Childminder in Surrey

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY394867 Inspection date 08/03/2010 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 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 September 2009. She lives with her husband and two children, aged four and three years, in a house in Thames Ditton, Surrey. The premises are located close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. All areas of the childminder's home are used for childminding, but children generally play in the downstairs part of the home and take their rest in one of the bedrooms upstairs. Children use the downstairs toilet and there is 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 four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than one may be in the early years age range. The childminder offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The provision is registered on the Early Years Register and both 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 pre-school and regularly takes children on outings, including themes parks, zoos, the local toddler group and the library.

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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

Each child is respected as a unique individual and children are making good progress in all areas of development. The childminder undertakes written observations on children's achievements, but does not note or always plan for their next step in development. The childminder self-evaluates her practice and embraces training opportunities to ensure she makes continuous improvement. She develops meaningful links with parents as they share information through daily contact books and verbal discussions; she is beginning to develop this with the children's other care providers. All documentation is well maintained, but policies and guidance relating to safeguarding have areas that need addressing.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop planning and assessment so next step notes are included and acted upon  improve the safeguarding policy to include procedures to follow in the event of an allegation being made against you or a member of your family and ensure the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines are kept on site for referral. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder undertakes daily risk assessments on her home and garden and has written risk assessments for all outings undertaken with children; these are reviewed regularly. Children develop an understanding of their own safety through simple explanations and gentle reminders about crossing roads safely. Children are confident in the childminder's care, which indicates they feel safe and secure. The childminder has a sound understanding of safeguarding children and is clear on how to proceed if she has concerns about a child in her care, however, she does not have the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines in her records for referral. All adults living on the premises have undergone vetting procedures to ensure they are suitable. Parents are given a copy of the childminder's safeguarding policy, but this does not include a procedure to follow if an allegation is made against herself or a member of her family.

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the early years provision

Parents are complimentary about the service provided by the childminder, who maintains a daily contact book where details of how she met children's needs are recorded, with space given for parents to add comments to ensure continuity of care. The childminder is keen to maintain and develop her practice and reflects on her provision through self- evaluation to identify areas for improvement. The childminder has a comprehensive range of written policies, which are shared with parents who also have a browsing file available to them, showing details about the childminder's family, her childcare qualifications and other interesting information. The childminder has started to make contact with children's other care providers and is hoping to work with them to help extend children's experiences and knowledge.

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the early years provision

The childminder helps children learn about the wider world as they are taken on day trips using public transport, enjoying the delights of The London Eye and Sea World. The childminder keeps her toys in a playroom to the rear of her home where children freely access them as they are stored in boxes and on shelves at child height. Resources are well maintained and plentiful, offering children a wide choice of activities to keep them stimulated and challenged.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good knowledge of the welfare requirements and is becoming confident in implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage. She undertakes regular written observations on the children and supports this with photographic evidence to share with parents. Currently, the childminder is not noting children's next step of development to assist her to plan future activities and extend learning.

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and outcomes for children

Relationships between children and the childminder are secure, trusting and warm. They enjoy looking at books together as the childminder reads stories to children, holding their interest and encouraging them to point things out as the story This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 unfolds. Children are so keen on this that they ask for the story to be read again. Children enthusiastically explore the toys in the playroom, making a choice in their play and selecting from the child height boxes available to them. The childminder supports children in their play, sitting on the floor with them and engaging in imaginary play situations. For example, children play with cars, a garage and a road mat with the childminder helping to pump up tyres and fill cars with petrol alongside the children.

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and outcomes for children

Children's learning is bought to life with a combination of play and first hand experiences that bring children in contact with the local, diverse and wider community. For example, children visit other childminder's homes to play with their minded children and visit soft play areas and toddler groups where they socialise with children from a variety of backgrounds. Children do art and craft activities to explore the festivals of others. They have made a hand print dragon that is displayed on the kitchen wall to celebrate Chinese New Year. During this time, they learnt about the Chinese calendar and discovered what animal their year of birth represented.

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and outcomes for children

Safety is important to the childminder who makes sure children learn how to keep themselves safe as they practise the green cross code when out walking and follow the fire evacuation procedure to enable them to learn how to leave the house quickly and safely in an emergency. Comments from parents in the contact book show children have really understood the importance of this.

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and outcomes for children

Children make a positive contribution to the setting through their behaviour and cooperation with the childminder and each other. House rules have been devised with the help of the older children and children are reminded of these if necessary. Children are helped to learn routines that encourage good hygiene practice as they have individual towels in the toilet where they wash and wipe their hands before eating and after using the toilet. Younger children are helped to recognise their towels as they correspond with a colour code chart on the wall showing their picture and their colour. This has helped younger children with recognition of colour and they then identify the colours as they come across them in the play room. 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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