Smith, Charlotte 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 EY372141 Inspection date 14/11/2008 Inspector Siobhan O'Callaghan

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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 April 2008. She lives with her husband and two children aged five and 15 months. The family live in St Albans in Hertfordshire. The home is close to local amenities, shops and schools. The whole of the house is used for childminding purposes with easy access to cloakroom facilities on both the ground and first floor of the property. The premises are accessed by one step coming into the home. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register to provide care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time. She is currently caring for three children all of whom attend on a part-time basis. Two children attending are within the early years age group and one child is in the later years age group. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local toddler groups. The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder effectively supports all children to make progress in their learning and development. She provides a broad range of activities and experiences that interests and includes all children and thus motivates them to learn. However, the planning and assessment systems to monitor children's progress towards the early learning goals is not robust. Informative records and effective daily communication keeps parents abreast of their children's time spent with the childminder. There are a satisfactory range of policies and procedures to promote children's welfare. The childminder demonstrates a positive approach to implementing improvements to her provision, and is beginning to self-evaluate some aspects of her practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop planning and assessment systems to demonstrate how these relate to the early learning goals and how this information is used to inform children's next steps in their learning  ensure records that have been used to assess the suitability of the emergency back-up childminder are available  improve risk assessments so that they are are consistently recorded  improve recording of children's attendance records. To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment 01/12/2008 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder provides a welcoming and accessible environment for children. Her excellent range of resources are attractively organised to promote children's independence and to ensure that all children can be fully included. Children's flexible routines ensure that they have ample opportunities to play freely and thus engage within purposeful play. The childminder plans a broad range of activities and experiences that supports her in promoting children's learning and development. However, the childminder is yet to develop her planning and assessment systems to show how these relate to the early learning goals and how this information can be used to inform children's next steps in their learning. Therefore, opportunities to monitor children's individual progress may be lost.

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provision

The childminder has devised a satisfactory range of records and policies to support the safe and efficient management of her setting. She has the majority of all required consents in place for parents, although she needs to instigate permission for seeking emergency medical treatment. There are generally effective systems in place to help keep children safe, however, the maintenance and the availability of some records require improvement. The childminder is able to protect children from harm or neglect as she has a sound understanding of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. She has attended further training within this area to extend her knowledge and skills, thus demonstrating a commitment to developing her practice. This is the childminder's first inspection since registration, therefore, her systems for self-evaluation are still evolving. However, she has effectively met all recommendations raised on her registration visit and has started to develop an

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provision

action plan to instigate improvements to her current documentation.

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provision

The childminder values working in partnership with parents, she maintains informative daily diaries for all children which keeps parents well-informed of their child's individual care requirements and the experiences they have been involved with. These are further complimented by a full range of photographs of the children at play. Parents clearly value the care and experiences their children receive which is demonstrated in the positive letters of support and thanks that they have completed. Positive partnerships have been established with the schools that the older children attend, this in turn helps to promote a continuous approach to meeting children's learning and care needs.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's welfare is promoted through some positive practices which are incorporated within their daily routines. They are learning how to keep themselves safe as they become aware of the dangers of traffic when they walk to and from school each day. They learn about personal safety as they are supported to play on the challenging climbing apparatus in the garden. Children's health is protected through a range of suitable policies and procedures. Sample menus demonstrate that children are offered nutritional and wholesome meals. Babies enjoy eating This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 their lunch independently as they help themselves to finger foods such as small sausages and toasted cheese slices. Babies comfort is given due emphasis as they enjoy being held whilst drinking their bottles of milk. Children have appropriate provision to take rests and be active throughout the day, this positively supports

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children have good opportunities to learn and develop through a balanced range of adult-led and child-initiated activities. The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge and understanding of children's development and how they learn, although she is yet to utilise her knowledge to implement planning and assessment systems to support and monitor children's progression. Children confidently access a stimulating learning environment where their own ideas are fully supported. Babies are very busy as they play with trains, and demonstrate how these can travel along the tracks. They are keen to make marks as they access paper and crayons with the support of the childminder. Babies enjoy the challenges of completing puzzles, and are delighted when they receive lots of praise and encouragement. They confidently communicate their wishes through a wide range of babbles and gestures. The childminder effectively manages her time to ensure

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

that she has extensive opportunities to communicate and interact with the children in her care. Babies enjoy familiar stories and point to their favourite animals in the books.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are developing good social skills, their daily routines include visits to toddler groups or having friends to play at home, thus they have ample experiences of playing with and alongside children of a similar age. The childminder promotes a positive role-model to children, she is calm and patient with them and responds effectively to their requests. Older children's reading and creative writing skills are developed through their independent access to a range of reading and writing materials. There are displays to support their early recognition of letters. Children's self-esteem is clearly a high priority, their art work is attractively displayed within the playroom. Recent displays include a topic on autumn where children have been involved in collecting leaves and creating a collage using a variety of materials. Through helping to change the daily weather chart they learn about the current season and discuss any particular events in the

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

calendar such as Halloween or the celebration of Diwali. The childminder discusses topics followed at school with the children, and where appropriate she extends this with them at home. Overall, she is setting some secure foundations for their future learning. 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? 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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