Childminder in Hammersmith and Fulham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY416339 Inspection date 11/04/2011 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 was registered in 2010. She lives in a ground and first floor maisonette with her partner in Fulham in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding. Children sleep in an upstairs bedroom in a travel cot and they use the bathroom and toilet on the same level. Children can use an enclosed communal garden for outdoor play under direct supervision. The childminder takes children to local parks and playgrounds.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time and three of these may be in the early years age group. She is currently caring for three children in the early years age group who all attend part time. They are nine months, 19 months old and three years nine months old respectively.

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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, relaxed and safe in the care of the childminder. They are making good progress given their age and starting points. They enjoy their play and outings in the local area which help learn about the world around them. The childminder has established a good working partnership with parents and carers. They provide valuable information about their children which helps the childminder to care for the children well. The childminder evaluates her service to children effectively overall. She reflects on her work and has embarked on a further course of study to develop and extend her knowledge base.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve attendance records by including children's actual hours of arrival and departure  develop further the systems of identifying children's achievements in relation to all six areas of learning.  ensure that the fire prevention equipment is firmly fixed in place to enable easy access if it is required. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder is well informed about safeguarding issues. She has attended an additional course following her introductory training to consolidate her knowledge and understanding of child protection matters. She knows what signs or symptoms can indicate abuse and has devised a policy and procedure document which she shares with parents so that they know about her responsibilities.

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the early years provision

The childminder has conducted an informal evaluation of her work with children. She carries out daily risk assessments of her home and takes steps to keep children safe including the use of safety gates to prevent children from accessing the staircase and soft corner attachments on low furniture to avoid collisions. The childminder has devised a fire evacuation routine and she checks her smoke alarms are in working order. She has a fire blanket in the kitchen but it is not currently fixed firmly in place for ease of use.

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the early years provision

The childminder welcomes advice and guidance from local authority development workers. She is currently working towards a diploma to help her to secure continuing improvement in her work with children. The childminder maintains all of the records and documents that are needed to meet the requirements of registration although her attendance records do not currently show children's actual hours of attendance.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a selection of good quality toys, books and resources that are suitable for the children she cares for. She ensures that the toys are clean and in good order and she arranges them at a low level so that children can access them easily. The childminder finds out about children's home language and culture and she asks parents if there are any special events that she can celebrate with the children. She takes them to the library and to local children's groups so that they can meet diverse children and adults so that they become accustomed to playing with people from different cultural backgrounds. She helps children to make greeting cards for special events including Mother's Day.

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the early years provision

The childminder expresses her willingness to take advice and guidance from specialist advisors if there is a need although she has not been called upon to do this as yet. She asks children's nursery teachers for any news about their day to share with parents and she encourages the children to tell her all about their nursery activities.

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the early years provision

The childminder works well with parents. She is very flexible in her working arrangements to help working parents who have fluctuating hours. She adjusts her settling in procedure to meet the needs of each individual child. She takes detailed information from parents about their child's dietary needs and normal routines and she follows their notes carefully so that the children will gain confidence from knowing what will happen next. She encourages parents to call her if they want an update on their child's general health and happiness during the day. She also completes notes in a daily diary for each child so that parents know what their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 child has eaten, how long they slept and about nappy changes.

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and outcomes for children

The children are calm, relaxed and happy. They snuggle up to the childminder when she picks them up and when they are sharing story books or enjoying a bottle feed. They show that they feel safe in her care in their happy smiles and in the confident way they explore their toys and surroundings. The childminder is very attentive towards the children. She spends all of her time playing with them, talking to them and meeting their care needs which helps the children feel secure. She gently and successfully guides their behaviour through a combination of praise and distraction techniques.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate their good progress in the development of their speech. The youngest children gurgle and chuckle when the childminder talks to them and when they are playing. They are beginning to show their needs in ways which include smacking their lips when they need a snack or a drink. The youngest children are learning to feed themselves with small pieces of sliced banana which they evidently enjoy. Babies coo and babble using a range of different sounds in play and when they are sharing books with the childminder. The childminder talks to the children as she prepares food so that they can begin to link words to actions over time. She plays 'one two peek a boo' games with them to encourage them to respond. Older toddlers take part in mark making activities which is a precursor for writing at a later date. Children enjoy rhyme time which includes number and action songs and the childminder counts out loud with them in play. Older toddlers

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and outcomes for children

enjoy sorting and matching activities with the childminder. The children have access to some battery operated toys which helps them to find out about cause and effect. Taken together these activities help children to develop the skills that they need for future learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides snacks and meals for children if their parents and carers wish her to. She ensures that the food she offers the children is varied, healthy and matches their individual dietary needs. She makes up formula feeds as they are needed using materials that parents provide. The childminder follows parental guidance carefully and she varies the times of feeds according to the children's needs. She changes nappies often to keep children clean and comfortable. She promotes healthy exercise by taking the children out to play in the fresh air every day in the garden or at the local parks and playgrounds.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder plans a varied timetable of activities which include planting seeds and watering plants in the garden. She observes the children and makes some notes about their activities which she enhances with photographs to show to their parents. The childminder also indicates the next steps for each child following her observations which she then takes forward to inform her future planning. A good example of this work is shown in her notes about trips to the library which began with children taking many books off the shelves and this has now progressed to looking at the books and putting them back. The childminder's systems of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 assessment are informative but they do not yet show a full picture of children's achievements in relation to the six areas of learning. 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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