Childminder in Kingston upon Thames

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY391438 Inspection date 11/11/2009 Inspector Christine Stimson

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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 June 2009. She lives with her partner and two children aged 19 months and eight years in a house in New Malden, Surrey. The premises are located close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The childminder uses an opened plan living area to the rear of her home, together with a small living room to the front of the house for children to play and eat. Children access bathroom facilities on the first floor and take their rest in a travel cot in a bedroom on the first floor.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. The childminder works alongside another registered childminder and when working together they are registered to care for a maximum of 10 children, of whom no more than five may be in the early years age range. The childminder's partner acts as an assistant on occasions and when he is present the childminders may care for six children in the early years age range between them. The childminder and her co-childminder are currently caring for three children in this age group. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to eleven years. The provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is able to collect children from the local school and attends several toddler groups with young children on a regular basis.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care and are making progress in their learning through the childminder's promotion of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). She makes sure children have a mixture of adult and child led activities based on each child's interests and enables children to access a range of bright colourful toys, kept at child height. Children are valued and their individual needs met by the childminder who develops strong links with parents and other care providers. Inclusive practice is promoted as children have a wide range of resources reflecting diversity, used as part of their integral play and children regularly attend toddler groups where they socialise with others. The childminder is committed to continuous improvement as she embraces training opportunities and self-evaluates her practice.

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 review the risk assessment process to make sure any hazards found and action taken are noted This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  improve resources to enable children to develop skills for the future relating to information and technology

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the early years provision

The childminder has a sound understanding of how to safeguard children and understands the procedures to follow if she has any concerns about children in her care. She works alongside her sister, who is also registered as a childminder, and her husband who acts as an assistant. Vetting procedures have been conducted on all the adults having regular contact with children to ensure their suitability to work with children. Children feel safe in the care of the childminder who teaches them how to keep themselves safe when they are out walking with her and offers children explanations of why they should not do things that may compromise their safety. For example, children regularly practise the fire evacuation plan with the childminder and older children are reminded not to run on ahead if they are out and about in the local community. Risk assessments are conducted daily on the provision by the childminder to ensure children can play and learn in safety.

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the early years provision

However, the form used to show risk assessments have been carried out makes no reference to any hazards found and action taken.

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the early years provision

The childminder has established very good relationships with parents and carers which benefits the children. A communication book between children's other settings and the childminder and a daily diary between the parents and the childminder ensures continuity of care and enables them all to share information about children's learning. The childminder values parents opinions and has devised a questionnaire for them to complete to help improve her practice. This, together with daily conversations and the sharing of development records, means individual needs of children are met.

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the early years provision

The childminder has started to use self-evaluation to identify her strengths and areas that may need improvement. She embraces training opportunities as they arise and has a vision for the future. The childminder teaches children about diversity by taking them out into the local community and by having resources in her toy collection that reflect diversity. For example, the childminder has many dolls from different cultures with a range of dressing up clothes for each of them. There are woks, Chinese plates, books and play figures showing people with disabilities; children enjoy these as part of their everyday play.

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the early years provision

The childminder is guided in her practice by a number of written policies and procedures, all of which are shared with parents prior to children starting in her care. The childminder has started to embrace training opportunities to develop her knowledge and skills and is a regular user of the local authority toy library, where children accompany her to choose resources that interest them. These are then put alongside her own resources, extending children's choice and enjoyment. Currently the childminder has limited resources that help children learn about technology. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident and feel safe in the care of the childminder as they explore the resources kept at child height, stored in boxes and drawers that are labelled and have photos displayed showing what the contents are. This enables children to make a choice in their play. Children feel secure in the childminder's home, seeking comfort and reassurance from the childminder as they sit on her lap to share a book or a cuddle when they are tired of have just woken up.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a safe welcoming environment which is organised to meet the needs of all the children attending, with planning for individual children based on each child's starting points and regular discussions with parents and other providers. Children are well behaved, occupied and are developing personal qualities that enable them to take responsibility for small tasks and develop skills for the future. For example, children help clear away toys before meal times or before going on outings. Older children are encouraged to share books with younger children that teach them about crossing roads and keeping safe. The 'captured audience' are shown the pictures with explanations from the older children about being careful. Fire evacuation procedures are in place along with working smoke alarms, an accessible fire blanket and the childminder talks to children about basic house rules like having to sit at tables to eat their snacks and

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and outcomes for children

Children have balanced healthy snacks and meals which are all prepared by the childminder, making sure children's dietary requirements and preferences are met. This information is obtained from parents and their wishes respected. The childminder makes sure the children in her care have drinks of water to prevent dehydration by refreshing their beakers regularly.

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and outcomes for children

Children are involved in a wide range of activities, most of which are child led. The childminder does plan focussed activities for children, encouraging them to take part and adapting activities to meet individual needs. However, she is flexible about changing her planning to accommodate any interests children may show in other events. Children are learning routines at the childminder's home and enjoy this, understanding that the day is divided into time for active play, quieter activities, rest, eating and outings. For example, when children return after being collected from pre-school they, without prompting, choose a puppet from a chart that has faces showing various moods such as happy and sad. Children match the face with the words written on the chart and this informs the childminder of how they are feeling that day. This not only helps children's reading skills, but allows the childminder to talk or

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and outcomes for children

comfort children and discuss their feelings.

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and outcomes for children

Children's learning is supported by the childminder who has a clear understanding of the (EYFS) and makes regular observations and assessments on children's progress. Children's progress is monitored as the childminder identifies and plans for each child's next step of development. 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 2 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 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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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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