Childminder in Kingston upon ThamesOfsted inspection, 13 Apr 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY385189 Inspection date 13/04/2011 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 was registered in February 2009. She lives with her husband and adult son in a residential road in Surbiton, Surrey. The premises are located close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding and there is an 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. The childminder works with her son who acts as an assistant. When working together they may care for six children under eight years at any one time, all of whom may be in the early years age range. The childminder and her assistant are currently caring for six part-time children in this age group. The childminder 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 nursery or school and takes children to parks 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 happy and confident within the childminder's secure home and she has developed friendly and professional relationships with parents. Observation and next step notes are in place for children, but are not used effectively in future planning. The childminder has started to self-evaluate her practice and has asked parents for their opinions of her practice. She is committed to continuous improvement and demonstrates this by embracing training opportunities. The childminder has a good knowledge of child protection issues, but needs to review her safeguarding policy. All regulatory documentation is in place and used effectively to safeguard children.

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further?

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

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further?

 update the safeguarding policy to include a procedure to follow in the event of an allegation being made against an assistant  develop systems of recording and monitoring children's development to show what they have learnt and achieved and use the identified next steps in learning when planning activities to meet the individual children's needs. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Daily visual checks on areas used by children are undertaken by the childminder before children arrive. Witten risk assessments for the indoor and outdoor areas of the home are regularly conducted to ensure children are cared for in a safe environment. The childminder has hygienic procedures in place for changing nappies like wearing gloves, disposing of them properly and using sprays after each change. The childminder has devised written risk assessments for the outings the children are taken on. The childminder has a good knowledge of child protection issues and knows what action she must take if she has a concern about a child in her care. The Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines are kept on site along with children's services' contact numbers for referral. The childminder has attended a safeguarding course to further improve her knowledge and shares her procedures with parents. However, these do not include a procedure to follow

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the early years provision

in the event of an allegation being made against her assistant. Children learn to keep themselves safe in the childminder's care as they take part in monthly fire drills. The childminder logs details of these indicating the number of children in attendance. This ensures all children know how to leave the building quickly and safely. On local outings, the childminder and her assistant act as good role models to children as they cross roads. For example, children are made aware of the green man and the childminder and her assistant demonstrate looking and listening out for cars as they cross.

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the early years provision

Children are supported by the childminder and her assistant as they play and their welfare needs are fully met. They have access to a very wide range of good quality, attractive resources that are accessible to them in storage boxes, on the floor, on shelves and tables and in cupboards. They self-select items and share their play experiences enthusiastically with the adults present. The childminder promotes inclusion and has a number of resources in place that reflect diversity. These include, dolls from different cultures, play figures showing disability and infirmity, books and puzzles. The childminder uses the toy library to obtain other items that promotechildren's understanding of other cultures, like cooking implements and toy foods. She offers parents the choice of whether they would like her to keep a contact book in which day-to-day information is exchanged, She also verbally shares information with parents, ensuring continuity of care for the

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the early years provision

children. The childminder makes sure she asks parents, at the time of placement, for information of their children's interests, likes, dislikes and any areas they find difficult. She then ascertains each child's starting point in order to build on their existing knowledge and abilities.

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the early years provision

The childminder strives for improvement by embracing training opportunities and has started to evaluate her practice by identifying areas of strength and areas for improvement. She has not given parents' questionnaires so they can be part of this process, but has asked if they are satisfied with the care she provides for their children. All have responded positively. The childminder has met the recommendation made at the last inspection to develop risk assessments for her practice and now has these in place for her home and for all outings. None of the children cared for attend any other childcare setting. The childminder has an This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understanding of how she will make links with carers, other providers and services to promote the continuity of children's care and education.

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and outcomes for children

Children initiate their own play as they have access to resources that are plentiful, age and stage appropriate and kept at child height for self-selection. Children enjoy their time at the childminder's, interacting with her and her assistant as they play with the children on the floor and at small tables. Children turn to them both for comfort when tired and children's routines of sleeping and eating are adhered to. The childminder and her assistant encourage children to choose toys for themselves from the wide range available. For example, children choose small animals and are asked by the assistant 'What is it?'. The children do not immediately answer and so the question is repeated. When they still do not answer the assistant tells them the name of the animals and the children repeat this. Other children join in and bring different animals to the assistant who makes suitable animal noises to engage them. Later children play with the animals at the

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and outcomes for children

table and the children help to sort them in size order, with appropriate mathematical language used by the childminder and her assistant. Children learn about number while playing, for example, a child chooses the abacus and is joined in her play by the childminder's assistant who moves the beads along and counts them with the child. He counts from one to six with the child watching intently and before he gets to seven another child calls the number seven out and then proceeds to eight before losing interest. Children are occupied and engaged in age appropriate activities; as a result, they are well behaved and cooperative. The childminder mixes socially with other childminders' to enable all the minded children to socialise together in a larger group. Children are taken to parks so they can experience playground equipment and the childminder has dedicated a room in her home for children to explore physical play indoors. They have a small

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and outcomes for children

bouncy castle, a slide, a ball pond, a climbing frame and a t-pee to explore while playing in there. Children enjoy planting seeds and have grown beans on cotton wool pads that have been sent home to be nurtured.

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and outcomes for children

Children have access to play resources that reflect diversity. For example, there are a number of play figures showing people with disabilities and those that are infirm. These are used as part of children's integral play. Children are learning to be independent while in the childminder's care as she encourages them to tidy away their toys. The childminder knows the children well and has a good understanding of the importance of play and being involved with practical activities all of which are provided for children to do this whilst in her care. She does not do any formal planning of activities, but does write observation notes of children's progress using a small note pad. However, she does not retain these. She has a formal document to place a photo of children playing and achieving, and adds comments in the observation box under the photo that are linked to areas of learning. However, these notes are not particularly relevant to the photo. She also

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and outcomes for children

makes notes for next steps, but does not use these to plan future activities for individual children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder's home is well maintained and children are learning good hygiene procedures by following routines of hand washing at appropriate times, using paper towels to dry their hands and faces. This helps minimise the risk of cross infection. Children are gaining an early understanding about being healthy through daily exercise either indoors or in parks and playgrounds. They enjoy home cooked food provided by the childminder with healthy snacks of fruit across the day. Children have their beakers frequently refreshed with water to ensure they do not become dehydrated. 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 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 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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