Hornchurch High School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 143946 Inspection date 09/03/2012 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 registered in 1997. She lives with two adult members of her family in a house located in a residential cul-de-sac in Brixton in the London Borough of Lambeth. There are local parks, playgrounds and drop in groups within walking distance that she uses regularly as part of her childminding day. Children are cared for on the ground floor of the house in the living room and they have access to the kitchen, an enclosed garden and a covered outdoor play area. Toilet and handwashing facilities are on the ground floor of the house.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time and three of these may be in the early years age group. She currently has one child on roll who is in the early years age group and attends before and after school and for part of the school holidays.

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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 confident, happy and safe in the care of the childminder. The childminder works well with children's other providers and she helps the children to make good overall progress in their learning. Effective partnerships with parents help the childminder to meet the individual needs of the children. The childminder evaluates her work successfully in most respects. She reviews her documents and makes sure they are up to date and she has made improvements linked to recommendations made at her last inspection. She has remodelled part of her garden to give children a covered outdoor play space and she has plans to attend further training and this demonstrates that she has the capacity to secure ongoing improvement in her work with children.

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further?

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

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further?

 provide a wider range of activities chosen to help children to embrace differences in ethnicity, language, culture and special educational needs and disabilities  make greater use of the outdoor area to give opportunities for investigations of the natural world, for example, through providing chimes, streamers or bubbles to investigate the effects of the wind. 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 is confident in her knowledge and understanding of safeguarding matters. She undertakes comprehensive risk assessments on a regular basis and she makes sure that her home is safe for children. She keeps her motor insurance and MOT up to date and she has renewed her first aid training. She knows what sign or symptoms can indicate ill treatment and she knows what steps to take if she is concerned for the welfare of the children in her care.

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the early years provision

The childminder has completed a worthwhile self evaluation exercise which helped her to identify most of the strengths and weaknesses in her provision. However, she did not bring to light the limitations in the breadth of the activities she plans to help children to embrace diversity. She has worked hard to provide children with more space for play in wet weather and her newly decked area with all weather roofing is very successful. She has also rearranged her store of toys and resources so that children can access them easily and have more space to play indoors. The childminder is eager to keep up to date and to secure ongoing improvement in her childminding work. She plans to find out about the imminent changes in the Early Years Foundation Stage through attending training in the near future.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a wide range of interesting toys and resources which suit children at different ages and stages of development. She keeps them in good order and she has a store of new batteries ready for children to use. The toys and books reflect diverse people appropriately.

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the early years provision

The childminder liaises effectively with other providers. She finds out what they are doing in school from discussions with staff and displayed plans. She talks to staff to find out if children are struggling with any aspect of learning and she gives them valuable support at her home. A good example of this is the encouragement she provides for children to form letters correctly and the way she helps them to write their names. The childminder expresses her willingness to take advice and guidance from specialists such as speech therapists if there is a need although she has not been called upon to do this as yet.

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the early years provision

The childminder displays useful information for parents and carers. This includes her registration certificate and information about how parents can contact Ofsted if they wish. She shares her comprehensive policy and procedure documents with parents so that they are well informed about her provision. The childminder forms a useful link between school and home. She relays information to parents and makes sure they receive notes and notices from school. She makes parents welcome and she shares her thoughts with them about children's progress. They report that they are more than happy with the care that she provides for their children. 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 very happy to see the childminder waiting for them outside school. They show that they feel confident in her care in their happy smiles and in the enthusiastic way they tell all about their school day. The show a sense of belonging in her home in the way they find and select toys and games. The childminder helps children to learn how to keep themselves safe. She makes them understand they must wear safety belts in her care and she talks to them about road safety on the way to and from school. She cares for them in safe surroundings and minimises potential hazards. She makes sure that cleaning materials are stored where children cannot access them. She keeps a gate in place at the bottom of the stairs to prevent accidents.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder ensures that children have a tasty, healthy meal after school. She knows they may be hungry and thirsty at the end of the school day and she has their food and drinks all ready to serve as soon as they arrive at her home. They know they must wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet. The children eat well and they particularly enjoy their fresh fruit dessert.

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and outcomes for children

Children take pleasure in telling visitors about their favourite story books and the stories they have enjoyed listening to at school. They spell out their names accurately and they enjoy play writing. Children show a keen interest in numbers and counting up to 20 and beyond. They use battery operated toys with ease and show that they know how to switch them off and on and how to activate the toys by pressing buttons and switches. Their play and activities help them to develop good skills for their future learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop their knowledge and understanding of the wider world through play with small world toys and sometimes through local outings. They put train tracks together very competently and attach the engine and carriages by offering the appropriate positive and negative ends of the magnetic parts with ease. They plant and grow strawberries in the summer months and enjoy digging in the garden. However, their outdoor activities are a little limited in that they do not involve children in investigations of the wind and the weather.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is a very good role model for the children. She speaks to them calmly and in a kind way but at the same time she is firm and the children respond to her well. They are polite and pleasant and they are very helpful when it is time to tidy up their toys. They are happy to return toy boxes to their correct places and then take out a new toy. They enjoy playing games of hoopla with the childminder and show a growing sense of accuracy and control. 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 3 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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