Childminder in Enfield

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 135546 Inspection date 14 September 2005 Inspector Sandra Hornsby

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Type of inspection Childcare Type of care Childminding

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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 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 has been registered since 1983. She lives with her mother, two brothers and two nephew's all of whom are adults. The house is in a quiet residential area in Edmonton in the London borough of Enfield. The ground floor of the property is used for childminding, there is a fully furnished and equipped play room, sitting room, downstairs toilet, kitchen and a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is registered to provide care for 6 children under 8 years at any one time, and is currently caring for 1 child on a full time basis and 3 children on a part time basis.

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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 The childminder is working towards being accredited as part of an approved childminding network.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. The children play in an environment where they learn the importance of good hygiene practice. The environment is maintained to a high level of cleanliness, and the children join in the activity of cleaning the toys, and they discuss why they are doing this. The children have independent access to the toilet so they develop good personal hygiene routines and self care skills. The children's health is being protected by the childminder's knowledge about the appropriate storage of food, and by having an effective sick children's policy in place to prevent the spread of infection and contagious diseases. The children's health and fitness benefit from taking part in physical activity on a daily basis, this includes activities such as hoopla, throwing wet sponges, hopscotch, hook the duck, use of the swimming pool, trips to the beach, playing out in the rain with a mackintosh, hat and brolly up, and, in the snow and making snowmen. The outdoor

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Helping children to be healthy

play encourages the children to join in, have fun and develop a healthy outlook on exercise. As well as having fun the children benefit from a wide range of confident building activities available such as monkey bars and swing.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children develop independence and have free access to an exciting, warm and welcoming environment where they can move about safely, and become engrossed in a wide selection of appropriate activities. Children develop their decision making skills and spend time concentrating on their activities because they know the environment and are comfortable with the childminder. The children learn about keeping themselves safe, they talk about falling over toys and getting hurt, so they all participate in tidying up tasks. The children benefit from a good range of safety measures, for example stair gates, an emergency evacuation procedure, and practiced fire drills. Toys and equipment both indoors and outdoors are well maintained and safe for children to use. The children's welfare is being protected, as the childminder has a good understanding about child protection issues, and procedures if she has concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children have immediate access to a wide range of age appropriate toys,

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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 equipment and activities, where they make their own decisions, explore and make choices about what they wish to play with. The childminder enables the children to make choices by having her equipment fully accessible and presented in a way that is exciting, interesting and stimulating. Children enjoy, experiment and learn from the extensive opportunities that the childminder offers. The children benefit from flexible planning because they can participate in spontaneous activities, such as playing in the snow or having the swimming pool out. The children's learning is challenged and extended by the childminder supporting more difficult tasks and helping the children to achieve, such as learning numbers and playing hopscotch. This helps the children succeed and feel good about

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

themselves. The children benefit from the verbal interaction between children and childminder of asking questions, relaying stories and events, and general discussions. The children's social skills are developing and progressing as they relate well to each other, they are social, polite, chatty and cooperative. The children are happy to help out each other and be patient with each other when they are learning new skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are learning about different cultures and disabilities as they participate in activities which extend their knowledge and help them understand about differences. The children enjoy respectful relationships with the childminder and each other, and they are developing confidence and self esteem. The children benefit from the social time they spend together and the resources available to them as they learn about the world around them, and develop a sense of belonging. Their awareness of each other's feelings and empathy is developing, and they showed concern for each other by for example helping to bring some shopping in from the back gate. The children are well behaved in a calm and caring environment. The childminder uses appropriate strategies for managing behaviour according to the ages of the children, and this helps children learn right from wrong. Good partnership with parents is

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Helping children make a positive contribution

ongoing and supported by the childminder who understands the parents wishes and the children in her care. The journals for younger children ensure continuity of care, and keeps parents up to date with their children's progress. Special needs are identified by the childminder and children will benefit from her experience, knowledge and confidence, where she can liaise with parents and support the child's needs. The children would benefit from the childminder recording individual children's progress, especially if she is doing particular activities to assist a child's learning. The parents and childminder would be able to share the information and help the children grow and develop.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The childminder takes her role very seriously and this is evident in the organisation of

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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 the play room, she has a clear understanding of her role in supporting the children in their play and learning. The childminder keeps her knowledge up to date and attends courses to develop her work with children, and to ensure she can effectively promote the welfare, care and learning of children. The childminder uses her time well to organise resources, and has a flexible approach which allows children the opportunity to organise and pursue their own games. Children benefit from having access to an environment that is well organised, stimulating, and safe for the overall development of confidence and self esteem. Children's needs are being met by there being good communication and up to date documentation being maintained by the childminder. The needs of all the children are being met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The childminder has retained all regulatory documents.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints to report on since the last inspection.

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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): • record a child's progress and development when carrying out specific tasks to assist a child's learning

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The quality and standards of the care

procedures set out in the leaflet Building better childcare: Compliments and concerns about inspectors' judgements 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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