Seppings, Arlette Katrina

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY262749 Inspection date 18/10/2011 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 registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged 10 and 12 in a residential area of Orpington, Kent in the London Borough of Bromley. The setting is close to shops, parks, schools and local transport links. The whole of the house is registered for childminding purposes with the ground floor of the property being the main area used. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family has guinea pigs, a hamster and a rat which is kept inaccessible to children.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding two children in the early years age group. She also offers care to children older children aged up to 11 years. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language. The childminder has formed links with other early years settings such as local parent and toddler groups and the primary school. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She is a member of Bromley Mencap Childminding Network which incorporates an annual quality assurance check. The setting receives support from the local authority for

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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 is extremely committed to promoting all aspects of children's welfare and development. Children are warmly welcomed as part of the family, they are kept safe and well cared for in her excellently resourced, inclusive home. Children make excellent progress in their learning and development. Positive relationships with parents ensure that the childminder knows children well and provides the care and support they need. The childminder has begun to reflect on the service she provides, ensuring that priorities for development are identified and acted on. Overall, the provision is highly 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?

 improve the system used for self evaluation, taking into account the views of children, parents/carers and other interested partners to enable effective This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 identification of strengths and weaknesses and devise actions which lead to further improvement New

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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 keeps a revised file of 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 on outings.

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the early years provision

The childminder's home provides children with a well organised space to play. They have access to an excellent variety of age appropriate, high quality resources and play materials that the childminder uses exceptionally well to support the children's development and learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder works very closely with parents, ensuring that 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 well informed about the provision and about their children's progress through daily discussions and clear written feedback, as well as having their own copy of policies and procedures to refer to. Parents are highly complimentary about the childminder and the care their children receive. 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

The childminder embraces local training opportunities to develop and extend her practice and promote continuous improvement. She has begun to evaluate her service,however, the system used does not help her to monitor the effectiveness of her evaluation fully. Currently feedback from children and parents is not routinely used as part of her self-evaluation. Previous actions taken to improve the service provided have led to improved outcomes for children, for instance, changing the way in which resources are stored in the play area, has created further opportunities for children to develop their independence and self esteem building on their personal, social and emotional development.

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and outcomes for children

Children are very happy, settled and at home in the childminder's care. They show a strong sense of belonging as they run up to the childminder with delight, calling out her name when she collects them at the end of a pre-school session. They independently select toys and resources and move confidently within the home. They learn to keep themselves safe when the childminder talks to them on This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 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.

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and outcomes for children

Children adopt good hygiene routines when they wash their hands straight away 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 them when they help to water the range of fruit and vegetables that they grow in the garden. Children enjoy regular exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle, as they walk through the woods to and from the local pre- school and primary school each day and have fun riding a bike or a scooter in the garden.

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and outcomes for children

Children take part in a wide variety of high quality activities and experiences which support their learning and development both at the childminder's home and at the range of toddler groups and other childminders' homes they attend weekly. They make exceptionally good relationships with the childminder and respond well to her warm and caring approach; their behaviour is very 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 meticulous observations of children's achievements and identifies and plans for their future learning experiences to ensure activities consistently build on children's existing knowledge and skills. Children are keen to communicate. The childminder supports this impressively, encouraging children to talk, showing a keen interest in what they have to say and asking questions to extend their language and thinking. She also uses Makaton sign language to support those who find it more difficult to communicate verbally. Children learn the signs and this in turn helps them to communicate with their peers. They enjoy sharing a wonderful range of books together to develop their early reading skills. They learn about shapes and texture whilst finger printing, after a trip to the police station, as they were learning about 'people who help us'. The childminder uses

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and outcomes for children

play situations to develop their understanding as she guides them appropriately with the activities. Children begin to solve simple problems when they work out where the puzzle pieces need to go and they develop their mathematical awareness through number songs, numeracy resources and discussions about the numbers on the doors when out walking. Children find out about the world around them when they explore the outdoor environment, for example, when they stop in amazement to observe an aeroplane flying above them or to discuss the skip that is being filled on the way home from pre-school. Children are beginning to show an excellent awareness of responsibility within the setting, for example, they know to take off their shoes on arrival and place them on the shelf in the porch without being asked.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder works highly successfully to help children understand about the society they live in and to value diversity. Children play with an extensive range of play resources which reflect positive images of a multicultural society. For example, books, dressing up outfits and play people with various walking aids. All children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 are valued and helped to develop a positive attitude to equality as differences are openly discussed when questions arise. The childminder instinctively challenges children in their learning and they develop excellent skills for the future. They gain independence, for example, when they take off their own coats as they come in from outside. Imagination and creativity is positively encouraged through a range of exciting activities such as, making Diwali sweets or baking cakes together. Children are well occupied, extremely happy and stimulated throughout the day

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and outcomes for children

and 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 1 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 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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