Childminder in Barking and Dagenham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 504285 Inspection date 15/03/2010 Inspector Samantha Smith

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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 has been registered since 2001. She lives with her husband and three daughters aged 13,15 and 18 in Barking and Dagenham. The whole of ground floor is used for childminding, and the garden is currently unavailable for minded children.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for six children under eight years at any one time. There are currently three children on attending on a full-time basis including term time only and all year round. The childminder attends parent and toddler groups with minded children, she is a member of the National Childminding Association and her local childminding networking group.

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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.

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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

Outcomes for children are good. Children are happy, confident and well settled in the childminder's care. The childminder creates a welcoming, homely and inclusive environment where all children are equally well cared for. There are excellent relationships between the parents and childminder, this ensures that children’s care and education is promoted. Robust systems are in place to ensure that children are appropriately safeguarded. The childminder has started to evaluate her practice, demonstrating an awareness of her strengths and areas that she wishes to further develop.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 ensure the risk assessment identifies aspects of the environment that needs to be checked on a regular basis and maintain a record of these particular aspects (Suitable premises, environment & equipment) 12/04/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop the system for observation, planning and assessment to ensure that there are clear links to planning  ensure that procedures for administering medication are consistently applied  develop further the process of self evaluation to include the views of parents and carers. 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 manages and organises her setting well. Arrangements for safeguarding children are robust and the childminder is secure in her role in child protection issues. All adults over the age of sixteen living in and regular visitors to the home have been appropriately vetted, and a record is kept of all visitors. Risk assessments are in place, ensuring all hazards are identified and appropriate action taken to minimise potential risks, although in need of updating to include aspects of the environment that need to be checked regularly and the date when these are checked. The childminder has developed a portfolio of written policies to support her practices and most of the required documentation is in place and well maintained to support children's care and learning needs. With the exception of the medication records, although the childminder records medication she administers to the children and obtains parents' signatures of acknowledgement;

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the early years provision

she has not consistently obtained prior written consent from parents. The childminder shares all her policies and procedures with parents at the outset to ensure they are well informed.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a broad range of toys and resources for the different ages and stages of children she minds. These are mostly well stored allowing children safe and easy access and encourage their independence as they freely select the toys they want to play with. The childminder demonstrated that she has valuable knowledge and information about the children’s backgrounds, health needs and languages. She encourages children to foster an awareness of diversity through books and toys available. Positive outcomes for children are promoted by the childminder's capacity to make improvements. She shows a commitment to further developing her knowledge of childcare issues through her attendance on a number of relevant training courses through the local authority. The childminder has a clear understanding of how children learn and develop and, therefore, children are making good progress in their learning and she has identified this as an area that

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the early years provision

she wishes to improve. The childminder has recently begun to evaluate her practice. She has identified key areas that she wishes to improve on. However, at present the childminder has not yet established systems to involve parent’s views and ideas about the quality of her provision.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from the excellent continuity of care between their home and the childminder's, through the exceptional partnerships that she has established with parents. From the beginning parents are encouraged to share what they know about their children with the childminder. Information such as routines, interests, any special care needs and dietary requirements are obtained and she has maintained an ongoing relationship with parents so that they are fully informed about children's welfare, achievements and progress. The childminder has developed learning journals for each of the children within the early years age range. She provides parents with a daily communication book which identifies what the children have achieved and what the parents can work on at home in relation to children's ongoing development. In addition, the childminder talks to the parents on a daily basis and school staff when collecting children. As a

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the early years provision

consequence, the children's individual needs are identified and met. 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 provided with a good range of stimulating activities and resources which positively impact on their ability to make progress across all areas of their learning and development. The childminder demonstrates a clear knowledge of children’s interests and plans activities and opportunities that are generally well matched and extend these interests. They benefit from regular outings to local parks, the library and other places of interest. The childminder makes effective use of the outdoors and weather conditions. For example, the children visited the local field, where they explored the snow and visit the park to support their understanding of nature as they explore the natural world. Children have a range of experiences to develop their communication language and literacy skills. They have many opportunities to access books and listen to stories. They enjoy making up their own stories as they look at books independently and some show off their

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and outcomes for children

ability to retell stories that they have they have been read. Simple conversations take place about particular topics which are then extended through open ended questions.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder strives to promote an inclusive environment where children's individual needs are met. She encourages children to feel good about themselves and develop a respect for others through her interactions, encouraging children to talk about themselves and their practices, role modelling and through the experiences she offers them. Children are learning about each other's customs and festivals as the childminder acknowledges their different cultural and religious beliefs.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from the warm and caring relationships that they share with the childminder, which in turn makes them feel safe and secure in their surroundings. Daily routines support their understanding of good hygiene practices. They know to wash their hands at appropriate times throughout the day and that this prevents germs being spread. Good behaviour is recognised and acknowledged. Children are praised for their efforts and achievements which supports their self-esteem and confidence. They are helped to understand what is right and wrong as the childminder talks to them and gives explanations to help them to understand why certain behaviour is not acceptable.

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and outcomes for children

Children have opportunities to visit many places of interest with the childminder, such as, visits to the library and the local children centre and soft play areas. This enables children to learn about their local community and play with children from diverse backgrounds. Children are learning about keeping safe, as they talk about road safety and stranger danger. In addition, the childminder practises the fire drill with the children regularly to ensure they know what to do in the event of an emergency. Children’s behaviour is good. They learn from the childminder who is a good role model, about being respectful and polite. Children are active and inquisitive to explore the resources and they receive efficient support in their play and learning from the childminder. 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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