Childminder in Lewisham

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 09/10/2014 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 3 Previous inspection: Not Applicable 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 3 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 3

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This provision requires improvement

 Children are happy and settled in this environment, and have developed secure relationships with the childminder, each other and her family.  The childminder promotes children's self-esteem and confidence through regular praise and encouragement.  Children have good opportunities to progress in their learning and development, because the childminder teaches them well. She provides them with a balance of activities and outings that promote all areas of learning.

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It is not yet good because

 The childminder does not gains verbal and not written permission from parents before she administers a particular medicine, which is a breach of a legal requirement.  Although toys are easily accessible on low-level shelves, some toys are all mixed together. In addition, young children are not able to access books easily in order to look through them to help develop their independence during play.  The childminder does not regularly practise the fire drills with the children so that they become fully aware of the evacuation route.

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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

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Information about this inspection

 scheduled more frequently where Ofsted identifies a need to do so, for example where provision was previously judged 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 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  scheduled 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 compulsory part 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 observed activities and interactions between the childminder and children during play in the living room. She held discussions with the childminder at appropriate times throughout the observations.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector and the childminder conducted a tour of the areas of the premises that children use.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector looked at children's observation and assessment records, the register of attendance and other relevant paperwork, including the childminder's procedures for recording medication.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2009. She lives with her husband and their two school-age children in Grove Park in the London Borough of Lewisham. The home is close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The ground floor is used for childminding including access to toilet facilities on this level. There is a garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. Currently there are two children in the early years age range on roll.

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must:

 ensure written parental permission is gained for each particular medication that is administered to a child.

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

 involve children with regularly practising the fire drill to enable them to be fully aware of the emergency evacuation procedure

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

 enhance children's access to books and toys by making them easily accessible for children to choose from the full range of play materials available.

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who attend

The childminder has a good understanding of how children learn and as a result, the quality of teaching is good. She has high expectations of children so they are happy, settled and secure within the childminding environment. They benefit from the time she spends teaching them during their activities. For example, she joins in with the children's request to play with the building bricks. She gives lots of praise and encouragement for children's efforts as they counted the bricks and identified a number of different shapes and colours.

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who attend

The childminder engaged with children well. She talked with them during play and encouraged them to explore ideas further, asking them 'what are you going to make with the bricks today?' and the child replied 'a rocket house'. Children become fully engaged in the activity and the childminder shows she is proud and values what they do as she supported them to take a photograph of their creations to share with their parents. In addition, at the start of the placement the childminder gathers information from parents about children's individual needs and interests. This ensures that she gets to know children well and can provide all the support they require. The childminder uses this information to plan appropriate activities to challenge and support children's continued progress. The childminder tracks children's progress and has completed regular reviews including the progress check for children aged two years in her care, to effectively monitor

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who attend

the development of younger children. She shares these with parents to enable early intervention if necessary and to ensure they are fully involved in their children's learning.

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who attend

Children learn useful skills that help prepare them effectively for the next stage in their learning and eventually for school. For instance, the childminder plans a balanced range of activities and experiences for children that focus on their independence, physical development and language skills. Children are interested in the activities provided and motivated to learn. This is because the childminder demonstrates a competent understanding of how to support children's learning. She encourages their communication skills well when she listens to children attentively, introduces new words and asks them useful questions to extend children's language development. For example, as the children enjoyed sitting with the childminder to look at their favourite book with letters of the alphabet and pictures of different animals and insects. The childminder successfully used this activity to enhance learning at an appropriate level. For toddlers she pointed to

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who attend

pictures of animals and insects as she read the story and encouraged the child to tell her what they were as she introduced new vocabulary such as the word 'grasshopper'. The childminder reads stories to children everyday to encourage their love of early reading.

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who attend

The childminder fosters children's expressive arts and design skills well. They are able to express themselves creatively through a wide range of activities. Children enjoy making models with construction materials. They also have access to a number of small-world and role-play resources to support their imagination. Children benefit from the childminder's good organisation of space. Toddlers enjoy accessing trains and imaginatively manoeuvre them to travel along the floor, furniture and in the air. Children use a range of mediums to create a range of artwork. They enjoy collecting pine cones and leaves on their way to school and use this to create autumn collages or for display in the home. Children learn about their world because the childminder takes them on outings to the local parks and childcare groups. She works closely with other providers within the local area and regularly meets with other childminders and their children at these provisions. Together

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who attend

they enjoy play sessions at the local childcare groups. This means children benefit from a balanced routine and are well stimulated throughout their time with the childminder.

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

The childminder does not fully promote children's well-being due the weaknesses in leadership and management concerning medication. However, she develops good relationships with children and their families. This is because the childminder listens and talks to them about what interests them and about people who are special in their lives, which helps to develop children's self-esteem. A suitable settling-in process enables the childminder to get to know children and parents, and ensures that trusting and secure relationships are formed between everyone involved. This helps children feel happy and secure, which supports their emotional and physical well-being. The childminder praises children frequently to encourage positive behaviour. She supports young children to understand the rules and expectations of the setting, such as sharing the toys and sitting at the table to eat. This supports children to behave well and they are developing some

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

understanding of keeping safe both on and off the premises. The childminder has risk assessed her environment and has precautions in place to minimise hazards. For example, a stair gate is in place and she regularly checks fire safety equipment, so that children can play safely. However, the childminder does not practise the evacuation procedure regularly enough with the children to further develop their understanding of how to respond in the event of an emergency.

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

Overall, the environment is appropriately organised so that children have enough space to play. The childminder makes sure a suitable variety of age-appropriate resources are available each day for children to play with. However, not all of the toys and books are well organised, as some toys are all mixed together and books are stored too high. This makes it difficult for young children to select their choice of specific items easily. The childminder suitably promotes children's health and well-being. Her home is clean and well maintained. Toddlers begin to manage their own personal needs and the childminder supports them to wash their hands before and after they eat to prevent cross contamination. Children enjoy this experience as the childminder sings a 'wash, wash, wash, your hands' song to teach the children about the importance of hand washing. In addition, children develop their self-care skills such as helping to tidy away the toys before

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

feeding themselves at lunch time, which helps to prepare them for the move into school. Children learn to develop an awareness of being healthy. The childminder prepares nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Children learn about healthy lifestyles when the childminder talks to them about the different fruits and vegetables displayed on a poster and the children enjoy naming them. They benefit from regular exercise and fresh air as they play in the childminder's garden, the park and in the outdoor play areas at childminding groups. The children can ride wheeled toys, play on the sea-saw as well as engage in sand and water play.

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provision

The childminder has some understanding with regard to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare and meets most requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder talks to parents about any medication that is required to be administered to children in her care, in relation to the time and dosage. However, the childminder does not obtain written consent from parent/carers for that particular medicine before administering it to children. This is a breach of both the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and for the Childcare Register. The childminder has suitable arrangements in place to safeguard children if she has a concern about their welfare. She has attended child protection training and has a written safeguarding policy and related procedures available, which promotes children's welfare. The childminder is aware of the signs that may suggest a child is at risk of harm and of

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provision

the need to report these to the relevant agencies should any concerns become apparent. She makes parents aware of these procedures, so that they understand the childminder's responsibility to protect children from harm at all times. The childminder keeps a fully stocked first-aid box and holds a relevant first aid certificate, which enables her to deal appropriately with any minor accidents. In addition, the childminder has appropriate systems in place for recording children's attendance, accidents and any incidents, which contributes to protecting children's well-being.

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provision

The childminder has a clear understanding of her responsibilities in relation to the learning and development requirements. The childminder ensures children take part in a varied range of activities in the home and local community that are well matched to their interests and needs. She knows the children she cares for well and carefully monitors their achievements to make sure they are all making good progress in their development. The childminder is beginning to show some commitment to evaluating the service she provides for children and their families. For example, parents have started to make comments in their children's progress records which help to involve them in their children's learning. The childminder also uses her links with other childminders to share knowledge and ideas. In addition, she is keen to enhance her knowledge and skills and is booked to attend further training to develop the quality of her provision.

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provision

The childminder builds positive relationships with parents to help to ensure that she meets children's needs effectively. She provides parents with a broad range of information that includes access to their children's learning journey, daily diaries and daily discussions. This effectively contributes to a continual two-way flow of communication. Parents add comments to their children's progress reports. They show their gratitude to the childminder by sharing positive comments about the quality of care their children receive. The childminder is starting to build positive working relationships with other early years settings children also attend to provide some continuity in care and learning. This encourages regular information sharing to offer children consistency.

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The Childcare Register

The requirements for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are

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To meet the requirements of the Childcare Register the provider must:

 keep a written record of parents consent for any medicine administered to a child (compulsory part of the Childcare Register).

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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 Requires improvement The provision is not giving children a good standard of early years education and/or there are minor breaches of the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. We re-inspect nurseries and pre-schools judged as requires improvement within 12 months of the date of inspection. Grade 4 Inadequate Provision that is inadequate requires significant improvement and/or enforcement action. The provision is failing to give children an acceptable standard of early years education and/or

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Grade Judgement Description

is not meeting the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. It will be monitored and inspected again within six months of the date of this inspection. Met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. The inspection judgement is that the provider continues to meet the requirements for registration. Not met There were no children present at the time of the inspection. 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 EY396980 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 760323 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 2

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Name of provider

Date of previous inspection not applicable

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Telephone number

set out in the guidance ‘Complaints procedure: 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, which are usually the childminder’s 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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