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 EY359497 Inspection date 27/11/2008 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 husband and two children, a nine year old daughter and four year old son. The family live in a two bedroom terraced house on the Plumstead / Woolwich borders. Schools, pre-schools and parks are located close by and Woolwich town centre is within easy walking distance. There is direct easy access to the front door of the house from the pathway. Children use the living room and hallway for their play space and there is an enclosed back garden for outdoor play. The family have no pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has been registered since August 2007 and is included on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of five children under the age of eight years at any one time and is currently providing care for three children in the early years age group, some of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder's husband is her part- time assistant. The childminder is a member of the Greenwich Childminding Network.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides a high standard of care for children in her safe, welcoming and well organised home. Children's learning is effectively promoted because the childminder has a good understanding of their individual needs and interests, and her planning is flexible. The childminder's use of the self-evaluation process and her commitment to on-going training ensures that her provision makes continuous progress. Partnerships with parents are strong, ensuring good continuity of care for children. The childminder's open and positive approach to equality and inclusion ensures that all families feel welcome and helps children to value and respect themselves and each other.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 continue to develop the arrangements with parents so that they are able to provide information about a child's starting points when they join the setting and contribute to their on-going learning and development record  continue to develop the self-evaluation process so that it provides a basis for on-going internal review - assessing what the setting offers against robust and challenging quality criteria so that improvements are targeted to improve outcomes for children's learning and development

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provision

Clear safeguarding policies, good vetting procedures and the childminder's good understanding of her role in keeping children safe ensure that children are This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 protected from harm or neglect. The childminder is extremely well organised and has a very professional approach to her work. She makes sure that all documentation is well maintained and carefully stored. Clear policies and procedures underpin her work with children and their families.

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provision

The childminder has a strong commitment to improving her service and has undertaken many courses since registration to broaden her knowledge base. This training has included a number of sessions on implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage and this has enabled her to begin to develop new planning and assessment arrangements for children. She reviews her practice and uses the self- evaluation process well to identify strengths and any gaps in her knowledge. However, she has not yet developed this process so that it identifies how any improvements made will help to improve outcomes for children in their learning and development. As a result, although she provides a high quality service and improves her own knowledge through training, she does not always use the review process to target improvements directly on aspects of her practice which would help children to make more rapid progress.

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provision

The childminder has good partnerships in place with parents. Each child has an individual care plan which details their welfare needs and has been discussed with parents. This ensures that children's individual needs are met. The use of a daily journal for each child keeps parents informed about children's day and highlights new achievements. However, partnerships do not yet extend fully to support children’s learning. For example, parents input regarding children's starting points in relation to their learning and development is not sought when they join the setting, and parents do not routinely contribute to children’s learning record.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are very happy and relaxed in the childminder's supportive care and they make good progress overall in their learning and development. The childminder has a very child-centred approach to planning for children's learning. She believes that children learn best when they are having fun, and she takes her lead from children's individual interests when planning activities for them. This approach ensures that children are interested and appropriately challenged by the activities on offer. Children are confident and developing independence as they move around in the childminder's well organised home. Even very young children are able to select resources from the wealth of good quality toys and equipment which are attractively presented in the living room.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are well behaved and sociable, they enjoy a warm relationship with the childminder who spends time talking with and listening to them. Practical activities such as cooking help children to learn about concepts such as weight and quantity. Outings in the local area such as regular visits to childminder drop-in groups help children to learn about their local community. The childminder's positive approach to equality and inclusion ensures that all children feel valued. This helps them to feel good about themselves and encourages them to respect each other's differences. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children's health and safety are extremely well promoted by the childminder who has been careful to provide children with a very clean, safe and secure environment. Regular detailed risk assessments are carried out and carefully recorded and the childminder has very effectively minimised all identified hazards

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

within her home and garden. She has excellent arrangements in place to ensure children are safe at all times and she regularly up-dates her safeguarding training to ensure that she is fully aware of any changes in local procedures. Children also learn how to stay safe when out and about with the childminder.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles, for example, as they play in the childminder's garden using a wide range of physical play apparatus, or as they plant vegetable seeds in the cold frame which will be transplanted into the childminder's allotment. Well balanced and healthy meals and snacks also promote children's health and they benefit from the fresh produce grown on the allotment. 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? 2 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? 2 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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