Childminder in Surrey

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY413687 Inspection date 11/02/2011 Inspector Linda Close

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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 2010. She lives with her husband and family in Addlestone, Surrey. There are two children in the family one of whom attends school full-time and the other is below statutory school age. Children mainly use the family room on the ground floor. Toileting and daytime sleeping facilities are available on the first floor. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder may care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, two of whom can be in the early years age range. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. There is one child currently on roll who is 16 months old and attends part-time. There are parks, pre-schools and schools in the local area. The family has a cat.

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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 happy, safe and secure in the care of the childminder. They are making good progress given their age, ability and starting points because the childminder supports their learning well. The childminder has established a good working relationship with parents and their exchange of useful information helps her to meet the individual needs of the children. The childminder evaluates her service to children effectively overall and she makes sure that any areas of weakness that she identifies are promptly improved. The childminder is eager to secure the ongoing development of her service through further training.

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further?

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

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further?

 encourage children consistently to wash their hands before eating  extend the range of toys, books and resources so that they reflect a wider range of people in the community.

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the early years provision

The childminder is confident in her knowledge of safeguarding children. Her initial training included a valuable module about child protection which has raised her awareness of what signs or symptoms can indicate ill-treatment. She knows what steps to take if she has concerns for the welfare of the children in her care and she has made parents aware of her responsibilities.

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the early years provision

The childminder has conducted comprehensive assessments of potential risks for This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 outings and in her home and garden and she has taken steps to keep children safe. She reviews her policies and procedures and sets dates for further reviews to ensure that any changes are noted and improvements made. This includes two safety issues in the garden which she has noted and her careful planning ensures that children can play safely outdoors. The childminder has identified further training that she intends to pursue to achieve a relevant level 3 National Vocational Qualification. She takes advice and guidance from an experienced childminder mentor who has helped her to improve her systems of observation and assessment.

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the early years provision

Children have easy access to a good range of toys, books and resources which are arranged at a low level in the family room where they play when indoors. They confidently select toys to play with and they choose favourite books to share with the childminder. They know where their toys should go and they happily put them away at the end of their play. The resources support learning in all areas although there are limitations in relation to those which reflect diversity.

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the early years provision

The childminder expresses her willingness to work with other providers, therapists and specialist advisors although to date she has not been called upon to do so. She has devised a flexible settling in policy which she is ready to adjust to meet the needs of individual children. She shares her policies and procedures with parents and invites them to visit with their children to enable the adults and the children to gain confidence in her home and in her care. Parents leave their children with her for short periods initially and they have settled calmly and happily into their new surroundings. The childminder maintains a diary for each child to give parents information about day to day events, sleep, food intake and nappy changes. She has also adopted a system of observing and assessing children's progress which they can share and discuss with the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

Children show that they feel safe with the childminder through their relaxed body language and calm demeanour. They raise their hands to be lifted into the childminder's arms when they feel the need of reassurance. They smile and laugh out loud when they are playing, confidently search for favourite toys and story books and they babble and chat to the childminder in an animated way. The childminder uses safety gates that are strategically placed to prevent children from gaining unsupervised access to the stairs, the kitchen and the cat's food and no sharp or dangerous objects are left where children may find them. Smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide detector are in place and a planned fire evacuation routine also contributes to children's safety.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder actively encourages children to express themselves vocally as they play. She shares stories with the children and uses toys as props to assist their learning and language development. These activities and mark making play form a sound base for the development of their communication skills and literacy. Children sort toy animals and shapes and, with support, they fit sections of train track This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 together which promotes their early problem solving skills. Children are learning to count as they play. They have battery operated toys which they eagerly explore and they are well aware that their toys and some books will make sounds when buttons are pressed. Their early learning about cause and effect is good and this supports later learning linked to information and communication technology. Taken together these activities actively promote children's future learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is successful in her approach to behaviour management. She recognises when children's interest in an activity is waning and she encourages them to put their toys away and take part in a different game. She is firm but kind in her ways of speaking to the children and she encourages fair play. Distraction techniques are used well and the children are learning to get along with one another happily. They are busy, responsive and well behaved.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder liaises well with parents concerning the provision of food and drink. She is prepared to provide simple snacks and healthy meals if parents wish her to or they can prepare food at home to send with their children each day if they prefer. Children have frequent drinks and a biscuit or a fresh fruit snack as part of their regular routine which they know and enjoy. However, children do not always wash their hands before eating.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder helps children to learn about the wider world through regular outings to the library and weekly visits to a local playgroup. They take part in energetic play and games and craft activities with other children. Examples of children's art work stored in their progress files, and observations of past activities, show that children explore and experiment with a range of creative media. The childminder has made some useful observations of children's responses to their activities linked to all six areas of learning. She tracks their achievements, notes their progress and indicates what children need to learn next and she refers to this useful information when planning future activities. 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 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 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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