Childminder in Derbyshire

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 207921 Inspection date 03/02/2009 Inspector Zoe Smith

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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 1988. She lives in the New Mills district of Derbyshire with her husband who is also registered as a childminder. Children have access to all rooms in the house which is on four levels. The childminder is on the Early Years Register, the Childcare Register and the voluntary part of the Childcare Register. She is registered to mind six children on her own and 12 in partnership with her husband and currently has 14 children on roll aged between eight months and 10 years. The family have a pet dog.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder has a very good knowledge of individual children, their interests, and abilities. Highly effective organisation, practice, policies and procedures ensure children benefit from continuity, all areas of their welfare are well met and that they thrive in the childminder's care. Mostly effective systems have been formalised to observe, assess and plan for the next steps in children’s learning. As a result, children are making good progress in their learning and development given their starting points and capabilities. The childminder self-evaluates her practice on an ongoing basis and successfully makes continuous improvements to her childminding service. The uniqueness of every child is valued and extremely positive steps are taken to include every child and to help children value diversity from the earliest age.

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop links with other EYFS settings children attend to ensure there is coherence in their learning and development between settings  further develop systems used to observe and assess children's progress and use to plan for the next steps in children's learning and development.

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provision

Children are very happy and settled and have their individual needs well met in the very well organised and friendly home. The childminder is highly motivated and takes positive steps to continually improve her practice and the service she provides to ensure it is responsive to the needs of children and their families. She has a strong commitment to developing her skills and knowledge through regular attendance on training courses on specific subjects, such as Helping Children Enjoy and Achieve through Planned Activities and An Introduction to the Early Years Foundation Stage. Attendance on an appropriate training course has enabled her to act on the recommendation made at the last inspection and to successfully develop the range of activities that support the learning of younger children. A wide range of clear and well written policies and procedures have been formalised This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

by the childminder to ensure quality and consistency for children. These are used to effectively underpin and inform her and her co-childminder’s practice and to inform parents about the service and care provided.

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provision

Children are kept safe and protected because the childminder has a good understanding of and is well trained in safeguarding issues and procedures. She has conducted thorough risk assessments of the premises and for the outings she takes children. Children are kept safe because she diligently supervises them and puts effective safety precautions in place to minimise identified hazards. Regular fire drills ensure children know what to do and are well practised in emergency evacuation procedures. Children benefit from the extremely positive partnership the childminder has with their parents. Verbal discussions, newsletters, notices, development records, scrapbooks of children’s art work and photographs keep them well informed about the care provided and their child. Links with other EYFS settings children attend are not quite as well developed, although the childminder uses information from children, their parents and informal discussions with

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provision

providers to help ensure coherence in children's learning and development.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has formalised mostly effective systems to observe, assess, and plan for the children’s learning and development. Scrapbooks containing examples of children’s creativity, photographs and observations of children are used to assess their progress and plan for the next steps in their development. However, there is not a cohesive link between these and activity planning and therefore formal systems to plan for children's next steps are not sufficiently well developed. Nevertheless the childminder knows children extremely well and their individual interests and abilities. She uses her very good knowledge of child development to skilfully support and extend children's learning by taking an active role in their play and learning. This ensures new activities are regularly changed to keep children interested and challenged and discussions help them to think and consolidate their learning. Children participate in a well-balanced range of adult and child led

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

activities, both indoors and outdoors. Children are becoming increasingly independent as they confidently discuss with the childminder what they would like to do and select what to play with from the wide range of easily accessible toys.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Posters, photographs of the children and examples of the children's creativity are displayed on the wall to make the environment stimulating and child orientated. Children are confident speakers and are continually learning new words to use for communication. They constantly talk with and listen to the childminder and look forward to their regular singing sessions and story times. Children actively solve problems and reason as they play. They carefully consider whether small or big windows will fit in the model of a house they are building. Babies enjoy using their mouths and fingers to explore what activity toys do. Children have very good opportunities to develop their creativity through participating in a wide variety of activities, such as playing musical instruments, painting, junk modelling, cutting and sticking. They happily put lots of white paint and glitter onto black paper to make snowy pictures. Babies enjoy exploring the different textures when they look

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

at and play with feely books and toys. Children have very well developed This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 imaginations and quickly become engrossed in their make believe play. They dress up as vets and carefully tend the zoo animals to help them get better.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children’s physical development is promoted through a wide range of activities. They enjoy playing in the garden, walks, trips to parks and physical activity centres. Children’s personal development benefits immensely from the positive steps the childminder takes to acknowledge, respect and value them as individuals. They participate in an excellent range of activities that help them find out about their own and the religious and cultural beliefs of others. They loved dressing up in traditional costumes and dancing to Indian music to celebrate Diwali. Children play with an excellent range of resources that promote positive images of culture, disability, and gender. This is actively helping them to value and respect difference. Children have extremely good social skills. They are learning good manners, how to share and take turns and say please and thank you without needing to be prompted. Children's good health is promoted though effective

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

routines and practice and by eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They have excellent opportunities to learn how to keep themselves safe. Children are enthralled when they visit the fire station to learn about fire safety and they learn how to cross the road safely by dressing up in the crossing patrol outfit and practising using toy traffic lights, zebra crossing and the road safety lollipop. 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? 1 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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