Childminder, Out-of school day care in Bexley

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 EY298238 Inspection date 03/03/2009 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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 January 2005. She lives with her husband, two teenage daughters and son aged nine years in a house in Erith in the borough of Bexley. The whole of the house is registered for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time and is currently caring for four children in the early years age group, of whom one is full-time, and three school children under eight years, all of whom are part-time.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is outstanding. The childminder's extremely professional approach to childminding ensures that children's welfare, learning and development is fully promoted. Her very good knowledge of children and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) enables her to plan and provide an inclusive and stimulating learning environment, where children can flourish and develop to their full potential. Working relationships with parents are fully explored and all necessary information is shared on a regular basis. This significantly contributes in enabling the childminder to meet the individual needs of each child. Self-evaluation is used very effectively to monitor her practice and to plan for future development.

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further?

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

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further?

 developing a system to find out more about children's starting points

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provision

The childminder provides children with a safe, secure and extremely child-centred environment, rich in number, pictures, symbols and books, to promote children's learning. Children have many opportunities to develop their independent and self- help skills. They can choose what they want to play with from well organised boxes of play resources, which are clearly labelled with words and pictures. Comprehensive planning provides children with a good balance of child-centred and adult-led activities in the home and garden and enables children to develop their knowledge of the wider community. The childminder values all children as individuals and is committed to ensuring her service is fully inclusive for all families. She has very good information and policies in place for protecting children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. Parents are encouraged

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provision

to be actively involved in their children's learning. They receive excellent information about their children's care, progress and development through a variety of different means, which include the sharing of observations and assessments, photographs, daily contact books, newsletters, scrapbooks and diaries.

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provision

The childminder has completed her National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Childcare Learning and Development, EYFS training and several other workshops and courses. She is committed to continually updating her childcare knowledge by attending further training, put on by Bexley Early Years. The childminder recognises the value of self-assessment to monitor and improve her practice. She has used her self-evaluation form well, together with responses on parent questionnaires to identify some areas she feel will develop her practice further. Comprehensive records, polices and procedures are used effectively to underpin her very good practice and to promote the welfare of children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are extremely well supported to ensure they make good progress across all areas of their learning and development. The childminder uses observation and assessment very effectively to plan and implement a stimulating range of activities and experiences, which help children to develop skills and knowledge required to achieving the early learning goals. Flexible planning is based on children's likes, interests and individual needs and routines and includes time for outdoor play and outings in the community. However, a system for finding out about children's starting points is less established. Good links with local pre-schools and nurseries ensures that the childminder can provide children with continuity and an extension of their learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are happy, confident and settled in the childminder's care. They play well together and really enjoy her participation in their activities and play. For example, children have great fun developing their creativity through singing and dancing with the childminder, who ensures they can all join in the activity, regardless of their age or ability. She continually talks to children and asks open ended questions to encourage their language and thinking skills. Children have good opportunities to develop their independence and social skills. At lunch time they happily engage in conversation about what they have been doing at nursery and at home and they enjoy helping the childminder to set the table by counting out the required numbers of cups and plates. They confidently choose what they want to play with from an extensive range of resources and activities that promote the six areas of learning and include a good selection of positive image books and toys.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are also helped to learn about the wider world through themes and the celebration of various festivals and they enjoy many outings in the local community.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder uses everyday routines and outings very effectively to help children to recognise numbers and letters and to develop their counting skills. She promotes their enjoyment of books by providing them with a wide range of books, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 reading stories and taking them on regular trips to the library where they can choose their own books. Good use of labelling and picture signs throughout her home helps children to learn that text carries meaning. The well equipped garden provides children with good opportunities for physical play, together with regular trips to the park. Indoors, babies have more than adequate space to crawl around in and appropriate furniture and equipment to pull themselves up on. Children can develop their physical skills through a range of age appropriate activities and resources.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's health, safety and general welfare is well promoted and is underpinned by the childminder's detailed policies and procedures, together with her thorough risk assessments and fire evacuation procedures, which are regularly practised and well documented. The childminder's home is clean and well maintained with all necessary safety precautions in place to keep children safe. She provides children with a healthy balanced diet and has good procedures in place to protect them from cross-infection. 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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