Childminder in Birmingham

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 228327 Inspection date 12/03/2009 Inspector Rebecca Johnson

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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 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 1999. She lives with her husband and two children aged 15 and 19 years in Sutton Coldfield. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. There are shops, parks and schools within easy walking distance.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for six children within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is registered on the Early Years Register and both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently six children on roll who attend for a variety of sessions.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder holds a Level 3 early years qualification. She supports children with learning disabilities and/or difficulties and those who have English as an additional language. She is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and has gained an accreditation. She receives support from the local authority and is developing partnerships with other agencies.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children are happy, settled and secure in the childminder's care, where they are well-supported and are making very good progress in their learning and development. The uniqueness of each child is recognised due to the childminder's exceptionally good understanding of children's individual needs and her wholly inclusive practice where all children are valued and made to feel welcome. Positive relationships with parents and other professionals are fostered in order to identify and meet children's individual needs and ensure continuity of care. The childminder is clearly able to identify strengths and weaknesses of the provision to enable her to make continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the use of risk assessment to ensure that all areas and equipment used by children are safe and suitable for purpose

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that a daily record of children looked after on the premises is always in place and includes their hours of attendance (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) (Documentation) 01/04/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder is extremely experienced and is totally committed to providing a high level of care for the children. She regularly attends training to update her knowledge and expertise. She reflects on her practice and is able to recognise her strengths and weaknesses and implement procedures to enhance her good practice. The childminder is well-organised and manages daily routines effectively to accommodate the individual needs of the children attending. The environment is utilised to its full potential to provide children with choices about where and with what they wish to play.

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provision

Most documentation which contributes to the children's health, safety and welfare is in place. However, there is no daily record in place to clearly show times that children attend the provision. Therefore, children's welfare and safety is potentially compromised in this area. Additional information and policies relating to the setting support the childminder‟s good practice. The childminder works well with parents and other agencies in order to develop a consistent approach in meeting children's needs. Children are cared for in accordance with their parents‟ wishes and the childminder takes time to accumulate information relating to their individual needs and preferences before they start. This ensures continuity between home and minding environments and helps children to settle well. Parents are provided with information about their child through written diaries with photographs and informal discussions which take place each day to further develop good relationships with

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provision

Robust safeguarding policies and procedures are in place and practised effectively to ensure that children are very well-protected. The childminder's knowledge and understanding of signs and symptoms of abuse and her awareness of her role in protecting the children in her care ensures that their welfare is safeguarded. Premises are safe and she has implemented procedures to ensure that any potential risks to children have been minimised. However, written risk assessments do not include all areas of the premises used or places children visit. Therefore, this could pose a potential risk to children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are happy and confident in the childminder's care. A range of exciting activities fosters children's participation and the childminder's good support and gentle encouragement enables them to enjoy and achieve. Her flexible planning develops through the interests and play preferences of children and ensures they receive a balance of child-led, adult-initiated activities along with opportunities to access quiet, active, indoor and outdoor activities within their daily routine. The use of observation and assessment enables the childminder to plan and extend activities to ensure that children progress in all areas of learning and development at a pace suitable to their individual needs. Children develop self-esteem as the childminder offers praise and encouragement at all times. They are building positive relationships with the childminder and are obviously happy and contented in her care. They delight in the individual time and attention they receive from her

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 as she involves herself in their play. The day is filled with laughter and smiles as children participate in fun activities such as finding shapes in jelly and sand. The childminder encourages and extends children's language through her constant attention and verbal communication and children are able to use a variety of creative language to describe their play, for example, when making a “haunted tower” and pretending the windows of the truck are “magic”. Children use mathematical language and concepts in everyday play activities. They recognise numbers, count spontaneously and compare towers they have built to see which is the biggest.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent understanding of inclusive practice. All children are highly valued and their specific needs recognised and met appropriately. Children are made to feel special as they are encouraged to develop their own individual personalities in a caring environment where their needs are recognised and they are respected as individuals. The childminder has an in-depth knowledge of children's development and personal preferences and provides resources and activities to suit these. Children respond positively to the childminder‟s methods of behaviour management which is appropriate to children's age and stage of development and reinforces positive behaviour. They learn good manners and to share toys. The childminder makes good use of praise to support positive behaviour and is an excellent role model for the children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a warm, welcoming, clean and safe environment and there are good procedures in place to protect them from illness and infection. Parents are informed that the childminder does not take children if they have a contagious illness and they are provided with a list of exclusion periods for infectious diseases which are strictly adhered to. Children are beginning to learn about their own personal hygiene. They wash their hands at appropriate times throughout the day. Children enjoy healthy, home cooked meals, try different fruits such as apricots and choose the fruit and vegetables they want to eat from the local green grocer. They learn about the importance of eating healthy foods and are beginning to understand that they need to eat a variety of different foods to maintain a healthy diet. Children's dietary needs are recognised and met as the childminder discusses them with parents and reviews this information regularly.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

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? 1 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 early years section of the report (Documentation) 01/04/2009

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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 early years section of the report (Documentation). 01/04/2009

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