Childminder in Medway

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY416761 Inspection date 04/04/2011 Inspector Jan White.

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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 with her husband and one preschool aged child in Lordswood, Chatham, Kent. All areas of the property are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent and toddler group. The family has a dog. They also have frogs and snails in an indoor water tank.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. She is currently caring for two children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over eight years to 11 years. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder supports children's welfare and learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Overall there are procedures to take into account various aspects of safety. Some risk assessment and written permissions are in place. Children show signs of being at ease and secure with the childminder. They play with a range of toys including resources reflecting the world around them. The childminder is continuing to develop the process to maintain the learning and development records. She works jointly with the parents and values their contributions. There is a procedure to build links with outside agencies. The parents are kept informed of the child's day and the activities they have taken part in to support consistency of care. The childminder has the capacity to develop her future continuous improvements. She has a sound understanding of her potential development and uses self-evaluation to consider ways in which to extend her

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 ensure the fire blanket is suitably located in the kitchen to confirm it is working order. (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 18/04/2011

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further?

 improve fire safety precautions by providing smoke detectors and ensure they are maintained in a working condition (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 18/04/2011 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 update the risk assessment report to take account of any assessments of risks for all outings and obtain written permission for children to take part in outings and trips  improve the risk assessment so that it covers anything with which a child may come into contact, such as alcohol which is stored at a low level in the kitchen  improve the process to gather information from all parents regarding children's starting points and develop systems to make sure that children's next steps are being clearly identified and used in leading future planning.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a sound knowledge of her policies, such as the complaints procedure and the process for lost or uncollected children. She describes what action she would take in relation to child protection issues and there is a child protection safeguarding procedure which complies with the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The childminder has not ensured that the appropriate fire safety precautions are in place. For example, the fire blanket is not suitably located in the kitchen and smoke detectors are not maintained to ensure they are in working order. This is a breach of a specific legal requirement. The childminder has a current first aid certificate so that children receive appropriate treatment following an injury. First aid equipment is readily available and children's essential information is taken on outings. The childminder carries out and keeps a record of risk assessments within the home environment. However, she has not obtained

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the early years provision

written permission for children to be taken on outings and details of risks are not maintained for all the outings or trips. The childminder has obtained some of the relevant written permissions. For example, she has written authority to administer medication and for seeking medical treatment in the event of an emergency. There is a system to maintain details of accidents, medication and existing injuries. Parents sign to acknowledge and are given a copy of this record.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a secure understanding of her strengths and has noted areas to action for her future continuous improvement. For example, she has noted the need to expand her future planning to offer a balance of child-initiated or adult-led activities. The childminder has discussed with parents aspects of children's individual background needs, such as religion. She has a satisfactory understanding of equal opportunities and every child is treated with equal concern. There are posters with positive images of equality. For example a 'welcome to my home sign' is displayed in words and sign language symbols. Each family is supported according to their circumstances and no child is disadvantaged. Children gain an understanding of others as they are encouraged to share and negotiate. The childminder supports them as they develop social and communication skills. She describes how she deals with behaviour management in a variety of different

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the early years provision

situations. The childminder works together with the parents and describes her This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 process to develop links with other settings. She explains how she talks to the parents daily and provides a written diary with basic details of the events of the child's day. The parents comment that they are pleased with the progress their child has made since being with the childminder. In addition, they note that children take part in different activities each day and often bring home little gifts that they have made or how they are learning new skills. They also mention their children are happy to be with the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

Children take part in a positive range of activities which supports areas of their learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Their artwork is displayed or kept in their learning development records. The childminder continues to develop her system to record children's observations and gathers some information about the child's general routine. This includes details about their current interest and what they like doing. Parents are kept informed of the activities through verbal discussion and have opportunities to access the child's learning and development records. However, there is no effective system to use the child's starting points or to make sure that the next steps are identified to lead the future planning. The childminder is beginning to introduce a method to develop her planning to make certain that there is a balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities for children to lead in their play and become independent learners. The childminder helps to

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and outcomes for children

support children as they develop aspects of their future economic well-being. She uses everyday situations in their role play or counting and matching games. Children learn about their facial features and match these to different pictures of faces. They are provided with an adequate range of activities including some resources reflecting equal opportunities. Children are supported as they learn at their own pace. They are able to freely choose the resources from the playroom and make decisions about the toys they wish to play with. However, the toys and equipment are not organised or stored in a way to support children's early recognition skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children display security as they seek reassurance from the childminder when strangers are present. The childminder describes some measures which are in place to support children's safety. She explains the procedure they follow for evacuating the premises in an emergency or aspects of road safety, such as using a wrist strap when they are out walking. However, the indoor risk assessment does not cover everything which a child may come into contact, such as alcohol which is stored at a low level in the kitchen. The childminder explains she does not use the garden during the winter months, but takes children to play centres, the local park or playground for more physical robust play. This means that children have adequate occasions to be outside in the fresh air and are encouraged to be active. The childminder offers many opportunities for children to take part in quieter activities, such as reading books together or using construction bricks to make a

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and outcomes for children

tower. She promotes children's well-being and encourages their understanding of healthy eating and hygiene. For example, they enjoy the fresh fruit at snack time and wash their hands before eating. Children are developing an understanding of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 their boundaries as the childminder asks them to help tidy the toys away when they are finished playing although, storage containers are not labelled to fully encourage children's self-help skills and independence. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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