Childminder in Rotherham

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 EY153087 Inspection date 22/10/2008 Inspector Angela Howard

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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 2002. She lives with her husband and their children aged seven years and twins aged three years. They live in Rawmarsh, a large residential area in Rotherham. The whole of the ground floor, plus toilet facilities on the first floor of the premises are used for childminding. There is a secure garden to the front of the property available for outside play. The family have a dog. Care is offered Monday to Friday all year round. The childminder has a registered assistant who may be present from time to time to assist with the care of the minded children.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children at any one time when working alone and five children when working with an assistant. There are currently two children on roll, of which one child is in the early years age group. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register. The childminder has a level 3 childcare qualification and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children feel good about themselves and behave well towards each other. They are extremely confident in their surroundings and relish their time at the setting. The childminder is strongly committed to inclusion and keeps robust, informative records of each child's individual needs and progress. Combining the childminder's knowledge and skill, and expertise of parents, children are progressing very well. The continuous approach to improvement impacts positively on children's achievements. However, for children who attend more than one setting the systems to share relevant information with each other are not sufficiently well established.

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further?

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

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further?

 build upon the links established with other settings providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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provision

The childminder has a clear sense of direction, is highly motivated and regularly reviews what she does to plan for the future. She has robust systems in place for the monitoring and evaluation of the care and education she offers. The childminder is keen to learn about new ways of working and has recently gained a childcare level 3 qualification. Children are central to all that she offers. The focus is clearly on promoting an environment where children feel welcome and valued as individuals. Children's views are sought when reviewing practice, which helps children feel valued and respected. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 A full range of good quality policies and procedures are in place, which are implemented effectively to enhance outcomes for children. The safeguarding of children is a priority for the childminder. She has a good understanding of the

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provision

signs and symptoms of possible abuse and has robust procedures in place to ensure any child protection concerns are dealt with promptly and appropriately. The childminder is keen to work as a cohesive team with parents to promote children's welfare. She collects important information from parents at the start of a placement and keeps them updated on their child's care, how they are progressing and what they achieve by giving verbal and written information. This is achieved successfully through daily diaries, photographs and observation and assessment records. Good links have been established with the other settings offering the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. However, this is in its infancy and it is not clear that the care and education the childminder provides complements the education and care received at other settings.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is very well organised and uses her resources imaginatively to create an environment that extends children's play and independence well. They access a very wide variety of activities, which the childminder plans to encourage them to develop skills and have fun. Therefore, children are motivated, eager to learn and very well behaved. Very warm and caring relationships are evident; children communicate with each other and the childminder easily, talking freely about their home and past experiences. They share information about when the Police Officer came to visit them and talk about not talking to strangers, that they must cross the road carefully, to look left and right and remember that they must also listen for cars. As they walk past the shops they recall that if they get lost they can go and tell the people who work in the shop and they will help. Children are extremely polite, confident and are very relaxed in the setting. They learn good

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

social skills and enjoy being with and talking to adults and other children. This enables them to feel safe and secure and show a sense of trust.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are safe and secure. Indoors and outdoors are organised effectively creating a child friendly environment, which enables children to take risks while being appropriately supervised. Clear risk assessment documentation is maintained to a high standard and good safety practices are in place. For example, children routinely take part in fire drills, they are well versed in the cause of fire and how to dial 999 for help, after a visit from the fire officers when they fitted smoke alarms to the property. The childminder is keen to promote children's good health. She follows clear procedures for ensuring the children follow effective hygiene routines. They receive good support from the childminder as they discuss the need to remove 'Betty bacteria and Jerry germ' as they wash their hands before eating their snack.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Good quality planning of activities ensures children are learning effectively. They learn new skills, make connections and talk and listen while involved in activities. They benefit from the childminder's ability to respond to spontaneous events. For example, on the walk back from school the children see a squirrel. They watch quietly so they do not frighten it away. They listen to the leaves rustling and after This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 skilful questioning by the childminder about how the squirrel moves, they copy the squirrel's movements. They describe it as a hopping, jumping movement and ask what it is looking for; this leads on to what he may eat and where he may live. Effective assessment enables the childminder to review each child's progress towards the early learning goals and to plan for the next steps to meet their development and learning needs. From a child showing interest in what shape the

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

bathroom door is the childminder plans an activity for children to find different shapes in the house. This activity is then taken outdoors into the community where the children look around and find similar shapes. They take photographs and mount them in a book. They talk about traffic signs being triangles, the road sign being a rectangle and the sunflowers in the shop window being circles. Therefore, children access a wide variety of activities to make good progress in their learning because their play is tailored to their individual needs, interests and abilities. 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. Good

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Foundation Stage led and managed?

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

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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 the last inspection.

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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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