Childminder in Camden

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique Reference Number EY277984 Inspection date 26 January 2006 Inspector Kay Williams

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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 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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her fiancé in a flat in Kentish Town, located within the borough of Camden. All areas of the childminders flat are used for childminding. There is no outdoor play space available, but children regularly visit local parks and toddler groups. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 3 children at any one time and is currently minding 1 child under 5.

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THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION

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 benefit from a healthy, well balanced diet which suits their individual needs as their food is provided by their parents. The childminder has a good knowledge of the importance of healthy eating and considers this when offering the children food or snacks, having consulted with their parent's first. Children are offered drinks on a regular basis and they enjoy the food that they eat. Effective domestic routines ensure that the children are cared for in a clean, hygienic home environment. They are protected from infection as sick children are discouraged from attending. In addition, children who become ill are made comfortable while they wait for their parents to take them home. Children are further protected from the risk of cross infection as they use their own personal nappy changing equipment and have their own individual bedding. Children are offered regular opportunities to enjoy fresh air

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Helping children to be healthy

and exercise. They go out for a walk every day and regularly visit the park where they can have fun while they develop their large physical skills.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children feel safe and secure, as the childminders home is warm and welcoming. Children can move freely between the hallway and lounge areas and may also have supervised access to the kitchen. Children are kept safe through the childminders good knowledge and understanding of health and safety issues. Their arrival and departure is carefully monitored as the childminder greets them at the door. The equipment available to the children is age appropriate, safe and well maintained. The childminder has a good routine in place to ensure that the equipment is cleaned regularly. Resources are easily accessible to the children and the range is rotated to stimulate and retain their interest. Children make good use of the resources available to them and consequently enjoy their play, helping themselves to additional materials when they wish too. Children are protected in an emergency situation as the childminder has a current

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

first aid qualification. They are further safeguarded as the childminder has appropriate knowledge of child protection procedures and is able to act in the child's best interest.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Children are very well settled at the childminders home, confidently moving around the flat and making themselves at home. They enjoy strong, positive relationships with the childminder and they clearly enjoy each others company. They spend their time purposefully and receive lots of individual attention from the childminder. Children enjoy looking at books and eagerly sit on the childminder's lap in order to have her read to them. They benefit from the childminders good understanding of the needs of younger children, consequently language development and the

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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 development of physical skills are particularly well fostered. The children enjoy regular outings to the park where they learn to develop their large motor skills. Trips to the local city farm offer children opportunities to enhance their learning as they relate pictures of animals that they see in books into real first hand experiences. The childminder initiates discussion and the children learn the sounds that animals make. They enjoy socialising and playing with other children as they regularly attend local toddler groups where they engage in a wide variety of activities. These include, painting, role play and large construction.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Children are valued and respected as individuals. Their needs are well met as they follow their normal daily routine as discussed with their parents. Boys and girls are treated with equal concern and all children are encouraged to participate in all of the activities and resources offered to them. Children experience different cultures as they participate in a range of different cultural festivals, as celebrated at the toddler groups that they attend. Children are very well behaved as the childminder creates a calm friendly and homely atmosphere for them to feel at ease in. The daily routine flows smoothly, offering children time to relax and be active. It also couples good care routines with age and ability appropriate learning opportunities. Partnerships with parents are a strong feature. Good relationships between the parent and the childminder result in consistent and appropriate care being offered to

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Helping children make a positive contribution

the children. The childminder has collated a file of information for the parents to reference and her certificate of registration is displayed for them to refer to.

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Organisation

The organisation is satisfactory. Children feel at home within the childminders well organised environment. They appear confident and secure within their daily routine. Documentation is carefully collated and serves as good reference material in supporting existing good practice. The information that the childminder has gathered supports her in knowing the children well and being able to best meet their needs. Record keeping is effective. Overall, attendance records are accurate and up to date and the administration of medication is carefully logged. However, the childminder does not have written permission to seek emergency medical treatment and not all household members have been notified to Ofsted. Overall the provision meets the needs of the children attending.

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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

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted 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): • ensure that Ofsted is notified of all persons living on the premises and that all relevant checks have been carried out on them • obtain written permission from parents regarding seeking emergency medical treatment for 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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