Thornbeck College - North East Autism Society

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 132030 Inspection date 14/03/2011 Inspector Christine Stimson

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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 1986. She lives with her husband, who is in the process of registering as a childminder, in a residential road in New Malden, Surrey. The premises are located close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and one bedroom upstairs is used for young children to take their rest in a travel cot. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six 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 caring for three children in this age group, on a part time basis. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is able to take and collect 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are making good progress towards the early learning goals as the childminder provides children with activities that stimulate and challenge them. She uses photos and talks to parents to demonstrate children's progress, but finds it difficult to relate next steps for some areas of learning using this method. Child initiated activities and outings dominate play, but the childminder does not establish children's starting points when they first come into her care. Children are safeguarded as the childminder has a clear understanding of child protection issues and undertakes risk assessments on her home, garden and outings. The recommendation from the last inspection has been addressed by the childminder. Children are happy and confident within a secure setting and relationships between the childminder, children and parents are good. Communication with other care providers has been established. Parents are included in the childminder's self-

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

evaluation of practice and the childminder's commitment to continuous improvement is demonstrated by her attendance at training to improve outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 use experiences children bring from home as the starting point of their learning This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  develop and enhance photographic records relating to children's development to help plan what next for individual children

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of her roles and responsibilities with regard to child protection. She has recently updated her safeguarding knowledge and shares her policies and procedures relating to childminding with parents. Adults in the home have been vetted for suitability and the childminder ensures children play in a safe environment by conducting regular risk assessments of her home, garden and for all outings. The childminder teaches children how to cross roads safely and talks them through her house rules that are displayed in words and pictures in the main play area. The childminder displays her written evacuation procedure on the parent's notice board and regularly practises a fire drill with the children. Children are learning to keep themselves safe as demonstrated by a child who heard us talking about this and said they have to go in the garden if there is a fire. All records and documentation

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the early years provision

are maintained to further safeguard children's welfare and the recommendation from the last inspection relating to kitchen knives has been met. Knives are now stored in a holder out of the reach of children.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides an inclusive service to all families, maintaining positive relationships with parents. She has started to self-evaluate practice and has asked for parents opinions as part of this process. Positive comments show parents have a good rapport with the childminder, who spends time after each session telling them about their child's day and their achievements. They comment the childminder provides a safe secure environment for children to play and appreciate the CD of photos they are given each year showing how their children have enjoyed and achieved. The photos the childminder takes of children playing are shown to parents using her computer about once a month and the childminder talks them through what their child was doing and learning. She is able to demonstrate with some photos how children are taken to next steps, but this is not the case for all areas of learning. The childminder has established links with the

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the early years provision

teachers at the school where children attend part time with the view of sharing development records and activity plans. The photos the childminder takes of children playing are shown to parents about once a month and the childminder talks them through what their child was doing and learning. She is able to demonstrate with some photos how children are taken to next steps, but this is not the case for all areas of learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder drives for improvement in her practice as she embraces training opportunities and uses the knowledge gained to improve outcomes for children. She finds out about children's routines from parents when they first attend, but does not establish their starting points in relation to abilities and interests. The childminder provides children with an excellent range of good quality and colourful resources that are suitable for their age and stage of development. Boxes are rotated daily and left on the floor for children to self-select and make a choice in their play. The childminder has a very wide range of resources that reflect This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 diversity. For example soft textured dolls adorned with traditional dress are available for children to play with along with a wide range of dressing up clothes, many from other cultures. Children have access to a wide range of books and

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the early years provision

enjoy a number that depict characters from different cultural backgrounds and show people with disabilities. This helps children learn about diversity. The childminder has met the recommendation from the last inspection by making sure her sharp knives are now kept in a holder at the rear of her kitchen work surface, out of the reach of children.

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and outcomes for children

Children experience a range of activities whilst in the care of the childminder both in her home and at other venues. She makes sure children go out every day to socialise with other children visiting playgroups and other childminder's homes. Here they learn to make friends, take turns and share. Children access a different range of toys from the excellent ones the childminder provides and experience different rules form those they observe in the childminder's home. Children enjoy some of the planned activities the childminder organises for them. For example, children make cakes and muffins during cooking sessions and photos show children mixing ingredients together and carefully placing the mixture into paper cases. Other photos show children eating their produce, licking the last morsels from the paper cases.

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and outcomes for children

Child initiated activities take priority in the childminder's practice, but the childminder encourages children to try some of her adult led activities and these offer children a stimulating learning experience. For example, children attend the Hindu temple and observe some of the rituals practised there and have also attended a Mosque for the same purpose. The childminder has a large box of musical instruments; many from other parts of the world that she has collected whilst on her holidays. Children make use of these are part of their play activities. Children have opportunities for physical exercise in the childminder's garden, at playgroups and in parks. For example, photos on the computer show children playing in the park climbing on fallen logs, visiting playgroups using climbing on frames and manoeuvring wheeled vehicles. The childminder has a wide range of outdoor equipment herself to help develop children's physical skill and children

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and outcomes for children

make use of slides, tunnels, bikes, a paddling pool, tunnels, a small trampoline and a ball pond. Children learn about wildlife as they observe deer in the park drinking and bathing in ponds and children are regular visitors to pet shops to look at fish and small animals. They visit farms to pick sweet corn that they later eat for their dinner. All these experiences help children learn about the wider world. Children are encouraged to count and recognise colours whilst in the childminder's care. For example, a child is given an abacus and is enthusiastic to show off his skills in counting, managing to reach 10 without hesitation moving the beads of the abacus as he counts. His demonstrates he can select colours as the childminder asks him to use the yellow, red and green rows.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning to keep themselves safe as the childminder gives clear This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 explanations and gentle reminders when teaching children to cross roads, practise the fire drill and learn about house rules. Children learn about keeping themselves healthy as they have plenty of opportunities to exercise both indoors and outside in the garden and in parks. The childminder provides nutritious foods for children which are home cooked with menus available for parents to approve. Children eat lots of fruit and vegetables whilst in the care of the childminder who takes children to farms for pick you own which encourages them to try new vegetables and fruits. Children have daily routines of washing their hands before meals, after using the toilet and after playing outside and this helps them develop good hygiene practice for the future. Children are provided with paper towels to wipe their hands and

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and outcomes for children

faces and this helps prevent the risk of cross infection. The childminder is vigilant about making sure children drink enough and frequently refreshes children's beakers with water or weak juice. Children make a positive contribution to the childminder's setting by helping to tidy away toys, being cooperative when playing together and by being well behaved. Children enjoy being creative and displays of their work adorns the playroom wall, which shows the childminder values their contributions. 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 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 1 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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