Childminder in Leicestershire

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 225914 Inspection date 29/10/2008 Inspector Alexandra Brouder

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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 registered since 1988. She lives with her husband, adult son and 12 year old daughter in a house in a residential area in the south of Leicestershire. She has provision on the Early Years Register and the Compulsory and Voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Access to the premises is on ground floor level to the front of the house. The whole of the ground floor is used for minding, including the lounge, dining room, kitchen and downstairs toilet. There is a small enclosed garden for children's outdoor play and activities. The home is close to local shops, schools and parks. The childminder is registered to provide care for six children and currently has three children under eight years on roll.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder meets regularly with other childminders and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Although children have access to a suitable range of resources, the provision is inadequate as the childminder does not have an awareness of the Early Years Foundation Stage to support and extend children’s learning and development. In addition, systems are not in place to monitor and evaluate her practice. Positive relationships are in place with parents and carers of minded children and the childminder seeks to provide all children with an inclusive environment, although limited resources are in place that promote diversity and differences.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Good relationships are in place between the childminder and children, helping them to be happy and secure in the accessible environment. Although some records and documents are in satisfactory order, there are various aspects of policy and procedure which are not in place. In addition, some safety requirements are not met.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 provide a record of risk assessment clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident 12/11/2008  develop knowledge and systems for observational assessment and planning of children's next steps to provide experiences that meet children's individual learning needs as they progress towards the early learning goals 12/11/2008 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  develop effective systems, with particular reference to self-evaluation and monitoring practice so that every child receives an enjoyable and challenging learning and development experience that is tailored to meet their individual needs within the Early Years Foundation Stage 12/11/2008  ensure that written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child's admission to the provision, to the seeking of any necessary medical advice or

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further?

treatment in the future. 12/11/2008 To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 ensure that written permission is obtained from parents for children to take part in outings  ensure that all premises and equipment are clean, with particular regard to the downstairs toilet  ensure that the provision promotes and values diversity and differences, with particular reference to the resources and activities that are on offer to children.

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provision

Children’s welfare and care are supported appropriately as the childminder ensures that she seeks information on children’s needs, from parents and carers, before they begin in her care. This enables her to provide resources and activities suited to their individual requirements. Some safety equipment is in place, such as smoke detectors and socket covers. However, a lack of a written risk assessment means that some hazards have not been identified appropriately, such as younger children’s access to the stairs and safety on outings. In addition, there is no consent for emergency medical advice or treatment obtained from parents, which may delay appropriate medical intervention should a child become ill or have an accident. Children’s hygiene is promoted through access to soap and hand towels; however, cleanliness of the downstairs toilet does not promote their well-being. Children are safeguarded as the childminder has a sound knowledge of action to

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provision

take should she have a concern for a child's welfare.

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provision

The childminder works well in partnership with parents, sharing daily verbal feedback on how children have been and what they have done. However, her lack of knowledge and training regarding the early learning goals, inhibits parents and carers awareness of their children’s progress within these areas. In addition to this, the lack of some documentation, such as information on complaints, means that parents and carers are not always fully informed on the childminder’s services and how children are cared for.

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provision

All children are included within the setting and the childminder values their individual needs and backgrounds, although there are limited resources that promote this area effectively. Systems to monitor and evaluate her provision to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 improve outcomes for children are not yet in place, which has led to weaknesses in what is provided for children. Some steps have been made to improve the setting since the last inspection to ensure that children's welfare is supported, however, there are still some areas that require development.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Although minded children are happy and content in the accessible environment, the childminder has insufficient knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage to support children’s learning and development effectively. Informal planning is completed, linking to children’s preferred play activities, such as craft ideas and the childminder understands the importance of letting children initiate their own ideas in play. However, children’s individual needs are not being addressed using the stepping stones towards the early learning goals, leading to insufficient challenges at times and there is no system in place to observe and assess what children have done and need to learn next. A designated area of the home is used to enable children to freely access the available resources and to make choices in their play. These resources include, role play items, a tent, play house, posting box, building blocks, threading, garage and cars and a train set. Children are happy to play with

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

what is on offer and a child present particularly enjoyed making a slide from an old box and using dolls to show the inspector how this worked. Children speak enthusiastically about what they have made previously, for example, a pasta necklace, and describe how this was completed, increasing their language and confidence skills. Although all children are valued, resources and activities to promote all inclusively are limited. This impacts on children's awareness of the world they live in, their own identity, and the needs of others. Children’s awareness of number develops as the childminder counts with them using a number line and talks about the time on the clock asking the child what numbers the hands are on. Children enjoy singing songs and rhymes and eagerly demonstrate the actions to ‘dingle dangle scarecrow’, increasing their physical skills.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children’s confidence develops as they explore their environment easily and gain independence in their personal hygiene skills as they use the toilet unaided and wash their hands after each use and before drinks and snacks. However, some aspects of hygiene are not consistently managed. Children access drinks throughout the day enabling them to monitor their own hydration and foods offered to children are beginning to promote a healthy and balanced diet. Children’s behaviour is good and the childminder praises and encourages children in all that they do, promoting their self-esteem. Most children are included in all aspects of play, however, at times younger children’s needs are not effectively planned for, leading to missed opportunities in their learning. Children learn about being safe outdoors as the childminder talks to them about how to cross roads safely and gentle reminders of safety rules within the home such as picking up

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

toys from the floor, are issued as needed. 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? 4

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 4 How well are children helped to be healthy? 3 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 4 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 make available to parents a written statement that provides details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint (also applies to the voluntary part of the register) 12/11/2008  ensure that a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard children being cared for from abuse or neglect. 12/11/2008

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take appropriate action as indicated within the Childcare register 12/11/2008  take appropriate action as indicated within the Childcare register. 12/11/2008 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

Since the last inspection their have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action.

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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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