and wheeled toys outside which promotes their physical play experiences, they also walk to local groups and schools giving them daily exercise. Children rest and sleep according to their needs on mats with individual fresh bed linen in the quiet sitting room. They are settled off to sleep extremely well by the caring childminder who provides quality one to one care as she sits with the children and shares stories and songs to help them relax and go off to sleep.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children's dietary needs are met extremely well as the childminder strongly encourages them to eat healthy and nutritious food. Freshly home cooked meals are prepared in advance before the children arrive. Rigorous standards are maintained during the preparation of food by the childminder who has a food hygiene certificate. The childminder promotes nutritious food encouraging the children to regularly try new foods. Children choose colourful and appealing cutlery and enjoy helping prepare for their lunch, they enthusiastically eat pasta with tomatoes and vegetable sauce followed by yoghurts. Extremely healthy and nutritious snacks are also provided consisting of fresh and dried fruit or savoury crackers. Individual dietary requirements are recorded and respected in accordance with parents' wishes. Regular access to drinks and encouragements from the childminder ensures that children remain well hydrated at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Children are cared for extremely well in a safe and suitable environment that is organised particularly well to accommodate children comfortably and support their care, learning and play. The children can use the spacious open-plan ground floor which enables them to play safely within the childminder's view, whilst having plenty of space and choice. They have access to all of the ground floor of the clean and homely environment, where they can choose activities from the wide range of toys and resources. These are presented in attractive and appealing colourful shelving units that children can easily reach. Children are cared for in an extremely safe, secure environment where the childminder takes proactive steps to minimise all potential risks. All cupboards are locked and stair gates are in place to ensure children are safe. Visitors are stringently recorded in a guest book. The premises are risk assessed daily with the

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

childminder checking all hazards. Children learn about staying safe through activities which are collated into a safety book of pictures regarding road safety, water safety and personal safety. The childminder takes children on public transport and reinforces their understanding of personal safety using photographs taken of the children on outings and discussions. Children are protected extremely well from potential harm as the childminder has a comprehensive understanding of her responsibility to safeguard children. Safeguarding training has underpinned her knowledge and provided the correct procedures to follow in the event of a concern about a child in her care.

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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

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children develop confidence and self-esteem because they are in an extremely safe and secure routine. The day is organised particularly well in line with individual children's needs. The childminder takes children to a range of clubs and groups in the mornings and they enjoy a relaxed lunch with free choice of play and rests in the afternoon. This encourages children to develop their social skills, interact with other children and make choices about how to spend their time. Children enjoy the textures of natural materials and the colours and sounds of manufactured toys which they explore with interest. Many messy play opportunities are provided by the childminder and include painting, cooking, play dough, colouring and making things from recyclable items such a plastic bottles. Children thoroughly enjoy playing with sensory shakers they have made, which they use to experiment with noise. The childminder interacts

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

extremely well with the children, responding intuitively to their interests. She gives children excellent opportunities to reflect and learn through their play. Innovative role play ideas created by the childminder using children's current interests provide a very good base for children's imaginary play.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder makes superb activity books for each child, these are collated into a range of pictures, activities, photographs and art work made by the children. They are presented extremely well and are very appealing to children and parents giving a meaningful and individual portrayal of each child's time with the childminder. Children’s early communication skills are extremely well supported through high quality adult-child interactions. Babies are clearly both animated and stimulated as they play with sensory cause and effect toys. The childminder is very responsive to the babies happy sounds and consequently they are extremely contented and relaxed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. Children develop an excellent sense of belonging because they are warmly welcomed and made to feel part of the childminder's home. The childminder helps children learn about their differences by sharing resources with the children that represent positive images of families from all around the world. The children have made a culture tree with the childminder, pictures of people from around the world have been laminated and displayed in a tree in the garden. She also shares her own cultural expertise with them, helping them understand about different languages and parts of the world and enriching their learning experiences. Flexible and sensitive settling-in procedures ensure that children's individual needs are exceptionally met resulting in children feeling relaxed and at home. Children's achievements are celebrated and displayed, providing a rich and colourful environment that has a personal meaning to each child and

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Helping children make a positive contribution

consequently, children feel valued. Resources and toys are presented extremely well enabling children to all have equal access.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder would welcome a child with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and has extensive experience of supporting specific needs. The childminder has a good understanding of the need to access support and respect parental wishes in order to promote children's welfare and development. Children understand the behavioural expectations and understand the house rules because they are proactively shared by the childminder. An innovative rule book has been made with the children and gives simple group rules illustrated with pictures of the children. Parents are given clear information on behaviour management methods in order that a consistent approach is taken and positive reinforcement is used to encourage children's self-esteem.

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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 Parents receive comprehensive information about the childminder's practice that is collated clearly and is user friendly. The childminder gives excellent information regarding her personal details, routines and policies. Vibrant and meaningful records including concise and clear observations of children's developmental stages, illustrated with photographs, are collated for each child. These give an excellent picture of the child's development and are shared with parents on a regular basis for parents to add to and comment on. Consistent contact is kept with parents using detailed daily diaries, this ensures that any behavioural changes are shared and noted and children's care details are made known to the parents. Detailed written agreements are provided regarding children's individual requirements in order they can be

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Helping children make a positive contribution

looked after according to their parents' wishes. A clear and concise complaints procedure is readily available and shared well with parents in the event of a complaint. Parents have made positive comments on children's records and are very happy with all aspects of the childminder's practice.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children are cared for by safe suitable adults who support their care learning and play extremely well. The childminder is very experienced in working with children and fully committed to providing high quality care. Necessary checks have been carried out on all adults to ensure they are suitable to be with children. Information provided for new parents gives a comprehensive overview of the childminder's practice and details of her assistant. The childminder has attended a good range of training and is fully committed to her ongoing professional development. The childminder has a clear understanding of the National Standards and the responsibility to comply with these and the conditions of her registration. Children's attendance is meticulously recorded showing children's hours of attendance. The documentation effectively promotes the welfare, care and learning of the children and all requirements are comprehensively met.

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Organisation

Children's records are stored securely and confidentially and give an exceptional overview of children's development and care.

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Complaints since the last inspection

Since registration there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that the required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet 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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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

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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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