Morris, Sandra Lynne

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 128814 Inspection date 26/05/2010 Inspector Claire Jean Douglas

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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 1991. She lives with her husband in a residential area of Lewisham. A playroom in the upstairs of the house is used for childminding along with the front room downstairs. The family have one dog, and fish in a large pond in the garden. The garden is not used for childminding; they also have fish inside the kitchen and front room in aquariums.

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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 is registered to care for four children under eight, three of whom can be in the early years age range. There are currently two children in the early years ago group on roll, who attend full time.

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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 successfully promotes all aspects of children's welfare and development. Children are safe and well cared for in her warm, inclusive home and welcomed as part of the family. Good relationships with parents ensure that the childminder knows children well and provides the care and support they need. The childminder reflects on the service she provides and takes steps to ensure that she is responsive to the needs of the children she cares for and their families.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure regular fire evacuation drills are carried out and recorded, detailing any problems encountered and how they were resolved  develop the system used for self-evaluating, documenting the views of children, parents/carers and other agencies, to assist in the identification of strengths and weaknesses, providing an additional focus for improvement.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a clear understanding of her responsibilities towards the children in her care, and effectively safeguards their welfare. She knows what steps to take if she has concerns about a child, and has completed child protection training. She keeps all of the required records that promote children's health, safety and well-being. Risk assessments ensure that children are safe in the home and when out and about. The childminder has a dedicated play room upstairs in her home, providing children with access to a variety of quality resources and play materials that support their play and learning. The childminder works closely with parents to ensure she has a thorough understanding of each child's backgrounds and needs, so that equality and diversity is successfully promoted. Parents are This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 warmly welcomed into the home and kept well informed through daily discussions

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the early years provision

and feedback, as well as having access to a range of written policies and procedures. Parents comments show they are very happy with the service provided, for example, 'a very reliable and a fantastic childminder I always recommend her and would continue to use her in the future, I wouldn’t know what to do with out her!' and 'my first choice over and over again she is an asset to her profession.' The childminder builds effective partnerships with other professionals where appropriate, for instance when attending other settings and play centres. She values local training opportunities and endeavours to attend relevant courses to develop her knowledge and skills and evaluate her practice. The childminder evaluates her service, however, the system used does not effectively document her strengths and weaknesses or provide an additional focus for improvement. Actions taken to develop the service lead to improved outcomes for children, for instance,

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the early years provision

recent additions to her learning resources ensure further opportunities for children to develop their communication language and literacy skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, settled and at home in the childminder's care. They show a strong sense of belonging as they independently select toys and resources and move confidently around the play room. They learn to keep themselves safe when the childminder encourages them to hold on to the banister whilst they walk up the stairs or as she reminds them to go carefully up to the top of a slide in the park. Clear fire safety precautions are in place and children learn about evacuation procedures through discussion, but they do not currently take part in regular practices to ensure they can act quickly in an emergency. Children adopt simple good hygiene routines when they wash their hands straight away when they come in from outside and before eating. They benefit from well-balanced home cooked meals and snacks that meet their nutritional needs and they learn about foods that are good for you when the childminder shows them the range of fruit and

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and outcomes for children

vegetables that she has harvested at her allotment. Children enjoy daily regular exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, and enjoy pedalling bikes around in a local play centre's outdoor area or they have fun playing on the climbing frame during a visit to the park. Children take part in a wide variety of activities and experiences that support their learning and development both at the childminders home and at the range of play centres they attend regularly. They make very good relationships with the childminder and respond well to her warm and caring approach.

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and outcomes for children

Activities are well matched to children's interests and abilities. The childminder has started to make observations of children's achievements. Systems for using these plan future learning experiences and ensure activities consistently build on children's existing knowledge and skills. Children are keen to communicate and younger children benefit from the childminder's patience and encouragement as they learn new words and start to join in conversations. They enjoy sharing books and naming the pictures on each page. Children learn about shapes as they practice making circles in a corn flour mixture at a play centre, and they sort and match as they name the colour of their toys. They begin to solve simple problems when they work out where the puzzle pieces have to go to complete inset puzzles. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 They find out about the world around them when the childminder points out areas

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and outcomes for children

of interest when out and about, for example, the aeroplane that’s flying high up in the sky or the squirrel that is running through the trees in the park.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder makes the most of diversity to help children understand the society they live in, as they play with a range of resources which reflect positive images of a multicultural society, for example, children use their imagination as they pretend to cook noodles on the play Chinese wok. They develop skills for the future when they learn how to pour water from one cup to another or when they take turns to take a photograph on a digital camera. Children express their imaginations as they help themselves to creative materials to draw a picture. They are well occupied and stimulated throughout the day and thoroughly enjoy their time with 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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