Donkor, Holly

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY264452 Inspection date 13 October 2005 Inspector Josephine Geoghegan

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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 was registered in 2003. She lives in the Kidbrooke area of Greenwich with her husband and two children under 8 years old. The whole of the premises is used for childminding, except two bedrooms. Children have access to an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of two children under 8 years at any one time. When working with her husband who is also a registered childminder, or with her daughter who works as an assistant, she may care for a maximum of four children under 8 at any one time. She is currently minding for two children all day,

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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 from Monday to Friday. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group and walks with children to and from the local school. The family do not have any pets. The childminder does not provide overnight care. She is a member of the National Childminders Association.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Children have good opportunities to engage in physical play. They regularly attend children’s groups and local play areas to use large climbing equipment. They also walk to and from the local nursery, benefiting from additional exercise and fresh air. Children's health is promoted by positive steps taken by the childminder to protect children from the spread of infection, such as good hygiene standards and cleanliness of the home, equipment and children's individual bedding. Children are encouraged to learn good hygiene practices, such as washing their hands as soon as they come in from school, before meals and after using the toilet. Children are able to develop self care skills and independence as the childminder encourages and supports children during toilet training. Children are offered a nutritious and varied diet of home cooked meals that include fresh fruit and vegetables, promoting healthy eating. Children's individual and dietary

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Helping children to be healthy

needs are catered for and parental preferences respected. All children are offered regular drinks and older children are encouraged to make choices of foods they would like at meal times. Children have constant access to fresh water from the bottled water drinks dispenser in the kitchen.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Children are able to play safely in the home as the childminder has taken positive steps to promote safety, such as using safety gates, cupboard and door locks and all appropriate fire safety equipment is in place. The childminder has taken precautions to prevent accidents by using a mat to cover the un-secure carpet in the kitchen doorway, however this could pose a tripping hazard and needs to be repaired to ensure safety. The home is bright and well maintained. Children benefit from having lots of clear playspace in the living room, enabling them to move freely and safely, for example while dancing or playing with soft balls. Children have access to a good range of developmentally appropriate toys and resources to ensure all children can be purposefully engaged. Toys are of good quality, clean and well maintained. A range of garden toys and equipment are loaned from the toy library on a regular basis, providing children with a greater variety of

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

equipment to promote their physical skills. Children have access to a wide variety of books, some of which are stored separately for use with the children at storytime.

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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 Children are able to make choices and select resources that are mainly stored in plastic containers in the living room. Art and craft materials are stored separately in boxes with lids, making them inaccessible to younger children and promoting safety. Children have access to a range of child sized furniture and equipment to meet their needs, including high chairs, buggies, potties and suitable bedding. Procedures are in place to ensure children are protected and any child protection concerns are dealt with appropriately. The childminder keeps the Greenwich Child Protection guidelines for childminders easily accessible.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are happy, settled and purposefully engaged in play. They make good use of the challenging and interesting toys available, while being supported well by the childminder. For example, younger children are encouraged to join in the play dough activity and explore and use utensils, while older children make cakes with the play dough and are offered crayons by the childminder to use as candles that they count together, developing their maths skills. Children extend the activity by singing happy birthday to each other and pretending to blow out the candles. Children enjoy dancing to music tapes, they sing along as the childminder joins in, encouraging them to develop free creative expression. Children are able to develop their language skills as the childminder involves children in conversations and talks about what they are doing, encouraging them in play. Children have good

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

opportunities to engage in creative activities, some of which are adult led, for example making things like paper flowers. Younger children enjoy drawing as they are praised by the childminder for their achievements of making purposeful marks on paper. Children regularly attend local groups and outings in the local area, extending their knowledge of their environment and enabling them to use a greater range of resources and large play equipment. They also use soft balls and sit 'n' ride cars in the home to promote their physical skills.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children have good opportunities to learn about people in the community. For example, they regularly attend local children's groups and use a range of resources in the home, such as dolls that reflect a variety of cultures and books and puzzles that show positive images of people. Although no children attend at present who have identified special needs, systems are in place to ensure care is appropriate and inclusion is positive, for example the childminder has attended additional relevant training courses. Children's individual needs are met by the childminder who works effectively in

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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 partnership with parents to ensure all care needs are known. Methods for settling in new minded children are agreed with parents. Some children have attended the childminders care for a few years. They are settled and feel comfortable with the childminder and her family, promoting their emotional well being. Parents are kept well informed about their child's day and developmental progress as the childminder makes time to discuss the events of the day when the parents collect their children. Children have good relationships with each other and the childminder. Children are encouraged to behave well, be sociable, share and take turns. Lots of support and praise is given by the childminder for their efforts and achievements, as a result children are well behaved and respond cooperatively to the daily routine.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. The childminder meets the needs of the range of children for whom she provides. The childminder is well organised and enthusiastic about her childminding business and holds appropriate qualifications for childminding and first aid. She has also attended a variety of one day courses, developing her own knowledge and understanding of caring for children. All required documentation is in place although some improvements are needed to ensure they are appropriately maintained. For example, consent to seek medical advice or treatment needs to been obtained and the record of children's attendance must be completed promptly and clearly show the adults who are responsible for them. Children are able to play in a well organised environment that is uncluttered and child friendly. Children can reach toys and resources easily as they are stored in low level containers, enabling them to make choices and gain independence. Children are

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Organisation

offered a varied daily routine as the childminder organises a range of activities and outings that support children’s learning.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since 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 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

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 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 proper precautions are taken to prevent accidents, specifically, repair/secure the carpet in the hall/kitchen doorway. • ensure documentation is appropriately maintained, specifically, obtain written parental permission to seek emergency medical advice or treatment; ensure the record of children's attendance is completed promptly and clearly shows which childminder and/or assistant is responsible for the minded children.

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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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