Childminder in Sutton

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 EY316335 Inspection date 31/07/2009 Inspector Amanda Jane Tyson

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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 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 2005. She lives with her husband, one adult-aged son and two children aged six and 14 years. The family has a pet cat. The home is situated within walking distance of Sutton town centre. Childminding is carried out on the ground floor with toilet and sleep facilities provided on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available 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 for a total of five children aged under eight years; of these three may be aged within the early years age range, of whom one may be aged under one year at any one time. The childminder currently has five children on roll within the early years age range. Two children aged over eight years also attend.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is outstanding. The childminder's highly proactive and professional approach to childminding is clearly demonstrated by her commitment towards training and very effective use of self-evaluation. She works in close partnership with parents and other early years professionals involved in children's lives, and skilfully promotes and supports children's care, learning and development. As a result, the provision is continuously improving; children's welfare and learning and development is closely monitored and skilfully supported through a programme of activities and routines that are tailored to meet children's individual and unique welfare and learning requirements. Children are making rapid progress towards the early learning goals and are very well safeguarded.

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop the systems for monitoring children's progress and development; use the current observations and evaluations to provide a summary of children's broad progress and development towards each early learning goal.

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provision

Strong emphasis is placed on safeguarding. Outings are carefully planned to consider all possible risks to children; for example the childminder carries laminated photographic identification cards for herself and each child, which provides information which would be essential to a third party in the event of an emergency situation. Children wear wrist bands detailing the childminder's mobile telephone number and high-visibility jackets when they visit busy or wide open This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 spaces to minimise and support the possibility of a lost child incident. Risk assessments for each individual outing identify a clear procedure for responding to a lost child incident. The childminder's knowledge of child development and of local safeguarding procedures is highly secure. Accidents, all injuries and incidents are promptly recorded and the entries are routinely monitored to identify possible

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provision

emerging patterns. Concerns are identified, noted and acted upon in partnership with parents and/or other early years agencies, to ensure that children receive prompt support and protection. Comprehensive written policies and procedures provide parents with clear information about her regulatory responsibilities, such as for responding to complaints and recording and reporting welfare concerns, as well as her operational practice, for example, behaviour management, equal opportunities and her strategies for encouraging children to adopt healthy lifestyle habits, and for learning how to keep themselves safe.

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provision

Since the last inspection the childminder has completed a wealth of highly valuable training which has driven her to develop her practice to a high level, as well as installing a vision and commitment towards on-going excellence. After attending the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) briefing session, the childminder was proactive in securing a place on all four of the EYFS themed workshops. As a result, her systems for identifying children's starting points for learning and for planning and assessing, each child's individual progress and learning requirements, is very well developed. She notes her astute observations of children whilst they are engaged in activities and uses this information to identify next steps for learning and activity extension ideas. For example, children's particular fascination with tadpoles and interest and confidence in holding snails, followed by hysteria when one 'moved like a snake', during a nature walk, resulted in her identifying

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provision

ways to take children's learning to the next level through the creation of an allotment in the garden and areas for discovering the natural and living world. The childminder is in the process of extending her assessment systems so that the evaluations of individual observations are collated together to provide for a summary of children's progress and development towards each area of learning which she intends to achieve through consultation with some of the school teachers she has formed relationships with.

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provision

The childminder is preparing, well in advance, for the care of two new babies by developing a 'treasure basket' of natural and everyday items, which look and feel different and which help babies to make connections with their everyday world, through exploring and experimenting with their senses. The childminder and parents plan together for children's learning and development needs which means that children receive high levels of consistent and complimentary care and learning support. From their starting points, children are making excellent progress towards the early learning goals.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are extremely secure and happy in the childminder's care. The setting is very well equipped with play and learning resources, which are constantly supplemented to provide for children's developing fascinations and needs. The daily routine and programme of activities are organised to meet the individual This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 interests and needs of the children attending each day. The childminder does plan activities in advance but her inclusive and flexible approach means that many of the highly worthwhile activities are spontaneous and all children, no matter what their age or stage of development, are able to participate in them together. For instance, children identified the specific hobbies/interests of their fathers through discussion and the use of pictures from magazines and catalogues. They then designed and decorated a tie template, using these pictures which the childminder

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

laminated as a bookmark gift for Father's Day. Activities such as this, along with the provision of small world figures, such as people in wheelchairs and using callipers, a selection of multi-cultural toys and resources, and provision of foods from around the world, help children to understand and value people's differences. Role play provides another excellent example of inclusion; younger children enjoy the sensorial experience of squelching cold, cooked spaghetti and emptying and filling water using home play accessories in the garden, whilst older children act out the whole sequence of preparing a 'spaghetti' meal using the play kitchen, pots and pans. The accessibility of resources enables children to initiate and integrate their own play and learning which links to their unique fascinations, for example dolls are selected, undressed, given a 'clean nappy' fed a bottle and then read, through pictorial interpretation, a story. This shows children's

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

developing interest in literacy, and ability to make connections between their play and their real experiences.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are developing a good variety of skills to support future learning. They use the computer and operate mechanical toys. Children learn to dress themselves, use construction equipment to connect small parts, and are learning to sew using blunted needles and scissors safely. Children make marks with a variety of different tools, such as chunky chalks, crayons, pencils and paint brushes. The childminder's home is adorned with posters and pictures which encourage awareness of purposeful print and of letter and numeric recognition. Children know what to do in the event of a fire through regular and rigorous evacuation practice which focuses on different locations of a 'potential' fire within the home. Children understand the importance of good hygiene and are well reminded about hand- washing. The childminder reviewed her child illness policy in response to the current Swine Flu pandemic and there are good procedures in place to minimise

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

the risks to children and parents from the spread of infection, for example the childminder carries instant anti-bacterial hand sanitising gel with her at all times. Children are well cared for if they become unwell whilst in the childminder's care because her first aid certificate is up to date and she has discussed and agreed procedures for responding to an emergency situation, or for administering all medications, including non-prescription temperature reducing varieties.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Throughout the week children enjoy a wide range of first hand experiences, such as nature walks, visits to the greengrocers to encourage awareness of good health and an interest in trying exotic varieties, to the aquarium and farm, growing and planting activities in the garden, cooking and baking activities, and opportunities to play with other children at community toddler groups. The childminder's highly secure knowledge of children's immediate and developing needs is cemented through her observation and assessments strategies and through highly effective relationships with parents. This enables her to plan activities to help children through times of difficulty, whilst encouraging other children to be kind and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understanding, for instance they made 'dream catchers' to support a child who was experiencing bedtime nightmares.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

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

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