Childminder in Bromley

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY410909 Inspection date 22/11/2010 Inspector Denys Rasmussen

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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 was registered in 2010. She lives with her husband and her three children aged six, three and one year. The family live in a house in West Wickham in the London borough of Bromley. The childminder lives close to local transport links, shops and schools. The family have a pet cat. The downstairs of the home is used for childminding purposes. There is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder may care for no more than three children under eight years at any one time. There are currently two children on roll 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are eager to attend and make significant gains in their learning because of the childminder's exemplary organisation of her educational programme, which reflects rich, varied and imaginative experiences that meet the individual needs of each child very well. Assessment through high quality observation is rigorous and used well to guide planning which is tailored to each child's needs through effective partnership with parents and other settings. Children's health, safety and well-being are significantly enhanced by the childminder's robust and consistent implementation of policies and procedures which reflect her excellent practice. The childminder's self-evaluation involves parents and helps her reflect on her strengths and weaknesses; she is in the process of developing her self-evaluation systems to enable her to continue to maintain her exceptionally high standards.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 develop self-evaluation systems to enable the current high standards to be continuously maintained.

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the early years provision

The childminder gives high priority to safeguarding children. Comprehensive policies and procedures are implemented consistently and robustly to ensure children are well protected. The childminder's risk assessments ensure she has measures in place to allow children to play safely. For example, cupboards housing hazardous substances are locked and the corners of the table have been covered. The childminder has attended safeguarding training and understands her This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 responsibility and the procedures to follow if she were to become concerned about a child's welfare. The childminder has high expectations of herself and has a strong commitment to continual improvement to provide an inclusive and stimulating environment. She has attended all mandatory training and has planned to attend training to gain a better understanding of how to help children to achieve taking

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the early years provision

into account barriers to learning. For example, she plans to attend 'getting it right for boys' and 'Makaton' training. She has valuable systems of self-evaluation in place which include input from parents; she is currently developing these to enable her to continue to maintain the current high standard she has achieved.

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the early years provision

The partnership the childminder has with parents is exemplary. She has highly effective systems in place to share information with parents and to involve them in their child's learning. Each child's contact book promotes a valuable two-way flow of information that results in the childminder keeping up-to-date with the children's continually changing needs. The childminder writes to parents with an evaluation of the months activities and ideas for the coming month; parents are encouraged to contribute to this. The childminder liaises with other settings the children attend to enable her to complement the learning experiences offered and to share important information relating to their development. The parents can access excellent information about the childminder's service through her web site or by reading her portfolio which includes all her policies and procedures. Parents are impressed by the childminder's professional and organised approach and

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the early years provision

appreciate the open and honest relationship they have with her. The childminder's flexible settling-in procedure including home visits, supports the children to get to know her and enables them to settle well. Parents particularly appreciated the texts and photographs sent to them during the settling-in period which helped to reassure them. Parents commented on the loving, warm and friendly family environment, which behind the scenes is meticulously planned to continue to develop their children through interesting and fun activities.·

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and outcomes for children

The children show a strong sense of security and feel safe within the setting. Close relationships are evident and the children involve the childminder in their imaginative games. For example, inviting her to join them on their picnic which they travel to in the 'magic' car. The childminder takes every opportunity to help the children take responsibility for their own safety, for example, asking them why they need to put on their seatbelts in their 'magic' car and having a discussion about what they need to take with them to protect them from the sun. Children are extremely confident and competent in communicating their thoughts and show an excellent understanding of their own and other's safety. They learn how to leave the premises safely when the childminder blows a whistle signalling the fire drill. The children behave well and show an exceptional understanding of what standards of behaviour are expected; they point to the pictorial signs on the door

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and outcomes for children

to remind the childminder that they are behaving well. For example, when sitting at the table eating their snack they pointed to the 'good listening', 'good eating' and 'good manners' signs. The childminder praises their efforts and her continuous This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 positive interaction and skilful guidance ensure the children play harmoniously together.

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and outcomes for children

Inspirational teaching that is derived from the children's interests motivate the children. The childminder uses her sensitive observations of the children to plan interesting activities to extend their learning. She is skilled at incorporating all areas of learning into her topic-based activities and includes parents' suggestions for learning into her plans. The children take part in a stimulating variety of activities and experiences that support their development and learning extremely well. For example, they recently enjoyed a topic about mini beasts; they learnt to identify mini beasts and had great fun looking for them in the compost and on the way to school. They learnt new songs such as 'there's a worm at the bottom of the garden' which parents commented they continue to sing at home. The children had opportunities to examine preserved mini beasts through a magnifying glass and because of their increased interest in the subject the childminder took them on a

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and outcomes for children

trip to a nature trail that so that they could look in detail at the bug hotels that were there. The childminder's home is welcoming with an excellent variety of quality play resources that are stored in boxes with labels to encourage self- selection. The home is child orientated and conducive to learning. All the children confidently access resources and engage in imaginative play. Resources and equipment reflect diversity providing positive images that help all children to develop good self-esteem. Equipment and activities are not gender stereotyped and all children are encouraged to access all on offer. The childminder celebrates a variety of cultural festivals and traditions to help the children learn about the world around them.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder helps children to adopt healthy hygiene habits by enabling them to reach the sink where they are supported to wash their hands while talking to them about why and when they need to do this. She points out the pictures on the wall that demonstrate how to wash hands thoroughly and encourages them to make bubbly hands like the ones in the picture. The children use individual towels to dry their hands which minimises the risk of cross-infection. Children are offered healthy snacks such as a variety of fresh fruit and grow tomatoes in the garden which they eat; promoting healthy habits. The children are encouraged to spend time outdoors in her well resourced garden digging in the designated digging area for bugs and insects or planting fruit and vegetables. Their physical development is well supported through challenging equipment and by making fresh air and exercise an important part of the daily routine. The children are taken to clubs

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and outcomes for children

where they learn to socialise and make friends and have access to a variety of creative media to explore texture, understand volume and capacity and to problem solve. They use shaving foam, play dough, corn flour, jelly, gloop and pasta to manipulate and make their own creations out of paint, glue and recycled objects. The children thrive and their creativity is nurtured in the stimulating, safe and secure environment. They confidently play with the excellent variety of play props which sparks their imagination.. There is a good sense of fun and childminder's commitment and enjoyment to her work is evident. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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