Pepper, Karen Anne

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY424667 Inspection date 28/05/2012 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 2011. She lives in a three bedroom house with her partner and two school age children. Their home is located in Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond. The ground floor of the house is the main area used for childminding and children use one bedroom upstairs for sleeping. Children have access to an enclosed garden for outdoor play. Toilet and hand washing facilities are on the ground floor. The childminder has a pet hamster. 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 and three of these may be in the early years age group. There are currently three children on roll and two of these are in the early years age group. The children attend for part time and full time hours. The childminder takes children to parks and activity groups and she collects children from a local primary school.

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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 happy and safe with the childminder and with her help and encouragement they are making good progress in their learning. The childminder has established a good working relationship with parents. The adults share useful information every day which helps the childminder to meet children's individual needs well. The childminder reviews and evaluates her service to children informally but effectively overall. She shows her capacity for continuous improvement in her positive attitude to ongoing training.

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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 to develop children's knowledge, understanding and respect for cultural diversity.

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the early years provision

The childminder attaches a high level of importance to her work with children. In the short time since registration she has attended several relevant courses and a workshop which have raised her knowledge and understanding of how to keep children safe. She displays contact details of the Single Point of Access (SPA) and shares her policy and procedure documents with parents so that they are aware of her responsibilities.

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the early years provision

The childminder has carefully reviewed and evaluated her work and subsequently This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 she has improved her systems of keeping records and she has an exemplary set of documents which are clear, very well presented and ready for inspection. She has organised a comprehensive file of information about each child which includes useful observations and photographs. She makes good use of her records to track children's progress and to plan worthwhile activities to help them make the next steps in their learning. The childminder offers her information about each child to their parents to take home to read at their leisure so that they can work with her in an effective partnership to support their own child's learning. Parents speak highly of the childminder and her well organised ways of working. They comment that she makes them welcome and is flexible and helpful. They also remark that

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the early years provision

the childminder is enthusiastic and knowledgeable and how quickly and successfully she manages potty training. The childminder expresses her willingness to take guidance and advice from specialists and therapists and to work in partnership with them if there is a need but she has not been called upon to do this as yet.

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the early years provision

The childminder is active and effective in her drive for ongoing improvement. She knows that the Early Years Foundation Stage is soon to be adjusted and has found a suitable course to attend to enable her to keep up to date. She has also completed a useful food hygiene course recently and she has completed training in information sharing both of which help her to maintain good standards for the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a wide range of good quality toys, books, small world toys and outdoor play resources. She stores baby toys at floor level so that the youngest children can explore and handle toys easily. She makes toys for toddlers and older children easily accessible to them so that they can exercise their growing independence. Parents comment favourably on the additional toys that the childminder has obtained since their children joined her in response to their individual needs. The childminder works enthusiastically with the children to support them in their learning. She recognises their individual stages of development and provides activities and play opportunities that stimulate the children and help them to make progress. The childminder has a positive attitude to promoting children's understanding of diversity although she has not, as yet, provided any activities linked to a range of cultures. Her toys, books and resources

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the early years provision

reflect diversity appropriately and she takes children out and about in the local community where they meet people from a range of cultures and backgrounds.

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and outcomes for children

Children's happy smiles, and their relaxed body language, show that they feel safe in the care of the childminder. They take comfort from talking to the childminder about what they will do next and they show an understanding of routines and the pattern of events. The children enjoy choosing resources and books that attract their interest. They bring books to the childminder and snuggle up close to her to share the stories which also shows how safe and confident they feel. The childminder wins children's confidence through a carefully planned settling- in- This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 routine. This is particularly beneficial to babies who have not been parted from their parents previously. She makes home visits and cares for the babies for an hour or two over as many weeks as it takes for them to settle and finally they come to her calmly and without tears.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder helps children to gain independence through encouraging them to make choices and decisions. They wash their own hands, make choices and decisions and they are learning to help to put things away. A current favourite book tells a story about a green frog which children listen to with keen interest. They also like books including a battery operated book that makes sounds and music when the children press the buttons. Parents comment on how well their children are learning new words with the childminder. She introduces the names of colours and the names of animals and insects when she is reading to the children and they listen well.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder makes good use of learning opportunities when children are out walking in the local area. They look at numbers in the environment together such as the figures on the wheely bins outside and the numbers on houses. The children are eager to count and they can already say numbers one to 10 in the correct order. Children have many battery operated toys to play with and they know how to switch them on and off. They make music with a guitar and they show that they know how to use a toy mobile phone. Taken overall the childminder provides activities, learning opportunities and resources which help children to develop their future skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about keeping themselves safe with the childminder. She rewards them with certificates when they have practiced fire evacuation and they know where the assembly point is. She teaches them to cross roads safely on outings and school collection runs. Children also learn how to keep healthy through regular hand washing routines. The childminder provides a good range of tasty, healthy meals and fresh fruit snacks for the children. She produces a menu plan each week and she makes sure that parents know about what children eat via her daily diaries.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has developed her garden to make it colourful, safe, interesting and stimulating for the children. They explore sand and water and they have great fun chalking patterns with jumbo sized chalks. They dig in the earth and plant seeds and then they learn to care for the plants as they grow. Children have further worthwhile opportunities to explore and handle materials at the playgroups they visit each week with the childminder. 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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