Childminder in West Sussex

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

p.1

Unique reference number EY303581 Inspection date 12/05/2009 Inspector Kerry Iden

p.1

Type of setting Childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.1

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.

p.2

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).

p.2

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

p.2

Description of the childminding

The childminder has been registered since 2005. She lives with her two children in the town of Selsey, close to the city of Chichester, West Sussex. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's property is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden to the rear of the property.

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of two children at any one time and is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is currently minding seven children under the age of eight, three of whom are in the early years age group and attend on a part time basis.

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder attends the local toddler group and takes the children to the park and beach. She has completed the Introducing Childminding Practice course and holds a current certificate in first aid.

p.3

Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. The childminder offers a warm, calm environment for young children where she organises resources in advance and spends all her time with the children, encouraging and extending their play and challenging their thinking. The recommendations raised at the last inspection have been fully addressed and the childminder is beginning to evaluate her setting to prioritise areas for improvement. The childminder provides an inclusive setting for all children with differentiation in the activities to allow them all to achieve their potential and work with the parents to meet all children’s individual needs.

p.3

further?

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

p.3

further?

 develop a systematic system for recording observations and assessments of each child's achievements to include identified learning priorities and to share these with parents and other settings the children are attending who are delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage.

p.3

further?

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

p.3

further?

 ensure a risk assessment is conducted and reviewed regularly identifying aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis. (Suitable premises, environment & equipment) 12/06/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.3

provision

The childminder has recently returned to childminding and demonstrates that she is keen to get things right with an open mind to change and a positive attitude towards inspection. Her documentation has been designed and written by herself with policies in place that truly reflect the practice. She shows commitment to her professional training with plans in place for future training and refresher courses currently being undertaken.

p.4

provision

Children are protected by the childminder's secure knowledge of signs and symptoms to look out for that may alert her that a child may be at risk, and works closely with parents to ensure safe collection arrangements and emergency procedures are in place.

p.4

provision

The childminder works closely and cooperatively with parents, sharing information verbally on a daily basis. Children's individual care needs are well promoted through the discussion between the childminder and the parents and clear documentation that is completed by parents. However, the childminder has not shared any of the children's development records with the parents or extended this to other settings the children attend who are delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage.

p.4

The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children can play in a family home where consideration has been given to who is attending and the needs of all the children present each day. The home is well organised and secure. The children hear safety instructions from the childminder to help keep themselves safe and the childminder ensures their safety when out of the setting with the use of pushchairs for smaller children. However, although the childminder makes visual checks on her home she has not yet formalised this with a written risk assessment of the home, garden or outings the children go on. Children learn about being healthy through the snacks, meal times, activities and discussions surrounding the subject. Children are praised enthusiastically when they manage to eat their fruit at snack time and role play this when they feed their babies.

p.4

The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children demonstrate that they are settled and comfortable within the childminder’s home. They display their confidence by giving the childminder instructions such as where she has to sit to play with the play dough. Children benefit hugely from some one to one time with the childminder during which they have her undivided attention as she joins in with their chosen play as they go on a musical bear hunt or care for the child’s babies. The childminder is skilled in the way she talks to the children as she uses every opportunity to extend their knowledge through play and challenges their thinking by asking many open ended questions. Children get the chance to practise their emergent writing as the childminder encourages them to mark make on different materials. A selection of writing implements and papers are available to the children to self select from. As children chose their paper and pencils they set about drawing circles on their paper

p.4

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 they write to Mummy. Other resources are made available for the children to further practise these skills as they use the chalkboard or make patterns in corn flour.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

The children are developing particularly well in their mathematical concepts as discussion and activities often revolve around shape, space, size, number and colour. Through a play dough activity children colour match the dough to pots and repeatedly use mathematical terms such as more or less as they organise the dough into different cutters and moulds. Routine activities such as tidying up continue to develop children’s knowledge of number as the childminder encourages the child to count resources back into bags. As they put the dolls away the child counts to three, the childminder challenges by asking what’s next. Children’s physical development is encouraged both inside and out of the house. The children are involved in many activities within the home such as dancing, dressing up and role play. The fully enclosed garden to the rear of the property allows children daily fresh air and exercise as they use the age appropriate

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

equipment. Children have time out of the setting as they visit the favourite places in the local area such as the beach, feeding the ducks and going to the local toddler group.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder gives consideration to the days events and activities she will carry out with the children, although these arrangements are very flexible as the childminder allows for a child led environment. Children are being challenged to their own individual capabilities as the childminder has a good awareness of differentiation in activities to ensure all children achieve well and have an enjoyable time. The childminder observes the children at play, however has not yet implemented a systematic system to record the observations or identify next steps in children’s development. Although due to the knowledge the childminder has about all aspects of child development the children are making steady progress to the early learning goals. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.5

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.6

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

p.6

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.

p.6

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

p.6

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?

p.6

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

p.6

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.7