Bowdrey, Annette

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 EY311222 Inspection date 26/01/2009 Inspector Alison Edwards

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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

This childminder registered in 2005. She lives in a house on a residential road in a village in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire with her husband and their two children aged three and seven years. The house is accessed by a sloping path and single doorstep. Minded children use the ground floor of the house for play, with access to the first floor bathroom and bedrooms as needed. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. Two cats are kept as family pets. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of four minded children under the age of eight years, including two within the early years age range. She is registered to work with assistants who may have sole charge of children in the early years age range with written parental consent. There are currently eight minded children on roll, including four within the early years age group.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The needs of all children are generally met because the childminder communicates well with parents to help ensure she knows children well as individuals, so helping them to feel recognised and valued. The childminder has taken appropriate steps to act on recommendations raised at her previous inspection, and to develop a sound knowledge of most of her responsibilities for children's welfare and development as identified within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). She is currently establishing self-evaluation processes and is undertaking further training to gain a recognised Level 3 qualification, so showing a commitment to continued improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the existing use of observations to identify and plan for the next steps in children's learning to ensure consistently high levels of challenge and progression across all aspects of development  develop arrangements to encourage children's health awareness with particular regard to hygiene practices such as hand washing  make more effective use of risk assessments to cover everything with which children may come into contact, with particular regard to their access to the garden gates.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure children are always in the presence of an adult with current paediatric first aid training (Safeguarding and welfare) 17/02/2009  ensure there is a daily record of children's names and their hours of attendance (Documentation) 17/02/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Childminding is generally organised appropriately to underpin children's welfare and development. The childminder's continuing participation in relevant local short courses, and in Level 3 training demonstrate her commitment to build on her existing understanding and practice. Required records, such as information relating to any accidents or medication use, are generally methodically maintained so that relevant information is shared between the childminder and parents. However, daily registers are not fully accurate and up to date to demonstrate that the numbers and age ranges of children attending complies with the conditions of registration.

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provision

The childminder has a clear understanding of what child abuse and neglect mean, and of her responsibility to act in accordance with agreed procedures in the event of any child protection concerns in order to safeguard children from abuse. She holds a current paediatric first aid qualification so she can manage any accident or sudden illness when children are in her care. However, childminding assistants do not currently hold relevant first aid qualifications, so potentially limiting their ability to act appropriately in the event of an accident when they are in sole charge.

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provision

The childminder makes good use of written information, business agreements and policies about her services to supplement initial informal discussion and ensure that prospective parents have a good understanding of arrangements for children's care. She encourages parents to share their knowledge of their own children's preferences and abilities with her. She makes use of individual diaries and daily discussion to share information with parents about children's routines and experiences, and about their developing abilities. She is aware of the value of liaison with other providers or specialist agencies, for example to help support the inclusion of any children with identified disabilities or learning needs.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder seeks and records relevant information from parents to enable her to meet children's individual health and dietary needs appropriately. Meals and snacks are generally suitably balanced, including a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, so contributing to children's healthy diet. Children enjoy frequent opportunities for energetic play, enabling them to use their balance, coordination and strength, for example as toddlers manoeuvre wheeled toys or clamber on low climbing frames in the garden. They show growing dexterity as they manipulate puzzle pieces or carefully position small play figures and accessories. Children routinely wash their hands after using the toilet and before main meals. However, they are not consistently encouraged to be aware of healthy practices such as ensuring their hands are clean before snacks after playing on the floor with the family's pet cats.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children readily access a varied selection of safe and appropriate play materials. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 They remain within sight or hearing of the childminder or her assistants at all times, so helping to ensure they are consistently supervised. A range of sensible precautions are in place to help maintain their safety. For example, children's access to the stairs is managed by use of safety gates, and household medicines and chemicals are inaccessibly stored. The childminder actively encourages children to think about aspects of safety, such as how to behave appropriately when out walking. She has undertaken systematic risk assessments to help underpin her management of children's safety within the home and on outings. However, these are not yet fully effective in promoting children's security in the garden by preventing them accessing the fastenings of the garden gates.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is clear on her responsibilities to support children's learning across all areas of the EYFS. She understands the value of practical play in helping children to build their language, problem solving and creative skills. For example pre-school children enjoy identifying how many plastic ducks remain on the pretend pond when one swims away. They show interest in using props such as a tent and superhero outfits in simple pretend play, or in spontaneously exploring the effects of a beam of light from a torch. They have ready access to a variety of crayons, paper and scissors to express their own creative ideas. They begin to show interest in well-chosen stories about friendships between different animals. The childminder is developing effective records of what children can do. However, she is not yet using these to best effect to identify and plan the next steps in children's learning to ensure consistently high levels of challenge and progression

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

for individual children across all aspects of development.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are settled and confident in this friendly family home, where adults spend time talking and playing with them, so helping them to feel recognised as individuals and encouraging them to extend concentration in their play. The childminder involves children in establishing consistent and positive expectations for behaviour, so helping them to understand how to show care and concern for others and for their surroundings. She has a clear understanding of the value of explanation and praise in encouraging children's good behaviour. Children are encouraged to recognise and respect cultural and individual differences, for example through comparing similarities and differences within different faiths, or by incorporating play figures with different skin tones or mobility aids into their pretend play. As a result, children are establishing a good basis for their future social skills and 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? 3 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? 3 How well are children helped to be healthy? 3 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 3 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 that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action 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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