Childminder in Kingston upon Thames

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY216554 Inspection date 15/11/2011 Inspector Linda Coccia

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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 2002. She lives with her husband and three children aged 11, eight and four years in the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon- Thames. All areas of the house are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder walks to the local school to take and collect children. She regularly takes children to the park, the library and various toddler groups. The family have a pet cat and a pet hamster.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register to care for up to five children at any one time, three of whom may be in the early years age group. She is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding two children in the early years age group. The childminder is also registered to work with an assistant. The childminder holds a recognised early years qualification to National Vocational Qualification Level 3.

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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 effective in creating a warm, homely atmosphere for children to be in. Through the use of outstanding procedures to work with parents she is able to able to meet children's individual needs in an outstanding manner. Overall, self evaluation is good. The childminder has addressed recommendations from her last inspection and has considered other ways to improve her setting to make life more comfortable for children. This shows that she is able to continuously improve her setting.

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further?

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

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further?

 strengthen the use of self-evaluation to identify strengths and prioritise improvements for development that will continuously improve the quality of the provision for all children.

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the early years provision

The childminder uses outstanding procedures to help her safeguard children. For example, the childminder has prepared excellent, written information for parents explaining how her safeguarding procedures will operate should the need arise. This is closely linked with her written complaints procedure. This means that children are safeguarded because their parents fully understand the childminder's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 duty to their children. The childminder's regulatory paperwork is very well maintained and readily available for inspection. Through the use of a range of excellent safeguarding procedures, children's well-being is thoroughly promoted. The childminder regularly evaluates her setting and practices and consults with parents for their comments and suggestions. However, the childminder has not considered ways to capture the children's views. She has driven improvement by

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the early years provision

applying for grants and funding to improve her resources. For example, the decking in the garden. This means that children can now go outside in all weathers. Overall, children have benefitted from the childminder's good processes for self evaluation because the provider has identified areas to improve their outcomes.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to doing her best for each child. To achieve this she limits the amount of children being cared for. She has an excellent understanding of equality and diversity issues as reflected in her written policies. She regularly discusses each child with their parents in order to cater for their children's individual needs; which she acknowledges change as children grow and develop. Children's individual needs are met. Parents report that they are extremely happy with the care offered to their children. They consider the childminder to be trustworthy and professional in her manner. They are fully consulted about all aspects of their child's care and their wishes are fully respected. Therefore, children receive excellent, consistent care. The childminder also has good experience of working in partnership with other health professionals and educators and understands why exchanges of information are beneficial to the children. The

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the early years provision

childminder's effective partnership working ensures that children are supported well in a variety of different areas of their lives.

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and outcomes for children

The children are happy and contented with the childminder. This is due to the use of excellent settling in procedures and dedicated one-to-one time that they receive from the childminder during their stay. They are happy to explore toys and activities on their own but indicate to the childminder that they need help with some things. They adore story times and snuggle up to the childminder whilst the stories are being read. This shows that children feel extremely safe in the setting and have safe, secure relationships with the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

The children have access to good quality toys and activities. They use dolls with different skin colours to help them learn that people are different and they copy the childminder's use of good care procedures to care for them. They enjoy the push button musical toys provided which also double as shape sorters. They dance to the music they make and are proficient at matching the shapes. The role play equipment engages them well as they busily make pretend food and drinks for the childminder. Children have their own favourite toys and interests. For example, one likes cars and mechanical diggers, whilst others prefer craft activities. All of their individual interests are well catered for by the childminder. Children choose books from the good range available which are suitable for their ages. They This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 carefully turn pages and look at pictures which they point to and comment on. The

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and outcomes for children

childminder is good at encouraging children's speech development by clearly enunciating words and challenging children to identify different numbers, shapes and colours or simply items in pictures. The use of good quality toys and a wide variety of activities mean that children are fully engaged in their play. Children also demonstrate that they are interested learners and are developing a wide range of skills to help them in the future. Children have plenty of good opportunities to engage in physical play.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder keeps good progress records on each child. The records include evaluative observations of the children, clearly identify their next steps in each of the areas of learning and plot how children are progressing towards the Early Learning Goals. The childminder plans activities to cater for each individual child. Parents can view and contribute to the record whenever they want. The records clearly indicate that children are making good progress.

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and outcomes for children

The children are offered an excellent range of food which is healthy and nutritious. They have choices about what they eat although the childminder does make sure they have a balanced diet. She works very closely with parents when they choose to prepare their own children's food. Children are involved in selecting and purchasing fruit from the local shops. They enjoy pressing the weigh machine buttons to print out the price stickers. They have planted seeds and helped to pick vegetables in the garden. They are offered plenty of excellent physical play opportunities. These range from walking to and from school to collect older children to using dedicated soft play equipment at different play venues. Children are beginning to adopt a healthy lifestyle because the childminder is excellent in promoting healthy eating and active play. The children's behaviour is effectively managed by the childminder through her use of good strategies that children

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and outcomes for children

respond well to. She primarily uses distraction and indicates her approval or disapproval of children's behaviour by the tone of her voice. The children generally play well together but are still learning to share toys with each other. Their good behaviour is praised and encouraged and as a result the children have an enjoyable experience 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 2 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 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 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 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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