Waltham Forest College

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 130456 Inspection date 22/03/2011 Inspector Dianne Andrews

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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 1994. She lives with her husband and three children aged 13, 16 and 19 years old in Watford, Hertfordshire. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and children can sleep in a first floor bedroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have a cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and currently has seven children on roll. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder attends a local childminding group where she plays an active part in the group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds an early years qualification.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's learning, development and welfare are extremely well promoted by the childminder. She is highly committed to working closely with parents, carers and staff at other settings, consulting with them regularly to enable her to meet children's individual needs. Her practice is exceptionally effective in ensuring that all children are well-integrated and are achieving as much as they can. She is successful in overcoming barriers which could prevent this to provide a fully inclusive service. The childminder is rigorous in monitoring and analysing what she does well and what she needs to improve. As a result, actions taken are well targeted and bring about sustained improvement to the provision.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 maintaining a record of visitors to the setting.

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is a high priority for the childminder, who understands her duty and responsibility to safeguard and protect children in her care. Her excellent knowledge of Local Safeguarding Children Board's procedures promotes children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 well-being. The childminder obtains all required information about children and their families so it is clear who has legal contact and parental responsibility for each child. Risk assessments are carried out regularly both on the home and for visits and outings and children's safety is very effectively considered in all areas. The childminder organises her time and the available space well to enable her to provide children with a high level of support and supervision. The excellent range of resources is very well laid out within the home. Children make free choices from accessible toys, books and equipment. Activities are tailored and adapted to ensure

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the early years provision

all children can participate. The childminder has developed an extensive range of policies and procedures, which reflect the high quality care provided. Parents have a copy of these so that they gain a full understanding about the service. Most documentation is extremely well-organised, of a very high standard and kept up- to-date, although, a record of visitors is not maintained.

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the early years provision

The childminder promotes inclusion exceptionally well. She keeps detailed records of each child's individual needs and all aspects of their progress. Partnerships with parents and carers are excellent and highly valued by the childminder. They are kept constantly informed about their child's day through verbal discussion and completion of a daily diary. The childminder actively encourages parents and children's suggestions and sends out periodic questionnaires in order to gather their views. Parents confirm their complete satisfaction with the service stating that 'the childminder's house is well-equipped to cater for the children, they play, learn and interact with other children at the groups she joins with them' and 'the childminder keeps me well-informed about all activities she completes, the introduction of the children's diary is a wonderful idea and a wonderful communication aid.' Parents are actively involved in their children's learning,

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the early years provision

reviewing their development profiles regularly and making valuable contributions through comments and observations carried out at home. The childminder has implemented extremely effective procedures for working in close partnership with other provisions and agencies in order to offer consistency. For instance, she obtains copies of the pre-school's planning to enable her to build on their learning there.

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the early years provision

There are highly robust systems in place to monitor and evaluate the provision and to ensure that improvements are made where necessary. For instance, the self- evaluation form has been completed to a very high standard with further improvements planned, to further enhance children's experiences. The childminder has a strong commitment to her own self-development and is renewing her accreditation with the local quality assurance scheme and regularly attends training courses and workshops, allowing her to constantly develop her wealth of knowledge and expertise. This has ensured the successful implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage and enabled her to build on the extensive range of activities and opportunities enjoyed by the children. She meets with other local childminders on a regular basis, which provides the opportunity to share examples of good practice. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are extremely happy and confident in the childminder's care and benefit from very good support and gentle encouragement to enjoy and achieve. They readily participate in a boundless range of exciting activities, which are suitable for their individual stages of development, ensuring they remain confident and motivated. The childminder knows each child exceptionally well and uses skilful questioning to develop their thinking. Her written observations, through learning journeys, are comprehensive and help her to identify the children's next steps for development. The flexible planning develops through the interests and play preferences of the children and ensures that they benefit from an excellent balance of child-led and adult-initiated activities that fully sustain their interest.

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and outcomes for children

Children's progress in areas, such as, communication and numeracy are exceptionally good. Children use mathematical language competently in their play, supported and challenged by the childminder's skilful questioning. Within a planned activity, a toddler is encouraged to discover the odd one out within a group of items, successfully developing early problem solving skills. Older children take part in innovative activities to promote sequencing, by ordering photographs of activities they have taken part in. Children discuss the letter of the week, introduced at their nursery and develop their learning by searching for more examples of the use of initial sounds within the environment. Toddlers develop their language skills well, eagerly copying words the childminder models. Working in partnership with parents the childminder uses very effective strategies to help the child develop the use of two syllable words. Children's access to books is

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and outcomes for children

effectively promoted. They make excellent use of story books and reference books, choosing from the wide range, which are attractively displayed. They proudly create their own 'All about me' book, recognising and selecting information, provided on text and number labels, that relate to themselves, personalising attaching their choices to the relevant spaces in the book.

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and outcomes for children

Children work very well independently, using their own initiative and develop excellent skills in working alongside their peers. Older children are mindful of their younger playmates needs, offering help within activities and reminding the childminder that the child 'should have his lunch first, because he is the youngest.' They learn new skills, make connections with other experiences and talk and listen while involved in activities. They help prepare their own lunch, making choices about their sandwich filling, spreading this and deciding what shapes to cut their sandwiches into. They discuss the food they are eating and are encouraged to learn about a healthy diet. The highly stimulating environment fully reflects the children's backgrounds and the wider community. The resources are very effective in introducing aspects of diversity and the wider world so that children learn to value others. Wall displays show examples of children's exploration of their family

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and outcomes for children

trees, enhancing their sense of belonging. Children are fully involved in all aspects of the provision, making labels for the displays and completing questionnaires stating what they like about the provision and what they would like to improve. Their views are valued and taken into account. The childminder is adapting her plans to facilitate more outdoor play. Children show that they are extremely settled This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and feel part of the family.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy a rich variety of activities both in and out of the home. They have opportunities to visit local, interesting amenities, for instance, during an 'insects' theme they visit a local butterfly farm. They regularly visit toddler groups, which encourage them to feel part of the community. They benefit from the socialisation and play with other children and adults. Children get plenty of robust exercise, using outdoor facilities at the childminder's home and in the nearby parks. Toddlers practise their mobility skills as they climb and descend the stairs, well supervised by the childminder who helps them to understand how to undertake the task in a safe manner. 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 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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