Childminder in MertonOfsted inspection, 2 Feb 2010

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 137911 Inspection date 02/02/2010 Inspector Patricia Ann Edward

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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 0300 123 1231, 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: 0300 123 1231 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 1987. She lives with her husband, and three children of whom all are adults, in the London borough of Merton, close to shops and transport links. All areas on the ground floor are used for childminding purposes, with a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than four may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding four children in this age group. She also provides care for two children on the childcare register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder offers care to children aged over five years after school and during school holidays. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. When working with another childminder, she may care for a total of no more than six children under 8 years.

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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's safety and welfare is excellently promoted. A well planned daily routine ensures all children enjoy their time with the childminder and make good progress in their learning. Effective partnerships with parents and regular self-evaluation by the childminder ensures that most priorities for future progress are identified and acted on to improve outcomes for children. The childminder, however, has yet to develop links with schools to ensure all children’s specific learning needs are met successfully and that there is a continuity of provision. All the required policies and procedures are in place and include extensive detail to promote children's welfare.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop links with other providers to ensure continuity of care and education further systems for monitoring children's progress, to ensure next steps across the six areas of learning are planned for.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a secure knowledge of how to safeguard children and is fully aware of her responsibilities to report any possible cases of child abuse or neglect. She further ensures children are safeguarded by ensuring all household members are effectively vetted. All visitors to the home have to show ID and if granted entrance have to sign visitors book. Her home is kept safe and secure for children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 at all times. All necessary safety precautions are put in place so that children can play and move around independently without coming to any harm, such as safety gates are in place, lock's fitted to lower kitchen cupboards, and smoke alarms are tested on a weekly basis. She has appropriate procedures for keeping children safe on outings. The childminder maintains effective written risk assessments for the home and all outings that the children go on. This ensures she has identified and

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the early years provision

minimised all potential hazards effectively. All the required documentation is in place and is well maintained.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises the whole of the ground floor rooms exceptionally well and attractively to ensure children have maximum opportunities to enjoy and achieve. These areas are resourced, with high quality equipment to support children's independent thinking and learning across all areas of the curriculum. Children's play is well supported by the childminder who understands their different developmental stages and ensure her interaction enhances their exiting skills. She ensures that much of her support is provide at the child's level as she sits on the floor with them helping with their activities.

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the early years provision

Children's artwork is attractively displayed to promote their self esteem. There is also information for parents in these areas that provide good quality information about the setting. For example the childminder's registration certificate, children's birthday chart and house rules. The childminder is proactive in treating children as intervals and valuing their individuality. They regularly access resources portraying positive images that include dolls, jigsaws, play people, puppets and books. Their understanding of diversity is further extended through acknowledging cultural festivals and explanations about the wider world. This encourages children to learn and develop respect for themselves and each other.

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the early years provision

The childminder forms positive, friendly and professional partnerships with parents. She works closely with them to respect their wishes and provide appropriate care for their children. She shares written information about her childcare practices with parents so that they know what to expect. She verbally communicates with them on a daily basis so that they are kept well informed about their child’s welfare and development. Parents of children under one are provided with a daily diary, which details nappy changes, how much they have ate, and time they have spent sleeping. However, the childminder has yet to develop effective links with schools, where children in the early years attend to ensure constancy in learning. The childminder has spent time developing her knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) learning requirements by attending some training. She has implemented appropriate systems for planning and observations. However,

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the early years provision

currently next steps that are identified do not always inform planning, to ensure that children are consistently challenged across the six areas of learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder evaluates her practices by completing a self evaluation. She also welcomes feedback from parents and gives out annual parental questionnaires. She is aware of her weaknesses and the need to address them. Since the last inspection the childminder has made some improvements to her provision that have benefited children. These include details of fire drills that are appropriately recorded, and National Childminding contracts are now completed with parents to ensure childcare arrangements have no areas of ambiguity. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder. They play happily with their friends and confidently approach the childminder to request activities or to seek support or cuddles. All children are making very good progress in their all round development as a result of the good quality of the opportunities provided. The childminder’s has a thorough knowledge of each child she cares for, which enables her to plan activities which they find interesting and appropriately challenging. She skilfully builds on their interests to extend their learning, for example by noting a child’s interest in the fact that wool comes from sheep and explaining the process of shearing sheep and dying wool in order to make jumpers.

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and outcomes for children

Children chat constantly as they play and are developing very good communication skills. They are also very interested in listening to stories, and independently approach the childminder with books to read to them. The childminder has an extensive selection of books. During story times she promotes children's language by asking them questions about what they can see. Good support is given to developing children’s writing and pre-writing skills as they develop their fine motor skills and pencil control through a range of activities. Similar attention is given to promoting children’s problem solving, reasoning and numeracy development. Children use mathematical positioning language in their play and talk about being under and over.

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and outcomes for children

Children have very regular opportunities to express themselves creatively. They enjoy arts and crafts such as painting, colouring, gluing and sticking. They also enjoy role play activities by accessing the well resourced home corner area, discussing the different dinners they are going to make. Very good opportunities are available to promote children’s physical development. They enjoy outings to the sea side, local common and Horton's farm. They also play in the garden using a wide range of equipment such as ride-on toys, climbing frame and tunnel. There is ample floor space and equipment for the younger children to practise their emerging mobility skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the importance of good nutrition and enjoy sociable snacks and meal times, and have daily access to healthy, balanced nutritious meals. They are also developing very good personal hygiene practices as the childminder's routines reinforce hand washing after picking their nose, after using the toilet and before eating. The childminder holds a valid first aid certificate to enable her to treat children in case of a minor accident. Appropriate procedures are also in place to deal with sick children and to administer medication. All of which reinforces children's ability to be healthy. 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 1 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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