Childminder in West Northamptonshire

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 EY216929 Inspection date 05/11/2008 Inspector Jan Burnet

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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 has been a registered since 2002. She lives in a residential area of Northampton with her husband and children aged 11 years and eight years. The whole of the house is registered, although the ground floor only is used for play and currently one bedroom on the first floor is used for sleeping children. There is a ground floor toilet and a first floor bathroom. A fully enclosed garden is used for outside play. The family has a cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register to care for a maximum of three children aged five or under at any one time. She is currently minding three children aged under five. The childminder is also registered on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register to care for three children from five to eight. She is able to transport children to and from the local school.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides adequately for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). In practice she promotes learning satisfactorily and meets children's individual developmental needs appropriately, but there are no systems in place for assessing young children to ascertain their achievements. Children's welfare is addressed sufficiently as required measures are in place to ensure their health and safety. The childminder has not cared for children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities but has a positive attitude towards inclusion and information obtained from parents enables her to meet children's different care needs. However, parents do not play an active part in their child's learning and they are not made aware of all required policies and procedures. The childminder does not demonstrate a commitment to improvement, for example, by assessing her strengths and weaknesses.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop written risk assessments  develop systems for self-evaluation in order to identify strengths and any weaknesses of the service provided  develop knowledge of the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board procedures  make sure that parents are aware of policies and procedures including ones on complaints, safeguarding children, equal opportunities, behaviour management, failing to collect and missing child  obtain written information about who has legal contact with the child and who has parental responsibility for the child.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  make sure that planning and assessment effectively supports children’s learning and development and that parents and carers are actively involved in their children’s learning and development, for example, by identifying their children’s starting points. 19/12/2008

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provision

The childminder provides a safe and welcoming environment. She is aware of her responsibilities with regard to safeguarding children if concerned about their welfare and explains that she would contact the local authority in order to make a referral. However, she has not attended training and does not have a copy of the Northamptonshire Safeguarding Children Board procedures. Parents are not made aware of a safeguarding policy and procedure. On a daily basis the childminder undertakes safety checks before children's arrival and she is aware of her responsibilities with regard to supervision, but a risk assessment record is not kept.

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provision

As required, the childminder holds a current first aid certificate as she attended training in 2006, and two recommendations raised at the last inspection have been satisfactorily addressed. However, there are no systems in place for monitoring and self-assessment and the childminder is not using the 'Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage' document and so is unaware of the three learning and development requirements. As a result of this, she is not currently meeting the requirement for assessing young children to ascertain their achievements and is not planning for individual children.

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provision

Most records required for the management of the provision are in place and are satisfactorily maintained, although information about who has legal contact with each child and who has parental responsibility for the child has not been obtained. The childminder is aware of most required policies and procedures, but does not share information on these with parents. She shares details verbally each day on how she has met young children's physical needs and on activities that they have enjoyed. Information on each child includes detail on their individual needs. However, detail from parents on what their child knows and can do is not requested.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

On a day to day basis children are provided with sufficient resources and activities that promote learning appropriately. Children are making satisfactory progress, but the childminder does not plan and provide activities and experiences that link to different children's interests and does not assess young children to ascertain their achievements. Therefore, she does not use what she knows about each child to plan for the next steps in their learning and development. Through discussion, the childminder is clear of her responsibilities with regard to ensuring that children's individual needs are met. Children's independence is satisfactorily promoted, for This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 example, they are encouraged to choose and select toys stored in the playroom and choose to play in this room or the adjacent sitting room.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children have access to writing materials and make marks with pencils and crayons. They look at books and enjoy listening to short stories. With the childminder's support they learn colours, shapes and numbers. Personal, social and emotional development is promoted effectively and begins with a gradual settling-in procedure so that children feel settled and secure. Children are learning to share and take turns. Their creativity is encouraged as they play with imaginative and domestic play resources and enjoy art and craft activities.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are settled and secure and the interaction between them and the childminder is positive. The childminder has not yet been asked to care for a child with a learning difficulty and/or disability but would discuss the child's needs with the parent. She is aware of the different family backgrounds of the children cared for. Healthy eating is satisfactorily promoted and children participate in physical play at home and at the park. They are gaining an awareness of how to keep themselves safe, for example, the need to use a child seat and wear a seat belt in the car, safe use of suitable equipment at the park and the reason why they must hold hands or hold on to the buggy when out walking. The childminder promotes positive behaviour so that children are aware of what is expected of them. 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

Grade 1 is Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Grade 2 is Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Grade 3 is Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Grade 4 is 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? 3 The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement.

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? How well are children safeguarded? 3

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 3 How well are children helped to be healthy? 3 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 3 How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being?

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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 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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