Early Years Assessment Service and Centre Co Manford Primary School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 133216 Inspection date 11/02/2011 Inspector Siobhan O'Callaghan

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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 2000. She lives with her adult daughter and one younger child aged 11 years. The family live in a three bedroom maisonette in a converted house in Islington, North London. Children have access to the living room, bedroom and kitchen on the lower ground floor. A garden is available for outdoor play. The home is close to local shops and schools.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register to provide care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of these, not more than three may be in the early years age group and of these not more than one may be under one year at any one time. The childminder occasionally uses an assistant, she may care for children for short periods of time providing the arrangements are agreed and confirmed in writing by parents. The childminder is currently caring for three children in the early years age group. One child attends full time whilst the other two children attend on a part time basis. The childminder attends local toddler and childminding support groups. She has a CACHE level 3 early years qualification and is currently studying for an early years degree.

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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 provides a warm and welcoming home environment for children, where due focus is given to meeting their individual needs. Children are making good progress in their learning and development as the childminder effectively plans activities and experiences around their interests and abilities. Children's welfare is promoted through comprehensive policies and procedures which overall keep them safe and secure. The successful partnerships that have been established with parents and with the nurseries that older children attend support an integrated approach towards children receiving good care and learning opportunities within the provision. The childminder demonstrates a committed approach towards developing her provision; this can be seen in her evolving self- evaluation systems and in her enthusiasm to keep her knowledge and skills within the early years field up-to-date.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 carry out a full risk assessment for each type of outing and review it before embarking on each specific outing (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 04/03/2011 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 develop further self-evaluation systems so that the views of children/parents and carers are utilised to assess all aspects of the provision and therefore improve outcomes for children.

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the early years provision

The childminder has established a comprehensive range of records, policies and procedures to support most aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has robust procedures in place to ensure that all adults living within the home undergo essential suitability checks. She has a competent knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures and her role in monitoring children's welfare. The childminder maintains a safe and secure home environment for children where everyday routines are utilised to reinforce safe practices. However, she is yet to develop risk assessments for all the outings that she enjoys with children to ensure that potential safety hazards are considered and minimised.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises an accessible and inviting environment for children where they are able to make choices from a broad range of good quality resources. The childminder promotes inclusion both within her good practice and within the resources that she presents to children. Consequently children are supported to develop a positive attitude towards diversity and inclusion. The childminder values working in partnership with parents and with the nursery schools that older children attend. For example, parents are consulted about their children's interests, which are then implemented into planning systems. The childminder shares her written reports of children's progress with the nursery schools that they attend to aid a smooth transition and support their continuous care and learning. Parents are encouraged to keep a reading diary in liaison with the childminder, books are sent home with children during the week to read at

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the early years provision

home with their parents. Daily diaries keep parents well informed about their children's care for example they receive information about how their children have eaten and if they have had a sleep during the day. Overall, these positive practices fully support children to enjoy and achieve and to feel a strong sense of belonging within this provision.

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the early years provision

The childminder is an experienced early year's practitioner who demonstrates a positive approach towards continuous improvement. She has made good progress in addressing a safety recommendation made at her previous inspection. For example, her risk assessments of the home are now more thorough in identifying potential hazards to children. She is continually reflecting on her practice and how she can improve outcomes for children. One example is her commitment to reviewing her planning and monitoring systems to ensure that these give due regard to children's individual interests and abilities. Her evolving self-evaluation systems demonstrate that she is able to identify clear targets for future development. Although the childminder, acknowledges that parents and children could be more involved in these processes. Nevertheless, the childminder is This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

continually developing her provision, which can be evidenced in her positive attitude towards enhancing her knowledge and skills through embarking on an early year's degree.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and engaged within their environment as they confidently interact with the childminder and clearly enjoy the experiences offered to them. The childminder effectively plans a broad range of opportunities for both adult-led and child initiated activities and experiences which give due regard to all areas of children's learning. Planning and observations systems demonstrate that children's individual interests are given due consideration. For example, children identified as having a particular interest in animals, are encouraged to explore these within a wide range of experiences including role play scenarios, reading animal books and singing along to familiar farmyard songs. These experiences are further enhanced through regular trips to a local farm where children can observe, touch and feed the animals. The impact is that children are interested and motivated to learn as they readily engage within the activities available to them.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder continually monitors children's progression through regular observations of their achievements. This information is then effectively utilised to set clear targets for their future learning. Children are developing good independence skills as they are supported to make choices about their play. They enjoy initiating story times where they are able to choose familiar and favourite books to share with the childminder. Children respond well to the childminder's sensitive challenges as she encourages them to observe the different foods that are eaten by the hungry caterpillar. Older children attempt to count how many different types of foods have been eaten and there is lots of discussion about children's favourite foods. Children enjoy creative activities as they eagerly use paint, glue and shiny love hearts to make valentine cards for their parents. The childminder promotes children's knowledge and understanding of the wider

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and outcomes for children

community through her creative activities. For example, children recently made a Chinese dragon from recyclable materials to acknowledge the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

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and outcomes for children

Children's welfare is promoted through many positive practices within the provision. For example, children are developing a good awareness of their personal safety as they engage within regular emergency evacuation drills and learn why this is important. They are developing effective personal hygiene habits as they wash their hands at appropriate times of the day and especially after engaging within messy activities. Children are offered nutritious and well-balanced meals to support their good health. They have successful opportunities to engage within energetic physical play outside alongside opportunities to rest and participate within quieter activities. Overall, children are content within their environment, it is clear that they have developed warm and trusting relationships with the childminder. Children are developing polite and respectful behaviour as they receive lots of praise and encouragement when they work cooperatively and share

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 with their peers. Consequently, children are developing many valuable skills which help to set secure foundations for their future learning. 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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