Childminder in Harrow

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY271940 Inspection date 31/05/2011 Inspector Caren Carpenter

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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 2003, she lives with her husband and two children in a four bedroom house within the London borough of Harrow. The ground floor is used for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed outdoor play area.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time. There are currently two children in the early years age group on roll.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered 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 takes and collect children from local schools. The childminder takes the children to local parks and local toddler groups.

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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

The childminder provides good quality care and education for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder promotes an inclusive provision, ensuring that all children and their families feel valued. Effective relationships with parents ensure that the childminder is fully aware of children's individual needs which she meets very well. The childminder is beginning to reflect where improvements can be made and identify some solutions to improve the support and experiences she offers to children in her care. The childminder is keen to develop further the use of observations which help identify the next steps for children's learning.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the use of observations which help identify the next steps for children's learning and inform planning  involve parents in their children's learning and development by sharing information about their starting points.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding, which ensures that children are well protected. She has all the information in place to report any concerns and is familiar with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder creates a secure and welcoming home for the children. She has a written risk assessment in place and minimises potential risk by checking her home daily and assessing risks to children when they are outside of the home.

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the early years provision

The childminder has the necessary skills to self-evaluate her work with the children. She is able to identify areas to build upon her existing good practice to ensure that children's time with her is positive and rewarding. She shows a strong commitment to developing and improving her practice. For example, she has attended additional training courses and has gained an early years qualification. This contributes successfully to enhancing the care and learning experiences she provides to the children. Recommendation made from the last inspection has been successfully met.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her home and play resources very well to encourage children's independence. For example, children choose from an exciting and stimulating range of toys that are presented within their reach. Flexible daily routines are planned to provide a well-balanced day for the children to have a wide range of experiences, both in the home and the local community. For example, they enjoy regular trips to the local library, local parks, toddler groups and Aldanham Country Park. This provides further learning experiences and opportunities to extend their social skills. All essential records are in place, readily available, well organised and stored securely to protect confidentiality. Consequently, children are thoroughly protected.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to ensuring that her service is inclusive for all families. For example, children are provided with good opportunities to learn about diversity and the needs of others, as the childminder provides a range of resources, which reflect positive images of the wider world. Planned outings with the childminder develop children's awareness of the wider world and the local community. This creates an inclusive environment that encourages children to feel a sense of belonging and promotes their self-esteem. The childminder demonstrates a positive attitude to liaising with professional agencies to ensure that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are equally provided for.

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the early years provision

The childminder works successfully with parents and has effective systems in place to obtain and share information with them. Children's admission into her care is tailored to meet their individual requirements. As a result, children settle very well, they are happy and contented. The childminder uses a daily journal effectively to keep parents well informed about their children's daily routine and their developmental progress to ensure their individual needs are met. In addition, each child has their individual profile with some photographic evidence of their time spent with the childminder, which she shares with parents. However, parents are not yet involve in assessing their children's capabilities and starting points. Written comments from parents say they cannot praise the childminder highly enough. Most importantly their children loves going to the childminder's house, they are very happy and they feel extremely lucky that their children are looked after by the

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the early years provision

childminder. The childminder has a positive attitude to developing and forming links with other providers to ensure continuity of care and learning for the children. The childminder is fully aware of the need to communicate regularly with other This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure progression and continuity of learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children are provided with a broad range of opportunities to help them make good progress across all areas of learning and development. The childminder offers very good levels of support to the children and as a result children benefit from her caring and supportive attitude which helps them to feel valued and raises their self-esteem. Children's ability and involvement in different activities is observed and recorded using photographs of them participating in exciting and stimulating range of play and learning experiences. A good balanced between adult and child- led activities means that children are able to select activities that interest them and they are able to extend and develop their own learning experiences. Children learn to solve problems and recognise numbers and colours in their daily play. For example, they are able to count up to 10 and are learning to indentify shapes such as, square, circle and triangle. Children's thinking and early language skills are

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and outcomes for children

extended well through effective discussions with the childminder, resulting in competent listeners. Children have access to a wide range of quality books which they clearly enjoy both independently and with the childminder. This is complimented with trips to the local library and the use of a selection of simple word and letter games. Children enjoy painting, sticking and gluing activities using, a variety of arts and crafts materials. They use programmable toys to explore and investigate how things work. These good play experiences enable children to develop skills necessary to their future success. Children enjoy trips to Aldanham Country Park and Linconsfield centre to learn about animals, reptiles and birds such as goats, snakes, chickens and rabbits. This contributes effectively to children's learning and play experiences. Children are developing manipulative skills with daily use of small equipment, tools and materials while larger physical

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and outcomes for children

skills are practised through regular use of equipment at the local park as well as wheeled toys in the garden.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder creates a safe environment and children are learning to keep themselves safe. For example, they learn about fire safety by practising regular emergency evacuation to enable them to become familiar with it, to assist with their quick and safe evacuation from the home, should the need arise. The childminder actively promotes a healthy environment because she is a good role model. She teaches children well how to stop germs from spreading because they regularly wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating. Children learn about healthy lifestyle because parents are closely consulted about any dietary needs their children may have and information is recorded. They enjoy eating nutritious meals and snacks that are prepared by parents.

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and outcomes for children

Children are provided with experiences and support which helps them to develop a positive sense of themselves and other. The childminder offers effective support for children's emotional well-being. Positive relationships are nurtured and the children are very settled and happy in the childminder's care. This is reflected in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 their behaviour which is managed in a caring and sensitive way ensuring children's concerns and needs are fully supported. 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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