Childminder in Greenwich

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY262890 Inspection date 16/03/2012 Inspector Lesley Hodges

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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 2003. She lives with her husband, three adult children and two younger children aged 10 and three. They live in a house in Kidbrooke in the London Borough of Greenwich. The downstairs area is used for childminding. Children use an enclosed garden. The childminder's husband and daughter are her assistants. The childminder, when working with an assistant, is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, all of whom may be in the early years age group, and three children in total when working by herself. Of these, not more than one child may be under one year old at any one time. The childminder is able to provide overnight care for one child under eight years. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently caring for a two-year-old child during the day and three other children at various

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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

The childminder is caring and children clearly feel at home in her company. She provides a secure environment in which children's safety is attended to well. Children are making suitable progress in their learning. The childminder shares information on daily events with parents, which ensures good consistency of care with them. Although, the childminder does review some aspects of her practice, processes for self-evaluation are not sufficiently effective to identify all areas for improvement. For example, some hygiene routines are not carried out effectively, and children's behaviour is not always managed consistently; nevertheless, the childminder shows suitable ability to sustain continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 plan more effective use of the outdoor environment to provide all six required areas of learning, to further support children who learn better when outside  promote further children's developing independence by encouraging them to take initiatives and undertake developmentally appropriate tasks, including better understanding of how to manage their personal hygiene.  develop further self-evaluation systems to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the provision more accurately, including taking a consistent approach to behaviour management, in order to improve the quality of provision for all children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children's safety is promoted well as the childminder has a clear understanding of how to look after children's welfare. She demonstrates a sound knowledge of child protection issues and understands clearly the action she needs to take if she has concerns about a child in her care. Steps are taken to ensure that only those who are cleared to work with children do so and parents are consulted when there are changes to arrangements. All documentation is well maintained. For example, there are detailed records of the times children attend and parents sign the relevant book to acknowledge accidents. Parents advise the childminder of any injuries the children have when they arrive, and these are also recorded carefully. Risk assessment is in place and hazards are identified well, to keep children safe. Good hygiene routines include wearing disposable gloves when changing nappies.

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the early years provision

Although the childminder has made some improvements since the previous inspection and has some processes for self-evaluation, these do not fully identify all areas where improvement is needed. For example, she does not make sure that all persons working with the children take the same approach, such as for managing children's behaviour. Some improvements have been made to the garden area, which is safe and enclosed, and now offers differing surfaces. These improvements allow children to play outside at all times of the year. The childminder does not make full use of this space, however, which disadvantages those children who learn better when outside.

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the early years provision

Children have access to suitable resources both inside and out, and are encouraged to choose activities from those available. The childminder uses the local toy library to provide some variety of toys for the children to use. These include 'ride-in' cars, books and musical instruments. The childminder has attended a range of courses to improve her knowledge of issues such as safeguarding and other aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage, showing how she drives improvement of her provision appropriately.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed effective relationships with parents and carers and she shares information with them on all aspects of the children's care. For example, they all talk about trips they have made to different parks and what the children enjoy playing with. The childminder has links with another local childminder and she talks with staff at the local Children's Centre about the activities they provide and how she can do similar things at home, so she provides appropriately for all children and meets their differing needs.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides a warm, welcoming environment for the children in her care. Children are comfortable when saying goodbye to parents as they are engaged in activities of their choice and clearly feel secure in the childminder's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 company. Children play with modelling dough, making different shapes and choosing colours. They use scissors and rolling pins to make different things. Children talk about what they are making as they use their imaginations and thinking skills. The childminder talks to the children appropriately, engaging with them in their play. She asks questions and repeats phrases to make meanings clear. Children choose books to share with the childminder including those which show children from different backgrounds. The childminder sings nursery rhymes from a book with the children and they look at the pictures as they sing. These

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and outcomes for children

activities help to develop early skills that underpin reading.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop physical skills as they play happily in the garden with hoops, cars and scooters, but the childminder does not offer all required areas of learning outdoors to make the best possible use of this area daily. The childminder regularly takes the children to the local Children's Centre where they play creatively with role play equipment. For example, they play with pots and pans and make dinner in the play kitchen. Further creative skills are developed as children make cards with collage items. The childminder makes use of local parks where the children play on equipment such as slides. These activities help children's overall development and encourage their learning in different environments. Sufficient observations are carried out on children to establish their needs and the childminder identifies some activities to develop skills further. Whilst these specific activities are not on her weekly plans, the childminder is sufficiently aware of

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and outcomes for children

which activities are suitable for developing children's skills. Using children's interests as a guide, the childminder plans to take the children to an aquarium so that they can look at different types of fish. Children's drawings are displayed on the walls, so that the children can feel valued in this home environment.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning how to keep themselves safe as they practice fire evacuation procedures regularly. They talk about 'holding on tight' so that they do not fall from their bikes. Children feed themselves with suitable sized cutlery; however, there are few other opportunities to further develop independence skills in the daily routines. Additionally, children do not always use appropriate hygiene routines; for example, when washing their hands. Children are given healthy foods each day including vegetables and fruit, and menus are recorded and are available for parents to see in advance and discuss. 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 2 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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