Childminder in Staffordshire

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 EY299131 Inspection date 13/11/2008 Inspector Maxine Williams

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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 was registered in 2005. She lives with her husband and three children aged 13, seven and five years of age. All areas of the house are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. There are currently four children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The childminder also offers care to children over five years old. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years, compulsory and voluntary Childcare Registers.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder drives to local schools to take and collect children and she attends the local carer and toddler group. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and a member of Newcastle-under-Lyme Childminding Network, as well as a local childminding group. She holds a Diploma in Home-based Childcare.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are treated as individuals and the childminder works closely with parents and other professionals to ensure that their specific needs are met. The home is organised extremely effectively to provide a comfortable and stimulating environment for all children attending. The childminder has a secure understanding of her role within the delivery of the EYFS and meets the majority of the welfare requirements to a very high standard. All children benefit from the exceptionally exciting range of activities and inspiring play opportunities available, which maximise on individual learning experiences. The childminder implements effective methods to evaluate and improve her practice, which ensures that the service she provides is fully efficient and continuously progresses, in order to improve the outcomes for all children attending.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that a record is made of existing injuries  ensure that a summary of written complaints is maintained and is kept annonymous to protect the identity of children.

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provision

Children’s welfare, care and safety are promoted extremely effectively because the childminder is dedicated to updating her knowledge of child development and early education, through attending an extensive range of appropriate training courses. The childminder displays a positive attitude towards providing an inclusive environment for all children who attend the setting and is proactive in identifying This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 potential improvements, in order to ensure accessibility and an all-encompassing environment.

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provision

Records, policies and procedures are generally well maintained and are used effectively to promote positive outcomes for children. All of the legally required information, with regard to children’s details, is obtained when children start to attend the childminding setting. Parents also provide the childminder with detailed information on their child's individual routines. In addition the childminder performs an initial assessment of children, in order to calculate their individual starting points and plan a range of suitable activities. The childminder promotes the well-being of children through the implementation of comprehensive policies and procedures that ensure that all children’s needs are met appropriately. Although the childminder meets all of the welfare requirements well, there are some areas where procedures are not fully effective. For example, she does not always record existing injuries promptly and the complaints record is not

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provision

anonymous, which means that children are not consistently protected appropriately.

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provision

A daily journal, which is actively shared with parents, is used to record information on each child's day. In addition, the childminder has produced a folder for each child, in order to detail their educational progress. These records of achievement include examples of children’s artwork and photographs, featuring their participation in activities and are readily available to parents. This ensures that parents are aware of how their children are progressing and enables them to support children’s learning at home. The childminder has efficient systems in place to develop links with other settings providing for children in the EYFS, in order to ensure children’s further progress. Children’s welfare is promoted well within the childminder's home. She has a secure understanding of the Local Safeguarding Children Board’s procedures and an appropriate awareness of the signs and symptoms of child abuse. This helps to protect children from harm and neglect.

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provision

Suitable safety equipment is fitted around the home and the childminder carries out detailed risk assessments to maintain children's safety.

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provision

A successful system is in place to monitor and evaluate the provision and to ensure that improvements are made, when needed. The detailed self-evaluation form, completed prior to inspection, identifies areas of her practice which the childminder would like to improve, as well as recognising the strengths of her provision. She liaises with parents effectively to ensure that all children's welfare and learning is promoted well and any issues are identified and acted upon promptly. The childminder also encourages children to contribute to the appraisal process, by observing their enjoyment in the setting and includes their opinions and views when evaluating her practice.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder promotes children’s welfare, learning and development to a very high standard. Children enjoy an extensive range of stimulating and exciting activities, which contribute to their good health. Dancing to music, garden games and regular visits to local playgrounds and attractions help to progress children’s This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 physical abilities. Children are at ease in the childminder’s company and confidently talk about going out to play football, discussing how they kick the ball and are able to score goals. The childminder provides babies with the support they require, they are excited and absorbed as they play with the spinning top, manoeuvring it well across the floor. The childminder promotes children’s language skills, as she reads them a book, encouraging children to lift the flaps of the pages in turn and then asking them to name the animals and make the noises, as they are uncovered.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

This enables children to develop their awareness of animals, as well as their speech.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a sound knowledge of healthy eating and good nutrition guidelines, which contributes significantly to children’s understanding of a healthy lifestyle. She takes account of the wishes of parents and the children’s preferences to provide exceptionally healthy meals and snacks that appeal to the children and meet their nutritional needs. Children enjoy tucking into ravioli for lunch and gogi berries and dried mango at snack time, eagerly commenting on the delicious taste of the berries. The childminder has an excellent understanding of how to achieve a balance between freedom and setting safe limits. Children learn to keep themselves safe through conversations and daily routines, during which the childminder actively promotes their understanding of how to protect themselves from danger. For example, she practices fire drills twice a month with children, to ensure that all are aware of what to do in an emergency.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are involved and enthusiastic and they enjoy taking part in the available activities. They are secure with the childminder and have good levels of self- esteem. They are confident in initiating their own play and learning and are consistently well occupied by the interesting activities. Two-year-olds are absorbed and concentrate well as they use a variety of tools and containers to collect the sand and make sandcastles. The childminder extends their learning fully with appropriate and considered questioning; prompting children to say which of the containers are bigger and smaller. Children feel highly valued because the childminder sees them as individuals and is sensitive to their personalities and preferences. She uses planning for activities and has implemented a system of observation to ensure that children’s achievements are documented. These systems are organised effectively to assess how children are developing and to

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

inform planning for each child’s next steps in learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are able to independently access a wide range of toys, equipment and activities to help them make very good progress in developing their awareness of the world around them and their understanding of other cultures. For example, the childminder uses resources such as dressing up clothes, food tasting and creative play to help children develop their awareness of diversity. The childminder has an exceptional understanding of how children develop their writing and creative skills. Children are regularly encouraged to develop their control of using writing implements, through play and artistic activities and their development is documented, in order to assess their progress. Creative play is regularly available and children enjoy using their manipulative skills to roll out and cut shapes out of play dough, squealing to attract the childminder’s attention to demonstrate their resulting dough shapes. Self-care skills are promoted well, as the childminder

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

encourages children to wash their hands before snack and lunch times and after This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 using the toilet. The childminder has high expectations of children's behaviour and there is a very strong emphasis on focusing on good behaviour. Children's self- confidence and sense of worth is developed exceptionally well with the use of encouragement and praise during 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

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? 2 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? 1

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 2 How well are children helped to be healthy? 1 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 1 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

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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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