Childminder in Barking and Dagenham

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 504385 Inspection date 17/02/2009 Inspector S Campbell

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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 was registered in 2000. She lives with her husband and two children aged 14 and 13 in a residential area of Dagenham, Essex the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The whole ground floor of the childminders home is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, of whom three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding two children in this age range and she also offers care for children aged five to 11 years. The provision is registered by Ofsted on both the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. The childminder walks and drives to local schools to take and collect children. The family have no pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory. Since the last inspection the childminder has addressed previous actions to promote the outcomes for children. The childminder works closely with parents to ensure required information is obtained about all children’s individual needs and backgrounds to promote an inclusive environment. The children are happy and confident in their surroundings which contribute to their sense of belonging. The childminder has attended a number of courses to support children’s learning and development, for example the Play and Language Workshop and The Introduction to Childminding Practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop planning to provide experiences which are appropriate to each child’s stage of development as they progress towards the early learning goals  further develop systems to ensure parents contribute to children’s ongoing assessments  further develop procedures to ensure fire drills are documented  ensure all required car documents are in place for the transporting of children in the car

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provision

The childminder has a satisfactory understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework to support children’s learning and development. There are both informal and formal systems in place to share information with parents about This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children’s development, such as the sharing of children’s progress reports. This enables parents to contribute to their children’s learning while at the setting, for example parents have agreed to obtain and read books to children about animals and take children to Southend Aquarium to support the current topic ‘The Jungle’. The children’s file includes pictures of their activities and the childminder regularly sends pictures to parents of current activities via her mobile phone.

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provision

The childminder is fully aware of the procedures to follow should children sustain a minor injury while in her care and the procedures for recording medication. This promotes continuity of care. The childminder strives for improvement and subsequently she will be undertaking a Level 3 childcare course in the future to support her current practices and the outcomes for children. The children are cared for in an inclusive environment because the childminder encourages all children to actively take part in the activities on offer. There are currently no children attending the setting with learning difficulties and or disability. However, the childminder has some experience of caring for children with learning difficulties and is fully committed to working in partnership with external agencies involved in children’s care to ensure their needs are met while at the setting, for example The Portage team.

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provision

The children are cared for in a generally safe and secure environment because the childminder regularly undertakes visual risk assessments. The children’s welfare is adequately safeguarded because the childminder has a secure knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures. However, written statements for safeguarding and complaints have yet to be implemented and shared with parents. The childminder has begun to self-evaluate her practice and subsequently, has identified some areas for improvement, for example documentation.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The children are steadily making progress in their all-round development. The children are comfortable in their surroundings because the childminder provides and warm and welcoming setting. The childminder carries out regular observations of children’s development and their progress records are fully shared with parents. However, plans are to be fully developed to ensure it reflects the needs of individual children and effectively track their progress towards the early learning goals. The children’s developmental records clearly identify their next steps and the childminder works closely with children’s schools to obtain detailed information about current topics to ensure their learning and development is extended within the home. The childminder gathers both verbal and some documented information about children’s starting points, allowing her to build on what children already know. However, systems have yet to be further developed to ensure parents

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

contribute to children’s ongoing assessments.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The current topic is ‘The Jungle’ and the childminder plans a range of activities to further promote children’s awareness of various safari and farm animals through obtaining books from the library, providing a range animals for children to play with and visiting an inner-city farm. This ensures children’s learning is purposeful. The childminder has developed positive relationships with children. The children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 regularly visit a number of community groups which allows them to interact with their peers and others. Through practical activities the childminder encourages the children to be independent learners, for example dressing and undressing themselves. The children are beginning to use mathematical language spontaneously and on their arrival to the setting they take pleasure in sharing with the childminder that they had two lunches: noodles and bread. The children are

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

able to count up to ten and beyond and when taking part in cooking activities the childminder introduces them to weights and measures when weighing ingredients for their fairy cake baking activity. The children’s creative skills are developing well because they take part in a range of craft activities, such as making hand puppets from socks and felt and designing a book from cut-out pictures.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The children take part in celebrating a range of festivals and they are able to try different foods, for example having a meal at a Chinese restaurant for the Chinese New Year festival. The children take part in a range of both child-initiated and planned activities to support their learning. They visit a number of places of interest, for example a local allotment where they plant a range of vegetables to further develop their understanding of life cycles. The children are developing a healthy lifestyle because they regularly go out on shopping trips within the local community and visit ‘Go Wild' a soft play setting. The children are developing an understanding of keeping themselves safe because the childminder regularly practises fire drills. However, systems have yet to be developed to ensure it is documented. When out on outings the childminder talks to children and reinforces the importance of road safety awareness. When transporting children in the car

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

she ensures children are transported safely by using appropriate car seats. However, not all required car documents are up to date, for example the MOT. 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 exceptiona lly 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? 3 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 implement a written statement of the procedures to followed for the protection of children in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Boars (LSCB) 10/03/2009  implement a written statement for complaints and share this with parents 10/03/2009 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 last 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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