Childminder in LincolnshireOfsted inspection, 16 Mar 2009

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 260490 Inspection date 16/03/2009 Inspector Anne Barnsley

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 for over twenty years. She lives with her husband and one adult son in a semi-detached property on the outskirts of Lincoln. The home is within walking distance of shops, school and many local amenities. It is accessed at ground level and there is parking available for parents. Children have access to the ground floor of the home with toilet facilities provided in this area. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for six children. She currently cares for a total of six children at various times; of whom, four are in the early years age group. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and local childminding group.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is good. Children are happy and settled and play confidently in the childminder's home. Children engage in exciting activities away from the setting and have many opportunities to socialise. The childminder knows each of the children very well and meets their individual needs. She successfully promotes many aspects of children's welfare and has begun to self- evaluate her practice to enable her to make continuous improvements to her service.

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further?

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

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further?

 consider updating kowledge about current safeguarding procedures. To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 maintain a record of regular risk assessments undertaken in the home and garden, including for outings and trips and include details of any action taken and when and by whom it was conducted (Suitable premises, environment & equipment). This also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register and the voluntary part of the Childcare Register. 17/04/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder is well organised and plans her daily routine effectively to provide a range of experiences and activities that fully include all the children. She ensures that children have opportunities to play indoors and outdoors, with good use made of local facilities for walks and engaging children is social experiences. The organisation of the day is worked around children's sleep and eating patterns to meet their individual needs.

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provision

Most regulatory documentation, with the exception of a record of risk assessments, is in place and is used effectively to promote children's welfare. The childminder shares her comprehensive policies and procedures with parents to keep them well informed about the service she provides. She develops good relationships with parents and uses care diaries for children up to the age of one year to keep parents well informed about their routines. She sets time aside each day to have informal discussions with all parents so that she can meet any changing and developing needs with consistency. Parents are kept well informed about their children's learning and development through the use of photographs, discussion and sharing examples of their individual achievements.

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provision

The childminder has a secure understanding of child protection issues. She has relevant literature to refer to in the event of being concerned about a child. She has systems in place to record concerns and shares her safeguarding policy with parents to ensure they also understand her responsibilities. The childminder has begun to self-evaluate her services in order to improve outcomes for children. She has successfully implemented the recommendations from the last inspection, which has made improvements to the security of the garden and the system for maintaining confidential information. She has started to use self-evaluation and is also actively involved in her childminding group, which enables her to discuss ideas, reflect on her own practice and implement changes as she feels necessary to make improvements.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles as they have lots of outside play and are provided with regular healthy snacks and eating options so they are well nourished. They develop their knowledge of healthy foods through well planned activities, shopping trips and by helping to prepare some types of food. Children learn the importance of personal hygiene through established hand washing routines such as before eating and after using the toilet. The environment has effective safety measures in place to keep children safe and close supervision ensures this further. Children are developing an awareness of how to keep themselves safe through discussion, reminders and practical activities. For example, children practise fire drills and participate in planned activities about road safety along with other children and professionals such as the police.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children engage in a wide range of exciting activities that sustain their interest for long periods of time. For example, children enjoy drawing pictures of their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 favourite television characters and talking about this with the childminder. They use their imaginations well through role play where they pretend to be scary monsters wrapped up in a blanket. Children show a great interest in things that are happening around them such as the bin men collecting all the rubbish. They play with shape sorters and use these in imaginative ways such as for shoes and they enjoy jumping, running and hopping like a grasshopper. Children's language development is particularly well supported with the childminder's good use of questioning and encouragement to problem solve. She introduces children to new words such as 'Hippopotamus' which children attempt to copy. She has many

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

resources available to promote and support the language skills of children for whom English is a second language. Children of all ages play harmoniously together and develop an understanding of how to share and take turns with the toys and resources. They reflect the childminder's positive role modelling, for example by speaking to the children with respect and having high expectations of children to say 'please' and 'thank you'.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's achievements are jotted down by the childminder so that she can share these with parents and discuss the next learning steps for them. Photographs are used as an effective means of showing children engaging in different types of play in a variety of circumstances. The childminder is very knowledgeable about each child's stage of development and plans specific ways to progress them through the next stage. She knows what each child likes to do and what they do not like to do and plans around this. Through her skilful interaction is able to draw all children into play so that they participate with enjoyment, for example one child may prefer to colour while another child may prefer to sit and play alongside with construction toys. The childminder engages equally with all children and supports them all very well so that they are making good progress in their learning. 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? 3

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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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the compulsory part of the Childcare Register section of the report ( Suitability and safety of premises and equipment) 17/04/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the voluntary part of the Childcare Register section of the report (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment). 17/04/2009 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.

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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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