Childminder in Hackney

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 402757 Inspection date 21/03/2011 Inspector Rosemary Coburn

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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 1992. She lives with her husband, their two adult children and one child of 15 years in a four-bedroomed, terraced house in Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney. The family home is within walking distance to public transport, shops and parks. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, and the master bedroom is used for rest and sleep. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for no more than six children under eight years; of whom no more than three may be in the early years age group. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently eight children on roll in the early years age group. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association network in her area. The family has four cats.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is inadequate.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder successfully promotes most aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework in a suitable inclusive environment, where children are provided with a suitable range of toys, equipment and play materials to support them in making good progress. The childminder works well in partnership with parents and the Local Authority; this contributes to children's welfare, learning and development needs being met and supports children in feeling happy, settled and secure. The childminder's risk assessment policy and procedures are not sufficiently robust to promote children's safety; this is a breach of a requirement of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Systems for planning activities and observing children are good, and this promotes children's learning and development needs. The childminder has evaluative systems in place, demonstrating she has some capacity to improve outcomes for children, but has failed to address the safety of

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 ensure that indoor and outdoor spaces are safe by 04/05/2011 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 taking all reasonable steps to ensure that hazards to children are kept to a minimum. (Suitable premises, environment and equipment)  ensure risk assessments identify all aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis, take reasonable steps to minimise hazards to children and regularly review the risk assessment and record the date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Suitable premises, environment and equipment). 04/05/2011

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further?

To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 keep all areas for food preparation and eating suitably hygienic.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a clear understanding of child protection procedures and knows where to make referrals. She has an up-to-date first aid certificate and obtains parental consent for outings and emergency medical treatment for all children in her care. This means that if a child has an accident or any concerns arise with regards to the well-being of a child, she has an understanding of the action required in dealing with the situation. Although the childminder maintains risk assessments, they are not sufficiently robust to indentify and eliminate potential dangers for the children in her care. For example, the stair carpet is frayed and torn in several places. The door leading to the cellar is not kept secured at all times. Smoke detectors are left hanging from the walls and some covers are missing. Motor bike parts, gardening spades and other gardening equipment, large bulky rusty storage items with sharp edges and trailing wires are not made

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the early years provision

inaccessible to children. This is a breach of a requirement of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from playing in a well-resourced and stimulating environment, where they make good progress in all areas of learning. Good systems are in place to share relevant information and the day-to-day management of children's individual needs with parents. Good partnerships with external agencies, secure and trusting relationships with adults and children and a good balance of child-led and adult-led activities foster active learning in an enabling environment. This supports each child in a suitably inclusive environment, which promotes equality and diversity.

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the early years provision

The childminder shows determination in what she has achieved so far by undertaking a level four qualification. She reflects on her practice and has made some suitable improvements; however, her evaluation systems have overlooked significant areas of weakness. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children make good progress and enjoy and achieve in a learning environment which provides them with ample opportunities to initiate their own play through suitably deployed resources that are stimulating and suitable for all children's development. The childminder has developed good systems for observations, assessment and evaluation of what children have achieved and their next steps of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.

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and outcomes for children

Children have access to good learning opportunities, which promote independence and active learning through suitably deployed resources in an inclusive environment which supports the needs of all children. For example, children develop skills for the future as they use different sized pencils and scissors, and they are supported in developing their physical as well as creative skills. Planned learning opportunities include easy access to information technology resources to extend children's learning and their knowledge and understanding of the world.

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and outcomes for children

Children play and learn in a suitably maintained environment, where good daily routines and hygiene practices prevent cross-infection. Posters on the wall reinforce that coughs and sneezes spread diseases. Kitchen surfaces are kept clean with the frequent use of anti-bacterial disinfectant. This is especially required because the childminder has a number of cats who sometimes walk around and sit on top of kitchen worktops and dining surfaces. Children enjoy the benefits of daily trips outdoors as this supports their physical development. The childminder talks to children about what is good to eat, and she provides them with planned learning opportunities that include making fresh fruit salad. This means that children are supported in developing a healthy lifestyle. Although children feel safe in her care, the childminder does not always take suitable steps to protect them from hazards in her home.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder knows the children well. She interacts well with them and is a good role model. She demonstrates that she values children's views and ideas, while, for example, supporting them in understanding right from wrong and by talking with parents about what children would like to do. Toys and play materials support the needs of all children as they depict positive images of people with different abilities, from different parts of the world, living different ways of life. Consequently, children feel good about themselves, and they learn to enjoy respectful relationships with adults and each other as they begin to develop a positive attitude towards diversity. 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 4 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 4

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 4 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise identified hazards (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment) (Also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 04/05/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the section of the report for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment). 04/05/2011

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