Parker, Victoria Dianne

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 EY372061 Inspection date 02/12/2008 Inspector Anne Archer

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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 2008. She lives with her husband and two children aged three and one year in Barton Seagrave in North Northamptonshire. All of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outdoor play where there are a few steps.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She attends a local parent and toddler group and takes children to the library and the local park. She has use of a vehicle to transport children to and from the local school and Isham Pre-school.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides a caring, inclusive service to each child who attends. Children's welfare needs are effectively met and they make good progress in their development and learning, given their age, ability and starting points. The childminder has trusting, working partnerships with parents although possibly due to time limitations, a few parents struggle to share information about their child which would benefit the learning process. Some useful links have already been established with other interested adults such as the key worker at the pre-school attended by a child, although nursery and school links are still to be established. Although the childminder has been caring for children for only a short time, she is already starting to reflect on and evaluate her practice and is keen to attend further training to aid her personal development to ensure the service she offers to children and their families caters for their ever changing needs.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to explore ways to encourage and enable parents to contribute to their child's ongoing assessment by sharing what they know about their child and continue to work on establishing links with the children's other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage  develop the use of the evaluation of activities to assess whether learning intentions are being met and to aid planning for the next steps in each child's learning  ensure that the smoke alarm on the first floor is sited safely and that dangerous substances are returned to safe storage after use  ensure that exit door keys are readily available in an emergency by storing them safely. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder is fully committed to helping children to progress in their learning and development and is establishing links with other providers to support this. She has started a folder for each child which includes written and photographic observations and art and craft work. All are offered to parents on a regular basis as the childminder recognises the importance of developing good working relationships.

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provision

The childminder has attended a range of courses to support her childminding including training on Schemas and heuristic play and has plans to continue to increase her knowledge and understanding of good childminding practices. She has introduced a quality assurance system in which parents and children have an opportunity to respond to questions about her service and she uses this information to develop her practice.

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provision

Safeguarding procedures are in place and the childminder is fully aware of her responsibility to report any concerns she may have. She has risk assessed her home and garden and shows full awareness of the importance of keeping children safe at all times, although at the time of the inspection a few potential hazards had been overlooked and recommendations within this report refer to them. The childminder has all necessary policies and procedures in place and she keeps and maintains all records and documentation appropriately.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder supports children's development and learning well. As a result, children are making good progress towards the early learning goals in relation to their starting points and capabilities. The planned activities are enjoyed by the children and each is suitably challenged as the childminder is able to adapt them to suit each child's learning needs and abilities. Children enjoy feeling the texture and commenting on the smell of shaving foam as they play with it in the water tray and line up engines to have a race across the floor. The childminder uses information gained from parents and others and from her own observations to plan activities which take account of their interests and help them to make progress. For instance, a camping activity which children enjoyed at pre-school was extended by the childminder to include a barbeque. However, the childminder does not yet use evaluation to assess whether the planned learning intentions are met.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

As the developing links with other providers become more firmly established and information flows more freely this will be of benefit to the children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children learn how to keep themselves healthy by taking regular drinks and adopting good personal hygiene routines and the childminder talks to children about keeping themselves safe both in the car and when out walking together. Children learn about the consequences of their behaviour and are encouraged through consistent management, to be caring and kind to each other. Children have opportunities to use programmable toys and make choices and decisions about their care and the activities they participate in, which supports them to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 become active, inquisitive and independent learners. Children's welfare is strongly supported by the clear procedures and policies and the developing good practices of the childminder. 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? 2 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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