Childminder in Lambeth

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY252133 Inspection date 24/04/2012 Inspector Mauvene Burke

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and three children aged 11, eight and three years old on the seventh floor of a block of purpose built flats, with lift access. The premises are located in the Vauxhall Cross area in the London Borough of Lambeth and overlook the River Thames, close to shops and good public transport links. Children have access to the open-planned kitchen/diner and living room, one bedroom and a bathroom.

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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 two children under eight years. She is currently minding one child in the early year's age range. When working with an assistant, she may care for three children under eight years of which no more than three may be in the early year's age range at any time.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder regularly attends a parent and toddler group. She has an NVQ Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Children's Learning and Development.

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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 well cared for in this warm and welcoming home where their welfare, learning and development are generally very well supported by the childminder. The childminder promotes an inclusive service and works closely with parents and understands the need to work with other providers to ensure children's individual needs are consistently being met. Children make good progress given their age, ability and unique starting points. She demonstrates a firm commitment to continually improving her provision leading to better outcomes for all children and has started to use self-evaluation as a way of monitoring her provision.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 improve the record of risk assessments so that it includes information on who conducted it, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Documentation) 08/05/2012

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further?

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

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further?

 match the observations to the expectations of the early learning goals  keep a record of existing injuries and ask parents and/or carers to sign the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 record.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of her role and responsibilities to protect them from possible harm or neglect and how to pass on concerns appropriately. She has attended training in this area to keep her awareness up-to-date and has a clear policy which she shares with parents. She is very aware of the need to keep records of any concerns she may have about children in her care. Nonetheless, she does not always maintain an accurate record of existing injuries a child may have sustained at home following an accident. She is fully aware that all adults around children must either be appropriately checked or fully supervised. She maintains a very safe household where hazards have been addressed. She has an effective risk assessment which she completes and records on a daily basis, however, relevant information required on the risk assessment has been omitted. For example, the date of when the next

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the early years provision

review of the risk assessment will take place and the name of the person who conducted the assessment. This is a specific legal requirement of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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the early years provision

The childminder offers a very welcoming home where she works closely with parents to find out children's individual needs and routines so they settle well. Children move easily between the rooms and access toys of their choice from the selection available which support all areas of learning. The childminder is quite resourceful. For example, she uses a range of recycled material such as spice jars and egg cartons to complement activities planned. Children learn about their local community through regular outings and regularly engage in activities which help them to learn about cultures that are different from their own. The childminder is a reflective practitioner, she reviews her practice and has identified areas she would like to improve. For example, she has started to learn Makaton as she recognises this can have a positive outcome for many children. In addition to this, she has a desire to learn more about Schemas as she recognises that children in her setting

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the early years provision

may have this trait. She is open to all recommendations made that will enhance the outcomes for children. This demonstrates the childminder's commitment to continuous improvement.

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the early years provision

Partnership with parents is good and information is shared from the start of the placement. The childminder provides a daily diary for children which she shares with parents. She invites them to take this home at the end of the day and to make any comments they feel will help for the following day. She encourages parents to read their children's learning journeys so they can be involved in their children's progress. Parents value her advice around issues such as potty training and toys that will support their children's learning at home. Although the childminder is not looking after children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, she shows a positive attitude to this and knows the importance of liaising closely with parents and other professionals as needed. 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 well occupied in this setting where they are very comfortable and make warm relationships with the childminder and her family. Children benefit from the appropriate levels of involvement from the childminder in their play and activities and there is a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated play. The childminder gets to know children well through discussions she has with their parents and through the completion of an 'all about me' form. Planning is done on a weekly basis and is based on the children's interests. Activities are planned with a purpose in mind and are sometimes evaluated to see whether or not the objectives were met. Children's progress is monitored through observations of their play which are linked to the areas of learning. However, observations are not matched to the expectations of the early learning goals therefore next steps are not always identified.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to gain an understanding of the world that they live in as they are taken out regularly within the local vicinity. They often watch the boats go past as they walk alongside the river or when they visit the local city farm. They learn skills for the future such as when they play with the toy digital camera which flashes and 'takes pictures' when they press a button. Children are developing fine control skills which assist in their hand and eye co-ordination and which will help them to hold a pencil/pen as they get older. For example, children spend long periods of time concentrating as they thread cooked spaghetti through small holes in a jar. Children are creating their own personal words as they begin to develop their language and are repeating words that have an association with objects around them such as 'water' and 'ga - ga' for glasses. The childminder creates an environment which allows children to feel, touch and smell. She does this by

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and outcomes for children

providing them with a 'treasure basket' filled with a range of different textured natural resources such as shells, a piece of rock, a cone and sponge. They are beginning to develop their preferences and their independence as they chose their favourite nursery rhymes from the board and select their own toys and happily play on their own.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a clean and hygienic environment and are adopting healthy lifestyles. They are protected from the risk of cross-infection because the childminder follows good procedures like hand-washing after nappy changes and cleaning the nappy changing mat after each use. Children need little encouragement to wash their hands before and after eating. They simply love washing their hands as it is an opportunity for them to press the top of the liquid soap and watch the liquid flow. Children are encouraged to brush their teeth after eating their lunch. Children enjoy healthy home cooked nutritious meals and snacks which the childminder prepares. Access to fresh drinking water is available at all times and children help themselves to their individual drinking beakers when they require. The have daily access to fresh air and exercise whether through walking along the River Thames, going to the local children centre or riding on

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and outcomes for children

push and pedal cars. Children are happy and confident, as the childminder values their individuality and praises their good behaviour. Her approach to the children is calm and positive. Children's level of maturity and understanding is taken into This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 account when dealing with situations, and they are developing skills for the future as they make friends, share and play alongside each other in a harmonious manner. Children are learning about different cultures as they celebrate festivals such as the Chinese New Year and St George's Day. They have access to a good range of resources that reflect people who are different from them. 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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