Baker, Sarah

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 EY299038 Inspection date 23/04/2009 Inspector Tracey Jane Outram

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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 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 2004. She lives with husband and 11 year old daughter in a suburb of Rotherham. The house is situated on an established residential housing estate, within walking distance of local amenities, such as schools, shops and public play areas. All ground floor rooms are used for childminding purposes. There is an enclosed rear garden which is used for outdoor play. The family have two pet dogs.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under the age of eight years at any one time, and this includes two places for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The setting also makes provision for older children, which is registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare register. The children occupying these places share the same facilities as the children in the early year’s age range. The childminder is currently caring for eight children, of whom two are in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The children all attend on a part-time basis.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The quality of the provision is good. The childminder has effective systems in place to ensure that the environment is inclusive and the children's unique personal requirements are carefully considered. She has developed very strong links with parents and she openly shares any information affecting the daily operation of the setting. Overall, the children benefit from a broad range of purposeful and interesting activities that are planned to meet their individual learning and development needs. The childminder is committed to attending further training and is developing systems that allow her to continuously reflect and improve the care and education that she provides to children. She has a good capacity for further improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 take steps to include parents in planning for the next steps in children's learning and development  encourage and facilitate children’s spontaneous access to a range of purposeful outdoor play activities.

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provision

The childminder has produced and maintains a good range of policies and procedures to support the care and learning of all children. Record keeping is extremely effective, and all of the required documents are well ordered and ready for inspection. This includes the registers of attendance, accidents records and risk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 assessments for both the premises and outings. Children are well supervised and risks to their good health and welfare are minimised because the childminder works closely with parents to develop and implement effective and individual care plans for the children. This involves her taking positive steps to ensure that she is suitably trained and informed about how to deal with children's specific health needs and requirements. Likewise, the childminder has a detailed understanding of the local child protection procedures and the processes required to safeguard

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provision

children. Similarly, there are very good systems in place to deal with any unplanned or unforeseen events; the childminder had devised an emergency plan, which includes the use of her registered assistant along with another local childminder.

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provision

Parents receive a good range of information about the setting. For instance, the childminder produces newsletters, and explains any changes to her personal circumstances that might affect the childminding service. This includes events, such as, any holidays, complaints and most recently the arrival of a new pet dog. The children's records are easily accessible and examples of children's art work and along with photographs of them enjoying and achieving are displayed around the setting for parents to observe. In addition, the childminder openly communicates with other setting that the children attend in order to provide a complementary service which supports children's development and builds on the skills that they already have.

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provision

The childminder is committed to attending further training and has recently completed a level three qualification in childcare and education. She works closely with staff from the local authority and has completed a thoughtful self-evaluation in order to look at different ways of enhancing the quality of the provision.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The children are extremely content and happy in the care of the well organised and child-centred childminder. She has a good understanding of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, and as a result the children are making good progress towards the early learning goals. On a daily basis the children are engaged in a stimulating and broad range of well planned and delivered early years experiences. This includes an abundance of sensory and creative play opportunities, such as arts, crafts, imaginative play, music and dance.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The systems of planning and assessment for each individual child are extremely comprehensive and cover each of the six areas of learning. The childminder make clear plans for children's development and has good systems in place to evaluate the effectiveness of the early years provision. For example, the childminder completes entry profiles on the children at the start of the placement in partnership with parents, and this mark the beginning of effective and continual process of observations and assessments. However, systems for including parents in making plans for the next steps in their children's learning are still in their infancy.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The registered premises are clean, spacious and totally dedicated to the care of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the children. Similarly, the activities and resources are safe, well maintained and stored in low-level storage units. This allows the children to enjoy independent access to resources, such as books, dressing up clothes, puzzles, games, small world equipment and construction toys. Outdoor play opportunities are plentiful and the children are encouraged to enjoy a rich range of exploratory and investigative experiences. However, the children are unable to enjoy self-initiated access to the secure outdoor play area.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder shares her time between the children well; she is well organised and provides the children with access to activities that are planned to meet their unique learning needs and interests. For example, while younger children rest the older children are stimulated and included in planned activities that encourage problem solving and numeracy. They skilfully sort numbers, count in excess of 15 and take pride in showing their understanding of concepts, such as, time and floating and sinking. Equally, there are many examples of the childminder and children interacting together and using language for thinking and communication. Story books, music and rhymes are used daily to help the children distinguish sounds as they begin to develop their phonic knowledge. The children confidently talk about past events and they articulately describe a range of past activities, such as, baking, painting and water play. The childminder is keen to ensure that all

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

activities are inclusive and interesting to both boys and girls. She takes a creative approach to learning that allows the children to identify with popular media, such as superheroes in order to encourage and support learning across the breadth of the curriculum.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The needs of younger children are equally well addressed; they are actively involved in small world play, singing and a range of problem solving and numeracy activities. In addition, their inclusion in conversations and lively interactive games that encouraged repetition, such as, the naming of facial features and body parts help increase vocabulary and confidence to talk in a group. The children demonstrate high levels of concentration in activities of their own choosing and they show excitement and pleasure when they receive praise for their accomplishments. The childminder is keen that children build strong attachments and relationships with each other; consequently they are encouraged to share, take turns and value each others' contributions. The children thoroughly enjoy looking at the many photographs of themselves that are displayed around the setting. This increases children's sense of belonging, and offers them opportunities

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

to talk with the childminder about their friends and the past activities and outings that they have enjoyed.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The children's care routines are well organised and the children are included in many aspects of the daily schedule, such as, preparing snacks, hygiene routines and tidying away the toys. This enables the children to learn about their own personal safety and good health. Overall, the children receive high quality care, learning and play opportunities. 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

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