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 EY373007 Inspection date 09/09/2008 Inspector Linda Tomkins

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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 and works with two other childminders in a property in Staffordshire. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, the compulsory part of the Childcare Register and the voluntary part of the Childcare Register. The childminder has one child of her own, aged 10 years. The other childminders have their own children, one aged five, two aged 10 years and one aged 13 years. Areas of the co-childminder's house used are: utility room, kitchen, living room, play room, ground floor bathroom and two first floor bedrooms and en-suite bathroom. 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 six children and when working with co-childminders they may care for a maximum of 11 children at any one time. All three childminders have joint responsibility for the childminding practice. The co-childminder's family has ducks, quails, chickens, cats, dogs, cold water and tropical fish and lobsters.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and supports children with learning difficulties and /or disabilities.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides very effectively for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children are respected as individuals. The childminder works closely with parents and is developing links with other professionals to ensure all children's specific needs are met. Children are settled and relaxed with the childminder, her co-childminders and other children in the home. The provision is effectively organised to enable inclusion in all activities for all children. The childminder is developing her understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and meets the majority of the welfare requirements.

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further?

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

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further?

 maintain records of the risk assessment on outdoor and indoor spaces, furniture, equipment and toys and review at least once a year  ensure that systems are in place to evaluate and monitor practice. To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 obtain information about who has legal contact with all minded children; and who has parental responsibility for the minded children. 16/09/2008 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Children's care, safety and welfare are very well promoted because the childminder continues to update and extend her skills through attending training courses such as First Aid and workshops on The Early Years Foundation Stage.

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provision

The childminder promotes positive outcomes for children well by maintaining and developing records, policies and procedures. Parents provide detailed information on their children's needs to enable the childminder to plan and provide care and learning that is tailored to each individual child. Children's individual achievement files are under review and freely available to parents. Currently, progress towards the early learning goals is shared verbally together with detailed written information about activities children are engaged in each day. Parents can also observe their children at play via a closed circuit television camera system.

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provision

Children's welfare is promoted well within the home. The childminder protects children from harm or neglect as she has a good understanding of the Local Safeguarding Children Board's procedures and signs and symptoms of abuse. All adults within the provision have undergone the effective vetting procedures which ensures they are suitable to have regular contact with children and further promotes their safety. Safety equipment is fitted to both levels of the home. However, risk assessment records and details on children are not yet in place to fully meet the specific legal welfare requirement and ensure that areas children use are fully monitored and safe.

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provision

The childminder is developing detailed robust systems to monitor and evaluate the provision and she frequently discusses with co-childminders where improvements are necessary. For example, all policies and procedures are under continual review and comparisons are made with other provisions at local network meetings. However, systems to monitor continuous improvement and self-evaluation are not fully effective to ensure children continue to receive enjoyable and challenging learning and development experiences that meet their individual needs. Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their children's care as they frequently stay and play at the end of the day.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder effectively promotes children's welfare, learning and development. Children are helped to learn how to keep themselves healthy because they have frequent opportunity for both physical and outdoor play activities and they enthusiastically eat and enjoy their nutritious healthy snacks and packed lunches. Children learn to keep themselves safe as they follow the 'house rules' and are taught road safety on frequent walks.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Play spaces are well planned and arranged to enable children to choose and participate in a wide range of stimulating activities that meet their play and development needs. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children's self-esteem and well-being is fostered as the childminder sees the children as individuals. She tailors her plans for learning and care to takes account of children's starting points and likes and dislikes.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are able to independently access a range of toys and equipment to help them make good progress in their personal, social and communication development as they observe their peers and learn to share and play companionably together. Early numeric skills improve as they discover various shapes and sizes. Children listen attentively and enjoy story time which supports them to develop their early reading skills.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are encouraged to celebrate a range of festivals to further promote their understanding of the wider world. They discover the natural world in their rural community and have supervised access to a wide range of family pets both inside and outside the setting. The childminder prepares detailed plans of activities and is developing individual observation and assessment sheets which clearly show the next steps for children's learning and shared with parents. The childminder regularly praises and congratulates the children on their progress and achievements to develop their confidence and self-esteem. Older children react positively to the childminder's high expectations for good behaviour and help to write the house rules. 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

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound 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? Good The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement. Satisfactory

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How effective is the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement? Satisfactory

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

How well does the setting work in partnership with parents and others? Good

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? Good How well are children helped to be healthy? Good How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? Good How well are children helped to make a positive contribution? Good

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being? Good

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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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