Childminder in Southwark

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY394084 Inspection date 17/06/2010 Inspector Linda Close

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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 childminding setting is a first floor flat located in a low rise apartment block on an estate in Bermondsey in the London Borough of Southwark. The childminder lives with her husband and one child who is below statutory school age. The whole of the property is used for childminding with the exception of the balcony. There is no direct access to outdoor play but the childminder takes children to local parks, play areas and children's centres on a regular basis.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of two children under eight years and one of these may be in the early years age range.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder warmly welcomes children into her home and she meets their needs appropriately. Children are safe and secure and they enjoy learning about the local area and the world around them. Partnerships with parents are good which helps the adults to work together to meet the individual care needs of the children. Children are making suitable progress which is commensurate with their age and starting points. The childminder has made a positive start in evaluating her work with children and this work is ongoing. She identifies her strengths and she is eager to develop her provision for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the systems set in place for self-evaluation to identify priorites for development that will enhance the quality of the provision for children

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the early years provision

The childminder places strong emphasis on safeguarding children. She demonstrates in discussion that she is well informed about child protection issues. Personal study, her nursing background and the training course that she is currently attending together ensure that her knowledge and understanding of the signs and symptoms that can suggest ill-treatment are good. The childminder is ready to take contact appropriate agencies if she should have concerns about the welfare of the children in her care. The childminder has risk assessed her home, and the regular outings that she takes with children, and she takes effective steps to ensure that children are kept safe in her care. She helps children to learn about This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 road safety through talking about safety and by ensuring that they wait for the 'green man' sign to show before crossing roads. The childminder has attended

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the early years provision

paediatric first aid training. She keeps a first aid kit close to hand and she has documents ready to record any accidents and medication permissions and dosage records.

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the early years provision

The childminder has written many notes about what she provides for children. She has experienced some technical problems with her computer that have prevented her from fully completing this self-evaluation exercise. However, it is evident from her notes that she has identified her strengths and some areas for development. She has attended a useful short course about the Early Years Foundation Stage and she is currently attending a more complex introduction to childminding course. The childminder is aware that she should have completed this course within six months of her registration but this delay has been due to circumstances beyond her control. Overall the childminder is taking appropriate steps to secure the ongoing improvement of her work with children.

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the early years provision

The childminder has arranged her home so that children have sufficient space to play and easy access to toys, books and resources. She provides a suitable range of toys and play materials and a good selection of books. The childminder is well aware that space in the home is limited and there is no direct access to an outdoor area. She compensates for this by taking the children out and about in the local community to visit places which include shops, playgroups and parks. In this way the children meet diverse children and adults and they have opportunities to take part in events linked to multi-cultural celebrations. The childminder's selection of books and toys reflects a range of diverse people.

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the early years provision

The childminder has not yet had the need to liaise with other professionals. However, she is aware that this would be required if a child in her care experiences any learning difficulties and she is ready to work with outside agencies as and when there is a need. The childminder has established a good working relationship with parents and carers. She takes information from them that helps her to meet children's health and dietary needs. She shares her file of notes and photographs of the children at play so that parents can see what their child is doing and how they are progressing. The childminder seeks their thoughts and opinions about the care that she provides and parents state that they are pleased with her childminding service.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy exploring their toys and the materials that the childminder provides. Children's achievements are appropriate bearing in mind that they have been cared for by the childminder for a relatively short period. The childminder manages children's behaviour calmly and with kindness. She is a good role model for the children. She speaks to them politely and they respond to her politely in return. The children are lively and well behaved. The children show that they feel safe with the childminder in the relaxed way that they cooperate when their nappies are changed and in the way they cuddle up to the childminder to share a story This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 book.

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and outcomes for children

Children are involved in suitable activities to help them to develop skills for future learning. They are learning new words through talking with the childminder and discussing story and alphabet books. Their progress records include examples of mark making. The childminder displays numerals in her home and she counts aloud with the children. She offers the children shape sorters and puzzles so that they can develop their sorting and matching skills. She provides some battery operated toys so that children learn to make something happen when they press buttons.

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and outcomes for children

Children are often taken to the local play park so that they can run about freely and explore open space. The childminder reports that they are energetic and they enjoy climbing and scrambling on large apparatus. Photographic evidence shows that the minded children are making progress from taking steps with adult support to walking and running confidently on their own. Children also have regular opportunities to play with a range of large toys at the playgroup.

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and outcomes for children

Children do lots of painting and cutting out at the playgroup. They explore a suitable range of materials and media in their creative activities. The childminder offers children interesting materials to play with at her home. They pour dry rice and pasta through funnels again and again enjoying the feeling of the materials and the sounds that they make.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder helps children to learn to adopt a healthy lifestyle. She does this by offering them frequent drinks of fresh drinking water and by providing a choice of healthy fresh fruit snacks. The childminder consults the children's parents so that the food that she provides meets their dietary needs. She makes sure that children's meals include a selection of fresh vegetables. Children eat well and they are learning good manners. They wash their hands before and after eating and they happily help the childminder to clear the table after they have eaten their lunch. 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 3 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 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 3

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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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