Childminder in Haringey

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY400221 Inspection date 13/05/2010 Inspector Jill Nugent

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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 registered in 2009. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. She lives with her husband and two children, aged seven and two, in a house in Bounds Green in the London Borough of Haringey. Access to the house is at ground level. The whole of the house is used for childminding and there is a secure garden for outdoor play.

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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 may care for a maximum of four children under eight, of whom two may be in the early years age group, at any one time. She works with another registered childminder in the setting and her husband acts as a part-time assistant. When working with the childminder she may care for a maximum of 10 children under eight at any one time. Currently there are 10 children on roll, of whom eight are in the early years age group and two are on the compulsory part 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

The childminder provides a welcoming and inclusive environment where children benefit from a variety of learning experiences. She has the required policies and procedures in place and ensures that children keep safe and healthy in the setting. She works closely with parents in order to meet children's individual care and developmental needs. She makes good use of training opportunities to work towards improving aspects of her provision for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 complete a local authority approved training course which provides support for childminders in meeting and putting into practice the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (Suitability of adults) 14/07/2010

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further?

 obtain written parental permission for children to take part in outings (Safeguarding and welfare). 28/05/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the use of self-evaluation to enable reflection on all areas of the childcare practice and to highlight aspects for further improvement  use resources more effectively to provide an enabling and stimulating play environment which encourages free-choice play. 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 is well organised and deploys her co-childminder and assistant effectively, thereby ensuring that all children feel included and are safeguarded. She carries out detailed risk assessments of the setting, showing the actions taken to minimise risks to children whilst in her care. There are various safety measures in place to keep children safe on the premises. The childminder has good procedures in place with regard to children's safety on outings, although she has not obtained written permission from parents to take children on outings. She has a good knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures and appropriate records are in place for promoting children's health.

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the early years provision

The childminder has previous experience as a teacher and knows how to promote children's learning and welfare effectively. Since registration she has attended various training courses to increase her knowledge and understanding of childcare. However, she has found it difficult to access the required local authority approved course in childcare. As a result she has started a course but has not yet completed the course. It is a legal requirement of the Early Years Foundation Stage that childminders attend this course within the first six months of registration. The childminder is beginning to use self-evaluation to reflect on her practice and highlight some areas for further improvement, such as extending opportunities to use technological equipment. However, she is not yet using self-evaluation effectively to reflect on all areas of her childcare practice in order to continually improve the outcomes for all children.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to providing high quality childcare and is keen to include children with special educational needs in her setting. She has attended relevant special needs training and extended her range of resources in order to be able to cater for children of differing abilities. Children benefit from the working partnership between her and her co-childminder as this allows them to receive individual attention at times, for example, when younger children are tired or older children want support. The childminder has a variety of suitable play resources for children. She has arranged her garden so that it is particularly child-friendly, including a decking area for relaxation, or messy activities, and a digging area. However, she does not use her indoor resources as effectively to offer an inviting and enabling play environment for children throughout.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good working partnership with parents and carers. She provides useful information about her background, her policies and daily routines, in a welcome pack. She exchanges information every day with parents, making use of diary sheets so that parents are well informed about each day's events. Parents are encouraged to be involved in their children's learning. The childminder discusses children's monthly individual learning plans with parents. Her weekly plans are put on display. She liaises with other professionals, when necessary, to support children with special educational needs. Parents comment that they are very pleased with the provision for their children, especially their progress in learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children develop close relationships with the childminder and her colleagues. They play harmoniously, for example, sharing tools and toys in the sand and water trays. Children especially enjoy opportunities to share books, listening to adults read and developing communication skills themselves. The childminder organises appropriate adult-led activities which focus and extend children in their learning, for example, singing rhymes and songs or naming pictures on flash cards. She uses resources effectively to enthuse children, linking these to the theme of a rhyme or story. Children have opportunities to join in creative activities using art materials, dressing up clothes and musical instruments. They are keen to play games in the garden, practising their physical skills, such as kicking and rolling balls. However, children are sometimes limited in their choice of free-play activities as resources are not always made easily accessible, encouraging them to become

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and outcomes for children

involved in their own play and exploration.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has set up a comprehensive system of observational assessment which works effectively in highlighting children's individual learning needs. She records many spontaneous observations of children's learning, using these to devise learning plans for each child which are included in the overall planning of activities. In this way her organised activities provide good learning experiences for children, helping them to gain confidence and acquire skills. She intends to create learning journals using photographs and examples of children's work to show their progress towards the early learning goals. Children find out about different cultures and religions through discussion, stories and songs. In this way they become aware of diversity in a wider world. They learn about living things as they dig, plant and water the garden. At the park they enjoy the use of play equipment and become more aware of the natural environment.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder helps children to feel secure in the setting through her attention to their well-being. Children are well supervised at all times and enjoy individual attention in the form of cuddles and conversation. They learn about keeping safe in the event of an emergency when practising fire drills. They are encouraged to rest according to their needs so as to avoid becoming overtired. The childminder uses a monitor to check young children sleeping upstairs. She provides a variety of healthy and nutritious snacks and meals. Children enjoy the social aspect of mealtimes as they sit together to eat. They are reminded to drink water regularly so that they do not become dehydrated. They are well behaved and make friends with other children, learning to respect their feelings and needs. 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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