Hurst, Tina

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 EY273430 Inspection date 11/02/2009 Inspector Ann Winifred Harrison

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and daughter aged 13 in Willenhall. Local shops and parks are within walking distance. The rear of the premises are used for childminding, which includes the playroom and kitchen area. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. The childminder currently has three children under five years on roll, who attend on a part-time basis. She drives to local schools to take and collect children and attends local toddler groups and childminder group.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. The childminder knows the children she cares for well and consequently ensures that their individual needs are effectively met. Children are making good progress towards the early learning goals. They benefit from the interesting range of activities which largely maximise on individual learning experiences and play opportunities and compliments that which is provided for the children in other settings. The childminder has evaluated her setting and has recognised areas she wishes to address to improve her practice. She is committed to improving her knowledge and skills through on-going training.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues with regard to reporting procedures  develop further the assessment systems to identify learning priorities and plan relevant learning experiences for each child.

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provision

Children are very settled and enjoy their time in the setting. The effective maintenance and implementation of policies and procedures support children's safe care and help to ensure inclusion. The childminder has started to self-evaluate her working practice and is fast developing her understanding of her role within the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This enables her to have a clear focus for future developments and improvements for children. Children's care, safety and welfare are well promoted because the childminder continues to update and extend her skills and knowledge. She regularly attends training courses and workshops on issues such as, fire safety, safeguarding children and developing children's language and literacy. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children benefit from the childminder's implementation of a strong partnership

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provision

with parents. On-going discussion and examples and photographs of their children's work mean that parents are well informed about what their children are doing each day. In addition, each child has a book of observations which the childminder has recorded to identify achievements. This information is shared with parents to keep them fully informed of their child's progress. The childminder uses effective methods to gain information from parents about children's unique care needs such as dietary requirements, making active use of the information to provide individualised care. Parents complete an 'all about me' form to help the childminder know what children can do and any personal preferences.

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provision

Children's welfare is actively promoted within the home. Detailed risk assessments are in place to ensure children play and learn in safe indoor and outdoor environments. All areas within the home are safe and all equipment and toys are suitable and safe for all children to use. The childminder protects children from harm or neglect. She has a good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and a safeguarding procedure is available in writing. However, she is not fully conversant with the Local Safeguarding Children Board's reporting procedures, which means children are not fully protected.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is well organised and spends the majority of her time engaging and playing with the children. Resources are organised so that they are easily accessible to children to enable them to become independent learners and make decisions about what they want to do. Children are provided with a range of interesting and stimulating activities to help them make good progress across all areas of learning and development. The childminder has started to implement written plans and to complete sensitive observational assessments. Although the planning is flexible and responds to the children’s interests and ideas, the information gained from observations and assessments is not being fully explored to identify children's individual next steps in learning. This potentially restricts their progress.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder plans a good balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. For example, children enjoy role play, such as pretending to go to the supermarket to do the shopping. The childminder devises games for children to play whilst learning. For example, she has made a picture of a pedestrian crossing and children learn that they have to wait for the green man to cross the road safely. The childminder recognises the importance of books and children can access them at all times. They enjoy listening to their favourite number story and the childminder encourages them to count objects and to practise drawing the number with their finger on the book to help with number recognition. Good questioning by the childminder helps children to problem solve, such as which is heaviest an elephant or a mouse. Children are learning about the wider world as they go on outings to the library and to the park to feed the ducks. The childminder talks to

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

children about other cultures and people's differences in books and stories, and they are learning how other cultures celebrate various festivals, such as Chinese This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 New Year and Diwali. The childminder has improved her resources that reflect diversity since the last inspection. For example, she has dolls, books and dressing up clothes that represent other cultures, this helps children's understanding of others.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are provided with healthy, balanced and nutritious meals and snacks. For example, children enjoy fresh fruit, pasta, and vegetables. They learn about healthy eating as the childminder explains to them that fruit is good for them and that sweets are best as occasional treats. Children's health is further promoted through good opportunities for fresh air and outdoor play. They enjoy daily walks to the shops and play in the garden and use physical play equipment at toddler groups. Children begin to develop an awareness of keeping themselves safe, for example, they practise the emergency evacuation procedure and they know they must stay close to the childminder when on outings. 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? 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 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

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action in order to meet the requirements of the Early Years Register.

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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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