Childminder in Sutton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 153845 Inspection date 19/10/2009 Inspector Sandra Patricia Jeffrey

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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 has been registered since 2001. She lives with her husband and two children, aged 11 and seven years. The family live in a house in Carshalton, Surrey, in a residential area within walking distance of schools, shops and parks. All areas of the ground floor and the bathroom upstairs are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have a pet hamster.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, three of whom may be in the early years age range. There are currently five children in the early years age group on roll. The childminder also cares for older children. The childminder has a NVQ Level 3 in Early Years Care and Education and is a member of the local childminding network.

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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 highly effective in enabling children to make good progress in their learning and development. She works extremely hard to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for all children and their families. She knows the children very well and provides varied and wide ranging activities that successfully promote their unique learning and development needs. All children are valued and warm and trusting relationships are fostered, therefore, enabling children to feel safe and secure in the welcoming environment.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder is very flexible and sensitive to the needs of working parents and works hard to ensure excellent partnerships with the parents. There are highly effective systems in place to ensure daily communication with parents, in respect of children's day to day well-being and their development.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder's ongoing self-evaluation of the provision, incorporates the views of the children and the parents and as such, there is a high capacity to maintain continuous improvement. The childminder regularly attends training as part of her commitment to improving outcomes for the children in her care.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensuring that the local safeguarding details are easily accessible to further safeguard and promote children's welfare  additional ways to give parents more opportunities to become actively This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 involved in their children's learning and development, to support the children's learning journey.

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the early years provision

Arrangements for safeguarding children are robust, regularly reviewed and carefully managed. The childminder a clear understanding of her role in safeguarding and has completed recent training to support her understanding. The childminder demonstrates a secure understanding of her responsibilities with regard to protecting children, although the local safeguarding procedures were not easily accessible on the day of the inspection. Parents are made aware of the role and responsibilities of the childminder, in relation to reporting any concerns.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates an excellent level of ambition and drive for improvement in the service she provides. She is committed to the children in her care and attends training on a regular basis to improve her knowledge and effectiveness in providing good quality care. Recent training includes several workshops in relation to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework (EYFS), fire awareness and safety training and training in supporting healthy lifestyles. By accessing training on a regular basis the childminder is continuously enhancing the welfare and learning and development opportunities for children in her care.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a very child centred and welcoming environment, where children help themselves to clean and very well maintained toys and resources. The childminder's home has been organised to maximise children's comfort and enjoyment and children feel at ease in the welcoming surroundings. It is brightly and warmly decorated throughout and has an abundance of posters and pictures and numerous photographs of the children attending, creating a homely environment where all feel truly welcomed.

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the early years provision

In addition to excellent use and deployment of the toys and equipment, the childminder also ensures she is on hand to fully support and guide the children's learning and development throughout the day. She is fully committed to the children and enthusiastically dedicates her time to them, sitting at their level, completing puzzles and encouraging them to recognise features on their faces as they create salt dough face plaques to paint and then take home, for example.

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the early years provision

The childminder is fully committed to inclusion and values diversity and respects differences, which is reflected in all aspects of her service. Children have access to a meaningful range of activities and resources, including an extensive range of books and puzzles of a multicultural nature and dolls of varied skin tones, which promote a positive view of the wider world and increase their understanding of diversity and consideration of others.

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the early years provision

The childminder constantly evaluates the service she offers the children and their parents in order to identify any improvements that can be made to the benefit of the children. To this end, the childminder has been looking at how she encourages the involvement of parents in the children's learning and development programme. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 She has identified that she would like to extend their involvement further in the assessment process.

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the early years provision

Parents receive emails, texts, verbal information and a wealth of comprehensive policies and procedures, which provide them with good quality information about the service as a whole and about their individual child's progress and achievements. Parents praised the childminder for her dedication to their children and her flexibility in relation to their working commitments and were especially grateful to her for the home drop off service she provides. Excellent systems to promote partnerships with other professionals involved in the care of the children are in place.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is exceptionally organised and manages her time well, enabling children to enjoy a full programme of activities. The daily routine always includes an outing and children's individual sleep and mealtime routines are adhered to.

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and outcomes for children

Children relish their time in the vibrant setting where their relationship with the childminder is excellent. Children are clearly motivated to learn and explore with the support of the fully attentive childminder, which means they are also confident to initiate their own learning. The children evidently feel very secure and comfortable in their environment and have formed strong bonds with the childminder, this fosters their emotional well-being and helps them to achieve to their full potential.

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and outcomes for children

The children's interests and needs are at the forefront of the childminder's planning. The childminder has a nursery background and enjoys planning an interesting curriculum for the children. For example, she encourages them to take the lead in their play, asking which of the various activities they would like to try next and offering assistance as and when necessary, whilst giving them opportunities to try to resolve things for themselves in the first instance.

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and outcomes for children

A highly effective observation and assessment system is in operation and identifies children's individual stage of development, including their starting points. This informs future planning and helps to identify the next steps in their development. The childminder works closely with parents and is generally pro-active in encouraging their input in the assessment process. She developing this further with the introduction of formal parents' evenings.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from consistent and familiar routines, with boundaries and rules that offer security and a sense of calm. For example, children start to take responsibility for tidying things away, so that no-one trips over them, and older children are taught road safety and stranger danger awareness appropriate to their age and understanding.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has attended fire safety training and ensures that regular emergency evacuations are practised with the children, who demonstrate a clear This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understanding of the procedure to follow in the event of such an emergency. A recent visit from the local fire service helps to secure the children's understanding of their own safety, whilst making the experience fun and interactive. Comprehensive risk assessments, daily checks of the toys and premises and regular checks of equipment including the car, all help to ensure the safety and well-being of the children.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder promotes discussion about the benefits of healthy eating as she serves banana and rice cakes for snacks, which increases the children's understanding. The conservatory provides an information area for parents to access all the events planned for the week, including a varied and balanced menu. Medication and accident records are well maintained, as are daily attendance and visitor's records, all of which contribute to the children's well-being and safety.

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and outcomes for children

Photographs of the children and their families have been collected from the parents and used to make memory books for the children and additional photographs and hand prints of the children are displayed within the setting, this enables children to develop a sense of belonging and raises their self-esteem.

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and outcomes for children

Children are becoming aware of their own and others' needs through excellent use of discussion and themed activities about themselves and the wider society. For example, children learn about a variety of different cultures and festivals, such as Diwali when they make Diva candles to celebrate the festival of light.

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and outcomes for children

The children are placed at the centre of the learning process and are developing early skills for the future, as they confidently explore their surroundings and become active and inquisitive learners. The childminder actively encourages the children to be caring towards one another and to show respect for each other's feelings. This enhances children's confidence and self-esteem which impacts positively on the relationships they build with their peers. They show high levels of confidence and value themselves and each other, with the help of 'Jamie the hand puppet', who is used to talk about and explore people's feelings and behaviour. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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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