Childminder in Croydon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY363022 Inspection date 25/01/2011 Inspector Pamela Paisley

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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 2007. She is on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder lives with her husband who is also a registered childminder in the London borough of Croydon. The whole ground floor and one bedroom on the first floor of the childminder's home are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The family has tropical fish. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding six children on a part-time basis in the early years age range. She also cares for children aged over five years to eight years.

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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 organises her home to ensure that all children can take part in the activities she provides and their individual needs are met well. Play materials and resources provided promote most areas of learning. The childminder is strongly committed to inclusion and enthusiastic about undertaking relevant training. The childminder uses documents well to support the care and welfare of the children, although observations and assessments are not yet in place for all children who attend. The childminder works in close partnership with parents and relationships are honest, open, trusting, friendly and professional, which helps to ensure children are settled and secure. Most required policies, procedures, records and written parental consents are place. The childminder is committed to making further improvements to the service she provides.

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further?

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

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further?

 obtain written parental permission for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment (Safeguarding and welfare). 26/02/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the use of observations and assessments to ensure that they are in place for all children in the early years age range  improve the range of resources that reflect positive images of disability to help children to learn to value aspects of their own and other people's lives  improve recording keeping by obtaining parents signatures for medication This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 records at appropriate times and written parental permission for taking children on outings and transporting them in a vehicle.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of safeguarding procedures to follow should she have a concern about a child in her care and recognises that this is her first priority. Since her last inspection the childminder has made improvements to her record keeping ensuring that she keeps written risk assessments and has devised a system to monitor children's learning and development. The childminder has started to develop systems to effectively monitor and identify the strengths and weaknesses in the service she provides. She has plans to attend further training courses to enable her to achieve Early Years Professional Status and increase children's access to ICT equipment in order to promote their skills for the future. Partnerships with parents are well established and the childminder gives parents detailed information about their child's achievements and progress, and promotes inclusion for all children through keeping thorough records of each child's

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the early years provision

individual needs and all aspects of their progress. Parents have given very positive feedback about the service the childminder provides through completing questionnaires. The childminder has built strong links with other provisions where her minded children attend to ensure that information is regularly shared and used to promote their learning, development and well-being.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good knowledge of each child's background and needs, and works closely with external agencies and services to ensure that individual children get the support they need. There is a good range of policies and procedures in place which are required to promote the welfare and care of children and they are shared and discussed with parents. Most required parental consents are in place, although written parental permission for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment and taking children on outings and transporting them in a vehicle has not been sought. The childminder keeps clear records of accidents and medicines given to children, although medication records are not always signed by parents at appropriate times. The childminder makes good use of the space and resources in her home. Children are well cared for and supported during their time with her. The childminder's home is organised so that children feel confident in accessing a

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the early years provision

wide range of good play materials and equipment. She carries out rigorous risk assessments throughout her home and on outings to ensure children's safety. Suitable safety equipment such as stair gates, smoke detectors, socket covers and a fire blanket are in place to protect children from possible hazards.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides a welcoming and stimulating environment and her home is organised so children feel comfortable and happy. Children take part in purposeful and developmentally appropriate activities which provide good levels of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 challenge. The childminder plans activities in advance to make sure children have a variety of play and learning experiences that promote all areas of their learning and development. The childminder has a good understanding of how young children learn and uses observations and assessments to identify and plan for children's next steps of learning, although they are not yet in place for all children who attend the setting. Children have good opportunities to develop their creative skills as they dress-up and take part in role play. Their imagination is promoted as they pretend to cook and use cups and saucers to make cups of tea, use play food

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and outcomes for children

and kitchen equipment. The childminder has a good understanding about the importance of promoting healthy eating and has a menu which is shared with parents to give them information about meals provided. Children enjoy a wide range of healthy snacks and meals throughout the day which are freshly cooked and the childminder introduces different dishes to give them a variety of tastes. The childminder's home is organised well, creating a child-friendly environment which enables children to explore and take risks. They practise regular drills to help them become familiar with emergency evacuation procedures. Children's problem solving and reasoning skills are being developed through good access to puzzles and matching games. They are beginning to recognise shapes and colours and count in sequence.

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and outcomes for children

Children have plenty of opportunities to learn about and celebrate different festivals and beliefs throughout the year and are able to learn about each other's cultures through discussions with the childminder. Parents are encouraged to share their traditions and national dishes with the children. Children have access to a broad range of resources that reflect positive images of culture and gender, although have limited access to play materials that reflect disability. Children have a good chance to learn about living things as they visit farms and help to look after the childminder's fishes which they chose names for. They have visited a number of museums to increase their knowledge about science, transport and nature. Children have good access to programmable toys and a computer to support their learning. They are gaining good communication and language skills as they learn new words. They are learning how to be independent by feeding themselves at

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and outcomes for children

meal times and taking off their hats and coats when they have come in from being on an outing. Children enjoy each other's company and are learning how to share play materials. Children enjoy stories told to them by the childminder who encourages them to talk about the characters in the books and she questions them about what they think will happen next. They have learnt Makaton signing which supports them in their communication skills. Children sometimes take a bear home which they can look after over the weekend. They are encouraged to write about what activities they did with the bear and share their story with each other. Children have good opportunities to mix with other children of a similar age and older at local libraries, children centres, indoor play areas and parks. 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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