Childminder in Solihull

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 504626 Inspection date 12/02/2009 Inspector Diane Ashplant

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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 1992. She lives with her husband and two teenage children in Shirley, Solihull, within walking distance of local shops, schools and parks. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. Access is via two small steps at the front entrance. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding eight children, of whom seven are in the early years age range. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder holds an appropriate Level 4 qualification. The childminder attends a range of different pre-school groups and takes and collects children from the local school.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. The childminder has a very good understanding of how young children learn and develop and provides a secure and very welcoming family home, where they all settle happily and make very good progress. She knows the children well through her own observations and a good partnership with parents and provides an inclusive service which supports individual needs well. She has strong links with a range of different childcare settings. which facilitates the sharing of good practice and mutual support for current childcare initiatives. The childminder shows a very good commitment to improving her knowledge and practice through attending a wide range of training courses. She has some systems in place to monitor the effectiveness of the provision, in order to improve outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 review the risks posed to children by hot radiators and further develop a full risk assessment in relation to each type of outing  develop further a regular system of self-evaluation to identify targets for future improvement.

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provision

The childminder has a comprehensive set of documentation to support the safe and efficient management of her childminding provision which is well maintained and routinely updated. She has a very good commitment to developing her knowledge through training and has attended a wide range of different courses. She is currently completing a Level 5 childcare qualification. She has well established links with other childcare settings and uses these to provide many interesting social and learning experiences for the children, as well as keeping This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 herself fully informed of the latest childcare developments. She regularly consults with parents regarding their views on her provision and completed a reflective journal for her Level 4 childcare qualification. However, her systems for self- evaluation to identify targets for future improvement are not fully developed.

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provision

Partnerships with parents are strong and the childminder ensures there is a clear exchange of information relating to the organisation of her childminding business, through her detailed portfolio and daily open discussion. She involves parents by using a daily record for the younger children and also encourages children to take home all their different craft work. She meets parents' wishes well and provides a very supportive service such as offering weekend care. The childminder has very good links with other early years settings such as toddler groups and is an active member of the local childminding network.

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provision

Children are well safeguarded as the childminder has a good understanding of potential hazards and generally takes appropriate action to address these. She carries out ongoing visual checks and also has a written risk assessment, which she reviews and which covers most aspects of the child's day. However, the risk assessment does not identify the risks posed by hot radiators or clearly identify action for outings. The childminder has all the necessary policies in place to protect children at all times such as safe collection and is fully aware of the need to inform Ofsted of changes within the household. She has a clear understanding of her role and responsibilities, regarding protecting children from possible abuse or neglect and how to pass on concerns appropriately.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's welfare, learning and development is very well supported in this welcoming environment, where they engage positively with all members of the family and are extremely content and comfortable in the childminder's care. Children enter with enthusiasm and respond very well to the routine, which means they settle calmly at rest time and independently initiate their own play. They play harmoniously together, happily converse with the childminder and their companions and instinctively help each other such as taking off shoes and coats as they arrive or fetching items for the meal table. Children are learning about dangers and how to keep themselves safe as they respond well to the guidelines and talk, for example, about road safety and fire evacuation. They are encouraged to adopt healthy routines such as hand washing before eating and enjoy a good range of healthy meals and snacks. They are also encouraged to try different fruit

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

and vegetables as, for example, they put the appropriate sticker on their individually designed place mats.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's behaviour is very good as they are learning to listen and to respect each other, willingly help each other and the childminder with routine tasks and play very well together. Children are developing very good social skills as they are encouraged by the childminder whose calm and positive approach supports their growing independence, which helps develop their self-esteem. They have many different play and social experiences as they attend a range of pre-school groups or enjoy special trips to places in the immediate and wider area. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children's overall well-being benefits immensely from a very relaxed, welcoming and child-orientated environment, where they enter happily and eagerly engage in activities of their choice, which are easily accessible such as constructing with the duplo, making their own designs with chalk or sharing in a game of match cards.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder carefully consults with parents using, for example, her 'parents know their children best' form to find out about their starting points and individual preferences. She has designed her own development records which effectively show each child's progress and identify the next steps to support their personalised learning. The day is flexibly planned to ensure children have a broad range of experiences to support all areas of learning, linking sometimes with school topics or an individual child's enjoyment of a special trip to the animal park. Experiences such as the snow not only provide a fun time for children but are used to extend their creative and imaginative skills, promote discussions about changing shapes and textures or opportunities to identify the sizes of different human and bird prints. The childminder constantly engages children in discussion, encouraging them to share events from home or school and very ably and naturally maximises

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

all opportunities throughout the daily routine to extend their developing language and numeracy skills and social maturity. 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? 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: 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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