Baxter, Lorraine Jean

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY260156 Inspection date 26/01/2011 Inspector Pamlea Bailey

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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 registered in 2003. She lives with her partner and two children aged 11 and 14 years in the London Borough of Lewisham, close to schools, shops, parks and public transport links. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding, with the exception of two bedrooms on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has a guinea pig as a pet.

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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 is currently minding two children in this age group. This provision is also registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children from the local schools and attends several toddler groups on a regular basis. She also takes children to the local library and parks.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is inadequate.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's welfare is not adequately promoted because the childminder has insufficient knowledge and understanding of many aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). As a result, children's safety is compromised. The childminder does not monitor or evaluate the service she provides, therefore has failed to identify a number of significant issues. Nevertheless, children make steady progress in their learning and development. Adequate relationships have been established with parents/carers and other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage for children that attend other settings. Overall, children's health is sufficiently promoted.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 carryout a risk assessment for each type of outing and review it before embarking of each specific outing ( Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 09/02/2011

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further?

 conduct a risk assessment that identifies aspects of 09/02/2011 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis and maintain a record of these particular aspects and when and by whom it was carried out. Regularly review the risk assessment, at least once a year (Suitable premises, environment and equipment)  take reasonable steps to ensure that hazards to children are kept to a minimum (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 09/02/2011

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further?

 obtain Public Liability Insurance (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 09/02/2011

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further?

 undertake sensitive observational assessment in order to plan to meet young children's individual needs (Organisation) 09/02/2011

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further?

 plan and provide experiences which are appropriate to each child's stage of development as they progress towards the early learning goals (Organisation) 09/02/2011

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further?

 Keep an accurate record of children's daily hours of attendance (Documentation) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). 09/02/2011

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further?

To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 improve the range of resources and activities to promote positive attitudes towards diversity and where necessary help children to value aspects of their own and other peoples lives  develop systems for self-evaluation, for example, by using the Ofsted self- evaluation form and quality improvement processes as the basis for ongoing internal review - assessing what the setting offers against a robust and challenging criteria.

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the early years provision

Children's welfare and safety is not sufficiently promoted. Risk assessments are not rigorous enough to ensure that all risks and hazards to children are eliminated. For example, dangerous substances are stored in the bathroom and low level base units in the kitchen. In addition to this, sharp knives are stored in low level drawers. These are easily accessible to children. The panel railings on the stairs and first floor landing are very low and the gaps between each panel are wide enough for a child to climb through or over the top. These all pose as an element of risk to children's safety.

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the early years provision

Records are not adequately maintained to ensure the safe and efficient management of the setting. For example, the children's attendance records do not accurately reflect their daily hours of attendance and the childminder does not keep a record of risk assessments of her home or on outings. Furthermore, the childminder has failed to ensure that her provision carries public liability insurance. The childminder demonstrated adequate knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and how to proceed if she has a concern about a child in her This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 care. She has appropriate procedures in place to promote children's health and prevent the spread of infection. The childminder ensures that she maintains a current first aid certificate.

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the early years provision

The environment does not reflect or promote positive attitudes to diversity. Children have limited access to resources that reflect positive images of different culture, ethnicity, disability or gender. The few books and dolls that are provided for the children are not easily accessible because these are stored in large boxes. The childminder does not ensure that she gains information from parents with regard to culture or religion so that she can help each child to develop a positive sense of identity, value themselves and respect differences in others.

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the early years provision

The childminder has taken some steps to tackle weaknesses identified at the last inspection which has improved aspects of children's health and partnership with parents. However, self-evaluation fails to identify a number of significant weaknesses and is therefore not sufficiently robust enough to ensure that she focuses on the most significant areas in need of improvement, in order to provide consistently good outcomes for children. Although the childminder is motivated to improve her childminding practice through on-going training, she has not yet put plans in place to achieve her aims. Opportunities to actively gain the views of parents about the provision have not been explored.

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the early years provision

The childminder shares information about the service she provides with parents through her policies and procedures. Parents are encouraged to be involved in supporting their children's learning and development through continuing activities at home. They are kept informed of their children's progress through organised social events where parents are invited to observe their child in play, take part in activities and discuss children's achievement. The childminder is beginning to establish relationships with other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure progression and continuity of learning and care for children attending other settings.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides a satisfactory range of adult and child-let experiences. She makes regular observations of children's learning and interests. However, the childminder does not match the observations to the expectation of the early learning goals in order to identify learning priorities. As a result, assessments do not provide a secure basis on which to plan each child's next steps in learning or monitor their progress towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

Babies and young children gain much from being together and are developing good relationships with adults. They are confident, well behaved and have good self-esteem. The childminder supports children's growing independence as they do things for themselves. For example, babies gradually share control of food and drink and older children are giving time to try before intervening to support and guide them, such as, when dressing and undressing. Children receive a range of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 healthy meals and snacks that help them to understand foods that are good for them. Older children comment on the benefits of drinking plenty of water and all children enjoy foods, such as olives, carrot sticks, grapes, cherries and sandwiches. Children learn the importance of good personal hygiene from an early age from well implemented routines and older children understand why they need to wash

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and outcomes for children

their hands after visiting the toilet and before eating. Gentle reminders and routines help children to learn about safety inside and outside the home. For example, children learn to take responsibility for keeping themselves safe as they practise the emergency evacuation procedures and road safety.

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and outcomes for children

Children's early communication skills are developing well. The childminder talks to children at all times acknowledging their means of communication. Babies are able to make themselves understood through sounds, words and gestures. Older children speak confidently expressing their ideas and experiences. They talk enthusiastically about visits to the local parks where they use of arrange of equipment including sea-saws and slides, and re-enacting familiar stories such as,'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' when using the climbing frames. This helps to develop their balance, coordination and imagination. Children's finer motor skills are developing well. Babies use large crayons to make marks during drawing activities whilst and older children make a clock using tools, such as, scissors and glue for cutting and joining. The childminder supports children encouraging use of language and understanding of numbers, shapes and colours. Children use

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and outcomes for children

numbers confidently. They are learning to understand numbers through a range of practical activities and enjoy investigating number rhymes. Children learn to take care of living things as they regularly take turns to feed the family pet guinea pig. 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 4 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 4 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 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 4

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 4 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 undertake a risk assessment of the premises and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise identified risks (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 09/02/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified under the early years register (Records to be kept) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 09/02/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 obtain insurance in respect of liability which may be incurred for death, injury, public liability, and or other loss (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 09/02/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified under the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Arrangements for safeguarding children) (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment) (records to be kept) (Insurance). 09/02/2011

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