Childminder in Hackney

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 144420 Inspection date 12/09/2011 Inspector Siobhan O'Callaghan

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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 1992. She lives with her husband, their two adult children and one child aged 15 years. The family live in Stoke Newington, which is situated in the London borough of Hackney. The home is close to local shops and schools. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding purposes and one bedroom on the first floor is utilised for sleeping provision. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register to provide care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of these, not more than three may be in the early years age group. She is currently caring for three children in the early years age group. One child attends full-time whilst the other two children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also provides occasional care for children in the later years age group who attend after school hours, when needed. She attends local toddler groups and childminding support groups and is a quality assured childminder, who acts as a childminding mentor for new childminders. The childminder currently supports a number of children with English as an additional language and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The childminder holds a formal childcare qualification.

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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

The childminder provides an inclusive child centred learning environment for children, where there is an excellent focus on meeting each child's individual needs. Children are supported to make outstanding progress in their learning and development as the childminder plans high quality activities and experiences that capture children's interests and thus motivate them to learn. Children's welfare is given the utmost priority as the childminder has robust procedures in place to keep them fully safeguarded. There are exceptional partnerships in place with parents and outside professionals; these fully support an overall integrated approach towards meeting children's care and development needs within the provision. The childminder is fully committed to promoting high quality care and learning experiences for children, this can be seen within her overall informative and evaluative self-evaluation systems and her enthusiasm to attend ongoing training

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

to keep her knowledge and skills within the early year's field up-to-date.

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further?

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 developing further the already positive self-evaluation systems to demonstrate how the views of children are utilised to influence improvement.

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the early years provision

The childminder is an enthusiastic provider, who works extremely hard to meet the differing needs of the children she cares for. She is an experienced and qualified early years practitioner who has developed a comprehensive range of high quality documentation to support the safe and efficient management of her childminding business. She provides parents with extensive information about her provision and her commitment to working in partnership with them. Children's well-being is effectively promoted through the childminder's confident knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children issues. She has robust procedures in place to ensure that all adults working with children have essential suitability checks in place. Children are cared for in a secure and safe environment as highly effective risk assessments are conducted regularly to ensure that all hazards to children are removed. The childminder also carries out pre-risk assesments on all planned

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the early years provision

outings to ensure that these are safe and suitable for the children in attendance.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises a visually stimulating and accessible inside and outside learning environment for children where they are able to make choices from an extensive range of good quality resources. She effectively promotes equality and diversity through her skilled interactions with children and through her commitment to valuing all children's home backgrounds, cultures and languages in her setting. Discussions with parents and recent parental questionnaires demonstrate that they are extremely happy with the care their children receive. Parent's comments include: 'we are very happy with our daughter's care; there is excellent communication as we feel well-informed about our children's learning. The port-folios are excellent and this gives us a real insight into her day' and ''we feel privileged to have such a brilliant childminder to look after our child and we look forward to our new baby attending in September.'' The childminder works

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the early years provision

closely with parents to support children's home languages; she has also developed valuable links with outside professionals to support the integrated care of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates a professional approach towards continuing to improve the provision she provides for children/parents and carers. She is committed to keeping her knowledge and skills up-to-date; since her last inspection she has gained a level 3 Childcare qualification and has attended numerous courses to compliment her practices including safeguarding children, and working with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. She was recently awarded a certificate for her outstanding contribution to childminding networks in Hackney. She has established rigorous self-evaluation systems to reflect on her practice and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 to look at ways to continue to improve. She has actively involved parents in these processes and is positive to develop these even further through evaluating children's voices to bring about further improvement. Overall, there is an

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the early years provision

exemplary commitment to providing high quality care and education for children.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder demonstrates an extensive knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements. She plans an exciting and imaginative range of experiences that meet the needs of all the children exceptionally well. Children have superb opportunities to explore their outside learning environment, which is always available to them. The childminder has a large playhouse in the garden so children can also play here in wet weather. However, children are encouraged to play outside in all weathers with appropriate clothing. Children also enjoy regular opportunities to visit their local children centres, parks and toddler groups which are all planned around the children's individual routines and their needs on any given day. The childminder effectively monitors children's progression through high quality observations. Each child has their own personal port-folio which encompasses assessments of their learning alongside an

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and outcomes for children

abundance of photographs demonstrating their achievements; these are linked effectively into the areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children are extremely happy and content within this stimulating and welcoming environment. The highly effective organisation of resources supports children to be fully independent as they confidently make choices about where they would like to play and how they want to be supported. Children confidently express their wishes as they inform the childminder that they would like more fruit or drinks, they enjoy meal times as they sit at a child sized table with appropriate chairs to aid their independence. It is evident from the warm interactions observed that children have established secure and trusting relationships with the childminder. They enjoy cuddles and all the enthusiastic praise they receive which fully supports their self- esteem. Children have excellent opportunities to develop their knowledge and understanding of number concepts and of size and measurement as the childminder explores these with children through cooking activities; water and

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and outcomes for children

sand play. The childminder skilfully extends children's language, communication and literacy skills as she continually converses with them and engages their interest in books. Children have recently been involved in collecting small items to put in individual letter tubs to support their early recognition of letters and their sounds. The environment is rich in visual displays, which also help to promote children's early understanding that print carries meaning.

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and outcomes for children

Children have purposeful and imaginative opportunities to develop their creative and sensory skills as the childminder promotes a splendid range of natural experiences for them to explore and investigate. For example, children are delighted to dig for bugs in the earth out in the garden. They are enthusiastic to explore the childminder's sensory box where they can smell lavender; cinnamon; cloves and a variety of other natural herbs and spices. Children's knowledge and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understanding of the world is enhanced through their participation in growing and planting activities in the garden. The childminder encourages them to look at the changes in the seasons and the impact that this has on the trees and flowers and on the clothes that we need to wear. Children love to learn about each others differences and celebrate a variety of special events throughout the year including

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and outcomes for children

Eid and Purim. Children have excellent opportunities to develop their physical skills as the childminder plans both indoor and outdoor pursuits to encourage a range of skills such as climbing, balancing and developing their coordination.

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and outcomes for children

The children's health, safety and well-being are significantly enhanced by the robust and consistent implementation of policies, procedures and practice to promote their welfare. The childminder consistently gives a high priority to the safeguarding of all children in her care. She provides purposeful and practical experiences within the provision to promote children's safety. For example, children are learning how to keep themselves safe as they engage within regular evacuation drills and learn why this is important to their personal safety. They eat healthy foods and practise exemplary personal hygiene procedures as the childminder discusses the importance of hand-washing in relation to their good health. The childminder is sensitive and skilled in managing young children's behaviour as she supports them to develop polite and cooperative behaviour. This fully supports children to develop many excellent learning and development skills

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and outcomes for children

which help to set secure foundations for their future 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 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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