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 EY379267 Inspection date 14/04/2009 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 registered in 2008 and lives in the Yardley area of Birmingham close to the local park, shops and school. She lives with her partner and their three children aged 10 months, three and 12-years-old. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. Access is via a small step at the front entrance. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of two children at any one time and is currently looking after one child in the early years age range. The childminder also looks after a family member aged one year on a part-time basis. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and also on both parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder walks children to other pre-school groups.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory. Children are welcomed into a family environment where their welfare, learning and development is suitably promoted. All practice is inclusive and the childminder works closely with parents to ensure children's individual needs are met. The childminder shows a commitment to developing her knowledge and practice through attending appropriate training and has made links with local childminders and pre-school groups to improve outcomes for children. Her systems for monitoring the effectiveness of her provision are in the early stages.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further systems of self-evaluation to ensure that quality improvement is a continuous process  review the risk assessment and take action to reduce the risk to children in relation to the fire and accessible chemicals and ensure there is a clearly defined procedure for fire evacuation with regular drills carried out  review the procedures for hand washing and drying to promote children's welfare.

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provision

The childminder has settled well into childminding and incorporates this effectively alongside the needs of her own family. She organises the day around the children's routines and provides them with a balance of free play and some structured activities and regularly includes walks in the community. She has completed all the required training since registration and has recently started an appropriate National Vocational Qualification Level 3 course to support her professional This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 development. Although she informally consults with parents and has identified some areas for her own improvement there are currently no systems in place to regularly assess and monitor her practice. She is aware of all the required documentation to support the safe and efficient management of her business and has collected together a range of policies and procedures to share with parents

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provision

which in the main reflect her practice well.

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provision

Partnership with parents works well and the childminder ensures there is an easy settling-in process so she gets to know the children well and takes all the appropriate information about their individual needs at the start. She encourages open discussion with parents and also completes a daily diary so that all routine information is exchanged. Children frequently take work home so parents can share in what they have done. The childminder is starting to assemble a scrap book of photos and examples of their work to show parents how they are progressing which identifies their next steps so they can work together to support these. She has established sound links with the local childminders and also attends several different early years settings.

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provision

Children are safeguarded as the childminder is generally aware of potential risks and has taken most action to protect them from these. However, this does not fully address potential risks from the fire or accessible chemicals nor clearly identify an emergency evacuation plan. She visually risk assesses areas like the garden so they are safe and has a written risk assessment which identifies potential hazards and procedures for events such as outings. She knows the importance of supervising children around unchecked adults and has appropriate written procedures to support her practice such as safe collection. She is aware of her responsibilities to protect children from harm or neglect and how to pass on concerns appropriately and shares this effectively with parents.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are comfortable in this family home where their overall welfare and development is well-supported. They have regular outdoor play in the garden and walks in the community to promote their physical development. Children are generally learning to develop healthy routines such as hand washing before eating although these are not always routinely encouraged so that the chance of any cross infection is not fully reduced. They enjoy a balanced variety of snacks and meals and the older ones are able to access fresh drinking water independently from the dispenser. They are learning to protect themselves as they are encouraged to play safety and be aware of small items around young children. They talk about road safely as they walk outside and are given some independence to develop their own sense of personal safety. They have a range of resources to support equal opportunities and develop their knowledge of the wider world.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are learning how to behave as they respond to the guidelines set by the childminder and are given clear explanations of why certain action is not acceptable. They are beginning to play together, to share toys and to take turns and are developing their self-esteem through encouragement given and opportunities for independent skills. They receive praise for their successes and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 stickers as rewards.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder gets to know the children through talking with parents and her own observations of them at play. Planning is flexible around the children's routines and choices and provides a balance of free play and some more structured activities like making musical rattles out of pasta and plastic bottles. Children benefit from a child-orientated environment where there is a range of resources to support all areas of development which children can independently select from accessible storage. They have easy access to outdoor play for a range of physical activities as well as sessions like painting. The childminder provides them with their own books for drawings and early mark-making and encourages their interest in books. She uses opportunities through the daily routine to promote their developing awareness of colour and numbers and engages them in conversation to develop their communication skills. The childminder is aware of the

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

need to observe and monitor their activities to show how they are making progress and identify areas for development and she is beginning to collect together photos and examples of their work to show this. 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 made to Ofsted since registration

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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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