Childminder in Surrey

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 507619 Inspection date 14/12/2009 Inspector Joanna Scott

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Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk 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.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. 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 1992. Her adult son lives with her for approximately eight weeks each year. She lives in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Children mainly use the ground floor of her home, with sleeping and additional toilet facilities available on the first floor. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding two children in the early years age range and four children aged between seven and 11 years. One of the early years children attends on a full-time basis. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register, and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She has a pet dog and cat, and rabbits and a guinea pig living in the garden.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder is exceptionally focused on meeting the individual needs of each child in her care. She has excellent relationships with parents, and she promotes children's learning and development effectively. The childminder has her own systems for self-evaluation, and these successfully drive continuous 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?

 consider using labelling inside and out, to increase the existing opportunities that children have to learn about words.

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the early years provision

The childminder is professional and dedicated to her role. She thoroughly enjoys her time with the children, and works hard to make sure they are interested and actively involved in all the learning opportunities she provides. She has a very good understanding of how to keep children safe, and detailed records of risk assessment are in place. Her understanding of protecting children from harm are excellent, she has undertaken training in safeguarding and has clear procedures to follow should she have a concern. The childminder is in the process of re- organising her toy storage. Those which are age appropriate are stored to be accessible for children to select independently, and include items which reflect the diverse world in which we live. She does not use labels on toy boxes to help children learn that words carry meaning or to identify to children what is available. However, they demonstrate a good understanding of what there is, and older

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the early years provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children are showing much interest in words in books and games. Other resources are stored upstairs and rotated.

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the early years provision

Partnership with parents are exceptionally strong. The childminder provides lots of opportunities for parents to take an active role in learning with their children. For example, sometimes children take books home so that they can share stories with their families, sometimes parents take part in planned activities with their children, and sometimes parents join the childminder and the children on trips such as to tumble tots. The childminder uses her camera to share photos on a day to day basis, and this gives parents information about their child's day, and their achievements. This enables both parents and the childminder to follow children's interest and promote their learning together. The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of working with others delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to promote young children's learning when relevant to those in her care.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a very good understanding of how to deliver the EYFS. She plans an extensive range of worthwhile activities in and out of the home, which promote each of the areas of learning, and are aimed appropriately at the individual child. Children make excellent progress. The childminder has her own systems for evaluation, which have been very well used to identify her main strengths and areas for further development. For example, she has attended extensive training to enhance her knowledge and skills, and since moving house she has acquired her own garden, and has designed it for the children. She has already made an area for keeping rabbits, they have enjoyed bug hunts and sand and water play, and they have grown tomatoes. She is now creating a mark making area and providing growing beds, to benefit children. The childminder has a very positive attitude towards reflection and implementing new ideas. This is

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the early years provision

effective and results in continuous development.

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and outcomes for children

The children are enthusiastic and keen to take part in the activities the childminder provides. She is attentive to their interests and allows the children to lead their own play. For example, a child selects a book from the shelf and brings it to the childminder. Together they sit and share the story. They start to talk about the colours in the pictures, and the child is interested in grey. The childminder talks about making grey by mixing black and white paint together. When they finish the story the childminder reminds the child how to make grey, and she suggests they try this themselves. They spend an extended period of time experimenting with paints to create different colours. This extends children's learning effectively.

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and outcomes for children

Very young children are happy and enjoy exceptionally warm relationships with the childminder and the other children. She is alert to their needs, and recognises their early forms of communication. She talks to them and responds as they make early vocal sounds, she is effective in encouraging language development. She promotes their physical skills, for instance by holding children's hands and encouraging them to bounce and take a few steps. She makes sure activities are accessible to children, for example when learning about 'yellow' she ensures that yellow toys are This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 age appropriate and appealing to each of the children in her care. This enables all children to take part and enjoy what is going on at their own level. The childminder promotes a strong ethos of caring and nurturing. Children feel valued, and they behave very well.

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and outcomes for children

Children have excellent opportunities to learn about being healthy. They enjoy taking part in preparing the vegetables for lunch, and they are supported in preparing their own snacks. This promotes independence and physical skills, teaches them to learn to use tools safely, and encourages children to taste healthy foods. Young children keep toothbrushes at the childminder's home which promotes their dental health, and they learn to wash and dry their hands at key times to get rid of germs. The childminder talks to children about what to do with the potato peelings, and children learn which bin they go into. They are learning about recycling. There are extensive opportunities for children to learn to think about safety, for example through planned topic work on road safety, through practising evacuation and visiting the Fire Station, and through discussion. Children thrive in the care of the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

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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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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Stage

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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