Childminder in Richmond upon Thames

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY220839 Inspection date 07/02/2012 Inspector Elaine 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 was registered in 2002. She lives with her partner and two children aged 11 and 14 years, in a house in Hampton, Middlesex. The property is close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the ground floor and a first floor toilet are used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outside play. The family has a rabbit and a tortoise as pets. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time; of whom no more than three children may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding two children in this age group. The provision is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children.

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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 beginning to display a strong sense of belonging and form positive relationships, although resources to promote their understanding of diversity are limited. Satisfactory partnerships with parents and others enable the childminder to meet children's individual needs, although the two-way flow of information on children's learning is limited. Consequently, children make satisfactory progress overall. The childminder takes suitable steps to eliminate risks, although she does not maintain records of evacuation in order to improve fire safety. All recommendations from the previous inspection have been suitably addressed and the childminder attends relevant training to maintain continuous improvement. Suitable systems of self-evaluation include obtaining parents' feedback; however they are not sufficiently robust to identify all priorities which will improve outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the systems of self-evaluation to further identify the setting's strengths and priorities for development which will improve the quality of the provision for all children  improve the two-way flow of information with parents by developing records of learning and development, which include the contributions of other providers to better identify children's learning priorities and enable learning to be continued at home  extend the resources and learning environment to help children to respect and value all people  record the details of the evacuation drills in a fire log book and include any This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 problems encountered and how they were resolved.

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the early years provision

Arrangements for safeguarding children are suitable as the childminder has a sound awareness of child protection issues. She has appropriate documentation for further guidance. Children's attendance is accurately recorded. All required documentation is in place and the childminder obtains suitable information to safeguard children. Children regularly practise the emergency evacuation procedures. However, records are not maintained in order to monitor any identified problems and how they are resolved. Suitable risk assessments are in place and daily checks are carried out to minimise risks to children. Satisfactory procedures protect children's health. The childminder has a current first aid certificate and seeks consent for emergency advice or treatment.

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the early years provision

The childminder uses questionnaires to gain some feedback from parents on sharing information and the activities provided. She has attended recent training in safeguarding children, observation and assessments, and planning, to improve her practice. From this she has a new system to record children's initial starting points and continued development. Suitable self-evaluation means the childminder has identified the need to improve her systems of observing and planning for children's development. However, she has not established any formal system of evaluating the entire provision so future plans are limited.

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the early years provision

Resources are adequate to support children's learning and to enable most children to make independent choices. Children have few opportunities to develop a positive awareness of others through sharing books, cooking activities and celebrating festivals. Children access some cultural play figures, however, the resources to promote diversity are not very extensive. Visits in the local environment provide further experiences and activities. For example, children use large equipment and develop physical skills in a playground in a park. They feed baby rabbits at a farm and enjoy water activities in a small pool.

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the early years provision

The childminder emails photographs of the children engaged in activities to the parents and through verbal discussions keeps them suitably informed of their children's progress. Parents comment positively on trusting the childminder and their children being happy. The childminder now has a notice board to display her certificate of registration, safeguarding information and the Ofsted poster for parents. However, she does not have a system of recording children's progress, including parents' and other providers' contributions. This limits the two-way flow of information in order to better identify children's learning priorities and enable learning to be continued at home. The childminder liaises sufficiently with a teacher at the local school over their concerns about a child's speech development. Policies and procedures are in writing and keep parents suitably informed. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and confident in the childminder's home and generally enjoy their learning. They form positive relationships with the childminder and develop some understanding of people's differences. Children initiate their own learning with some suggestions from the childminder. For example, she suggests playing a game, and an older and more able child explains the rules. The childminder encourages the child to explain how they know they have won and to count to check they are right. The childminder has a sound awareness of the children's abilities and children access developmentally appropriate resources, including some books. Consequently, they achieve well in most aspects of their learning. Children are broadly content and make some choices about activities to engage in.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder engages children in conversations about their home environments and activities they enjoy. This means most children are confident communicators and generally develop the skills they require to progress in the future. Older and more able children recognise some letters. They use puzzles independently and are beginning to complete them through trial and error. Access to paper and pens encourages children's early writing skills and creativity. Children are gaining an appropriate awareness of their own environment and the wider world. For example, one child talks about America being a long way away and having to sleep on an aeroplane to get there. Children ask to watch television to relax and the childminder sits with them to provide some effective interaction. She encourages them to switch it off after a while and children are then more interested in the resources.

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and outcomes for children

Children comply with safety and health routines. For example, they sit at the table to eat. Children help themselves to drinks and are confident to ask for more. They follow appropriate personal hygiene routines most of the time. Children are provided with nutritional meals, such as pitta bread, ham and carrot sticks or spaghetti bolognese. Children have daily opportunities for exercise as they walk to drop children off at school. Children talk excitedly about playing football in the park and remember using a trampoline in the gym. They roll hoops and are interested in knowing how to hula-hoop. Children are generally well behaved and are developing an appropriate understanding of how to stay safe. 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 exceptiona lly 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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