Childminder in Surrey

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY292118 Inspection date 09 January 2006 Inspector Hazel Stuart-Buddery

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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 2004. She lives with her husband and their three children in Camberley. The ground floor is mainly used for childminding, with sleeping facilities upstairs. There is a garden available for outside play. Local parks, shops and schools are within walking distance. The childminder may care for a maximum of six children and currently has two pre-school and four after school children on the register. The family have two cats and one dog.

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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. The children play in a clean and well maintained environment, where they learn the importance of good personal hygiene. Effective daily routines for nappy changing help prevent the spread of infection. The parents give prior written consent to administer medication; as a result, the children receive the correct dosage according to their needs. All documentation is accurately maintained. The children's health and dietary needs are discussed with the parents, in order to meet the on-going needs of all the children. The childminder holds a current first aid certificate; this ensures the children receive appropriate care if there is an accident. The children receive healthy, nutritious meals and snacks and drinks that are easily accessible to them all day. This helps the children to develop good eating habits and make their own healthy lifestyle choices. The children have regular opportunities to

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Helping children to be healthy

go on walks and outings, which promote their physical development.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. The children benefit from playing in a well organized environment. This allows them to move around and play safely. They have easy and safe access to a good range of age appropriate toys and resources. The toddlers confidently make their own choices of what to play with, in a safe and secure environment. The children are protected from the risk of fire. Smoke alarms and a fire blanket are in place. The outdoor area is safe for the children to enjoy fresh air and play with appropriate equipment during summer months. The childminder’s sound knowledge of child protection issues and awareness of the procedures to follow, promote and safeguard the children's welfare while they are in her care.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The children are settled and very happy in the childminder's care. They enjoy a good range of activities and toys, which are appropriate to their stage of development. The childminder offers good levels of support to young children, to ensure they receive maximum enjoyment. The toddlers enjoy using the lorry shape sorter as a car transporter and the childminder encourages them to count in the cars. They proudly pull the lorry along, complete with the cars. The childminder reacts quickly to the children's interests and selects the chosen book to look at together. The children explore and investigate the toys with enthusiasm and often go spontaneously to the childminder for cuddles.

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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 The children make good progress in a child friendly environment. The childminder is warm and responsive towards the children, making them feel valued. She knows the children well and responds to their individual needs effectively. She constantly talks to them and spends time playing with them. This helps the children to make good progress in their development.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The children are treated with respect and given choices, helping them to feel good about themselves. The childminder has a good awareness of equality of opportunity. She encourages the children to learn about differences. The children from other countries, whom she cares for, are encouraged to share their home experiences with everyone. The children enjoy the company of the childminder. She interacts well with them, offering support while encouraging independence. The childminder has a clear written behaviour policy in place. The children are well behaved and feel safe and secure. They respond positively to praise and encouragement. The older children respect the house rules and help the younger children to follow them, by reminding them what they are. For example, the older children remind the younger ones that they should not jump on the sofa. The childminder has a good partnership with parents. There are informal systems in

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Helping children make a positive contribution

place for the parents to share information about their child's progress. The childminder regularly shows the parents a book of photographs, showing experiences the children have. A full set of written policies and procedures are shared with the parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The children are happy and relaxed in a child-friendly and caring environment. They are confident and settled and benefit from a well-organised home. The children receive good levels of support from the childminder and trusting relationships are fostered. The childminder maintains all documentation well and a full set of written policies are available for the parents. She is aware of the current changes in regulation, but has not implemented a new procedure or advised the parents of the changes. The childminder takes time on a daily basis to keep the parents informed about their child's progress. Overall, the childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides.

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Improvements 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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Complaints since the last inspection

On 27/09/2005 a complaint was made that related to standards 2 and 6. It was alleged that the provider was over minding and leaving minded children in the car, unattended, outside the school. Ofsted investigated these concerns by making an unannounced visit to the provider’s house to discuss all the issues. As a result of the visit the following recommendations were made: improve existing arrangements to keep children safe by ensuring they are not left unattended in a vehicle; make sure that low level glass panels are safe or inaccessible; obtain written permission from parents for transporting children in a vehicle and for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment; ensure that the attendance register is up to date and accurate. No further action was taken and the provider remained qualified for registration. 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

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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): • ensure a complaints procedure is implemented and shared with parents in line with recent changes to the regulations

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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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