Childminder in Bexley

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY442530 Inspection date 23/08/2012 Inspector Sarah Morfett

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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, aged 13 and 11 years, in Bexley, within the London Borough of Bexley. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The family has a cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time, of whom three may be in the early years age group. Currently there are four children on roll, of whom three are in the early years age group. The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children. The childminder attends the local parent/toddler group.

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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, settled and thoroughly enjoy their time in the childminder's setting. Overall, they enjoy many stimulating experiences that promote all aspects of their learning and development. A strong emphasis on all safeguarding procedures means children's safety is given high priority. They benefit from the highly effective systems, practices and procedures that promote close relationships with parents. Effective self-evaluation and continual reflection of the service shows a good capacity to maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 strengthen the use of carefully framed open-ended questions, to challenge and extend children's thinking  develop further children's enjoyment of books by making them easily accessible.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent understanding of the local safeguarding procedures. She has a comprehensive safeguarding policy, which she shares with parents to make sure they fully understand her duty of care to their children. The childminder carries out robust risk assessments of her home and all outings to ensure all hazards are minimised. The childminder keeps her first aid qualification This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 up-to-date so she is aware of current, recommended practice to deal with accidents and injuries. She has a wide range of written information that underpins her good practice. This is shared with parents so that, overall, they are secure in the knowledge their children are protected. All equipment, toys and resources are of good quality. They are easily accessible and the childminder sets out a good range for children to make choices. This

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the early years provision

means that they develop independence and decision making skills well. The childminder provides a service that is inclusive to all families and values all children. She has a good understanding of each child's individual needs and home circumstances. This enables her to work closely with the parents to cater for children's learning and development. There is a good reflection of diversity within the resources and the childminder helps the children to begin to understand about people's differences. Consequently, children gain a wider view of the world around them. The childminder has completed the Ofsted self-evaluation, using this to reflect on her practice and indentify her strengths and areas she wishes to develop. She has made good progress in the short time she has been minding. Her focus is on providing the best service she can to develop children's learning and maintain continuous improvement. Parents receive excellent feedback from the childminder on a daily basis. She has

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the early years provision

an extensive range of literature that she shares with them to help them understand her aims for the children's progress. Effective use of a contact book means she can share details of children's well-being and achievements. This helps them to be more involved in their children's learning and development. Each month, the childminder produces a newsletter to inform parents of the plans for the month ahead. She has started to ask parents for suggestions and ideas which can improve her setting. She plans to develop this further by introducing systems for parents to have input that is more positive. Currently, there are no other professionals involved in the children's care. However, the childminder demonstrates a positive attitude to forging links with other practitioners when necessary.

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and outcomes for children

Children are clearly happy and settled in the comfortable and relaxed atmosphere of the childminder's home. They show that they have warm and friendly relationships with her and the other children. Older children and younger ones play well together, learning from each other and develop good skills for the future, such as sharing, turn taking and developing strong communication skills. Younger children attend toddler groups through the week, where they learn to socialise and make friends with other children their own age. This helps them to build confidence and good self-esteem. All children's individual needs are met well. Babies are able to follow their own routines, for example, they sleep and eat when they need to. This means all children develop a strong sense of belonging. The childminder works well with children to help them develop to their full potential. She plans activities to meet their needs using the excellent observations

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and outcomes for children

and assessments of their achievements and progress. She has clear learning This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 intentions for the activities she has planned, which means that children make very good progress in relation to their starting points. Generally, the childminder interacts well with the children to help them develop in their learning. Overall, she asks questions that make children think. The use of open-ended questions is not consistent; therefore, children's learning is not extended as well as it could be. However, children develop well and in some areas make outstanding progress because of the childminder's commitment to providing a good range of activities for them. Children enjoy good opportunities to explore and investigate through play. They get great pleasure from investigating battery-operated toys, pressing buttons and moving toys to make sounds. They work out that if they move the train backwards

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and outcomes for children

and forwards over a certain part of the track it will make train related noises. Children love to play with sand, exploring the textures and mixing it with water, watching with interest how it changes. They thoroughly enjoy art and craft activities, such as sticking, which helps them to develop good hand-eye coordination. There is a range of books in the toy cupboard; however, children have limited opportunities to freely access them. Therefore, they have limited chances to develop enjoyment of books. Children learn the importance of excellent personal hygiene habits, such as washing their hands after being in the garden and before they eat. They show they understand the routines as they automatically run to the bathroom after a sticking activity and before lunch. Children have an exemplary understanding the safety procedures to follow when out because the childminder discuses very clear boundaries. She explains these to them before each trip, therefore, children learn

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and outcomes for children

to assess risks and keep themselves safe extremely well. Children's behaviour is exemplary because they are fully engaged in activities that engross them. The childminder praises children constantly and offers encouragement where she sees they are trying hard. This means that children become confident learners with excellent self-esteem. 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 1 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 2 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 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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