Childminder in Durham

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 EY332330 Inspection date 11/03/2009 Inspector Andrea, Jane Lockyer

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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 July 2006. She lives in a house with her partner and three children aged four, 10 and 12 years. Local amenities and public transport systems are within walking distance. The whole of the ground floor area is used for childminding purposes, access to the first floor is restricted to the use of the bathroom. There is a suitable rear garden for outdoor play. The property is accessed by steep steps. The family have two pet rabbits. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently caring for 10 children, all of whom attend part-time either before or after school. Two children are in the early years age range. The childminder receives training opportunities from the local authority.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. The childminder provides a caring, stimulating and welcoming environment, in which all children and their families feel valued, fully included and secure. Effective partnerships with parents ensure they are provided with good information and that children's needs are met. In general the childminder follows good practices to promote children's health and safety. Good systems are used effectively to continually monitor and evaluate her practice to improve outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 provide a range of resources and opportunities to increase children's awareness of people with disabilities and learning difficulties  ensure that the rabbits in the garden do not pose a potential health risk to children.

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provision

A comprehensive range of good quality policies and procedures are in place and used effectively to promote the care, welfare and learning of all children. The childminder is secure in her knowledge of child protection procedures and robust risk assessments are in place to ensure children are safeguarded at all times. The childminder places high priority on safety as children walk to and from school to ensure they remain safe at all times, for example, they wear high visibility jackets, walk holding hands and follow very good procedures when crossing roads. Children thrive in the supportive environment, which is equipped with a wide range of well maintained toys, furniture and equipment. Although the childminder promotes good health and hygiene practices, one of the pet rabbits is able to roam free in the garden. Which potentially poses a risk to children's health. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Effective relationships have been established with parents. They share their knowledge of the children to ensure that all children's needs are met as fully as possible. Individual records are kept on all children, which ensures the childminder has all the relevant information to continue to meet the needs of the children she is caring for. Parents are provided with a good information package, which includes copies of all policies and procedures. This ensures that parents are kept very well informed about all aspects of the childminding practice. Daily discussions with parents and progress files ensure that parents receive good information about their children's care, welfare and learning. Good links have been made with the local school children attend. The childminder has gained information from teachers about what children are learning and she supports their continued learning at home.

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provision

The childminder is committed to improving her practice. She has good systems in place to monitor her provision, which include children's questionnaires. She constantly researches different media to provide interesting and stimulating activities for children. All recommendations from the previous inspection have been successfully met, and she has made a number of improvements since her last inspection to improve outcomes for children. For example, developing her knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage, providing children with 'all about me' books, giving the childminder a real understanding of what is important to children .

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a high level of awareness of how to support and enhance children's learning through a relaxed and fun environment after school. Emphasis is placed on continued learning through providing a wide range of experiences based on children's interests, arts, crafts, physical activities and leisure time. The childminder has a good understanding of the areas of learning and children continue to make good progress towards the early learning goals. Activities cover all areas of learning and good written observations and evaluations are used to plan and extend individual children's learning. Children are encouraged to make their own evaluations of activities and the provision through questionnaires which the childminder uses effectively to ensure activities and resources continue to interest children and provide them with good challenges. Daily discussions with the children at the 'Pow Wow' encourage all children to share their daily experiences,

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

plan future activities, decide what they would like to do and what snacks they would like. Children became very enthusiastic when deciding what they could for 'Red Nose Day' at the childminders.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder provides a relaxed and nurturing atmosphere and children thoroughly enjoy their time with her. They enjoy affectionate, sensitive and caring relationships with the childminder and each other and are developing high levels of self esteem, confidence and trust. Older children are very supportive to younger children, which helps them to develop strong relationships and feel secure. The childminder spends time with individual children ensuring that they have good levels of support and to extend their learning, for example, promoting children's reading skills as they sit and read their school reading books together or make This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 delicate sequential patterns with beads.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children eagerly engage in a wide variety of stimulating activities such as, putting on talent shows, acting out plays, dressing up as pirates and making a pirate ship in the garden, making models, playing board games, solving puzzles and playing musical instruments. All children thoroughly enjoy the wide range of art and craft activities on offer especially making skeletons. Children have good opportunities to develop their role play and imaginative skills as they use a very well equipped 'play house' or use a wide range of small world figures, furniture and equipment. All children are confident communicators, they ask questions, initiate conversations, share ideas and give suggestions on how best to do things. Children are confident to initiate and extend their own play and learning as they self select from the wide range of well organised, good quality resources available.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder actively promotes equality and inclusion, she ensures all children have access to all resources, plans the celebration of different cultural festivals and provides a good range of resources that increase children's awareness of diversity. However there are limited resources that promote children's understanding of people with disabilities and learning difficulties. All children are valued as individuals and sensitive discussions with the childminder helps children to value differences and respect one other. All children are developing good levels of understanding of safety and a healthy lifestyle, as they carry out fire drills, learn to cross roads safely, talk about stranger danger, follow consistent daily routines for hand washing, help clean the table after meals and use their own towels and cups. Children help prepare a range of healthy snacks and take part in healthy eating activities. All children thoroughly enjoy exercise in the outdoors. They have daily

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

opportunities to play games in the garden with a wide range of outdoor equipment and have planted their own pea pods and sunflowers. 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 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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