Childminder in Greenwich

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY358743 Inspection date 13/11/2008 Inspector Jeannette Waring

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Type of setting Childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Introduction

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of the registered early years provision. ‘Early years provision’ refers to provision regulated by Ofsted for children from birth to 31 August following their fifth birthday (the early years age group). The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and welfare, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Introduction

The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration whichever is the later, which require Ofsted or the provider to take action in Annex C.

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Introduction

The provider must provide a copy of this report to all parents with children at the setting where reasonably practicable. The provider must provide a copy of the report to any other person who asks for one, but may charge a fee for this service (The Childcare (Inspection) Regulations 2008 regulations 9 and 10).

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Introduction

The setting also makes provision for children older than the early years age group which is registered on the voluntary and/or compulsory part(s) of the Childcare Register. This report does not include an evaluation of that provision, but a comment about compliance with the requirements of the Childcare Register is included in Annex B. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Description of the childminding

The childminder lives with her partner and three children aged six, four and two years. The childminder's partner works as her assistant on a part time basis. The family live in a three bedroom, ground floor flat in a low-rise block which is situated on the borders of Plumstead and Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich. Children have use of a playroom, one of the bedrooms and the hallway for their play space. The flat is within reach of local amenities including parks, schools and shops. There are no pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has been registered since July 2007 and she is included on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of two children under eight years of age at any one time. She is currently caring for two children, both on a part-time basis.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder is welcoming and kind, and children are secure and comfortable in her care. Children have access to a range of provision in a play room and most days they enjoy visits to a local childminder drop-in. However, because the childminder does not observe and assess children's development and progress, the activities provided sometimes fail to meet children's individual needs. The childminder has a positive approach to inclusion, providing a warm welcome to all and good support to children who are learning English as an additional language. Currently the childminder does not have a system in place to monitor the effectiveness of her provision and as a result she has not identified areas for improvement.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 make systematic observations and assessments of each child's achievements, interests and learning styles; use these observations and assessments to plan relevant and motivating learning experiences for each child (Assessment arrangements) 20/02/2009  ensure that all records relating to childminding activities are readily accessible and available for inspection at all times, in particular ensure that the daily register is a complete record of the days and hours of attendance for each child (Documentation) 30/11/2008 To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 review the risk assessment and make sure that all hazards are effectively This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 minimised in order to ensure children's safety  ensure that expectations of children’s behaviour are consistent with each child’s stage of development, and make sure that all behaviour management strategies are age appropriate, support children’s learning and help them to develop self discipline  develop a self evaluation process and make sure that it is effective in identifying areas for improvement

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provision

The childminder is able to protect children from harm and neglect because she has a secure understanding of her responsibility to keep children safe. She has ensured that all adults are appropriately vetted and has booked to attend more safeguarding training in order to keep her knowledge of local procedures up to date.

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provision

The childminder has some hand written policies which she discusses with parents. She displays some information for parents in the play room, for example her registration certificate and information about how to contact the regulator are displayed. Children's personal records are stored in their own folders. However, the general storage of documentation is not well organised and as result the childminder was unable to find a record of attendance for one of the children in her care. Partnerships with parents focus on children's care needs, information is shared informally each day with parents but there are no arrangements in place for parents to contribute to children's progress records. For example, the childminder does not gather information about children's skills, interests and abilities from parents of children new to her setting

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provision

The childminder has attended all required training since registration and has attended other local authority workshops in order to improve her practice. She does not yet have a clear understanding of the learning and development requirements as set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, and she does not have an effective system in place to monitor and review her own practice. As a result she has not been able to identify the gaps in her provision and some of the activities she provides fail to engage children's interest.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children enjoy playing together in the play room. A suitable range of toys and equipment is attractively presented and children enjoy searching through boxes to find favourite items. The childminder has a weekly programme of activities which includes a visit to a local childminder drop-in group most days. At home she allows time for children to select toys and activities for themselves and she also provides some adult-led activities. Currently there are no arrangements in place to ascertain children's starting points. Although the childminder records details of some activities, noting the conversations she has with children, she does not use the observations to assess children's progress or to plan for their next steps. As a result This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 some activities, in particular those that are adult-led, do not engage children because they do not reflect children's current interests and may not be appropriate

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

to their stage of development. Consequently young children become restless and fractious.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are generally well behaved and friendly. However, the childminder has high expectations of young children's abilities to share and to take part in adult-led activities. Some of the behaviour management strategies used, for example time out, are not effective in helping young children to manage their own behaviour.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are generally safe and secure within the childminder's home because the childminder carries out regular risk assessments and action has been taken to minimise most hazards. However, some trailing wires were noted during the inspection, and the fire blanket is mounted very close to the cooker, making it difficult to use should there be a fire associated with cooking.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a clean home and the childminder has effective procedures in place to prevent the spread of infection. Suitable meals and snacks are offered to children and the childminder ensures that children have free access to drinking water. Although there is no garden the childminder makes sure children have opportunities for exercise in the fresh air, for example by using the garden at the drop-in centre. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

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Annex A: record of inspection judgements

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? 3 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 3

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 3 How well are children helped to be healthy? 3 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 4 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

procedures set out in the guidance available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

This section of the report includes details of any complaint/s made to Ofsted when:  we took action for the provider to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  we asked the provider to take action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  the provider had already taken any necessary action to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

We will not report on any complaint where the provider met the requirements of the Early Years Register or did not require any action by Ofsted or the registered provider.

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Detail of the complaint/s

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since registration.

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Detail of the complaint/s

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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