Childminder in Kingston upon Thames

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 131923 Inspection date 28/06/2010 Inspector Lindsay Ann Farenden

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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 assesses 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

This childminder has been registered since 2000. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight and 13 years in the London borough of Kingston within walking distance of the town centre, the railway station, schools and parks. The main area of the home used for childminding is the ground floor and first floor bathroom. One room is a designated play room. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have one pet dog and two hamsters.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years, of whom three may be in the early years age group at any one time. She is currently minding five children in the early years age range on a part and full time basis. 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

The childminder provides a welcoming child orientated environment, in which children’s welfare is promoted. Children's learning and development is supported very well through the daily provision of many stimulating play opportunities and activities both inside and outside of her home. She respects and values the uniqueness of each child providing a fully inclusive service in which children of all abilities are welcome and thrive. She fosters positive relationships with parents to support them in the care and development of their children and to ensure consistency of care. The childminder shows a commitment towards ongoing training and to initiating a self-evaluation system to identify further areas for development to continue to enhance positive outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment (Promoting good health) 16/07/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop systems to link observations and children’s next step of learning to the Early Years Foundation Stage six areas of learning  develop further systems for self-evaluation to set targets for continuous improvement. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

There is a strong emphasis on safeguarding children within the childminding setting. The childminder has a good knowledge of the signs of abuse and procedures to follow if she has concerns about a child’s welfare. Adults living in the home have been fully vetted to ensure they are suitable to be in the presence of children. Risk assessments of the home environment and for each individual outing ensure risks to children are minimised. Fire safety equipment is in place and written fire evacuation procedures are practised with the children. An exceptionally well planned topic with activities relating to road safety helps children to gain a real understanding of how to keep themselves safe on outings. Through discussion the childminder helps children to be aware of stranger danger and teaches them to use large play equipment appropriately. Overall, records, policies and procedures are used effectively to promote the welfare and safety of the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder is a qualified nursery nurse and dedicates her time to the children when they are present. She has an excellent range of clean, quality toys and resources. Children are actively encouraged to make their own choices of what they want to play with, building on their natural curiosity as learners.

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the early years provision

A good partnership the parents contributes significantly to the children’s well- being. Right from the start the childminder spends time with the parents to discuss their child's needs, routines and skills. She also consults with the child about their likes and dislikes when they first start. Parents receive good information about their child’s care and activities they have enjoyed through verbal feedback, daily diaries and texts during the day. Letters from parents at the time of inspection show they think very highly of the childminder and of the service she provides for their children. The childminder has approached schools and play groups which children attend and uses information from them to further enhance their learning in her care.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to ensuring that her service is inclusive to all children. She adapts activities so children of all abilities can be involved in them and makes sure she gives each child she cares for some individual attention each day. She has a positive attitude to caring for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and liaising with parents and other agencies in order to carry out specific programmes to help them reach their full potential.

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the early years provision

The childminder attends training and reads childcare media to keep up to date with changing child care practices. Although she has not yet used a formal system to evaluate her childminding practice, she continually looks at how she can improve her childminding provision. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe and secure in the care of this experienced and dedicated childminder. One room is set up as a dedicated playroom with displays of photographs of children doing activities and their art work giving them a real sense of belonging in the childminder’s home. The childminder clearly enjoys the children’s company and spends time on the floor with them engaging in their play.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder knows each child she cares for very well and talks very fondly about them. Her excellent knowledge of their stage of development and interests ensures these are catered for and they have fun learning through play in her care. Observations of children’s achievements are made informally, through written observations in contact diaries and evaluation of children work. She uses these effectively to plan steps to help each child make developmental progress, although planning is not fully linked to the early years curriculum learning goals. The childminder does though plan wonderful topics and she ensures all activities in them cover all six areas of learning. For example, during a topic on road safety, children painted large lolly pop crossing sticks, iced biscuits to make the colours of traffic lights and coloured in pictures of road crossings.

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and outcomes for children

From a young age, children explore early technology as they take pleasure in investigating toys that require them to press buttons to make sounds. Older children access a computer using learning programmes. They learn how to problem solve as they use shape sorters and do puzzles. Young children enjoy mark making with different coloured crayons and the childminder helps older children to form letters and numbers correctly. To help children’s language development the childminder talks to them as they play and when out and about in the community. She plays lotto games to help them learn about the sounds of letters. Children’s creativity is developed through a range of activities, such as sticking, painting, play dough, junk model making, singing songs and playing musical instruments. Children's knowledge and understanding of the wider world is developed as they are taken on wide range outings to places of interest, such as

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and outcomes for children

Kew Gardens, museums, farms and zoos. They develop their social skills as they attend music sessions and toddler groups with the childminder. Children learn about differences and similarities as they access toys which provide them with positive images of diversity in every day play. Children begin to learn about caring for the environment as the childminder explains to them the right bin to put food waste in and the importance of using both the sides of the paper when drawing.

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and outcomes for children

Children are developing a good awareness of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. They walk to and from school, visit parks and use climbing equipment and wheeled toys in the childminder’s garden. Children play and are cared for in a clean home in which the childminder successfully promotes children’s awareness of the importance of good hygiene routines. Children are provided with nutritious home cooked meals and fruit is available to them at all times. Healthy eating habits are enhanced as children enjoy planting seeds and have great fun watering the plants and eating the produce. The childminder ensures children always have access to drinks. The holds a current first aid certificate and has an easily accessible first aid This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 box in her home and takes one on outings, so any minor accidents can be treated immediately. However, parental consent for the childminder to seek emergency

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and outcomes for children

medical treatment for each child in her care has not been obtained. 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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Early Years Foundation Stage

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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