Childminder in Surrey

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY398741 Inspection date 21/10/2010 Inspector Amanda Tyson

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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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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 lives with her husband and adult daughter, who is also a registered childminder on the same premises. They live in a house in Epsom Surrey located close to shops, parks, schools, and public transport links. Childminding takes place on the ground floor of the premises and is accessible via a side entrance. There is a purpose built playroom with direct access to a secure garden, an integral room used for sleep purposes and toilet facilities. The childminder has a dog and three cats.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. When working with another registered childminder at the same premises they are registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five to 11 years. The provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder has four children on roll and her co-minder has two. All of these children are within the early years age group. The childminder collects children from the local school and uses local facilities, such as toddler groups, parks, and library.

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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 has made a good start to her childcare business. The environment has been thoughtfully designed for children whose individual needs and interests are clearly understood. Relationships with parents are friendly and trusting and strong partnerships are emerging as they work together to support and promote children's learning and development. Children are happy, emotionally secure, and making good progress in their learning and development.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the activity program to include more opportunities for children to explore and experiment with natural and everyday objects; find out about heuristic and treasure basket play  develop risk assessments associated with outings and trips further; for example identify the potential for a lost child situation and how a speedy reunion might be enabled This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is effectively monitored, supported, and safeguarded. The childminder's purposefully designed and comprehensively risk assessed home provides a safe and secure environment for children and babies to play and explore. In the main, risk assessments for outings are also well thought through. Most hazards, such as the library car park and "off the lead" dogs are clearly identified and targeted to minimize accidents. Nonetheless, the childminde's co- minding arrangement means that she has the support of a fully vetted adult with whom children have an equally secure and trusting relationship. Children are very well supervised at all times. The childminder is secure in her knowledge and understanding of her regulatory responsibilities, for instance in relation to child protection, and these are all clearly explained to parents in the form of written policies and procedures. All records and documentation required for the safe and

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the early years provision

efficient management of the setting are maintained and appropriately shared with parents.

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the early years provision

The childminder has devised an effective system for monitoring children's progress and development towards the early learning goals. She carries out, and documents, sensitive observational assessments which parents actively contribute to. Together with her co-childminder she uses this information to identify a personalized learning journey for each child. This is a good example of how the childminder promotes equality and diversity. Parents are very happy with the service provided and highlight the excited responses of babies in the morning when they realize where they are going, as highly reassuring. They also greatly appreciate the very informative daily diaries. Some children attend other setting's and the childminder has been very proactive in seeking to establish partnership working in order to ensure they benefit from consistent, but also complimentary, support. This is currently a working progress. The childminder is making effective

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the early years provision

use of self-evaluation to identify and target priorities for improvement, which are currently focused on introducing toddlers to basic cooking activities; as well opportunities to explore nature and take part in digging and growing in the garden. She has completed the required mandatory first aid and childminding practice training and is now looking forward to further developing her knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage learning and development requirements. The childminder demonstrates good capacity to maintain improvement.

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and outcomes for children

Children are well supported to settle into the childminder's care through a gradual parent-child separation process. This ensures that by the time they are left for the first full day they have built a trusting and secure relationship with her. The warm, welcoming, and well equipped environment effectively meets the needs of young children. For example, each child has their own cot, which they happily settle into This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 when it is their time for their sleep. The childminder ensures high standards of hygiene and takes children out in the fresh air every day. She works in close partnership with parents to meet children's individual dietary needs and to promote and develop healthy eating habits, often through innovative strategies to help progress the weaning stage.

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and outcomes for children

Babies are becoming sociable and communicative. This is well demonstrated by the way in which they embrace each other with endearing cuddles or gentle touches, help to turn the pages of books when sitting on the childminder's lap, and as they babble away to themselves in animated play. The childminder has a good range of manufactured toys which interest the children. They press buttons and twist knobs to create different sounds and actions. They empty and fill trucks with other toys and build experiment with balance as they build towers with bricks. However, most of the childminder's play resources are manufactured toys which, because they are made from plastic, all feel very similar and mainly produce pre-determined actions or sounds. Children have fewer opportunities to experiment with natural and everyday objects; those which look and feel different and which help children to make connections between their play and real experiences, although they do enjoy

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and outcomes for children

sand and water play. Babies respond with giggles when the childminder playfully hides a toy behind her back and challenges them to find it, which they immediately do. Singing and action rhymes are purposefully planned to encourage speech and language and to introduce them to the different sounds of instruments. They make marks using brushes and/or their hands, as well as with chalk. Young children's awareness of diversity is being raised naturally as they access toys and look at books which depict positive images of ethnicity, gender, and disability. 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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