Childminder in Surrey

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 507529 Inspection date 13/07/2011 Inspector Janet Thouless

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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 2000. She lives with her husband and three children in Reigate, Surrey. All rooms on the ground floor are used for childminding purposes whilst two bedrooms on the first floor of the property are used for sleeping children. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. Her husband acts as her assistant.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of 6 children under 8, of whom no more than 3 may be in the early years age group. She currently has 5 children on roll in the early years age range, who attend on a part time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. Children in all age ranges share the same facilities. The childminder has recently completed a childcare qualification at level 3.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks or drives to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. She takes children to the local Sure start childminding group, library and local parks. The childminder is a member of an approved childminding network and receives support from the local authority.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in an extremely welcoming and child-orientated family home, in which children and their families are valued and fully included; therefore children are settled and enjoy their time with both adults and peers. Strong partnerships with parents, together with the childminder's very good knowledge of children's individual needs ensure that children make excellent progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder is committed to improvement and has a clear understanding of her strengths and areas for future development. She is passionate about creating memorable learning experiences for all of the children in her care and there is excellent capacity for continuous improvement.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 consolidating the culture of reflective practice through self-evaluation in order to further improve outcomes for children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are very well protected because the childminder has an excellent knowledge and understanding of child protection issues and arrangements for safeguarding children are robust. She ensures young children's care and welfare through the extensive range of polices and procedures on offer. The childminder holds the Diploma in Home Based Childcare and is committed to her own professional development. She actively strives to improve her practice and regularly attends relevant courses to enhance her skills and knowledge in early years practice. The childminder evaluates her practice in order to improve the service she offers. However, her current systems do not always focus on improving specific outcomes for children. Her future areas for development include continued training at foundation degree level. All required documentation is available, very well maintained and confidentially stored.

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the early years provision

Comprehensive risk assessments of the home, garden and outings are in place covering all aspects of the provision. The well-organised use of space available ensures children's personal safety and well-being at all times. The home is very well organised allowing children easy and safe access to resources to promote choice and independence. The childminder is vigilant in enabling children to keep themselves safe, they discuss and practice road safety, wear high visibility wristbands on outings and discuss stranger danger. This positive approach enables children to achieve independence, manage their own risk and understand the importance of keeping safe. To enhance safety further the childminder herself carries individual identity key rings with a photo of each child and their parents emergency contact details. The childminder values diversity and children experience a range of resources that represent individual differences, such as,

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the early years provision

people with disabilities or from other cultures. Children speak French and Polish and the childminder has sought from parents everyday words in each language so she is able to communicate fully with the children in her care. As a result, children's welfare and sense of belonging is fully promoted. Currently, the childminder is not caring for children with additional needs or disabilities but she has a very good understanding of the Code of Practice and has attended recent training events to ensure her knowledge is current.

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the early years provision

The childminder has established excellent partnerships with parents and others and this significantly contributes to the children's care, welfare and education. The childminder knows the culture and background of each child extremely well and values the views of parents. Parents receive daily information regarding their child's care and welfare and are able to view their children's Learning Journals at regular meetings with the childminder. This enables parents to be fully involved and contribute to their children's record of achievement. The childminder has strong relationships with other providers which include school, pre-school and other childminder's. As a result, positive partnerships are well established. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are extremely well supported and encouraged throughout their time in the childminder's care. Their individual needs and individual characters are clearly understood and respected by the childminder. They have developed close attachments, feel extremely safe in her care and are included in all that she offers. The learning environment is extremely well presented to help children make very good progress towards the early learning goals. There is a balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities, which help children to be active learners. Daily activities are thoughtfully planned taking into account children's individual interests and needs. She observes and records the children's progress and achievements, then collates the information to identify their next steps in learning. Children are confident, secure and knowledgeable because of the excellent levels of care and education provided by the childminder. They are engaged and show high levels of

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and outcomes for children

interest in all that they do as they receive constant praise and reassurance. Children's behaviour is excellent as they respond well to the high expectations and consistently good example of the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

Children's communication skills are developed well, as they are encouraged to talk about what they are doing and share their experiences, for example, they confidently chat about the photographs showing previous trips and activities they have participated in. They show great delight when they identify the fire engine from a recent trip to the fire station. Older more able children are starting to recognise letter shapes and sounds and identify familiar words whilst out and about within the local community. They hear and sing rhymes to themselves as they play which helps them focus on sounds and patterns in words. Children learn about nature as they observe 'mini beasts'. They thoroughly enjoy going on a bug hunt in the garden and confidently name all the bugs they have collected in their buckets. The childminder extends the activity for younger children through the use of a remote control bumble bee and mini-beasts identity cards with pictures and

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and outcomes for children

Numeracy and problem solving consistently form part of the children's daily activities, through adult-led and child-initiated activities. For example, measuring ingredients for cooking, count and pair items on the washing line and know numbers that are important to them. Children thoroughly enjoy being creative and express themselves extremely well in painting and junk modelling. They show great delight in showing others pictures of poppies they have created. Children know how to keep themselves and others safe when using resources for example they put away scissors after use so younger children are unable to access them.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy an extensive range of activities and experience both indoors and out, which contributes to their good health and wellbeing. Children's awareness of a healthy lifestyle is effectively promoted through the provision of home cooked, nutritious meals, snacks and drinks. To ensure all children are fully included the childminder provides a lactose free diet for children with different needs. Children understand the importance of good hygiene practice by washing their hands after using the toilet and before and after meals. The childminder herself follows good This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 hygiene routines throughout the provision, preventing the spread of infection. Children's physical development is promoted extremely well as they enjoy daily opportunities to develop their small and large muscle movement in the well resourced garden, sure start centres or outings to many local parks. Through the

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and outcomes for children

childminder's extremely positive approach and interactions, children thrive and progress very well in their early years. 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 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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