Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY279906 Unique Reference Number 18 August 2008 Inspection date Elaine Marie McDonnell 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 satisfactory. 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 February 2004. She lives with her husband and their two children, who are aged eight and 13 years, in the South East area of London. The family home is close to local shops, parks, library and public transport links. All areas of the house are used for childminding purposes, with the exception of the childminder's bedroom. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available 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 under eight years at any one time. There is currently one child on roll, aged seven years, who is cared for on a part-time basis outside of school hours. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children stay healthy because the childminder follows appropriate hygiene procedures to ensure that the home and equipment are kept clean. Children understand simple, good health and hygiene practices, such as hand washing, as this is promoted throughout the daily routine.

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Helping children to be healthy

Good written procedures are in place to protect children’s overall health, for example, a policy for sick children and an emergency plan. Accident and medication records are available, however, these are still blank as none have occurred.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are well nourished. The childminder provides a varied range of healthy and nutritious meals, snacks and drinks and children are given choices about what they would like. The childminder has completed a Level 2 award in Food Safety in Catering. She finds out about individual dietary requirements or family preferences from parents and these are recorded. Children learn about healthy living when discussing what foods and drink are good for them.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children have regular opportunities to enjoy physical activity. For example, when playing in the garden and when dancing indoors. They can also rest and sleep according to their needs and individual routines.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Appropriate steps are taken to ensure that children are cared for in a safe environment. For example, the premises are kept secure, a suitable first aid box, fire blanket and smoke alarms are available, cleaning fluids are stored out of reach and safety gates are in place. Children learn to keep themselves safe when involved in fire drills, which are recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate steps are also taken to ensure that children are kept safe when playing outdoors and when on outings, for example, the rear garden is kept secure, the children are supervised at all times and appropriate car safety seats and seat belts are used. Vehicle insurance is available but does not currently include business use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The environment is appropriately warm and welcoming for the children with toys and activities readily available for them in the lounge and in a cupboard in the hall way. Children have easy access to a suitable range of toys, equipment and furniture, including items for babies and outdoor play equipment. The childminder ensures that resources are safe and suitable for children's use with regular checking and cleaning routines.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are satisfactorily protected, the childminder understands her role in relation to child protection issues and demonstrates an acceptable knowledge and understanding of the different areas of abuse and possible signs. She attended child protection training in January 2006 and again in April 2008. However, she is not fully aware of Local Safeguarding Children procedures and does not have a copy of these readily available.

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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 satisfactory. Children are involved in a suitable range of activities that cover all areas of development. For example, physical play in the garden, musical activities indoors, drawing, jigsaw puzzles, construction activities and use of a computer. The childminder demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of 'Birth to three matters' and attended training relating to this in January 2006. She is not caring for any children under three years so the framework is not currently being implemented.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children develop confidence and self-esteem well when being praised and encouraged for their efforts, for example, when making letter shapes with pieces of jigsaw puzzle. Children show appropriate interest in what they do and respond to challenge well when building with small construction bricks. They have opportunities to be independent and make choices, for example, when choosing what they would like to eat and drink at snack time.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children have some opportunities to learn about wider society and begin to appreciate their own culture and the cultural traditions of others. They have access to some resources which positively reflect wider society and are currently learning the 'Makaton' form of communication.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is satisfactory. The childminder demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of how to promote equal opportunities and ensure that all children are included and involved. Appropriate written 'equal opportunities' and 'special needs' policies are in place. The childminder has a positive attitude towards caring for children with learning difficulties or disabilities and has experience of this as her elder child has additional needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Children demonstrate as being quiet but settled in the childminder's care and enjoy some of the activities available, such as outdoor play. Minded children are very well behaved and tidy away toys after each use. However, the childminder's younger daughter does not always relate well to minded children or behave in a positive way.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The childminder works in partnership with parents and carers. Parents are kept informed of their child’s development and progress through discussions and the use of a communication book. Appropriate consent forms from parents are available, such as consent for the childminder to administer medication, to seek emergency medical advice or treatment, to take children on outings and for children to travel in the childminder's vehicle and to have photographs taken. Contract agreements are in place and parents receive a copy of some of the policy and procedure documents, such as health and safety, illness and behaviour. A record of complaints is available.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder and her husband have complied with vetting procedures, however, her husband has only had a 'standard' Criminal Records Bureau check rather than a 'enhanced' one. The childminder has a positive attitude towards personal development and has completed a childminding training course. She has also undertaken additional training since the last inspection, for example, communication and speak easy, food hygiene, safeguarding children, keeping children safe, special educational needs, managing behaviour, writing policies and

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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 procedures, National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 in Children's Care, Learning and Development and she is now in the process of doing the NVQ Level 3 qualification. The childminder also has an appropriate, up to date first aid qualification.

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Organisation

Adult to child ratios are effectively maintained and an attendance record is kept up to date and accurate. The childminder demonstrates as having appropriate regard for the well-being of children and they receive some good adult support and attention.

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Organisation

All documents and records required for the safe and efficient management of the provision are available, well kept and up to date. There are also some good practice records available, such as different policy and procedure documents and public liability insurance. Overall, the provision meets the needs of the range of the children for whom it provides.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the previous inspection the childminder was asked to improve fire safety precautions by ensuring that a fire blanket, which conforms to BS EN standards, is accessible in the kitchen and to secure the phone flex to avoid tripping hazard. This recommendation has been fully addressed.

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Improvements since the last inspection

An action was raised following an investigation visit. The childminder was asked to ensure that the child protection procedure complies with those of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures and to ensure that knowledge and understanding of her responsibility to protect children is up-dated. Part of this action has been addressed as the childminder demonstrates an acceptable knowledge and understanding of her responsibility in relation to child protection and has attended recent training. However, she is not fully aware of local safeguarding procedures so a recommendation has been raised in relation to this.

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Complaints since the last inspection

On 27 November 2007, concerns were raised that the childminder was over-minding and therefore in breach of her conditions of registration. Also, that a significant incident had occurred at the household that meant minded children may be at risk. Ofsted conducted an unannounced visit to the premises on 1 December 2006. Ofsted suspended the registration of the provider on 4 December 2006. The provider co-operated fully with the investigation Ofsted and other agencies conducted and the suspension was lifted on 23 February 2007. Ofsted conducted a further visit to the premises on 10 May 2007 and found that the provider was meeting the National Standards.

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Complaints since the last inspection

On 6 and 13 December 2007 concerns were raised that minded children had been left in the care of an individual not known to the parents and who had not been vetted by Ofsted, that car seats had been used to restrain minded children which were too small for the children being cared for, that the childminder was not supervising minded children at all times as she had left the children unsupervised with the above individual. Further concerns were raised that on another occasion a minded child was left unsupervised in a car and that there is not enough space within the premises to accommodate the number of children cared for. These concerns relate to National Standards 1; Suitable person, 4; Physical Environment, 5; Equipment and 6; Safety. Ofsted conducted an unannounced visit to the premises on 20 December 2007. We found the childminder was not meeting National Standards 1 or 2 and set the childminder 3

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Complaints since the last inspection

actions in relation to our findings. A response was received on 4 January 2008. As a result of the reply Ofsted carried out a further visit to check compliance with the actions on 18 January 2008. As a result of the visit Ofsted were satisfied that the original actions had been met but

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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 set 3 further actions in relation to National Standards 3, 5 and 7. Ofsted received a response on 1 February 2008 but the response did not include enough information on how the childminder was meeting National Standard 3 so Ofsted wrote asking for more detail on how this action had been met. A response was received from the childminder however the reply was not satisfactory so a further visit was made to the childminder on 10 March 2008. As a result of the visit Ofsted were satisfied that the actions had now been met. Ofsted are taking no further action in this matter. The provider remains qualified for registration.

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Complaints since the last inspection

On 21 January 2008 concerns were raised about the provider’s nappy changing procedures, hygiene levels, how the provider works in partnership with parents and how the provider dealt with concerns raised by parents. These concerns relate to National Standards 7; Health and 12; Working in partnership with parents and carers. Ofsted asked the provider to investigate these concerns and report back. A reply was received and as a result of the information provided, Ofsted wrote again to the provider to ask the provider to demonstrate their understanding of National Standard 13; Child protection. Ofsted were not satisfied with the response to our letter therefore a visit was made to the provider on 10 March 2008. As a result of the visit Ofsted set the provider the following action; ensure that the child protection procedure complies with those of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) and that your knowledge and

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Complaints since the last inspection

understanding of your responsibility to protect children is updated. A response was received on 25 March 2008 advising that the provider had enrolled on relevant courses with Lewisham Local Authority. Ofsted are taking no further action in this matter and the provider remains qualified for registration.

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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 satisfactory. 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): • increase knowledge and understanding of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures • ensure that vehicle insurance includes appropriate business use • create and environment that encourages good and acceptable behaviour from all children.

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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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