Childminder in Lincolnshire

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 208810 Inspection date 18/03/2009 Inspector Melanie Arnold

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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 1996. She lives with her husband and daughter in Bracebridge Health, Lincolnshire. The whole ground floor is used for childminding, with sleeping facilities located on the first floor when the childminder provides overnight. There is an enclosed, secure garden for outside play. The premises are accessible by one step and parking is available at the front of the property. The family has an enclosed fish pond in the garden and a tank of fish in the house.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time during the day and for one child under eight years when providing overnight care. There are currently eight children on roll, two of whom are within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The childminder also cares for older children and is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory. The childminder gathers relevant information from parents and carers to ensure each child's individuality is recognised and promoted. All children are adequately supported, enabling them to access and participate in a suitable range of developmentally appropriate play experiences. Children make satisfactory progress in their learning and development as planning, observation and assessment systems have yet to be further established in line with the EYFS. The childminder implements mainly appropriate practices and procedures to ensure children's welfare is promoted. The planning for improvement, including the processes of self-evaluation, is not yet fully effective to ensure future targets for continuous improvements are identified.

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further?

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

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further?

 make systematic observations and assessments of each child's achievements, interests and learning styles and match the observations to the expectations of the early learning goals  use these observations and assessments to identify learning priorities and plan relevant and motivating learning expereinces for each child  develop a system of self-evaluation to identify the setting's strengths and priorities for development that will improve the quality of provision for all children.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 maintain a record of the risk assessment clearly 22/04/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident. (Suitable premises, environment and equipment).

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provision

Children are cared for in a warm and welcoming environment, where some of their toys and resources are stored to provide them easy access. The majority of records, policies and procedures required for the safe and appropriate management of the EYFS and to ensure the needs of all children are met are in place, and mainly completed with the required information. However, although steps have been taken to minimise potential hazards, a record of these risk assessment checks has not been completed to fully meet EYFS requirements. The childminder has maintained a current first aid certificate and she ensures children remain in her care at all times to help protect their health and safety. The childminder has appropriate procedures and practices in place when providing care overnight to ensure children's well-being is maintained.

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provision

The childminder works in partnership with parents and carers, gathering and exchanging relevant information to ensure children's needs are met. Parents comment positively on the childminder's service, stating they are happy with the care provided. They report that the childminder liaises with them if she has any concerns and that she always puts the well-being, protection and happiness of children at the forefront of any activities. Each child is treated equally, with the childminder adapting activities to enable everyone to participate at their level of ability. The childminder is aware of the requirement to develop links with other providers to help promote children's continued learning and development. The childminder strives to make improvements to her provision for the benefit of children's care. For example, she has worked on the recommendations raised at the last inspection and now ensures children receive a balanced range of healthier

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provision

snacks and she ensures appropriate behaviour management strategies are used to promote children's welfare. The childminder is aware of some of her current strengths and areas requiring further development, however, she has given little consideration to how to continually monitor her full provision to ensure continuous targets for future development are identified.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a clean, well-maintained home, where appropriate health and hygiene routines are implemented to help prevent the spread of infection. Space and resources are organised generally well, both inside and outside, to ensure children remain safe and secure. Children's needs are met because the childminder has appropriate toys, resources and equipment in place for them to use. Policies regarding health and safety are in place, including information relating to exclusion periods for children when they are ill. Children are appropriately safeguarded because the childminder has a generally good understanding of child This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 protection issues and procedures. Children learn about safety issues during discussions, daily events and their play. For example, when playing with toy cars and during daily walks to and from school, children's awareness of road safety is

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's behaviour is mainly good, with the childminder offering regular praise and encouragement to help develop their self-esteem. The childminder is aware of relevant strategies to manage children's unwanted behaviour, ensuring things are always discussed to help them learn about the consequences of their actions. The childminder ensures she gathers appropriate information from children's parents and carers, regarding their backgrounds and beliefs, to ensure she can meet each child's specific needs. Children are encouraged to share and play cooperatively with each other and they learn to value differences and diversity through basic discussions and activities. All of which contributes to helping children to develop the appropriate skills, behaviour and habits to help them achieve.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children access an appropriate range of toys and resources, which helps to promote their development. They enjoy participating in an interesting range of activities and play experiences, which promote the six areas of learning and are planned around their interests, needs and abilities. For example, when children do puzzles, the childminder ensures children of differing ages can participate at their individual level of ability, through providing them with puzzles of varying degrees of difficultly and size. This ensures each child is supported and challenged appropriately. Children are encouraged to be active and develop their physical skills through outside play, regular walks and trips to the park. The childminder incorporates simple counting activities into everyday events to help promote children's knowledge. For example, when eating grapes for snack, children are encouraged to count how many they have left. Regular art and craft activities,

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

including colouring, painting, cutting and sticking, help to develop children's creativity and fine manipulative skills. Children have access to books and they enjoy listening to stories as they all sit together with the childminder. Observation and assessment systems have yet to be developed to chart children's interests and progress towards the early learning goals and to identify individual children's next steps for learning. This will then enable the childminder to share more accurate information with parents and carers about their children's progress. 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

On 12 September 2008 concerns were raised about the safety of children on the school run and behaviour management. These concerns relate to suitable premises, environment and equipment; and safeguarding and promoting children's welfare. Ofsted conducted an unannounced visit to the premises on 19 September 2008. As a result of the visit the following actions were issued; take necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and for each type of outing carry out a full risk assessment, with particular regard to the school runs and the crossing of the main road; and take necessary steps to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and ensure you engage with and provide information to parents, with particular regard to the daily routines of the provision and the use of a wrist strap with the relevant parents. A response to these actions was received on 6 November 2008. The provider remained suitable for registration at the time

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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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