Childminder in Milton Keynes

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY363252 Inspection date 07/10/2008 Inspector Dorcas Forgan

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Type of setting Childminder 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 report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration whichever is the later, which require Ofsted or the provider to take action in Annex C.

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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. 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 2007. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the Compulsory and Voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She works with an assistant. She lives with her husband and their two children aged three and two years, in Kents Hill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. Shops, toddler groups, a park, library and other amenities lie within walking distance. The childminder can take children to and collect them from, local schools and pre- schools.

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Description of the childminding

The whole of the ground floor of the home is used for childminding with sleep facilities on the first floor. A fully enclosed rear garden is available for outside play. The family has one rabbit. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. Her registration permits her to care for one child in the early years age range, at any one time, although she presently has a variation to care for two. She currently minds four children aged one year, three years and four years, who attend on a part-time basis. The childminder holds a relevant early years qualification.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The children are making very good progress in a stimulating, attractive, safe environment. The childminder has very effective systems in place to ensure the welfare, learning and development of each child. She ensures that she understands the individual needs of each child and plans their daily routines and activities so that they all gain maximum benefit. The childminder works closely with the parents and other agencies. She is committed to improving her service and to this end attends a variety of training courses and uses reflective practices to evaluate her provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure children frequently practise the evacuation drill  develop further knowledge of carrying out risk assessments

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provision

The childminder has developed very clear policies and procedures she has recently made them more easily accessible to the parents through her web page. The childminder is well qualified to care for children and has had experience through working in nurseries. She has gained very good knowledge of how to safeguard children. Her assistant has carried out the personal checks to show she is suitable to work with the children. The childminder carries out very careful safety checks throughout the home to ensure that all areas are safe and secure. She has identified that she wishes to develop further methods of recording risk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 assessments. She also recognises that the children would benefit from practising the emergency evacuation procedure more frequently. The childminder works hard to promote a close partnership with the parents and has put several different

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provision

systems in place to ensure they are well informed and are involved in their child’s learning. She requests initial information from the parents such as their likes, dislikes and any special requirements so that she can ensure all children’s needs are met and all are included fully in all aspects of the setting.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder encourages the children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals in a welcoming and cheerful environment. The children can access a very wide range of toys and resources, so that they can initiate their own games and make choices. The train set is a firm favourite. They are becoming independent and very confident as they wash their own hands and faces and find their own shoes and coats. The childminder makes very clear plans of activities based around a theme. She uses her very good knowledge of how children learn to ensure each area of learning is included and that activities suitably challenge each individual child. She provides a copy of the plans for each theme to the parents so that they know what the children will be focusing on, such as, transport or Halloween. This way the parents can continue with this idea if they wish at home, they also know the additional books that the children will be reading and some of

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

the songs they maybe singing. Because of the forward planning, the childminder ensures that all activities are very well researched and resourced, she enables all children to have equal access through sometimes presenting activities at a low level or on the floor. She has planned the lay out and safety of the garden extremely well so that when children choose to play outside they can access a very wide range of well maintained equipment. They can play at the sand and water tables, take part in role play or use equipment to practise their physical skills, or if they choose, feed the rabbit. They also have frequent outings to a wide variety of physical activities such as Tumble Tots, gym dance and movement.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder knows each of the children well, through talking with the parents, observing and sharing with the parents thoughts about how to help the child make progress. She supports the younger children in their conversation by talking with them, asking them questions and repeating what they have said. They are all enjoying learning German words such as the colours and numbers. Children join in enthusiastically when singing familiar songs. Children have frequent access to wide range of different materials such as paint in which they sometimes make patterns like with car tyres or marbles, they use old cards to make pictures and mobiles they also mould the play dough. Children sit comfortably on the big sofa to read books and talk about the pictures; they handle the books with care. Children talk excitedly about a cooking activity when they made traffic lights biscuits and they explain what each colour means such as red for stop. The childminder makes observations of

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

each of the children and writes these into a journal which she illustrates with photographs; she has very recently started to include their next steps of learning. Parents are invited in to take part in ‘Play and Stay’ sessions so that they can observe what the children enjoy doing and take part as well. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The home is very safe and well organised. The childminder gives careful consideration to safeguarding children, for example, changing the gate to close off the play room while she takes a young child up to bed and fitting all doors with door stops. The children are learning about keeping themselves safe as they sit on the booster seats and wait for the straps to be done up or when they walk to the nursery and practise using their eyes and ears when waiting to cross the road. The childminder teaches the children about personal hygiene, the benefits of physical

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

activity and choosing healthy foods to eat. The children choose what they would like in their sandwiches and all enjoy cucumber as an accompaniment. They negotiate which fruit they should have afterwards. The childminder provides well balanced meals and follows any specific dietary needs for individual children. The children all sit together at meal times so that they can enjoy the social occasion, they are learning to have good manners and say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. The childminder is a very good role model who uses positive reinforcement very frequently. All children are clear about the house rules which include respecting each other and others property. The children are making firm friends and enjoy each others company. 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

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

How well does the provision promote inclusive practice? Good The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement. Good

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? Good

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? Good

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? Good How well are children helped to be healthy? Good How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? Good How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? Good

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being? Good

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

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 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

This section of the report includes details of any complaint/s made to Ofsted when:  we took action for the provider to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  we asked the provider to take action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register; or  the provider had already taken any necessary action to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

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Annex C: complaint/s made to Ofsted

We will not report on any complaint where the provider met the requirements of the Early Years Register or did not require any action by Ofsted or the registered provider.

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Detail of the complaint/s

Since registration there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action.

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Detail of the complaint/s

The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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