Childminder in Greenwich

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY221946 Inspection date 28/11/2011 Inspector Chris Hodge

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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 in Woolwich, in the London Borough of Greenwich with her husband, teenage triplets and two grown up children who are currently away at university. The ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six children under eight years. Of these, three may be in the early years age group at any one time. She is currently minding one child in the early years age group. The childminder attends the local children's centre and toddler group. She is a member of an approved childminding network and the National

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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 children with a caring and stimulating environment in which they make excellent progress overall. Children's welfare and safety is given the highest priority and is underpinned by comprehensive and robust policies and procedures. Highly effective partnerships with parents ensure that children settle well and that their individual needs are consistently met. The childminder constantly works to improve her childcare practice and to promote excellent outcomes for children. She demonstrates an extremely good ability to maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 increase children's understanding that text carries meaning through the use of picture and written labelling on boxes of play resources and equipment

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the early years provision

The childminder is fully aware of her role and responsibility to safeguard children. She is very well informed about child protection issues and has a comprehensive safeguarding policy that is shared with parents. Rigorous risk assessments for the home and outings, together with regularly practiced emergency evacuation procedures help to ensure children are kept safe. All required documentation is in place and is professionally maintained. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder provides children with a highly stimulating learning environment with many photographs, picture and posters displayed on the walls. Furniture, equipment and resources are of high quality and suitable for the ages of children to support their learning and development. An extensive range of play resources are kept in the playroom and large toy cupboard. A photographic catalogue of all

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the early years provision

the childminder's toys and resources enable children to make independent choices about what they want to play with. The childminder promotes equality and diversity extremely well. She welcomes all children and families into her home and includes them all equally. A wide range of books, play resources and activities promoting positive images of diversity help children to value and respect people's differences.

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the early years provision

The childminder establishes excellent relationships with parents to support children's individual needs and to enhance their learning and development. Initial assessments and discussions when a child first starts, provides the childminder with very clear information about each child's needs. The childminder provides parents with a considerable amount of information about her childminding practice. Daily contact books and children's progress folders are regularly shared with parents and photographs of outings and activities are regularly emailed to them. The childminder has extremely good links with other agencies and childcare professionals such as local schools, social workers, speech therapists and her network coordinator. Excellent partnership working clearly promotes consistency of care and learning for the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates an excellent ability to continually improve the quality of provision for children. She self-evaluates her practice extremely well and has successfully implemented the recommendation set at her previous inspection. She is fully proactive in keeping her professional childcare knowledge updated. For example, she is working towards a degree in early years and attends regular training courses. As a network childminder, she attends frequent meetings with other network childminders to discuss good practice and organise activities and outings. Children are involved in daily decision-making and parents contribute to self-evaluation through the use of questionnaires. As a result, the childminder is able to continually drive improvement and promote excellent outcomes for children.

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and outcomes for children

Children are extremely relaxed and settled in the childminder's care. They relate well to the childminder who is warm and responsive and demonstrates a very good understanding of their individual needs and preferences. Children make excellent progress across all areas of learning, in relation to their starting points and capabilities. The childminder observes children as they play and spends time with them during activities. The information gained about their interests, skills and abilities is used to track children's progress towards the early learning goals. The childminder also uses this information to plan activities, which engage children and help them to make rapid progress. The activities children are offered fully promote This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 their learning and help them to gain excellent skills for the future. Children feel safe and secure because the childminder builds their confidence through familiar

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and outcomes for children

routines, positive relationships and high quality interaction. She effectively promotes their early language skills by constantly talking with them. Younger children are beginning to vocalise and to imitate sounds and actions. They respond to music and rhymes sung to them by the childminder with lots of laughter. Children have access to an extensive range of books and good opportunities to develop their early writing skills. However, they have fewer opportunities to learn that text carries meaning, due to the lack of labelling on boxes of resources and equipment.

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and outcomes for children

Children have access to a wide variety of art and craft resources, role-play and small world activities and musical instruments. These resources promote their creativity and imaginations. They also have access to many puzzles and various construction activities that help to develop their problem solving abilities. The childminder uses activities and daily routines to encourage children's counting skills and to help them to recognise colours, numbers and shapes. During the week children enjoy regular outings to the local children's centre where they have great fun socialising with other children and take part in activities different to those provided at home. The childminder regularly meets up other childminders to plan trips to various parks, museums and farms to help broaden children's knowledge and understanding of the wider world.

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and outcomes for children

Children's good health is fully promoted and the childminder's practice is underpinned by comprehensive written policies and procedures. Children are cared for in a clean well maintained environment and are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles. They have many different opportunities to engage in a wide range of physical activities, both indoors and outside. They gain a secure understanding about the importance of regular exercise, as part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Picture reminders and individual hand towels promote children's independence with hand washing. The childminder promotes healthy eating and has menus with healthy options displayed for parents. She is fully aware children's special dietary requirements and provides children with fresh fruit and vegetables. Younger children are extremely content and settled because their individual health, physical and dietary needs are very well met.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about keeping safe through many different experiences. For example, on outings they wear high visibility jackets and the childminder talks to them about road safety and stranger danger. Older children are involved in the risk assessments and all children take part in regular fire drills. As a result, they develop a considerable awareness of how to keep themselves and others safe. Children learn to be polite, to respect one another and to behave in a positive manner. The childminder consistently praises and encourages children, which helps them to develop an extremely good sense of belonging and self-esteem. 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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