Childminder in Lewisham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY440191 Inspection date 27/07/2012 Inspector Marcia Robinson

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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 2012. She lives with her husband and two children, one of whom is of adult age and one of whom is of secondary school age. They live in Forest Hill in the London Borough of Lewisham close to local shops, parks and schools. The whole of the ground floor is available for childminding with bathroom facilities and one bedroom on the first floor. There is a garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for six children under eight years; of these, three children may be in the early years age group. She currently has three children in the early years age group on roll.

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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

Children's individual needs are well met and they make good progress in their learning. The childminder has a sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and overall plans a good range of learning experiences, which meet each child's individual needs and interest. Children have fewer opportunities to explore natural materials. Children's health and safety is suitably promoted, however, there is a breach of a legal requirement relating to risk assessment. The childminder builds suitable relationships with parents, but they are not fully involved in the process of planning for their child's continuous learning and development. She demonstrates a sound commitment to securing continuous improvement although her systems for self-evaluation are not yet fully effective.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure the record of risk assessment identifies aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis. Maintain a record of these particular aspects and when and by whom they have been checked (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 17/08/2012

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further?

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

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further?

 develop opportunities for parents to contribute to children's learning records and systems for assessing children's starting points; to identify learning This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 priorities and plan the next steps in a child's developmental progress  develop the system for self-evaluation to identify the setting's strengths and priorities for development that will improve the quality of provision for all children  provide a range of natural materials, resources and sensory experiences to enable babies to investigate and explore colour, texture and shape.

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is appropriately safeguarded overall. The childminder has a sound understanding of the procedures to follow if she has any concerns regarding children's welfare. She uses a suitable range of policies and procedures to safeguard children. She shares these and all required documentation with parents, helping to safeguard children's welfare. The childminder uses suitable risk assessments to identify most risks to children on the premises and prior to any outings. However, the risk assessment does not include all the detail required such as when it was carried out and the date of review. It does not identify all aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis. For example, checking that the garden gate is not left open and tools are inaccessible to children. These are breaches of a specific legal requirement and do not fully promote children's welfare. However, due to careful supervision by the

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the early years provision

childminder, this has a minimal impact on children. The childminder organises her home suitably for childminding. There is sufficient space to play; children can easily access a generally good variety of resources and play materials that are suitable for their age and needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder promotes equality and diversity well. She provides an inclusive environment by welcoming all and meets children's individual learning needs effectively. She obtains good information overall from parents to meet children's backgrounds and needs. In addition, the childminder works hard to promote children's understanding of diversity through the varied menu offered to them, some planned activities and a few resources that reflect our diverse society.

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the early years provision

Sound relationships with parents and carers are in place. They receive regular feedback about their children's care and learning through daily diaries, discussions and sharing of development records. However, she is yet to encourage parents' contributions towards these, to further support a continuous approach towards children's learning. The childminder asks parents to provide her with information about children's individual needs at the beginning of their placement, including information about their starting points. However, these are not recorded, so there are missed opportunities to further enhance the children's learning and development through this. There are currently no children on roll who attend other early years settings or need support from other agencies. However, the childminder is aware of the need to work in partnership with others if the need arises.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates she is ambitious and commits to ensuring children's learning and development is fully supported so they reach their full potential. She This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 is generally aware of her strengths and areas requiring further development. For example, she is currently developing her resources that reflect positive images of diversity. Although the system for self-evaluation is not yet robust, the childminder considers what to do to promote children's care and learning and shows a commitment to making continuous improvements.

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and outcomes for children

Babies and young children are content and settled. They smile and babble to show they feel safe. They move around the home freely and climb onto the childminder's lap for a quick cuddle. The childminder has started to conduct fire drills with children from an early age so that they know how to evacuate the premises in an emergency. Children develop appropriate behaviour, because the childminder acts in a calm and relaxed manner, giving clear explanations to promote safety whilst in her care. She consistently offers praise and encouragement to children, which starts to build their self-esteem and confidence. Children adopt simple hygiene routines and babies are supported to wash their hands before eating. Children have good opportunities to exercise and develop their physical control while using the indoor ball pool. For example, they move, roll and reach for soft balls and climb or sit up without any support.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder supports children's learning well. Her sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and of how children learn and develop supports her in offering them a good range of learning experiences. Young children are interested in play and explore the environment with interest. They have developed strong attachments with the childminder who in turn shows secure knowledge of the children's interests and abilities which help her provide activities that they enjoy. Sound procedures for observation and assessment are in the early stages of development. The children currently attending have been with the childminder for a relatively short period of time so she is trying out different methods. The childminder is able to demonstrate how next steps in children's learning are identified, although these are not always clearly linked with planning. Babies and young children engage in a wide variety of stimulating and interesting

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and outcomes for children

activities in the home and local community. For example, children's early language skills are fostered as the childminder talks to them as they play, or when they cuddle up to listen to a story. They also show great pleasure looking at baby texture books and babble away as they explore these. Although babies have a wide range of toys and resources to support their development the childminder has not, as yet considered providing more everyday natural objects to fully support their emerging exploration for natural play materials. Children are developing an early understanding about number, shape and colour as they build towers with different colour bricks and they are beginning to repeat numbers as they count with the childminder. Children's social skills are developing well. They play alongside each other at the childminder's home and with larger groups of children when they regularly attend sessions at community groups. Children are becoming

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and outcomes for children

increasingly independent as they decide what they want to play with and feed This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 themselves at meal times. They go on regular outings, which help them find out about their local environment and community. For example, they visit a museum where children show interest in the aquarium and explore artefacts and displays, with the childminder at hand to support them. Children explore and enjoy using a good range of battery and interactive programmable toys. Young children use buggies to take their babies for walks and pause to press buttons on play phones and pretend to talk to familiar people in their lives. Taken together, these experiences provide good opportunities for children to enjoy and achieve, and develop their skills for the future. 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 3 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 2 The extent to which children feel safe 3 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 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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