Reardon, Claire

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 EY264992 Inspection date 24/11/2008 Inspector Christine Lynne Hodge

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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 has been registered since September 2003. She lives with her husband and three children aged three, six and 11 years in a three bedroom end- of-terrace house located in Northumberland Heath, Erith in the borough of Bexley. All areas of the house are suitable to be used for childminding. Minded children play in the lounge and the family bathroom is situated on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden with a grass area and a patio of wooden decking to the rear of the property.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years and is currently caring for two children under five years and siblings aged six and 10 years.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a Bexley Network childminder and member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder's extremely good knowledge of children ensures that she is able to provide an inclusive and professional service that fully supports each child to make very good progress across all area of learning and development. Children have access to a wide range of play resources and stimulating planned activities that are based on their likes, interests and individual needs. The childminder has very effective systems in place for tracking children's progress and development and for sharing this information regularly with parents. The childminder has comprehensive polices and procedures which fully promote the welfare of children, together with a comprehensive procedure to monitor and evaluate her practice.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 continue to develop a system for recording children's starting points

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provision

The childminder's home is very well organised to provide children with a stimulating and child centred environment. Children have good opportunities to become independent and to develop their self help skills. For example, books and play resources are very accessible so that children can choose what they want to play with and they enjoy taking part in activities such as helping to lay the table and to clear away after meal times. Effective planning provides children with a very good balance of adult led and child centred activities in the home and enables This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children to develop their knowledge of the wider community. The childminder is committed to ensuring her service is inclusive for all families and that children are fully safeguarded. Parents are made to feel very welcome and are encouraged to be actively involved in their children's learning. They receive extensive information

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provision

about their children's care, progress and development through a variety of different means, which include the sharing of observations and tracker books, photographs, a DVD of activities and samples of children's work. Although children's starting points are discussed with parents when children first attend the setting, the childminder does not have a system currently in place for recording this information.

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provision

Although the childminder holds two level 3 qualifications in childcare and is currently studying for her Early Years Foundation Degree she is committed to continually updating her childcare knowledge by attending training courses and workshops put on by Bexley Early Years. The childminder makes very good use of self-evaluation to identify any gaps in her provision and uses responses from parent questionnaires to improve her practice. Comprehensive records, polices and procedures, which include thorough risk assessments and fire drills are used very effectively to promote the welfare of children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are extremely well supported across all areas of their learning and development. Through observation, assessment and tracking children's progress the childminder is able to plan and implement an extensive range of fun and stimulating activities and experiences that help all children to gain knowledge, understanding and skills to develop and achieve the early learning goals, within the six areas of learning. Planning takes into account children's individual needs as well as their likes and interests and includes a good balance of child centred and adult led activities which take place in the home, garden and wider community. Children are happy and eager to learn and take part in activities. They confidently choose what they want to play with from a good range of play resources which are regularly rotated. All resources are labelled to help children recognise pictures and words. They have access to a good selection of books and enjoy story time and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

regular trips to the library. Children are provided with good opportunities for mark making and take part in lots of activities to help them develop their fine motor skills. The childminder uses everyday routine such as counting the number of stairs and number of steps it takes to get from A to B to help children with number and counting skills. She also provides children with activities such as number games, puzzles, shapes and scales to help them with problem solving and early mathematics. The childminder ensures that children have very good opportunities for outdoor play. Her garden is very well equipped and provides children with a wide range of resources which help to promote not only their physical skills, but also most other areas of their learning. For example, the garden which is very accessible to children is sectioned into a role play area, a physical area, a gardening area where children can grow plants and vegetables and a sand and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

water play area. Children also enjoy regular trips to the park and to toddler groups where they can socialise with other children and take part in different activities. The childminder helps children to develop their knowledge and understanding of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the wider community through themes and the celebration of different festivals. She plans outings to farms and woods to help children learn about animals and nature. The childminder develops close relationships with the children and spends a lot of time sitting with them and supporting their play. She is experienced at asking open ended questions to encourage children's language and thinking skills. Children relate well to her and are very well behaved.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder's comprehensive polices and procedures ensure that children's welfare is fully promoted. Her home is clean and safe with all necessary safety precautions available to protect children from harm. She has good procedures in place to prevent cross-infection and to help children learn the importance of personal hygiene. She ensures that children are provided with healthy snacks and meals and plans activities that help them to understand about healthy eating and staying safe. The childminder is extremely clear about her role and responsibility for recording any concerns of abuse and has necessary safeguarding information and polices in place. 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? 1 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? 1

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 1 How well are children helped to be healthy? 1 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 1 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 the previous inspection.

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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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