The Acorn School

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

p.1

Unique reference number 115808 Inspection date 30/07/2009 Inspector Tom Radcliffe

p.1

Type of setting Childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.1

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.

p.2

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).

p.2

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

p.2

Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 1995. She lives with her husband and one child aged 13 in Thamesmead in the London borough of Bexley. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding together with an upstairs bedroom and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time of which no more than three are in the early years age group. She is currently minding one child under five all day and one child under five before and after school. She also is minding one children over five before and after school. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends a local toddler and childminders support group. The family has a pet dog.

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of an approved childminding network.

p.3

Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding. The childminder has highly effective systems in place which she uses with her knowledge and experience to meet children's individual learning and development needs. Children thrive in a stimulating and well managed play environment where they are always safe and secure as they access appropriate activities including those outside the home. The childminder has an outstanding partnership with parents which greatly contributes to ensuring that the needs of all children are met. Children's progress is very good and extremely well managed by the childminder who uses very effective processes of self-evaluation in order to improve the service that she provides.

p.3

further?

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

p.3

further?

 build on practice which is already exemplary in order to continue to support children's progress with education programmes that meet all their needs and requirements.

p.3

provision

The childminder has all required policies and procedures in place which are shared with parents, regularly updated and of high quality. As a result the setting is managed very effectively, safely and in the interests of all children. Children are safeguarded as all procedures are consistently implemented and all adults are vetted for suitability. The childminder supervises children sensitively as she This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 responds to the choices that they make which allows them to be independent and explore all available spaces. The childminder's very good understanding of effective risk assessments means that children are very safe as all aspects of the provision are hazard free, this includes when children play outside or have outings into the locality. Children's good health and well-being is promoted due to highly effective procedures that are in place if children have accidents or fall ill. The childminder's

p.3

provision

day to day routines ensure high standards of hygiene, for example, when preparing food or snacks and children learn about personal hygiene and how germs are spread. In addition children are presented with valuable learning opportunities about their own health and safety as they play indoors, act as pedestrians or access outdoor play equipment.

p.4

provision

The childminder has made an effort to ensure that her practice is of a high standard and that she effectively delivers all aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). She has achieved this as she uses very effective and productive methods of self-evaluation in order to gain an accurate understanding of her strengths and weaknesses. The childminder's careful observation of children as they play enables her to design the activities that children undertake and the environments in which they do them. She also responds professionally to any feedback that she receives from parents and all her work is highly reflective and forward looking. In addition the childminder undertakes training and development in excess of minimum requirements to ensure that her skills are updated and that she can meet the needs of all the children that she minds. The childminder promotes inclusive practice at all times and ensures the setting is child-friendly

p.4

provision

with children being understood as individuals.

p.4

provision

The partnerships with parents are outstanding. The flow of information and communication between home and setting is very good which ensures that children's needs are both understood and very well met. All written information that the childminder provides enables parents to have a very good understanding of her service. In addition the written development information that parents have access to about their children is of a very high standard. Parents value the work of the childminder, for example, they consider that their children make very good progress, adopt positive attitudes to their learning and develop social skills which are in evidence outside the setting. Parents of children who use English as an additional language are particularly pleased about the progress made by their children.

p.4

The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children make very good progress as they play within the childminder's home. They have access to opportunities to be independent, make choices and play with or without the childminder's support. Resources are stored to promote free access and the very good relationships that exist within the setting enable all children to confidently make requests about what they want to do. Children have access to uncluttered floor space, appropriate sized furniture and table top activities as they play with puzzles, learn about shapes and use a word bank to construct simple sentences. The childminder has highly developed systems in place to observe children, assess their progress and plan for their next steps in learning. All plans This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 are individualised to reflect the needs and interests of individual children and assessments take place as children undertake both adult-led and child-led

p.4

The quality and standards of the early years provision

activities. The childminder has a very good understanding of how young children learn and imaginatively plans interesting activities for children. The planning systems that are in place ensure that children have access to a very broad range of appropriate learning opportunities but allow children's interests to be followed and are flexible to include spontaneous events and things that are important to children. Children's progress towards early learning goals is very well understood by the childminder as she tracks their progress over time. Children's care needs are given very good attention and the childminder ensures that routines are built into the day as part of the overall experiences that children have while in her home.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's language development is promoted by the use of appropriate books and written material such as posters and labels together with the opportunities that children have to take part in mark making and early writing experiences. Children also learn about letters and sounds and take part in conversations readily where they ask and answer questions, express opinions and explain what they are doing. Children's mathematical understanding is enhanced as they count objects, use appropriate language, solve simple problems and find out about shapes and measurements. In addition the childminder tests children's understanding of number as they play through skilful open ended questions. Children have many opportunities to take part in physical activities, messy play and they learn about their world through outings, the use of books and experimenting with mirrors and magnets. The childminder manages the behaviour of children very well, she is a

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

consistent and positive role model who uses praise appropriately to ensure that children show respect to each other and develop a good understanding of their behaviour and its consequences. To support this approach the childminder ensures that children can make decisions for themselves and that they have an understanding of their emotions which they are able to express. The childminder has an excellent understanding of the EYFS which enables children to make very good all round progress. She intends to continue to develop the educational programmes that she has in place to ensure that children continue to exceed expected rates of progress.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

The welfare of all children is promoted extremely well by the childminder as she consistently implements highly effective policies and procedures. Children are very content and secure within the setting as they play in a safe environment tailored to meet their individual needs. All children achieve very positive outcomes and show high standards in their behaviour, independence and ability to make decisions. In addition children have a growing sense of their own safety and health. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.5

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.6

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

p.6

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.

p.6

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

p.6

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?

p.6

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

p.6

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.7