Childminder, Out-of school day care in West Berkshire

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 EY224961 Inspection date 15/10/2008 Inspector Doreen Forsyth

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 has been registered since 2002. She lives with her husband and three children, aged fifteen, seven and four years old. The family live in a semi- detached house near the centre of Newbury in Berkshire. The whole of the home may be used for childcare, there is an enclosed rear garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years and the compulsory part of the Childcare Registers to care for up to four children under the age of eight of these only two may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding six children aged between four and eight years old, all on a part time basis.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder in a member of a local childminding network and of the National Childminding Association. The family have a pet dog.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder recognises the uniqueness of each child that she cares for. She very effectively ensures that all children are supported in their learning and helped to progress appropriately. Children enjoy their time with the childminder; the excellent learning opportunities provided meet children's needs very well and keep them interested and engaged. Good arrangements are in place to ensure their health and safety. The childminder clearly recognises the value of self evaluation and uses it to ensure continuous improvement in her childminding service.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure the fire blanket in the kitchen is suitably positioned and easily accessible.

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provision

The childminder very competently focuses on helping all children to make very good progress in their learning and development and promoting their welfare. She is very well qualified and as a network childminder attends training events and is supported by a local co-ordinator. The co-ordinator assists the childminder in monitoring the provision she offers by carrying out regular quality checks. The childminder self-assesses her provision and obtains feedback from parents and from the minded children; she has very clear targets in place for improvement. She has fully met the recommendation set at the last inspection.

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provision

The setting runs efficiently on a day to day basis because the childminder is well organised; all necessary documentation and records are well kept and securely This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 stored. The records she keeps on children's progress clearly show how children are moving forward in their learning. The childminder ensures that all adults in her household are suitably vetted and that any unvetted adults do not have unsupervised access to the children. The childminder puts the children's safety and security as a very high priority, she regularly risk assesses and keeps good written records of the assessments. The childminder ensures that children are kept safe when walking to school, if they use her car and when out on outings. Children are well safeguarded because the childminder is very aware of her role and responsibilities in regard to child protection and is confident in putting the correct

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provision

The childminder is building very good links with the local school and nursery so that she can build on what the children learn there and can extend their activities and topic work. She works very closely with parents to ensure she gets to knows the children well and is able to meet their individual needs.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children that are in the Early Years Foundation Stage are learning exceptionally well. The childminder knows and understands the children's learning needs and is able to support and encourage their learning and development with great skill and expertise. The exceptional organisation of the educational programme, in conjunction with the children's learning at nursery, ensures that they make significant gains in their progress and show excellent levels of achievement. The childminder provides planned and purposeful play with a good balance of adult and child led activities across all the six areas of learning. The childminder skilfully observes and records the children's progress and uses these observations to assess where children are in their learning and to plan for their next steps on an individual basis. The childminder works closely with parents to promote children's learning, all the records of the children's progress are shared with parents and are linked to the

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

activities cards of the early years framework.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children enjoy learning about their own environment and about the wider world. They visit the park and go for walks, they recently enjoyed a local bus trip. They enjoy celebrating special events such as birthdays and different festivals. They attend a childminding group most weeks which provides the children with opportunities to meet with others and develop their social skills.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are well safeguarded and their welfare is constantly promoted. They learn about keeping themselves safe; for example, when they walk to school they discuss road safety and they regularly practise how they would evacuate the home in an emergency. They play in a very welcoming and suitable environment. The childminder's home and garden are kept safe and secure, she risk assesses well to ensure any hazards are identified and minimised; however, the fire blanket in the kitchen is not kept where it easily accessible. Children learn about healthy eating, they enjoy helping themselves to drinks and are provided with suitable snacks. They understand about the importance of washing their hands when appropriate. All the required records and documentation that promote the children's health, safety and well-being are well kept. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The children behave very well; they can share and take turns appropriately. The childminder is a very good role model she is polite to the children and expects them to be polite in return. She uses a wide range of strategies, including lots of praise and encouragement, to manage and promote good behaviour. The children have written their own behaviour policy 'Our Responsibilities' which is displayed in the kitchen. They understand the rules of the setting such as when playing on the trampoline they must be careful and follow the rules, and that they should not take toys into the quieter area of the lounge. The children are encouraged to make choices in their play, for example, at the inspection they decided to play with playdough rather than the role play the childminder had planned; they concentrated very well on their chosen activity and co-operated in their play. 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? Outstanding 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

There have been no complaints made to Ofsted since the last inspection.

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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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