Childminder in Sutton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY366356 Inspection date 24/01/2012 Inspector Linda Close

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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 2007. She lives with her partner and three children who are 11 years, eight years and three years old. The childminder's home is in Belmont, in the London borough of Sutton. The ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there are toilet and handwashing facilities on the ground floor. Children have supervised access to an enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of four children at any one time; two of these may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding a total of four children, including one child aged 17 months on a full-time basis and one other child who is three years, four months old who attends on a part-time basis. The childminder also cares for two five-year-old children outside school hours, four days each week. The childminder attends several toddler groups and she takes children to local parks.

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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

Children are happy and well settled in the care of the childminder. She plans and provides a varied range of enjoyable activities and outings which enable the children to make good progress in their learning. The childminder has established good working partnerships with parents and they share useful information with her so that she can meet the individual needs of their children. The childminder evaluates her service to children effectively overall. However, she has not fully identified the importance of working closely with the practitioners who care for children in the other settings that they attend and there is a small gap in her documentation. She has devised some very worthwhile plans to further develop and improve her provision for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop the two way flow of information with practitioners who share the care of the children  update the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for outings and trips. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder keeps her knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues up to date through attending childminder network meetings and a recent training course. Her safeguarding policy and procedure document is shared with parents at the time of registration, to make them aware of her responsibilities. She displays her certificate of registration and information for parents about how they can contact Ofsted if they have any concerns to share.

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the early years provision

The childminder's self evaluation is detailed and realistic. She mentions her strengths and includes some very good ideas for developing her work with children. Her risk assessments for her premises are detailed and she conscientiously checks her home before the children arrive each day to promote their safety. She considers potential hazards at the play centres she visits with the children, but she does not keep a record of her findings to underpin this good practice. She is keen to learn more about child development and she plans to begin a training course to achieve a NVQ at level 3. She also has exciting plans to produce newletters and progress reports for parents and she plans to obtain high visibility vests to make children easier to see when they are out and about.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a very large selection of good quality toys, books and games, which are suitable for children of different ages. She stores them in a dedicated playroom on shelves and in boxes and baskets at floor level, so the children can make choices and decisions. She makes sure that toys with small pieces are stored at a level where the little ones cannot access them to avoid accidents.

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the early years provision

The childminder warmly welcomes children from all cultural backgrounds and she makes sure that their toys and books reflect diversity. She has not been called upon to liaise with specialists or therapists as yet, but she expresses her willingness to take guidance if there is a need. The childminder collects children from a school and a preschool and she exchanges some information about day-to- day matters with the staff. The information that they share does not help her to make sure that her provision fully complements what children do at school and preschool.

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the early years provision

Parents complete questionnaires about the childminder's work and all of their responses are positive. They are pleased with her childcare and with her behaviour management strategies. The childminder rearranges her working days to help parents. She is flexible in her provision of meals and happily provides food or gives children food from home. She shares useful information with parents via daily diaries and verbal feedback. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder speaks to the children in a kind, pleasant way, which wins their trust and helps them to settle and feel safe in her care. Children relate very well to the childminder. Toddlers sit close to her to share story books and they are calm when their nappies are changed. They show self confidence and a sense of belonging in the way they choose toys and books and in their decision making about where they will play. The childminder has established basic house rules for the children which remind them to share, take care of their toys and help to put them away. She rewards them with stickers for being helpful, which they enjoy.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder helps children to learn about how to lead a healthy lifestyle. She encourages them to take frequent sips of fresh water and she offers fresh fruit snacks and nourishing meals or parents can choose to send suitable food from home if they prefer. Children's likes and dislikes are respected and they have a choice of fruit and various sandwich fillings for tea. They sometimes help to make pizzas using healthy ingredients. Children learn through discussions and from posters that hand washing helps to promote good health.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder makes notes about children's progress and she identifies what they need to learn next and uses this information to plan ahead. Children show a keen interest in books, which they take from low shelving in the playroom. They turn the pages one by one and listen intently when the childminder reads stories to them. The childminder talks to the children as they play, to help them learn new words. She encourages children to develop their early writing and drawing skills by offering a range of pencils and crayons. Numbers are displayed on posters in the playroom and the childminder helps children to learn about numbers and counting through songs and rhymes. They are very confident in their use of battery operated toys. They confidently press buttons to activate their toys which include musical instruments, games, remote controlled vehicles and trains. The activities and toys provided by the childminder help children to develop the skills that they

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and outcomes for children

Children show increasing control over their hands. Toddlers already know how to use wooden puzzles and, with sensitive support, they turn the pieces to fit them in to the correct spaces. They try to dress themselves for going outside and they assist the childminder in putting their shoes on. They are also making good progress in feeding themselves at snack time. The childminder takes children to various playgroups to help them to develop their social skills and to enable them to become accustomed to different people and places. They enjoy creative activities at these venues and at her home. They apply paint and glue freely when making pictures and they experience dough modelling activities, water play and sand play. 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 2 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 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 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 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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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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