Childminder in Brent

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY425683 Inspection date 18/10/2011 Inspector Maria Conroy

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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 2011. She lives with her school age child in a first floor flat in Willesden, within the London Borough of Brent. The lounge, kitchen and bathroom are the main areas used for childminding. There is no access to an outdoor area, but children regularly visit the local park and children's centre for physical activity. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. The family do not keep any pets. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of three children at any one time. The childminder is currently caring for two children, both of whom are in the early years age group.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are generally happy and settle well as they start to form positive relationships with the childminder and their peers. The childminder has recently started to care for children and is developing relationships with parents to provide consistency of care and support children's learning. However, the childminder is not currently meeting a legal requirement regarding the organisation of children's activities, which impacts on children's learning. Children are making satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals; however, the childminder's observation systems do not currently help her to plan children's next steps or in-depth activities to support children's progress. Although the childminder is keen to make improvements to her service and has started to evaluate her practice, the assessment process is still very much in its early stages and is not yet fully effective in identifying all areas for further improvement, or involving parent's

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

views. The childminder has a suitable understanding of protecting children and takes positive steps to safeguard and protect their welfare; however, she has yet to practise regular evacuation drills with the children to enable their understanding of emergency procedures.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 plan and provide a balance of both adult- and child- initiated activities to support children's learning indoors and outside (Organisation). 26/10/2011

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  develop the observation process further to help plan 'what next' for individual children and to plan and provide a range of challenging and exciting activities to support children's developmental progress  undertake regular evacuation drills and record the details of any problems encountered and how they were resolved in a fire log book  continue to develop the systems for self-evaluation, gaining the views of parents to contribute to the process of identifying further areas for development.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a suitable understanding of how to protect and safeguard the children in her care. She has an awareness of indicators that would cause concern and an appropriate safeguarding procedure to refer to if she needs to liaise with the relevant agencies. Risk assessments are undertaken on the premises and the outings they participate in, enabling any hazards to children to be identified and preventative measures put in place. The childminder has a procedure in place to be followed in the event of a fire; however, she has yet to undertake practices with the children to enable their understanding of emergency procedures and to identify any problems with the process.

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the early years provision

The childminder has started to complete the process of self-evaluation and has identified some further areas for improvement, for example, increasing her resources to promote positive images of diversity. The childminder verbally communicates with parents on a regular basis, although she has yet to devise a process of obtaining their views relating to specific areas of her childminding service. The childminder is keen to gain further skills and knowledge. She attends the local children's centre to make contact with other childminders and gain useful tips and information on relevant issues to improve practice.

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the early years provision

Children have access to varied resources, both in the home and through attendance at the children's centre. The childminder is beginning to arrange the toys and equipment to enable children to make choices from the variety available. Although the childminder sits with the children and engages in their play, she has yet to fulfil the legal requirement to provide a suitable balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities to support children's learning, both indoors and outside.

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the early years provision

The childminder is getting to know the children. She finds out from parents about children's individual needs and uses observations to discover their interests. Children attend local groups which enable them to mix with children from the wider community. Children have begun to learn about their own cultures and those of others through activities provided in the children's centre and through some resources in the childminder's home.

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the early years provision

The childminder is developing the relationship with parents, ensuring each child's needs are met overall. There are suitable methods for communicating with parents, including verbal discussions when parents collect their child. The This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 childminder shares policies and procedures with parents at registration and requests the required consents. Appropriate information is on display for parents, including the childminder's certificates of registration and first aid training. Children's developmental records are made available to parents as the childminder begins her assessment of children's individual learning and development. The childminder is aware of the importance of liaising with other professionals, such as teaching staff in early years settings, although none of the children in her care currently attend any other provider of the Early Years Foundation Stage

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a suitable knowledge of the learning and development and welfare requirements and Early Years Foundation Stage. She has started to undertake the process of observation, although this is still in its very early stages. The childminder has yet to clearly analyse the information obtained to identify children's next steps in their development, which will help support her in planning challenging activities for children's individual needs.

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and outcomes for children

Children's communication and literacy and future skills relating to information and communication technology are suitably promoted through activities. They enjoy reading books. The childminder enables children's understanding of language and words having meaning. She names objects in the book and describes them so that children learn how to pronounce words and their meaning. Children have opportunities to create and take part in messy play activities through attendance at the local children's centre. They are learning early technology skills as they explore and investigate battery-operated toys. Children are learning early mathematical concepts as the childminder helps them to count items during play.

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and outcomes for children

Children are developing a positive sense of security and belonging, because the childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment. They are learning to understand boundaries that are in place to keep them safe. For example, the childminder familiarises children with the procedures for crossing the road. She demonstrates road safety guidelines and helps children to recognise that the lollypop person can stop the traffic to let them cross the road.

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and outcomes for children

Children are developing a healthy lifestyle. They enjoy fresh fruit and are reminded to drink throughout the day. Very young children are able to indicate when they need their nappy changing, fetching a fresh nappy and wipes from their bag. Children engage in a range of physical activities through use of the equipment at the local children's centre.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to build secure relationships with the childminder. They confidently indicate when they need a drink and what they want to play with. There are opportunities for children to build their social skills as they mix with other children and learn to share and take turns when attending groups at the local children's centre. The childminder speaks to the children in a gentle manner. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 She sits on the floor and interacts positively with the children, helping to give children a sense of security and enabling them to settle quickly. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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