Childminder in Lambeth

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY288440 Inspection date 14/03/2012 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 2004. She lives with her partner and family in a house located in the London Borough of Brixton. There are two children in the family, one of whom is an adult and the other is over eight years. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play.

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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 to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time; three of these may be in the early years age group. The childminder is currently caring for two children in the early years age group; one of whom attends full time and the other after school only. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and she regularly attends a local toddler group and childminding support group. The childminder holds a childcare qualification at level 3 awarded by the National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB).

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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 very successfully meets the individual needs of the children in her care. They are safe, happy and relaxed and make considerable progress in their learning overall. The childminder has established a highly effective partnership with parents, which makes a significant contribution to children's welfare and progress. The childminder conducts a thorough evaluation of her practice, comprehensively safeguarding children. She works hard to maintain high standards through responding effectively to recommendations for improvement, updating her documentation and attending worthwhile training courses. The childminder demonstrates her excellent capacity for ongoing improvement, with a positive attitude to learning about imminent changes within the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.

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further?

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

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further?

 making further use of the outdoor area to give opportunities for investigations of the natural world, for example, by providing chimes, streamers or windmills 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 has clear policies, strategies and procedures in place that promote the safeguarding and welfare of the children extremely well. She keeps her child protection knowledge up to date through regular professional training. She ensures that parents know about her responsibilities towards their children through sharing substantial information with them. She carefully assesses risks to children in her home and on the outings they enjoy together; taking highly effective steps to minimise all risks and keep children safe.

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the early years provision

The childminder's thorough self-evaluation provides an accurate diagnosis of the strengths of her work and she identifies most areas where she can improve. She reflects on each child's interests and finds ways to stimulate these and help children to progress further. The childminder makes exceptionally good use of local amenities, which she visits regularly, providing children with ample opportunities to socialise and take part in activities linked to multi-cultural events and celebrations. These include exciting Brazilian dancing and Black History month. The childminder enthusiastically monitors her training needs to identify areas for self-development. She consistently applies for further training courses and keeps her first aid training up to date to enable her to treat children's minor injuries efficiently. The childminder makes sure that all her documentation meets current legal requirements and supports children's welfare consistently well.

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the early years provision

Children have very easy access to an extensive range of toys, books and resources which attract and maintain their interest. The childminder has plans to do planting activities in the garden as the seasons progress, although few activities are currently planned with a view to exploring the wind and the weather. The childminder actively encourages children to make choices and she successfully promotes their growing independence. She works very well with parents in this respect, as she encourages children to attain very good levels of mobility considering their age and fully supports children's eagerness to feed themselves. The childminder consults parents in face-to-face discussions and via questionnaires, responding to their comments very positively. She keeps parents well informed about their child's achievements and progress, enabling their continued involvement in their children's learning and development at home.

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the early years provision

Parents are very complimentary about the flexible service that the childminder provides. They comment on the huge variety of stimulating things that the childminder does with the children every day. They say they are delighted with the rapid development of their child's language and motor skills, which they attribute to the childminder. Above all, they say how much their child loves coming to the childminder's home. The childminder shares her detailed observations with other providers where children attend, enabling her to fully support children's learning, development and care. She states her willingness to work in partnership with specialists and therapists if there is a need, although she has not been called upon to do this as yet. 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 successfully nurtures children, helping them to feel very secure and safe in her care. They laugh and play in a relaxed way and show great confidence and a strong sense of belonging in her home. Children benefit from following a regular routine which they know and understand. They learn what the childminder expects of them from an early age and they respond very well. They know when to say please and thank you because the childminder is a good role model and she praises them warmly when they follow her lead. The children are busy, happy and very well behaved.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder helps children to learn about leading a healthy lifestyle in enjoyable ways. They enjoy looking at homemade books, which include 'keep germs away'. These books are full of photographs of the children, for example, wiping runny noses and washing their hands. The childminder carefully follows parental preferences in relation to nutrition. After weaning is complete, she provides tasty, healthy, home cooked meals for the children. Parents comment on how well the childminder meets their requirement for 'good, pure, natural food in a balanced diet'.

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and outcomes for children

The development of children's communication skills is exemplary. The childminder speaks clearly and the children listen closely to what she is saying. She has made a song board with simple pictures for the children to select a song they will sing next. They giggle and laugh with delight when the childminder takes out props to accompany their singing. These include glove puppets, soft toys and books. Children are gaining a love of books and they snuggle up contentedly with the childminder to share stories.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder skilfully weaves learning about numbers and counting into children's play and singing. For example, she counts down five, four, three, two one, cleverly using duck finger puppets when the ducks disappear off the pond. This encourages the children to successfully repeat what they hear. Children know how to make battery operated toys work, which shows that their growing understanding of cause and effect from a very young age. Taken overall, the activities that the childminder provides help children to develop future learning skills very well and they learn with pleasure and great enjoyment.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the wider world through daily outings to playgroups, parks, shops and other place of interest in the local community. They also show a keen interest in exploring a wide range of small world toys in the childminder's home. For example, children play with tea sets and feed their babies with pretend food. They wrap their dolls up in blankets and give them cuddles and comfort, reflecting through role-play how they are also treated with kindness. The children are developing a keen interest in singing, dancing, dressing-up and role-play. The childminder makes pertinent observations and notes children's progress to share This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 with their parents. She accurately identifies the next steps for the children's development and she plans very effectively to help them move on in their learning. 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 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 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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