Childminder in Lewisham

Inspection date

Previous inspection date 08/08/2014 Not Applicable

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early years provision

This inspection: 4 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 4 The effectiveness of the leadership and management of the early years provision 4

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This provision is inadequate

 The childminder's risk assessment fails to identify hazards that are a danger to children in the garden environment. As a result, outdoor areas are not safe for children to use, and alternative outdoor play provision is not planned.  The childminder has limited understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Therefore, planned activities do not promote children's all-round learning successfully.

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It has the following strengths

 The childminder has positive relationships with the children and their parents.  Children have access to a wide variety of resources which gives them independence and choices in their play.

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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 the childminder's interaction with children.  The inspector observed children playing indoors.  The inspector spoke to parents.

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Inspection activities

 The inspector reviewed policies, procedures, risk assessments and training certificates.  The inspector reviewed children's records and assessment documentation.

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Information about the setting

The childminder registered in 2013. She lives with her three children in Deptford, within the London Borough of Lewisham. The whole ground floor and bathroom facilities on the first floor of the home are available for childminding purposes. There is a garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. The childminder currently has one child on roll in the early years age range.

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must:

 ensure that the indoor and outdoor areas are safe for children to use, with particular regard to the removing or minimising the risks of unsafe items in the garden

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must:

 ensure risk assessment processes are robust so that they identify hazards in the environment and how they will be minimised or removed

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must:

 ensure that children have access to outdoor play on a daily basis

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must:

 gain improved knowledge of the learning and development requirements to make better use of observations and assessment to improve planning so that activities build on what children already know and can do.

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who attend

The childminder works with parents with some success to assess children's starting points and interests. She uses this information and some of her own observations of children's abilities to plan some enjoyable activities for children. However, she does not make accurate assessments of where children are in their learning. As a result, planned activities do not always build on what children already know and can do. The childminder also tends to focus on helping children to attain mathematical skills instead of offering a balanced educational programme to promote children's all-round learning and development. This means that the prime areas of learning to assist children's emerging communication and language development, physical, social and emotional development are not always well planned for. For example, when younger children are painting, the childminder focuses on children learning numbers and shapes, rather than practising their emerging speech

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who attend

sounds or enhancing their creative imagination.

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who attend

Children have access to a wide range of resources that can enhance their learning. For example, they chose to play a game using counters with the childminder. This supported their hand-to-eye co-ordination and turn-taking skills. The childminder encouraged the children to imitate counting as they put the counters into a plastic frame to create a line of counters. Children copied the childminder and counted to three. The childminder interacts positively with children and gives plenty of praise for their achievements. This encourages children to interact with the childminder and boosts their confidence. The childminder reads stories to the children before lunch. The children enjoy this and gain some useful literacy skills. They listen avidly and gain some understanding of the world around them through the stories.

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who attend

The childminder is sensitive to children who are new to her home and uses some good care and teaching techniques to help them settle. For example, the childminder pretended to talk to children on the play telephone. She asked, 'Are you okay?' Children responded, 'Yes'. This encouraged children to engage in role-play activities while supporting their interaction and building their confidence.

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who attend

Parents have a good relationship with the childminder. The childminder works with parents quite well to provide continuity of care and support for children's learning. Parents report that they are happy with how information is shared with them about their children's learning and care needs.

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

Children happily play with the childminder because the childminder is friendly and caring. This helps children to be confident and emotionally secure. Children play in a warm, cosy and safe indoor environment, with plenty of resources to play with. However, the garden is not safe for the children to use. It contains many hazards that compromise children's safety. The childminder agrees that the garden is unsafe, but admits to allowing children to play there, although not during recent days. She has not planned any alternative outdoor play opportunities to ensure that children enjoy daily outdoor play. The failure to identify and minimise or remove potential risks is a breach of requirements of the Early Years Register and also of the Childcare Register.

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

Children are well behaved because the childminder works with parents to address negative behaviours. There is also a detailed behaviour management policy that is effectively implemented. The childminder promotes children's physical health as she prepares healthy food and snacks, and cooks fresh meals for the children. Children's care and hygiene needs are well looked after by following good hygiene routines throughout the day. For example, the comfort of toddlers is assured through regular nappy changing and the children learn to wash their hands before eating. The childminder has an effective emergency evacuation policy which helps her to respond quickly in emergencies to keep children safe. The childminder has obtained permission from parents to take children out, take photographs and to administer medicine, in line with the welfare requirements. Parent partnerships are effective because the childminder works closely with parents to help

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

settle children into her home. This means that children are happy and confident.

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provision

The childminder has a sound understanding of safeguarding in relation to child protection matters. She knows the signs that would raise concerns about a child's welfare and is aware of the procedure to follow if she has any concerns. She has a clear safeguarding policy that has the contact details for the local authority designated officer, responsible for safeguarding. The childminder plans to attend child protection training to further improve her knowledge of how to protect children. However, children's safety in the setting is not given enough consideration. The childminder's risk assessment of the garden is poor and leaves children exposed to hazards.

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provision

The childminder recognises the importance of evaluating her provision, but she has overlooked the weaknesses in her safety measures and her provision for children's all- round learning. The childminder has established partnerships with other childminders, a local nursery and a childminding membership organisation. She has also attended various training courses including, 'Level 2 in food safety', and 'Observing, assessing and planning in the Early Years Foundation Stage'. This demonstrates that the childminder is willing to improve her knowledge, but she is not using her newly acquired knowledge and skills successfully to improve outcomes for children.

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provision

The childminder has positive relationships with parents, which means that she gets to know the children well. She understands her role in monitoring children's progress and identifying their needs. However, she is not yet confident in using assessment to plan good educational programmes. She knows how to work effectively with parents to seek help from outside agencies if children need extra support in their learning and development.

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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:

 ensure the premises and equipment used for the purposes of the childcare are safe and suitable for that childcare (compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  undertake a risk assessment of the premises and equipment at least once in each calendar year, and immediately, where the need for an assessment arises; ensure that all necessary measures are taken to minimise any identified risks (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 EY472823 Local authority Lewisham Inspection number 956388 Type of provision Childminder Registration category Childminder Age range of children 0 - 8 Total number of places 4 Number of children on roll 1

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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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