Childminder in Bromley

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY266560 Inspection date 21/06/2011 Inspector Claire Douglas

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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 three children, aged 15, 13 and 12 years in a residential area of Bromley, within the London Borough of Bromley. The setting is close to shops parks schools and local transport links. All of the downstairs of the property is used for childminding purposes. There is a secure garden for outdoor play. The family have one cat, two rabbits, three African snails in a tank, four chickens in the garden and tropical fish. The childminder is registered on the Early Years register as well as on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the childcare register. A maximum of six children under eight years may be cared for at any one time. She is currently minding three children in the early years age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and / or

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Description of the childminding

disabilities and children who learn English as an additional language. The childminder has formed links with other early years settings such as local toddler groups, music groups and the local primary schools. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She receives support from the local authority early years partnership, through training and resources.

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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 successfully promotes all aspects of children's welfare and development and they make good progress in their learning, overall. Children are safe, welcomed as part of the family and well cared for in her warm, very well resourced, inclusive home. Excellent relationships with parents ensure that the childminder knows children well and provides the care and support they need. The childminder thoroughly reflects on the service she provides, ensuring that priorities for development and areas for continuous improvement are identified and acted on, overall resulting in a provision that is responsive to the needs of the children she cares for and their families.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the range of opportunities to encourage an understanding of numbers, displaying numerals in purposeful contexts and using numbers as labels for counting. 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 has a very clear understanding of her responsibilities towards the children in her care, and effectively safeguards their welfare. She knows what steps to take if she has concerns about a child, and has completed child protection training. She maintains all the required records that promote children's health, safety and well-being. Robust risk assessments ensure that children are safe in the home and when out and about. The childminder's home provides children with well-organised space to play and access to a wonderful variety of age appropriate, high quality resources and play materials that support their development and learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder works extremely closely with parents, ensuring she has appropriate knowledge and thorough understanding of each child's backgrounds and needs, so that equality and diversity is successfully promoted. Parents are warmly welcomed into the home; they are kept extremely well-informed through daily discussions and extensive written feedback, as well as having access to a range of well written policies and procedures. Parents' comments show they are very happy with the service provided, for example, they state 'It feels much more than solely childminding, an interesting varied setting, with activities which are very stimulating for the children.' and 'Could not get a better person to look after our children, there isn't anything you need to change. You are caring, brilliant, excellent and loving to the children. They are very happy when with you.' The childminder also seeks older children's views through a children's questionnaire.

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the early years provision

One child wrote 'I think you are really kind and I love having fun and playing in the garden.' The childminder builds effective partnerships with other professionals where appropriate, for instance when attending toddler groups and the local primary school.

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the early years provision

Top priority is given to attending local training opportunities to develop and extend her practice and promote continuous improvement. The childminder evaluates her service extremely well documenting her strengths and weaknesses, taking into account the views of children and other interested partners leading to further areas for improvement. Previous actions taken to improve the service have lead to improved outcomes for children, for instance, turning the kitchen and play room in to a kitchen/diner open plan play area to create a larger play space, this has created further opportunities for children to develop their personal, social and emotional development and build on their independence and self esteem.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, settled and at home in the childminder's care. They show a very strong sense of belonging as they delight in acknowledging photographs of themselves and their families which have been displayed on a 'map of the world' highlighting countries where the children have family and as they independently This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 select toys and resources and move confidently around the home. They learn to keep themselves safe when the childminder talks to them on each outing about 'the safe place to stop' and 'how to cross the road safely' along with discussions about why they must keep within the sight of the childminder at all times. Clear fire safety precautions are in place and children learn about evacuation procedures through discussion and practices to ensure they act quickly in an emergency. Children adopt good hygiene routines when they wash their hands straight away

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and outcomes for children

when they come in from outside and before eating. They benefit from well- balanced meals and snacks that meet their nutritional needs and they learn about foods that are good for you when the childminder discusses the range of fruit and vegetables that they have grown in the garden and planted in pots to take home. Children enjoy regular exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, as they walk to and from the local school each day and have fun playing on the swings or sliding down the slide in the garden. Children take part in a wide variety of activities and experiences which support their learning and development both at the childminders home and at the range of toddler and music groups they attend regularly. They make very good relationships with the childminder and respond well to her warm and caring approach, their behaviour is good and positively encouraged through praise and discussion.

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and outcomes for children

Activities are accurately matched to children's interests and abilities. The childminder makes effective observations of children's achievements, identifies and plans future learning experiences to ensure activities consistently build on children's existing knowledge and skills. Children are keen to communicate; they enjoy sharing a range of books together to develop their early reading skills. They learn about shapes and texture whilst finger drawing in the sand, as the childminder uses play situations to develop their understanding as she guides them appropriately with the activities. Children are beginning to solve simple problems when they work out where the puzzle pieces go to complete a range of puzzles, and they develop their mathematical awareness through number songs. There are some numeracy resources to support this area of learning. Children find out about the world around them when they explore the outdoor environment, for example,

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and outcomes for children

when they stop in amazement to observe a ladybird on the way home from school or when they go in the garden to say 'hello' to the chickens or go on a 'mini beast' hunt to the insect 'haven' at the back of the garden. Children are beginning to show an excellent awareness of responsibility within the setting as the older children help the younger ones to achieve personal targets and they contribute towards the planning through offering their own suggestions.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder makes the most of diversity to help children understand the society they live in; they have a range of resources which reflect positive images of a multicultural society. For example, books, dressing up outfits, play people and musical instruments. All children are valued and helped to develop a positive attitude to equality as differences are openly discussed when questions arise. Children develop skills for the future when they are given opportunities to become independent for example, 'having a go' at taking their own shoes off and hanging up their own coats when coming in from outside. Children express their imaginations as they help themselves to junk modelling materials to design and create a guitar of their own, or have fun painting their hands when doing a printing activity. They are well occupied and stimulated throughout the day and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder. 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 1 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 1 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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