Swords, Helen

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 EY373460 Inspection date 05/11/2008 Inspector Lynne Kathleen Talbot

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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 was registered in April 2008. She lives with her husband and two children aged three and six years in a village outside of Bedford. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The first floor is not used. The front and rear doors are accessed via level surfaces with a small step.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is able to provide care on each weekday during term-time and school holidays. She is registered to provide two places for children on the Early Years Register and there are currently two children attending who are within this age group. The children live locally. One child attends another setting offering care within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

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Description of the childminding

The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to under eight years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary Childcare Register. Children occupying these places will share the same facilities as the children in the Early Years age range. There are currently no children on roll in this age range. The childminder holds the qualification for the BTec National Diploma in Caring Services (Nursery Nursing).

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides very well for children within the EYFS and promotes their welfare with success. They are fully engaged in a broad range of activities that are planned with a flexible approach taking into account each child's stage of development and current interest. There is a close working partnership with parents and other settings providing for children within the EYFS promoting good quality education and care. The childminder encourages children to develop a sense of identity, appreciate each other's differences or needs, and to explore aspects of others cultures valuing anti-discriminatory practice. The childminder has strong procedures for self-evaluation that enable her to understand her strengths and weaknesses and plan for continued improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 review the setting to enable children to select and use activities and resources independently  undertake sensitive observational assessment in order to plan to meet young children’s individual needs; this refers to information to enable childen's starting points to be fully understood and offering support to parents for extended learning in the home.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 carry out a full risk assessment for each type of outing 24/11/2008 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 undertaken, which includes an assessment of required adult: child ratios, and ensure this is reviewed before embarking on each specific outing.

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provision

Policies and procedures are used effectively to promote the welfare of children attending. The childminder has robust arrangements for safeguarding children that are fully understood. She has completed both safeguarding and common assessment framework training to assist her in this role and protect children. Previous training, Btec National Diploma in Caring Services(Nursery Nursing) and many years experience within the childcare field, together with planned training, ensure that children's needs are very well met.

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provision

The childminder completes comprehensive self-evaluation and seeks feedback from the users of her service to ensure that she continually updates and reviews her practice. For example, comments made in questionnaires show that parents are, 'completely happy', 'definitely feel the children's needs are met' and that '(childminder) has assisted the settling period and development'. The childminder has formed very good relationships with parents to ensure that children's care is consistent and that they are able to make good progress. She has obtained written permission to liaise with other settings who provide care under EYFS to enable each setting to compliment the others care. Observation and assessment books for each child show progress, evaluate activities and show plans for the next steps. However, there is no initial assessment to ascertain starting points for development nor are there systems devised to involve parents in the learning

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provision

The home and resources are well organised and there is a very good range of play provision accessible. All areas used show an abundance of crafts and works completed by children together with posters encouraging children to have an interest in what they see and reflect on past activities completed. The childminder conducts risk assessments within the home but has not yet addressed the risks relating to outings and this means that children's wellbeing could be compromised.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are offered a wide range of activities that support them in making good progress in all areas of learning. Planning is developed around themes such as the seasons, Easter and Bonfire night. The childminder uses individual observations, both spontaneous and planned, to inform the planning. This means that each activity takes into account children's current stage of development and adapts to their changing interest. Children make free choices from activities and extend or direct the play as they choose. For instance, when making firework rockets they are intent on choosing colours, designing with a range of materials, role-play with the rockets and then move to colouring. However, whilst storage is available at a low level, it is neither labelled or opaque, with the provision for very young children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 stored in a different area with boxes for choice selected by the childminder. This

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

means that younger children have limited opportunities to develop independence as they cannot self-select materials.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children explore their local environment and gain knowledge of the world around them. Children extend themes from the early years unit in school, such as an interest in autumn, to gathering leaves on the way home and competing crafts. They carry out projects to explore culture by finding out what people eat in other countries and produce collage works that they display on the walls. Involvement in such works promotes children's understanding of the world around them.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children explore floating and sinking activities, they use numbers confidently and play 'shops' to explore family life and extend their knowledge of problem-solving and numeracy. Involvement in conversations results in incidental learning. For example, whilst making firework rockets children discuss 'day' and 'night', explore how the moon is seen at night and its many shapes. They explore their knowledge of safety as they discuss clear rules for the use of fireworks pointing out the 'fire' coming from 'Catherine wheels' and the dangers of things around catching fire.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children thrive because they are cared for in a safe and secure environment. They take part in routines that promote their safety such as emergency evacuation plans. They understand rules for road safety which they practice when walking to and from areas within the village and learn about the 'Green Cross Code'. Children gain good knowledge of healthy foods and dietary needs as they make free choices from broad menus offered to them and learn about each others specific needs. The premises are registered with the local authority for provision for food to ensure that dietary needs are met. Children are developing clear social behaviours and learning to be aware of others around them, this is shown as they use manners towards each other freely without prompting. 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? 2

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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? 2 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 2 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 registration.

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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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