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 EY331949 Inspection date 12/08/2009 Inspector Gillian Charlesworth

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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

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 April 2006 and is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA). She lives with her husband and child aged seven years in Barking, Essex, close to shops, parks and schools. The childminder’s home is situated on the first floor of a block of flats, with no lift access. The whole of the childminder’s home is used for childminding, with the master bedroom used only for undisturbed sleeps. There is a communal outdoor area and local park that are used for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding one child in this age group. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is inadequate. There is a willingness to improve practice although without effective monitoring or focus to move the setting forward through self-evaluation, there are oversights in meeting requirements which potentially compromises the level of support and safety children consistently receive. Over time, this has reduced the quality and consistency of the setting. However, the childminder provides a friendly and welcoming service in a positive environment where children are settled, happy and secure and their individual needs are generally met. Children are making progress in their learning and development overall, although assessment arrangements are not prioritised. Partnerships with parents are mostly secure.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 undertake sensitive observational assessment in order to plan and provide experiences to meet young children’s individual needs as they progress towards the early learning goals (Organisation) 31/08/2009  implement a record of the risk assessment clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Documentation) 31/08/2009  ensure that a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises and their hours of 31/08/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 attendance are accurate (Documentation – also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 review opportunities for children’s health and well-being with particular regard to promoting children’s physical independence at mealtimes and handwashing after nappy changing and before eating  develop a culture of reflective practice, self-evaluation and informed discussion to identify the setting’s strengths and priorities for development that will improve the quality and consistency of provision for all children.

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provision

The childminder has not taken sufficient steps to ensure that children are fully supported and safeguarded because she has recently been caring for more children than her conditions of registration allow, which invalidates the insurance arrangements and potentially limits the support children receive. This is an offence unless the provider gives a reasonable excuse. On this occasion the provider did so and Ofsted does not intend to take further action. Many records, policies and procedures are implemented to promote the welfare of the children overall, although the management of some documentation is not robust and this limits the quality of the provision. For example, there are gaps in recording accurate times of children’s attendance, and there are no written risk assessments in place which limits the extent that hazards both inside and outside the home are systematically reviewed and monitored. However, risks to children are minimal since practical

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provision

steps are taken to eliminate hazards according to the age of children cared for. The childminder has a clear understanding and genuine commitment towards her role in child protection. She has recently attended training to underpin her knowledge and has written policy documents to support her practice. These explain to parents her duty to report concerns and include suitable reporting contact details in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures.

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provision

Parents are encouraged to share what they know about their child on a day-to-day basis which enables the childminder to meet children’s individual welfare needs. The childminder shares children’s achievements with parents and talks to them about their general progress, discussing opportunities to help children take the next steps at home. For example, by sharing photographs of their increasing mobility and suggesting aspects to develop such as physical skills or risk taking with tastes and textures. However, information on children’s learning and development overall is limited.

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provision

There is an understanding of many requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the childminder has completed a significant amount of training which improves her overall practice on a practical level. However, self-evaluation is not sufficiently robust to pinpoint areas for improvement. As a result, oversights and lack of priority in some areas of practice has reduced the quality of provision since the last inspection. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are making satisfactory progress in their learning and development overall. The childminder's training has provided some experience of formal observations and assessment procedures including an understanding of the early learning goals. However, she has not yet formulated systematic and sensitive procedures to observe and assess children's progress against the early learning goals. Consequently, it cannot be established that children are making as much progress as they can in relation to their starting points and capabilities in every area of learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children feel safe and well-supported because they receive plenty of reassurance and attention from the childminder. For example, immediately young children wake from their sleep, they receive warm affectionate interactions and are offered a bottle of water which they are encouraged to hold themselves and share control, responding with a big smile when they succeed. Nappy changing is warm and relaxed and babies enjoy the personal interactions and involvement in the whole process. They collect requisites with the childminder and begin to learn simple number labels as she counts out the items to be used. They respond with smiles when offered interactive soft toys and use strength to squeeze these and make a noise. The childminder encourages their impulse to communicate at every opportunity with conversation and praise. Babies show delight in their responses with smiles, clapping and babble. There are some very good adult hygiene

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

practices in place such as use of disposable gloves, although mobile babies are not encouraged to begin to learn good personal hygiene routines such as hand washing after nappy changes or before meals. This reduces the effectiveness of the otherwise good procedures to promote health and well-being including the provision of healthy meals and snacks and the thoughtful responses to meeting individual preferences. For example, by interpreting and responding to babies communications such as ‘naa, naa’ and providing a banana. However, at mealtimes, cutlery is rarely provided to help babies develop their independence and self-care skills due to the mess they make. This consequently limits the challenges set.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Otherwise, the learning environment helps children to make progress. Babies enjoy exploring safely as they become more mobile and increase the scope of their investigations. They confidently crawl around different areas of the home and delight in listening then responding to the childminder’s 'peep-bo' games as she skilfully draws them back to the play area and further motivates them with a spinning top that they investigate together. As they become increasingly mobile, they pull themselves to standing on a wooden chest, fitted with corner protectors to minimise accidental injury and keep them safe. As they touch the oven, they learn of the potential danger when the childminder interacts at eye level and blows, explaining and helping them to learn that it could be hot.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children follow their interests overall although the childminder provides an appropriate balance between adult and child-led activities and plans activities to extend their experiences according to the ages of children she is minding. For This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 example, children take part in planting, practical problem solving, collages, painting and tactile guessing games that are sometimes tailored to extend individual children's learning. 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? 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? 4

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 4 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 provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary 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

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept). 31/08/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary 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

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept). 31/08/2009

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