Childminder in Sheffield

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 EY294269 Inspection date 19/11/2008 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 2004. She lives with her husband and their two children aged 11 and eight years. They live in Halfway, a large residential suburb in Sheffield. The whole of the ground floor of the premises, except for the office, is used for childminding. There is a secure garden available for outside play. The family have a cat. Care is offered Monday to Friday all year round. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. There are currently four children on roll, of whom three children are in the early years age group. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children show a sense of belonging because the childminder tends to their individual needs well. Children are encouraged to think about other people's feelings, promoting an ethos of care and concern for each other. Learning opportunities have some areas of weakness due to the basic level of the planning and assessment of children's learning and the childminder's basic knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage. There are two breaches of requirements, regarding medical treatment consent and risk assessments. The childminder recognises some of the strengths and weakness of the setting but future plans are limited. This is due to the basic consideration given to reflecting and analysing what the childminder does well and what needs to improve and how she can work in partnership with others to promote children's continuity of care and learning.

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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?

 obtain written permission to seek emergency treatment or advice (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 12/12/2008  maintain a record of risk assessments for the premises and any outings conducted (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 12/12/2008 To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 develop further planning and assessment arrangements to identify learning priorities for each child and then plan relevant and motivating learning This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 experiences  develop further knowledge and understanding of they Early Years Foundation Stage and consider ways to reflect more actively on practice to improve the outcomes for children  build links with other settings providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage

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provision

The childminder has most records, policies and procedures in place to ensure the safe management of the setting. However, she has failed to seek written emergency treatment consent. This is breach in requirements. She promotes an ethos where children are warmly welcomed and values each child as an individual. Appropriate resources are available and easily accessed, enabling children to freely choose activities within safe boundaries. The childminder overcomes barriers positively; for example, when the outdoor play area became water logged, she used the local community, such as parks and public places to better facilitate different activities. The childminder has satisfactory knowledge of how to protect children and recognises that this is her first priority. She has attended up-to-date child protection training and has the appropriate government guidance booklet which she uses for reference.

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provision

The childminder demonstrates basic understanding of the need to continuously review to provide better outcomes for children. She has completed all recommendations made at the last inspection and has actively sought support from the local network of childminders to enable her to make changes in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage. However, the childminder's knowledge and understanding of they Early Years Foundation Stage is basic and she has not given sufficient focus on ways to reflect more actively on practice to improve the outcomes for children and to ensure she is not in breach of any requirements.

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provision

Parents and carers are provided with a wide range of information about the early years provision. Children's diaries are shared daily with parents to ensure there is a two-way flow of information to ensure continuity of care and to promote children's welfare. Children's work prominently displayed around the premises shows parents what children have been achieving. However, links with other settings providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are in their infancy and are not sufficiently focused on ensuring effective continuity of care and progression of children's learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children benefit from playing in a reasonably well organised, secure and welcoming environment. The premises are secure and all toys and equipment are clean and well maintained. Basic visual risk assessments are completed routinely but no written record of any risk assessments for the premises or outings is maintained. This is a breach of requirements. Children are beginning to adopt This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 healthy habits as they follow appropriate hygiene practice and make healthy choices about their snacks and drinks. Their dietary needs are met well because the childminder works with parents to gather, record and review relevant information. A record of children's diet is shared with parents each day. Appropriate supervision encourages children to behave in caring and responsible ways. For example, children are beginning to help tidy away so others will not fall

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

on toys, and constant reminders about sharing toys and not pushing each other help children to quickly take some responsibility for keeping themselves and others safe.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The interaction between the childminder and children is good. The warm and caring relationship the childminder has developed with the children promotes a caring environment in which children are happy and gain confidence. Although the childminder decides on what equipment to use each day, all children are able to freely choose from these activities, which are both age and stage appropriate. Children enjoy their learning and are making some progress. They express themselves with confidence, talking about what they are going to do later, stating 'We are going to bake when we have been to nursery'. They explain what they are doing as they pretend to mix a cake in a bowl with a wooden spoon, and older children recall a story with skill and accuracy as the childminder reads a story at snack time. They count blue cars and find the biggest car as they play with the small world equipment and spontaneously sing songs and action rhymes, such as

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

'Wind the bobbin up'. However, much of what happens is unstructured, planning is basic and it is unclear from discussion how the childminder identifies learning priorities for each child to then plan relevant and motivating learning experiences across all the areas of learning. Observation and assessment records are passable. They describe what the child has done and their care needs; however, very basic information is recorded to track children's progress and to identify the next steps in children's 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? 3 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 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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