Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY355993 Inspection date 11/07/2012 Inspector Jane Nelson

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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 2007. She lives with her husband and child, aged five months, in a house in the London Borough of Hounslow. The family have a pet cat. The living room on the ground floor of the property and a small dedicated play room, behind the garage at the side of the house, are used for childminding. A bedroom on the ground floor and the first floor of the premises are not used for childminding. There is access to an enclosed garden at the rear.

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Description of the childminding

This provision is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years, three of whom may be in the early years age range, when working on her own. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The childminder works with her husband, who is also a registered childminder. When working together they may care for a maximum of seven children under eight years, five of whom may be in the early years age range. They are currently caring for five children, four of whom are in the early years age range and also care for two school age children. The childminder collects children from the local schools and attends several toddler groups on a regular basis. The childminder is a member of a Quality Assured Network.

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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

The childminder creates a welcoming, stimulating, calm, family environment where individual children's learning and development needs are the focus of the daily routine. This results in children thoroughly enjoying all they do with the childminder and making excellent progress, particularly with their language development and the skills they are developing for the future. The childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to ongoing improvement through her clear vision for her setting and the development made since her last inspection. She uses self-evaluation effectively to reflect on what has worked well, and identifies most aspects for future development. Secure relationships are built with parents, resulting in good communication. The childminder shares information well with other settings children attend.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the use of sharing photographs of children's families, friends, pets or favourite people This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  extend the use of flexible resources that can be used in many different ways to facilitate children's play and exploration. These might include lengths of plastic guttering, tubing and water cans and large paintbrushes and buckets in the outdoor area.

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the early years provision

The childminder understands her responsibilities relating to safeguarding and child protection issues. She is aware of the procedures to follow if concerns arise regarding a child's welfare, or an allegation is made relating to her, her co childminder or their assistant. The childminder maintains the required record relating to risk assessment and uses this effectively to monitor safety in the home and on outings. Other required records and documentation relating to childminding, many of which are shared with her co childminder, are in place and well organised. The childminder provides a calm and welcoming environment. The gentle encouraging interaction she shares with children and stimulating range of play experiences she provides supports individual children's learning and development needs well. The childminder has recently resumed childminding following a maternity leave break. She organised this effectively, for example, planning in

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the early years provision

advance and ensuring children received continuity of care with her co childminder and assistant during her break. The childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to ongoing improvement. For example, being aware of imminent changes affecting her registration and developing how she and her co childminder work with their assistant. The childminder makes effective use of self-evaluation, including aspects of this in children's developmental records and regularly reflecting on how she has developed, what has worked well and identifying most aspects for future development. Space in the childminder's home is organised effectively to enable children to eat, play and rest safely and comfortably. The dedicated play room is well organised with a good selection of play materials and equipment. Some resources are set out for children to explore in the living room. The childminder makes some use of resources, such as natural materials, to facilitate children's play, although this is

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the early years provision

not yet fully developed. For example, to include using resources such as using lengths of plastic guttering, tubing and water cans in the outdoor area and having these readily accessible. The childminder observes and monitors children's development through observations. She creatively illustrates these with photographs and examples of creative work. These are shared regularly with parents, who are encouraged to contribute to their child's records. The childminder makes good use of resources, such as, local playgroups, childminding colleagues and children's centres to complement home-based play. Children's understanding of the wider world is encouraged well through daily use of quality resources, such as play figures and books and learning about each other's cultures. Good relationships are built with parents and result in information being shared well. Parents praise the childminder highly. They refer to her as

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the early years provision

providing a caring and structured environment where children feel safe and enjoy being with her. Parents comment in particular that the childminder makes a significant contribution to children's personal and social development. They state This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 they can see how their children are gaining skills, such as counting, the alphabet and shape recognition. Effective systems are in place to share information with other settings children attend, such as local schools that help to provide continuity in children's learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, confident and thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder. They demonstrate they feel very safe and secure and have an extremely strong sense of belonging in her home. Children benefit greatly from the supportive, affectionate and gentle interaction they share with the childminder. As a result, they achieve very well, and are making excellent progress in their development, particularly in relation to their communication and reasoning skills. They are acquiring an extensive range of skills they will use in the future as they play, socialise and explore. Children demonstrate an awareness of their own safety as they move around carefully and use equipment and utensils safely and with developing confidence. For example, they use a knife, under the childminder's close supervision, to cut their own banana at snack time. They do this carefully, describing how they use two hands to cut the banana. Children use their small physical skills when

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and outcomes for children

practising cutting with safety scissors. They manipulate the scissors, opening and closing them carefully and cutting into a piece of paper. Children behave very well as they are motivated, involved and interested in their play. They are confident, developing independence and make their own feelings and choices known to each other and the childminder. Children concentrate and persist with activities, for example, when using the scissors. They listen and respond to the childminder following suggestions and asking for help when needed. Children sit cosily next to the childminder looking at a book. They listen intently, describing what they can see in the book, and helping to turn the pages. The childminder encourages counting of objects in the book and children repeat numbers randomly, beginning to sequence small numbers, such as, "one and two". They practice repeating new words they are learning through the story, such as

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and outcomes for children

"shrimp". Children are developing the concept of "on top of" and "smaller and bigger". They use these phrases frequently in their play to appropriately describe the size of objects and where they are positioned. Children enjoy looking through small albums of photographs, discussing with the childminder what they and their friends are doing in the pictures. They are beginning to recognise their own name and link this to their photograph displayed on the wall showing "who is here today". However, the use of photographs is not yet extended to include the sharing of photographs of children's families, friends, pets or favourite people, increasing opportunities for discussion. Children follow practices, as part of the daily routine, which help them to acquire healthy habits. For example, they wash their hands before snack and make healthy choices about which fruit to eat. Children show a developing independence and

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and outcomes for children

awareness of their personal care, for example, helping to undress themselves when their nappy needs changing and using a tissue when they sneeze. Children enjoy daily outdoor play and exercise in the childminder's garden and through This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 frequent visits to local parks, places of interest and children's centres. Children's individual routines are followed, providing security and familiarity. For example, the childminder and children all recognise when they are tired. The childminder creates a cosy environment for nap time, playing soothing music and settling children comfortably, with their favourite comfort toys they have brought from home. 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 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 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 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 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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