Childminder in Southwark

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 05/12/2012 17/06/2010

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early years provision

This inspection: 2 Previous inspection: 3 How well the early years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children 2 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 2

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This provision is good

 The children feel safe at the provision which offers the unique combination of a homely environment and child centred play areas.  The children have many opportunities to learn in all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage due to the well planned routine and abundant resources.  The childminder and her colleagues have a good understanding of how to promote the health and safety of children in their care. She has assessed the risks to her premises well and has minimised these so children are able to use all areas of the downstairs and the garden in their play.  Children's language and literacy development is progressing because the love of books and story telling is promoted . Children are encouraged to describe, predict and think critically about books.  Due to the excellent child to adult ratios the individual needs of children are known very well and their learning is promoted appropriately.

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This provision is good

 Children experience a consistency of care due to the good communication and relationships between parents and the childminder and her colleagues.

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It is not yet outstanding because

 The systems to share information with parents regarding their child's development and involve them in their children's learning are not fully developed.

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Information about this inspection

Inspections of registered early years provision are scheduled:  at least once in every inspection cycle. The current cycle ends on 31 July 2016  more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged as inadequate  brought forward in the inspection cycle where Ofsted has received information that suggests the provision may not be meeting the legal requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage; or where assessment of the provision identifies a need for early inspection  prioritised for inspection where we have received information that the provision is not meeting the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and which suggests children may not be safe  at the completion of an investigation into failure to comply with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Information about this inspection

The provision is also registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. This report includes a judgment about compliance with the requirements of that register.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector spoke to parents dropping their children off in the morning  The inspector observed the children at breakfast time and nap time

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Inspection activities

 The inspector observed all children taking part in a planned activity and at play in the garden room  The inspector sampled children's records including progress files  The inspector had discussions with the childminder and her colleagues

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Information about the setting

The childminder was registered in April 1996 on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and adult children, in a four bedroom house, located in the London Borough of Southwark. The whole of the ground floor of the premises is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play and a purpose built garden playroom. The childminder works jointly with another registered childminder and has an employed assistant. The childminders have completed basic training including first aid and child protection. They attend local groups and take children to other activities at the library.

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Information about the setting

The childminder visits the local shops and park. She collects children from local schools and pre-schools.

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Information about the setting

There are currently seven children on role. Six are in the early years age group and one attends after school. The childminder operates 11 months of the year from 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Thursday and is closed for the whole of August.

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To further improve the quality of the early years provision the provider should:

 enhance partnership with parents by improving the system for monitoring children's progress by using guidance, for example Development Matters to a) help parents understand better their child's level of development and b) involve them more in their child's learning at home.

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who attend

The childminder and her colleagues have a good understanding of the seven areas of learning and have invested into resourcing and planning a stimulating learning environment in her home. Children can access the play room at the end of the garden in which there are many opportunities for them to be creative: They play at making meals at the kitchen and dressing up, making their own creations with construction materials and making marks on the large chalk board. Younger children have plenty of floor space to sit and build up and knock down bricks. The children show by the way that they move freely around the garden room that it is their space to play .They confidently play and explore at what they know and the younger children learn how to use their imagination from the older children. In addition, children attend music groups locally and their enjoyment and skill in this area is demonstrated in their use of the musical instruments on offer at home:

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who attend

They initiate music making and singing and have a broad repertoire of favourite songs which they are excellent at tapping a beat to. The adults join in and a fun time is had by all. The children's physical development is promoted by frequent trips to the local park and shops to which older children ride their scooters. The childminder's large garden is stimulating, with flowers, mirrors, music chimes and a rabbit in it. Children, invited by its pleasant atmosphere, like to be outside where they enjoy the open space to move freely.

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who attend

The childminder and her colleagues use the daily routine and planned activities to support children's understanding of mathematical concepts and language: Counting out cups and cutlery at meal times is routinely carried out. Today children are making some decorations and the adults talk them through the activity using lots of positional language such as 'underneath', 'beside', 'behind'. Likewise, materials used in art activities are described according to their shape and size.

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who attend

Language and early literacy is promoted very well through many child initiated activities: Children sound out the letters of their name and watch the adults write. Story telling and book reading is a well loved activity and children are helped to develop their vocabulary by describing the pictures. Critical thinking in older children is also supported as adults ask them to explain and predict, as well as think about, the emotions of the book characters. There are discussions around the table at meal times in which children talk about their clothes, recent holidays and what mummy or daddy are doing. The adults show a good understanding of children's general language development and adapt their responses and support according to the needs of the individual child.

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who attend

The weekly routine and trips to local groups, the library, and local shops helps children to develop an understanding of their local community. In addition, planned activities at home are offered to children to introduce them to new ideas such as cultural celebrations. The childminder and her colleagues communicate to children the reason for the activities and show them how to use tools such as scissors and glue sticks. However, children are not as active in these activities as much as when they initiate their own play therefore some opportunities for children to learn effectively are lost.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

All children at the setting show that they are secure and feel safe and this can be seen in the way they happily say goodbye to their parents and greet the childminders in the morning. Most children have been with the childminders since babies and a very strong attachment has been built up between them: The younger children go to the childminders for frequent cuddles and reassurance and the older children are confident to express their concerns and worries. The childminders share key person responsibilities for every child but where a child shows a preference the childminders will respond accordingly. The personal development of children is understood by the adults and their ethnic and cultural identity is achieved through the use of books, toys and posters.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Health and well being is promoted by all adults and good hygiene practices are maintained throughout the day. Children learn about cleaning their hands before eating and adults talk to them about the food their parents have brought in and how and why it is healthy. The emphasis on local trips to the park further contributes to children developing a healthy lifestyle.

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The contribution of the early years provision to the well-being of children

Children are supported to build good relationships with each other and there is an appropriate expectation on the older children to be aware of the younger children's needs. The childminder and her colleagues have a good understanding of children's social development and use consistent diplomacy in teaching children about appropriate behaviour. The approach of the childminders results in a calm atmosphere in which children develop a self confidence and learn to manager their own feelings.

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provision

The childminder and her colleagues are committed to achieving high standards for the provision and this can be seen in the way they have put into place recommendations from the previous inspection. Evacuation of the house is now recorded and there is now a system in place to observe children and plan for their development. Although, this system does not yet assess children's progress against a defined pattern of child development, such as Development Matters. The childminders are aware of changes made to the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and have training organised to identify improvements they need to make. Ongoing assessments are carried out on the appropriateness of equipment available to children and it is changed accordingly, depending on the age group and needs of the children attending.

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provision

Responsibilities for the welfare and safeguarding of children are fully understood. Childminders hold a current qualification in first aid for children and attend safeguarding training with the local authority to update their knowledge. There is a written safeguarding policy in place and the childminders know how to seek advice and guidance. Adults working with the children have all undergone Criminal Record Bureau checks and the childminding assistant is appropriately supervised and fully aware of parameters of her roles and responsibilities.

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provision

Partnership with the parents is strong and the parents are very happy with the provision, as demonstrated in a passed survey. They are pleased with the flexibility of the provision and that their children can experience continuity of care even when they go to nursery school. They like the way in which the childminders share information about their child's day and general progress. In particular they like the way it is made personal to them and their child through learning files. However, the system for sharing children's progress is not yet fully developed to help parents fully understand their child's level of development. For example, by using guidance such as development Matters. This does not help parents to become fully involved in supporting their child's learning and development at home. There is a strong appreciation of the hard work the childminders put into making their children feel safe, cared for and very happy.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are Met The requirements for the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are Met

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Grade Judgement Description

Grade 1 Outstanding Outstanding provision is highly effective in meeting the needs of all children exceptionally well. This ensures that children are very well prepared for the next stage of their learning. Grade 2 Good Good provision is effective in delivering provision that meets the needs of all children well. This ensures children are ready for the next stage of their learning. Grade 3 Satisfactory Satisfactory provision is performing less well than expectations in one or more of the key areas. It requires improvement in order to be good. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be inspected again within 12 months of the date of this inspection.

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Grade Judgement Description

Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not Met The provision has no children on roll. The inspection judgement is that the provider does not meet the requirements for registration.

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Inspection

This inspection was carried out by Ofsted under Sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children’s learning, development and care, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 107230 Local authority Southwark Inspection number 813316 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 6 Number of children on roll 7

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted', which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.ofsted.gov.uk. If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

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Type of provision

For the purposes of this inspection the following definitions apply:

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Type of provision

Full-time provision is that which operates for more than three hours. These are usually known as nurseries, nursery schools and pre-schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the higher fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Sessional provision operates for more than two hours but does not exceed three hours in any one day. These are usually known as pre-schools, kindergartens or nursery schools and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. They are registered on the Early Years Register and pay the lower fee for registration.

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Type of provision

Childminders care for one or more children where individual children attend for a period of more than two hours in any one day. They operate from domestic premises that are usually their own home. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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Type of provision

Out of school provision may be sessional or full-time provision and is delivered before or after school and/or in the summer holidays. They are registered on the Early Years Register and must deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage. Where children receive their Early Years Foundation Stage in school these providers do not have to deliver the learning and development requirements in full but should complement the experiences children receive in school. 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,

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Type of provision

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, 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. To receive regular email alerts about new publications, including survey reports and school inspection reports, please visit our website and go to ‘Subscribe’.

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Type of provision

T: 0300 123 4234 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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