Nine Mile Ride Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number 109814 Inspection date 13 December 2005 Inspector Sonia Steele

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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 a registered since 1993. She lives with her adult son in a two bedroom, house in Greenwich, close to local shops, parks, play groups and good transport facilities. The whole of the premises is accessible with the exception of the back bedroom. There is also a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is currently minding three children. She takes the children to visit local places of interest on a regular 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 It is a non-smoking household and the family has no pets. The childminder holds the NVQ Level 2 and 3 qualification in childcare and education. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and the childminding network. The childminder son intends to work with her as an assistant.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene and understand why they need to wash their hands after visiting the toilet, handling pets, playing in the garden and after an activity. This is because the childminder follows highly effective procedures and practices which meet the physical, nutritional and health needs of all children who attend. Children enjoy an extensive range of activities which contribute to their good health and physical fitness. There is a well planned programme of activities to promote this both within the home and outside. Children always walk to school, library, play groups, enjoy the freedom of being taken to local farms regularly and visit the local park where they climb, run and jump. There is a safe enclosed garden which is used regularly when weather permits and children are supervised when in use. Children can rest or sleep according to their needs which are discussed with their parents.

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Helping children to be healthy

The childminder gained her food and hygiene certificate which helps her to provide children with nutritious meals and snacks. Therefore, children have their dietary needs met effectively and are provided with a nourishing, freshly prepared, balanced diet. Parents are presented with planned menus taking account of individual and cultural needs with verbal discussions held with parents. She uses seasonal fruits and vegetables whenever possible. The recommended five fruit and vegetables a day are encouraged and after each meal the children actively participate in discussing and counting the fruits and vegetables they have eaten. Drinks are readily accessible and children can independently access their own cup or beaker. Meals are taken together in a unhurried manner, the children are given choice and a selection from a cold or hot menu plus a sizeable quantity of foods that they would like to eat. Parents are aware of the childminder's menu in order to prevent repetition.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children benefit from playing in a spacious well-organised environment. They arrive happily and settle well in a very warm, clean and well maintained environment. The children can move around freely in the house and the garden as the childminder has organised the furniture accordingly for the storage of toys and equipment to create uncluttered spaces. Children are closely supervised when playing outdoors. It is fully enclosed and the area is checked before children are taken out to play. The childminder frequently carried out risk assessment checks to minimise potential

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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 hazards to children, however she has replaced a door on the boiler cupboard but has not yet fixed a new lock on it. She has promised to do so. Children are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe and are involved in tasks such as tidying away books and are encouraged to wipe up spills. Clear procedures for outings ensuring children safety and helping children to understand how to keep themselves safe on trips. Children are encouraged to think about road safety which was effectively promoted through the recent planned topic of staying safe. For example the childminder said she uses stranger danger method by telling the children only to go with mummy and daddy and herself. When travelling in the childminder's car, children use appropriate child seats, restraints and reins when

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

visiting groups or parks. The security is good ensuring children are unable to leave the premises without a suitable adult Children are kept safe in the setting as the childminder has completed relevant training and uses appropriate documentation to promote this. An example being , keeping an accurate attendance register and administration of medicine records, which are shared with parents. First aid kits are kept and regularly replenished. Procedures to monitor sleeping children are in place. The childminder has sound knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and the procedure to follow if she had any concerns.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children enjoy a broad range of interesting activities which contribute to their development. They learn through play with the stimulating range of accessible resources and equipment and become totally absorbed in creating festive decorations. The childminder provides plenty of books for the children from Christmas stores, festive songs were softly playing in the background. Children would sing along to them. Children benefit from regular outings and help to plan holiday activities. The childminder is interested in children’s experiences and helps a child to remember by laminating their activities and displaying their work throughout the hall and kitchen and taking photographs of their play during the day. The childminder extends children’s language by offering suitable vocabulary when they play with the house and explaining the different utensils used by other cultures. The children enjoy looking at books together and handle books carefully. They

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

develop imaginative play with the dressing up clothes as the minded child dressed up as a Princess with her tiara. The childminder spends a lot of time interacting with the children at their level and supporting their play so that they can learn to make positive relationships with other children. For example, she encourages them to play co-operatively together through activities such as using the tonky foot prints. Children are also developing an awareness of the needs of others and if a child becomes upset they are frequently comforted by another child.

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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 are happy, well settled, independent and confident. They demonstrate this when they choose toys and activities for themselves. Their development is encouraged and promoted by the individual care and good range of toys and activities offered by the childminder. The childminder has attended a Birth to 3 Matters course. She encourages the baby by repeating words, singing nursery rhymes and respond to his gestures. The baby is very happy and comfortable in the presence of other adults. The childminder takes the children out regularly to play groups, parks, and to one O'clock clubs. She has photographs of the children having a very good time at groups and at the park. The childminder has a very good understanding with regards to the importance of rest and sleep for children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued as individuals and childminder presents parents with an extensive equal opportunity policy which they are asked to read and abide by its contents. Children self-esteem and independence skills are fostered because the childminder uses effective strategies to do so, such as giving children choices, praising actions such as sharing toys and giving older children responsibilities. The child minder has a display of brightly coloured welcoming posters in her passage as a way of depicting the cultural diversity. She also uses her experience and training to provide a wide range of activities and resources that provide children with a positive outlook on the wider world. The children learn about other cultures through activities, books, photos and celebration of other festivals. Play resources are available which show positive images of cultural diversity. Children are helped to manage their own behaviour as there are clear and consistent

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Helping children make a positive contribution

boundaries set to help them do so. Young children learn how to behave appropriately through example and explanation and the childminder always values and praises good behaviour. Children are helped to develop positive attitudes to others as the childminder presents herself as a good role model for example, the older child helps to clear away her activity and help the younger siblings to tidy away his toys. The childminder then thanks the children for being helpful. Children are independent, confident and quickly develop a sense of belonging within the childminder's home because parents are consulted and information is shared. Children enjoy each other's company and treat each other kindly. The childminder is aware of a range of special educational needs. She uses her knowledge to communicate her practice and promote children's understanding of similarities and differences. Children with special needs would be supported and the

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Helping children make a positive contribution

childminder said she would seek input from their parents in order to ensure that she is providing the correct stimulation to aid their development. She has a selection of special needs toys and books and also discussed how she would adopt activities to ensure all children are included. The childminder works in partnership with parents to ensure that children feel secure in her care. There is daily verbal communication between the childminder and the

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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 children's parents. Settling in procedures are discussed and agreed. A very good comprehensive partnership with parents policy and agreement is in place. Each parents is given a copy which states that she would work with parents as partners in providing quality care and education for the children in a relaxed atmosphere of mutual trust and respect.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Children are settled and happy in the childminder's home. They benefit from a well experience and trained childminder who is very caring. The children initiate their own play and explore readily accessible toys and resources, developing confidence and self esteem as they become more independent. They are secure and comfortable in this well organised environment. They follow well established routines for play, meals and rest which support their development and well-being. The childminder’s good organisation is evident in her daily routine and extensive documentation. Good safety precautions promote children's welfare and well maintained records contribute to appropriate care for each child for example the childminder practices the emergency evacuation procedures with the children, a risk assessment is carried out in the garden, smoke alarm and fire blanket are placed appropriately, safety plugs in place and toys are clean and conforms to BS EN

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Organisation

regulation. Information is exchanged in regular informal discussions with the parents help to make sure care is adapted to meets the children's needs. The childminder intends to use her son as an assistance and she is clear about what is expected of them for example that parents must be informed of her son's role. Children’s safety, welfare and care are generally well protected and promoted by the practice observed at this inspection. The childminder has completed her NVQ level 2 and 3 training. Effective policies and procedures keep parents well informed about the provision for their children. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children who attend.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the previous inspection the childminder has improved her knowledge and understanding of special needs. She has completed a course with the childminders' network and has obtained special needs toys. The childminder with the additional training she is confident that she is able to recognising children with special and know how best to support them and their parents. The attendance register is now completed appropriately illustrating the children's arrival and departure times. The childminder has provided for parents with policies and procedures which include

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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 Health and Safety.

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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 then those made to Ofsted. There are no complaints to report

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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): • make the upstairs boiler cupboard safe

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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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