Childminder in Kingston upon Thames

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY333433 Inspection date 05/01/2011 Inspector Silvia Richardson

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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 2006. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered for a maximum of five children under eight years, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age group at any one time. The childminder currently has six children on roll, of whom two are in the early years age group. The childminder lives with her husband and their three children aged 15, 12 and five years. They live in a house in Kingston-upon-Thames, close to shops, parks, library and public transport links. There is suitable disability access. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The family have no pets. The childminder is a member of the National and Kingston childminding associations.

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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

Children are very happy and settled because they receive a good deal of attention with their welfare needs and much support with their learning and development. Relationships are warm and positive with the childminder valuing the uniqueness of each child and actively creating an inclusive learning environment. Children make good progress because they enjoy a balanced schedule of indoor and outdoor activities across the six areas of learning. Resources in the home setting are well presented in a designated area, enabling children to make choices and learn at their own pace. The childminder has a high capacity for continuous improvement and is well motivated towards promoting best possible outcomes for children. Since the last inspection the childminder has raised standards from satisfactory to good.

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further?

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

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further?

 review and update policies and procedures in line with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage  systematically observe children's learning and match their attainments to the expectations of the early learning goals, so as to ensure there are no gaps in their learning This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded in the setting because the childminder knows what to look out for and what to do should she be worried about a child. The child protection and safety policies are well written, robust and unique to the setting, supporting effective practice. However some of the childminders policies and procedures are outdated, relating National Standards rather than to the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. As a result some procedures are not linked to current practice for promoting outcomes for children. Since the last inspection the childminder has raised standards from satisfactory to good, improving accountability, by keeping accurate records of attendance on a daily basis. Also the childminder is promoting better health and safety outcomes for children, having obtained written parental permission to seek emergency medical treatment and ensuring emergency evacuation procedures are regularly practised,

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the early years provision

so that children are aware of the procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. Written risk assessment is thorough and detailed ensuring children are safe and secure in the setting.

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the early years provision

The childminder actively promotes equality and diversity through ensuring children mix with the wider community, so that they experience differences in culture and lifestyle. Children's uniqueness is valued through the range of activities and resources offered, some of which are multicultural, including books and stories portraying positive images of differences. The well presented conservatory provides a wealth of resources and play materials from which children can make choices. Resources are very well deployed, enabling children to explore, make discoveries and spread out in the comfortable living room, with the childminder affording children a good deal of support with their learning. The setting is well led and managed, so that children's individual needs are met effectively. The childminder drives improvement through accessing further training opportunities, enabling her to seek and share ideas and advice regarding best practice. The

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the early years provision

childminder informally evaluates what she does well and identifies what she can do better, so that children enjoy activities and make good progress.

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the early years provision

Partnerships with parents and carers are mutually respectful and effectively promote children's welfare needs. The childminder engages parents well and encouraged them to complete feedback questionnaires, to ascertain their views and satisfaction with arrangements for welfare, learning and development. Comments include the childminder providing a friendly, caring environment, where children are encouraged to explore and play with different toys; also that children are treated as one of the family, with exceptional care in a welcoming home. Parents comment that the childminder always listens and responds well to changing needs. The childminder provides a good deal of information for parents and carers, including letters with plans for each term. They regularly exchange text messages including photos of activities, which the childminder also prints for the children's learning journey records. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are making really good progress towards the early learning goals, because they enjoy a wide range of interesting and stimulating activities across the six areas of learning. The programme and schedule of activities is well balanced, so that children enjoy play and learning both in the setting and out in the wider community. The childminder creates an enabling environment, whereby children are able to select resources of their own choosing and learn at their own pace. The childminder continually supports children, talking and playing with them, promoting their language and acquisition of skills. The childminder gets to know the children well through close relationships. Observation is enabling the childminder to identify children's attainments and plan for their next steps in learning. However, the childminder is not observing children systematically and matching their attainments to the expectations of the early learning goals, so as to ensure there are no gaps

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and outcomes for children

in their learning. Children are enjoying and achieving in the setting because activities are linked to their likes, interests and learning styles.

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and outcomes for children

Close relationships are helping children settle and feel safe and secure. Fire evacuation instructions are displayed in the hall in words and pictures, promoting children's understanding of how to stay safe. They enjoy a real sense of belonging, with personal space for their belongings, such as a peg with their name on and an identifying picture too, for the younger children. Children enjoy family style meals and talk about the importance of healthy eating and making healthy choices. The children keep track of their fruit and vegetable intake using stickers on a chart, motivating their learning of the importance of good nutrition. Children are supported to make a positive contribution to the setting, through helping tidy away toys. They share well and take turns and are encouraged to adopt good manners and social skills, through the childminder providing a strong role-model, guiding desirable and acceptable behaviour. Children are developing a broad range of skills

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and outcomes for children

for the future including a positive disposition to learning, because the childminder is caring and committed in her approach to fostering children's natural and spontaneous curiosity and exploration, through activities both in the setting and out in the community. 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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