Childminder in Surrey

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY412295 Inspection date 18/01/2011 Inspector Amanda May

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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 two children aged 18 and 16 years in Godalming, Surrey. The premises is close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The childminder's home is situated in a quiet residential area. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding with toilet facilities on the first floor. There is an enclosed secure garden available for outside play. The childminder has a pet dog, rabbit and chickens.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She currently has two children on roll in the early years age group. This provision is also registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register and is open all year round. The childminder collects children from the local school and attends several toddler groups on a regular basis.

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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

The childminder's extremely thorough and well-informed knowledge of the children ensures that she can support each child in making progress in all areas of their learning and development. The childminder is keen to develop her provision and has a wealth of experience and ideas which she reflects on continuously to provide new opportunities and experiences for the children who attend. Through working closely with parents she has an exceptional understanding of each family and each child's individual needs and interests. Key policies and procedures are highly effective in most cases promoting children's safety and well-being.

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further?

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

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further?

 enhancing current systems of recognising existing injuries that children attend with to strengthen current safeguarding processes.

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the early years provision

Children who attend the setting are kept safe and feel secure. The childminder has a very good practical understanding of risk assessment and children are fully involved in discussing safety issues to heighten their own awareness of how they can keep themselves safe. The childminder is secure in her practice in ensuring that she discusses existing injuries with parents when children arrive at the setting, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 although systems could be further developed to enhance the current procedures.

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the early years provision

The childminder is clear in the action she must take if she had concerns about a child in terms of safeguarding and details of this are shared with parents through a detailed written policy. The childminder is very well organised and systems in place, which she uses to recognise children's next steps in learning and their development, are highly effective. The childminder takes care to ensure children are able to enjoy all activities and provides resources which follow each child's interest, for example, setting up a shoe shop, following a child's interest in princesses and how Cinderella lost her silver slipper. Opportunities around this theme are also provided to support children in their awareness of other cultures as they draw Chinese princesses and learn about Chinese New Year where they taste noodles and enjoy a wide range craft activities. The childminder hangs small paper lanterns within her home to reflect the celebration, encouraging children's interest

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the early years provision

further. Opportunities for children to make choices and self-select are abundant and self-esteem and confidence are high as a result.

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the early years provision

Excellent partnership working is evident within this setting, both with other early years providers and especially with parents. The parents share their appreciation of the childminder and how she takes specific action to support their children in their interests and provides high quality teaching. They explain that they feel involved and informed by the childminder and appreciate the use of a daily diary in which information is shared between both home and the provision. The childminder visits prospective parents and children in their own homes before they start with her. This is highly beneficial as it ensures that she fully understands each child's backgrounds and develops a thorough understanding of how she can provide consistent care and support for each child. Partnerships with other provisions are also very effective allowing the childminder to support individual children with specific concerns about school activities in discussion with their teachers.

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the early years provision

Excellent provision is made to support children who have additional needs and also to ensure children who are particularly talented are supported and offered challenge which inspires them in their learning. The childminder is dedicated in forging links with other professionals involved in the child's life and encourages information sharing between each to ensure that the child's welfare is at the heart of all she does. She constantly reflects on her service and successfully evaluates what she does well and how she could develop areas to promote high quality outcomes for children. Her ambition and dedication is clear and improvements are consistently made to enhance all aspects of her service.

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and outcomes for children

Children are visibly very happy at the setting and confidently call to the childminder to either join her in their play or to show her something they have noticed or achieved. Children lead the childminder by the hand and giggle happily as they play and joke together. The childminder has a thorough awareness of each child and her experience of teaching children in the early years is fully apparent. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 She skilfully uses her knowledge to provide exciting and interesting activities which she knows individual children will benefit from and enjoy.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is highly skilled at recognising when children are losing interest in an activity and quickly intervenes to promote further learning opportunities and enjoyment. An example of this is when a child who has a particular interest in trains becomes distressed when a carriage de-rails from his train track. The childminder quickly suggests the child chooses a hero from the other trains to rescue the fallen carriage. Children point out their chosen hero excitedly and beam as they come to the rescue, developing their problem solving skills as they decide the best way to rescue the carriage.

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and outcomes for children

Children's interests are at the centre of all the childminder does. Their communication and early reading skills are supported as they cuddle up to the childminder to read books together about Thomas the train, before using the toy train and tracks to act out what happened in the story. Children's early language skills are exceptional and they have many opportunities to mark make and practise forming symbols and letters in small note books within the role play shoe shop and when they explore a variety of media such as chalks and paintbrushes of different sizes in the outdoors.

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and outcomes for children

Children are developing a very good understanding of the world around them and are learning about how to take care of themselves and others. Children show interest and compassion to the childminder's pets and are involved in helping to care for them. Children visit the chickens to see if they have laid any eggs, before collecting them and returning inside to put them in a pan of water before the childminder cooks it for their lunch. Children's understanding of healthy food choices is also very well supported as they are involved in visiting the childminder's allotment and helping to grow vegetables and plants. They enjoy using the outdoors, partly owing to how well activities on the patio are planned and provided for children, including a range of saucepan lids, wet sand and a variety of trucks to move the sand around allowing children to develop their fine motor skills through imaginative play.

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and outcomes for children

Each child receives plenty of the childminder's attention and she spends time questioning and encouraging children to problem solve in their play, ensuring that they are fully included and involved in new and exciting learning opportunities. As children are so focussed on their activities they behave impeccably well. They have a very close relationship with the childminder and are evidently happy, feel safe and extremely settled in her care. 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 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 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 1 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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