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 EY286374 Inspection date 06/02/2009 Inspector Heidi Falconer

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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 partner and three children aged two, eight and 16 years, in Harlow, Essex. The whole of the downstairs of the childminder’s home is used for childminding. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding two children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder attends several toddler groups on a regular basis. She is a member of an approved childminding network.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children are safe and all aspects of their welfare is promoted well. The childminder establishes and maintains good relationships with children and parents. She understands the individual and diverse ways that children learn and develop. As a result, she is able to promote inclusive practice by actively supporting all children’s individual needs. The childminder successfully evaluates her practice and continues to take effective action of improve the provision for the children who attend.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop and use information gained from observations and assessments to identify children’s next steps in their learning so that they can achieve as much as they can in relation to their starting points and capabilities  continue to share observations and assessments with parents, encouraging them to share what they know about their child  continue to develop the system for self-evaluation, taking into account childrens' and parents' views and reflect on what impact the provision has on the children who attend.

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provision

The childminder is reflective in her practice. She has started to use self-evaluation effectively for the purpose of improving the quality of children’s learning experiences and standards of care. However, at times it can be descriptive rather than evaluative and does not always reflect the impact that the provision has on the children. The childminder also attends short training courses and uses the information that she gains to ensure that her practice is up-to-date. Recent courses have included first aid, food hygiene and the Early Years Foundation This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Stage.

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provision

Children’s welfare is safeguarded and promoted well. The childminder has followed the required procedures to ensure that all people aged 16 or over living on the premises are suitable to do so. She has attended child protection training to enable her to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse, and she understands the procedures to follow to safeguard children in her care. There is a good range of written policies and procedures in place which the childminder has linked to the different ‘themes’ and ‘commitments’ within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Parents receive a copy of all of the policies which the childminder follows.

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provision

The childminder works collaboratively with parents. This ensures that children’s individual needs are planned and catered for. Parents are kept well-informed of their child's progress through daily discussion, text messages including photograph messages and documentation. Parents' views have been sought through written references, prior to inspection, and the childminder has received very positive feedback.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder establishes and maintains a safe environment and employs good practices that promote children’s health, safety and overall well-being. Children are provided with healthy snacks of fruit which they enjoy and help to prepare. Parents are made aware of the childminder’s written sickness policy and successful steps are followed to prevent the spread of infection. Effective and regular risk assessments are carried out on the premises, indoors and outdoors to ensure that safety in the home is maintained. Risk assessments for outings are also carried out. Children understand the dangers in their immediate environment and know how to act to keep themselves safe. For example, the children regularly practise the childminder's evacuation procedure to ensure that they know what to do in the event of a fire.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are provided with a wide range of interesting activities and experiences indoors and out which enable them to make good progress in their learning and development. Recent activities have included puddle jumping, digging in the snow and playing with jelly. Children are developing good social skills, they have regular opportunities to meet and play with other children at local singing and play sessions locally. Children play well together and with sensitive support from the childminder they are learning to share and take turns with popular resources. Children’s curiosity is supported and extended through the positive ways that the childminder interacts with them throughout the day, asking them questions which make them think. For example, as children play with a farm the childminder asks them to match and sort the animals so that they can fit in their designated areas. When the animals don’t fit the childminder uses open-ended questions such as

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

‘why don’t you think it doesn’t fit’; this promotes children to use mathematical language such as ‘it’s too big’. Children have access to a good range of books and they enjoy listening to their favourite stories with the childminder. To ensure that children’s large physical skills are promoted the childminder takes them to physical play sessions where they are able to climb and use apparatus such as trampolines This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and ride on toys.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has developed individual notebooks for each child; these contain photographs, observations and assessments of their progress and achievements. The childminder has started to share these with parents. The childminder has also started to plan children's next steps in their learning which she uses to inform her planning. However, some next steps are not focused enough on extending children’s development and are more of an evaluation of the activity. 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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