Childminder in Croydon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY420291 Inspection date 20/07/2011 Inspector Sandra Jeffrey

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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 2011. She lives with her husband and two children who are aged one and four years. They live in a three bedroom house in Coulsdon, in the London Borough of Croydon. The whole of the ground floor, one bedroom and bathroom facilities on the first floor are used for childminding. There is also a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. There is easy access to the home with parking facilities outside. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years of age; of these, no more than one may be in the early years age group, with none aged under one at any one time. There are currently three children in the early years age range on roll. The childminder does not work on a Friday.

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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

Overall the quality of the provision is good. The childminder provides a relaxed and welcome environment and meets children's welfare and learning well. The childminder recognises each child's individuality, ensuring that inclusive practice is successfully implemented. Warm and trusting relationships are fostered, therefore enabling children to feel safe and secure in her care. The childminder is enthusiastic and establishes good partnerships with parents and others involved in the care of the children. Consequently children's continuity of care and learning is good overall. The childminder reflects on her practice and is able to recognise her strengths and areas for improvement and she shows good commitment to continually developing the service she provides.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve fire safety precautions in relation to emergency evacuation of the premises, especially with regard to window locks  develop further the planning and assessment systems, to further encourage children's all round development and learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of her role in safeguarding children and ensures parents are made aware of her responsibilities through effective written policies and procedures. In addition, the childminder has attended Safeguarding training to Level 2, which means she understands the procedures to follow should This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 she have any concerns about the safety or welfare of a child in her care. All household members are vetted to establish their suitability and all visitors are required to complete the visitor's log. Children play in a safe environment because the childminder effectively minimises potential hazards by conducting regular risk assessments within the home and before embarking on outings in the local community. Concise written records are kept of these risk assessments, enabling the childminder to review and evaluate them.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her home to maximise children's comfort and enjoyment, and children evidently feel at ease in the very 'child centred' environment. Children can independently select playthings from a substantial variety of very well maintained resources that support their play and learning very well. The home is warm and brightly decorated throughout and has a good selection of children's artwork and photographs of the children displayed on the walls. This creates a homely environment where the children's achievements are praised and celebrated. The childminder enthusiastically dedicates her time to the children, getting down to their level, in order to fully enhance their learning experiences.

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the early years provision

The childminder is fully committed to inclusion and values diversity and respects differences. Children have access to a meaningful range of activities and resources, including a good range of books, some bilingual, with appropriate images to reflect the diversity of people in the community. These promote a positive view of the wider world and increase children's understanding and acceptance of diversity and differences.

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the early years provision

Partnerships with parents are good and ensure each child's individual needs are met appropriately. Parents are kept well informed of all aspects of the setting through the childminder's effective feedback. For example, she uses daily verbal communication, regularly photographs of the children enjoying various activities and makes records of observations and assessments she conducts. These are all shared with parents so that they are aware of their child's development and achievements whilst in the childminder's care. Good systems to promote partnerships with other child care professionals involved in the care of the children are also in place.

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the early years provision

The childminder sets herself high standards and has a clear vision for the future of her provision. She is enthusiastic and committed to the continual development of her service. She understands the value of ongoing training in order to continuously improve the service that she provides for the children and their families.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is very attentive towards the children in her care. She spends time playing with them, talking to them and meeting their care needs well. Children evidently feel secure and comfortable in her care and have formed strong bonds with her. This was evident, even with a young baby who is new to the setting, but This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 who responded positively to the childminder's care and affection. The children's interests and needs are at the forefront of the childminder's planning for their individual next steps in their learning journey, which ensures their developmental needs are met to a good standard overall. The childminder makes regular written observations of children's developmental achievements and uses these assessments to plan relevant experiences for future learning. This helps to ensure that activities build on children's existing knowledge and skills. However, the

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and outcomes for children

childminder's system for making formal observations and recording them is not consistent for all children.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy a good selection of resources and activities that help develop their early communication and literacy skills. Babies and younger children benefit from the childminder's ability to use 'baby sign language'. This means she can communicate with them before they can speak and vocalise their needs. Older children receive good opportunities to recognise and practise sounding out letters and words that are familiar to them, in line with the phonics system used at their school. And all children benefit from the childminder's spontaneous singing at every opportunity, along with the nursery rhymes playing in the background. This increases their awareness of spoken language and enjoyment of self-expression. Children have access to various writing implements to practice their mark making skills and enjoy looking at a good selection of books. The childminder skilfully interacts with the children, using repetition to help children learn new words and

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and outcomes for children

simple sentences. Early maths and problem solving skills are developing well as children are encouraged to complete puzzles, to play matching and sorting games and to count the 'pirate treasure' as part of a recent theme.

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and outcomes for children

Children have access to a good range of resources that effectively promote their skills for the future learning, including various electronic and interactive toys. Older children are also permitted to use the computer. Children also enjoy good opportunities to develop creative skills with an array of art and craft activities including painting and sticking. As such children have recently created a beautiful display as part of their current theme 'The Hungry Caterpillar'. This theme has been skilfully extended by the childminder to cover all areas of learning effectively. For example, children have opportunities to exercise and develop their body control, as they 'wriggle like a caterpillar' and 'flap like a bird'. Babies are supported in their early physical development as they receive good opportunities to practice standing and walking with the aid and support of the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

The children are also learning about the world around them, as they explore the garden and local parks looking for caterpillars and butterflies with magnifying glasses. Children have enjoyed wrapping the childminder up in tissue paper to represent a cocoon and are currently 'raising butterflies' with a butterfly kit, eagerly watching and waiting for them to change from their chrysalis form to caterpillars and then to butterflies to be realised into the garden. This is a wonderfully imaginative opportunity for the children to gain hands on experience of the life cycle of a butterfly.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder actively encourages healthy eating and provides healthy and nutritious food for the children, including a wide variety of fresh fruit. Children are encouraged to record their fruit and vegetable intake on a 'five a day chart' as an This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 incentive for making good choices, which further encourages their understanding and enthusiasm. The childminder ensures children have access to drinks throughout the day to ensure they do not become thirsty. The childminder deals calmly with minor accidents and has a valid first aid certificate. This fosters the children's good health and wellbeing further. She manages children's effectively, using appropriate distration and praise to reinforce acceptable behaviour. The children are encouraged to share and take turns, and to consider each other's feelings as they play cooperatively.

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and outcomes for children

Although effective risk assessments are in place, fire safety arrangements would benefit from additional precautions, such as the ready availability of a key to unlock windows on the first floor in the event of an emergency. The childminder regularly practices fire drills so that the children are all aware of what to do and how to behave in an emergency. All fire equipment is in good order and in place.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a very kind and caring disposition and is calm and gentle with the children, displaying genuine affection for them, which helps them develop high levels of self-esteem. Children are encouraged to be kind and considerate to each other and are gently reminded to share the toys and to be especially aware of the babies' needs and safety. Overall, the children are cared for well by a kind and enthusiastic childminder who uses imaginative activites to extend their learning. 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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