Childminder in Essex

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 EY295589 Inspection date 15/01/2009 Inspector Anne Daly

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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 2004. She lives with her husband, her adult child and her nine- year-old-child, in the Hutton area of Brentwood, Essex, with the whole of the premises being registered for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play and access to the home is via a small step.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time, with five children within the early years age range currently on roll. She offers places for children on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She walks to a local school and pre-school to deliver and collect children. She takes children to toddler groups, the library, local shops and parks. She can support children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children’s welfare is enthusiastically promoted by the childminder providing them with a warm, safe and exciting child-oriented environment in which to play and learn. Their individual needs are very effectively met through their childminder recognising that all her minded children are unique. She promotes excellent inclusive practice through utilising her knowledge of the children to ensure that she meets their Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements. She has positive relationships with parents and maintains the majority of the required records. She has an accurate understanding of her strengths and some understanding of her weaknesses, but her future plans are well targeted to ensure further improvements to the provision and to the outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop children's awareness of writing systems other than English and of communication systems, such as Braille.

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further?

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

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further?

 obtain written parental permission for seeking any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future. 30/01/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder strives for improvement to provide high quality care and education, including currently working towards a Level 3 qualification. She exhibits high organisation of her time, space and resources for the benefit of children’s learning and development. She works closely with another childminder to plan children’s learning, while her daily routines allow children time to explore activities, to maintain interest and to consolidate learning. She considers the views of children, for example, by having a wish list of equipment, including a play kitchen. Children very successfully worked alongside their childminder during her application to receive funding.

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provision

Informative, written policies and procedures underpin the childminder’s secure care practices and are shared with parents. She maintains the majority of the required records to ensure her safe and efficient management to meet all children’s needs. However, she has not been able to maintain continuous improvement, which may potentially compromise children’s welfare, because not all parents and carers have given their written consents for seeking necessary emergency medical advice or treatment.

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provision

The childminder spends valuable time getting to know the children and their families well, with these developing, good relationships ensuring that children feel relaxed and secure in her care. She ensures effective partnership with parents and carers by completing daily diaries for the children, including how they have spent their day and their achievements. Parents and carers are encouraged to complete these diaries by including children’s home activities and achievements to promote integration of their care and education. Parents have written very complimentary comments about the care and education their children receive for this inspection, including ‘children are always being well fed with balanced meals’ and ‘children enjoy a range of stimulating activities’.

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provision

Children are safeguarded through their childminder being very clear about the steps she will take if she has concerns about a child’s welfare and having a sound understanding of safeguarding procedures. She takes effective steps to promote children’s good health and well-being, including procedures to prevent the spread of infection.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are making good progress towards the early learning goals by demonstrating a positive attitude to learning new skills. The childminder adapts plans and activities to meet children’s specific needs and abilities. During settling-in periods, parents provide information about their children’s starting points, likes and dislikes, while the childminder observes them in their own homes and in her home to ensure that she provides activities to motivate and interest them. She keeps detailed observations and photographs linked to the six areas of learning. She uses these observations to identify children’s next steps of learning and ensures that her assessments are based on what they are achieving in their day to day activities. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder very effectively respects the diversity of children and their families by ensuring that all feel very welcome and valued. She uses the internet to

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

research their first language to enable her to use their native words alongside English. She borrows books from their parents and tells the other children about their different cultures to give all children complete confidence and pride in themselves.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and how young children learn. She provides time and relaxed opportunities for children to develop spoken language through conversations between them and herself, both one-to-one or in small groups, and between themselves. She provides them with opportunities to use a variety of skills, although she has not considered the many ways by which different people express themselves. Children have opportunities to explore ideas in different situations and with a variety of resources to discover connections and to develop understanding, for example, when making triangles with their thumbs and index fingers. The childminder plans an environment to encourage a positive attitude to learning by providing rich and stimulating experiences for children, for example, making bread.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder acts as a very positive role model for behaviour to encourage children to share, to take turns and to have respect for others. Children’s learning and development are being successfully promoted by their childminder to ensure that they have a good understanding of dangers and of how to keep themselves safe. They enjoy eating nutritious meals and snacks provided by the childminder. Children’s health is well promoted through the childminder providing frequent opportunities for physical play in her safe and secure garden or during walks to school through fields and woods. The childminder encourages children to be active, inquisitive and independent learners and to develop skills that will contribute to their future economic well-being. 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? 1 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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