Childminder in Greenwich

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 510602 Inspection date 25/05/2010 Inspector Marcia Robinson

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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 was registered in 1999. She lives with her two adult children in Abbeywood in the London borough of Greenwich. The whole of the ground floor including the living room, dining room and bathroom facilities are available for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family have two dogs and one cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years, three of whom may be in the early years age group, at any one time. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently three children in the early years age group on roll. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 warm and welcoming environment for children and their parents. Children are safe and well cared for in her inclusive home, where they make excellent progress in their learning given their age, abilities and starting points. Strong relationships with parents and other partners contribute significantly to ensuring that each child is effectively supported and flourishes in the setting. The childminder shows good capacity for continual improvement. She attends relevant training and has effective relationships with her early years co-ordinator. As a result, clear targets for improvement are identified to bring about sustained improvements in the service provided.

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further?

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

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further?

 update the record of risk assessment to ensure it covers all outings and trips, including all areas that a child may come into contact with in the environment develop further systems to involve parents as part of the ongoing observation and assessment process.

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the early years provision

The childminder effectively safeguards children's welfare. She has a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues and how to proceed if she had a concern about a child in her care. All of the required documentation that promotes children's health, safety and wellbeing is in place, up to date and underpins the good practice carried out. The childminder conducts risk assessments of the premises and on the majority of outings as required. However, records of risk assessments have not been updated to cover everything that a child This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 might come into contact with, particularly in the garden. In addition, the record of risk assessment does not include all outings and trips, such as the journey to and from school. Nevertheless, the home is well organised to meet children's needs and they can easily access a wide variety of good quality resources that support

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the early years provision

their play and learning. The childminder works closely with parents to ensure she has detailed information about children's backgrounds and needs, so that equality and diversity is effectively promoted. Strong parental involvement is highly beneficial to the continuity of care that the children receive. The childminder liaises closely with parents to ensure clear systems are in place for obtaining accurate and pertinent information about children's developmental starting points. The childminder communicates well with parents on a daily basis through daily discussions and with written diaries. They have access to a wide variety of information about the childminding service, such as a comprehensive range of written policies and procedures, and access to their children's development files. The childminder also works very effectively with other early years settings to benefit the children in her care, such as the local nursery. This ensures children

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the early years provision

benefit from excellent quality, cohesive care and learning experiences. Feedback from parents and carers is actively encouraged in a variety of ways, including completing questionnaires as well as contact with other childminders to evaluate and review the provision. The childminder confidently communicates a clear vision for providing a high quality service for children and their families. She consistently strives to enhance her skills through additional training, for example, in communication, thereby ensuring that all children are included and valued. Self- evaluation reflects rigorous monitoring of the service and results in clear targets for development that lead to sustained improvements in outcomes for children.

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and outcomes for children

Children make significant gains in their learning because the childminder plans and implements a full range of stimulating activities and experiences. This ensures children gain the knowledge, understanding and skills to develop and achieve the early learning goals, within the six areas of learning. Children behave very well through the childminder who consistently encourages and praises them. They behave responsibly towards each other and particularly towards the younger ones who in turn enjoy being with the older children. The childminder's confident approach to equal opportunities actively contributes to children’s positive attitudes to the wider community. They develop a sensitive awareness of diversity and an understanding of the needs of others. This is achieved through a wide range of resources and planned experiences that encourage children to value themselves and develop an understanding of other cultures, religions and backgrounds.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the community in which they live through outings to local drop in groups and the library. They enjoy free-flow play from the playrooms to the outdoors, and a daily routine, which includes story and music time, provides a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated learning. The garden of the childminder's home is thoughtfully arranged for purposeful role play, such as using the variety of props including bags and shawls as well as playing musical instruments in the play tent at the back of the garden. Outings are planned to give children as much outdoor experience as possible. For example, visits to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Abbeywoods and local parks provide good opportunities for safe risk taking and, thereby, support their physical development. Here, children explore balancing on logs, climbing on apparatus and trees in the park and woods. Children are

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and outcomes for children

inquisitive and inspired to explore the natural world as they plant and nurture pips and seeds, watering them daily and watching them grow into carrots and water cress. Their communication skills are successfully fostered, resulting in competent speakers and listeners. There is wide range of books available, which are clearly enjoyed by the children both independently and with the childminder. The childminder has developed individual files for children, which include observations and photographs linked to the areas of learning. She has identified next steps in children's learning are not always clearly used to inform future planning, therefore this is an area for further improvement. She is constantly reviewing this system to ensure files show a true reflection of children's progress. This includes starting to involve parents in the process, as this does not clearly happen at the moment.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a safe, secure and caring environment. This helps them to develop skills for their future learning and education. They are safeguarded well as the childminder’s home is secure at all times. This is supplemented with effective procedures for adults collecting children, including a password system. Risks and hazards are sensitively discussed with children so that their sense of safety is further developed without undue fear of situations, for instance, children know what to do if they are approached by a stranger and they know the reasons for the regular emergency evacuations procedures. They are encouraged to play safely and they learn about how to avoid accidents within the home, for instance when going up and down the step leading into the garden and not to enter the kitchen when cooking is taking place. This positively contributes to children developing a sense of danger and how to keep themselves safe. Children enjoy physical exercise

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and outcomes for children

and outdoor play; they play in the garden using a variety of outdoor play equipment and activities taken outside, such as role playing materials and musical instruments. Their well-being is well promoted through the childminder who purposefully plans balanced meals, where she avoids excessive levels of salt, sugar and fat. Children eat healthily and tuck into wholemeal bread sandwiches filled with chicken roll and served with salad for their lunch. They are developing positive hygiene practices which are instilled into their daily routines along with the emphasis on promoting healthy eating and exercise. Children do not attend if they are sick, which enables the childminder to protect others from illness, and she discusses this with parents when they first come to see her. The childminder can respond appropriately if children have an accident, as she is trained to administer first aid. All relevant documentation with regard to health, including specific dietary

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and outcomes for children

needs and consent forms, is in place and up to date. This positively safeguards children’s well-being. 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 1 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 1 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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