Behaviour Support

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 131515 Inspection date 15/04/2009 Inspector Carole Gronow

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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 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 1989. She lives in the Lordswood area of Southampton with her husband and two adult children. All areas of the property are available for childminding. However, this occurs downstairs where children access a dedicated playroom and a cloakroom as well as a safely enclosed outside area, which they use all year round. Children go out and about in the local area daily; they enjoy visits to the library as well as frequent walks in the nearby woods and visits to local parks.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years of age, of which no more than three may be in the early years age group. There are currently 11 children on roll, five of whom are in the early years age group. All children attend on a part time basis.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding. The childminder is dedicated to offering an extremely high quality and fully-inclusive service. This means that each child she cares for receives an exceptionally high level of care as well as a curriculum that is planned to meet their specific learning and development needs. A key strength of this provision is the highly effective systems for communication that have been established with parents and carers, resulting in all children receiving excellent continuity of care. Effective and ongoing monitoring of the service she offers enables the childminder to identify any areas for improvement, which demonstrates a clear capacity for her to be able to sustain ongoing improvement.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 having a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect.

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provision

The childminder explains how much she still loves her work and enjoys being with the children even after being registered for 20 years. She is both very enthusiastic and dedicated to offering the best possible service she can in order to support all the families that she provides care for. She achieves this through attending ongoing training to refresh and increase her already very broad knowledge base and also through the excellent partnership with all parents and carers that she has This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 nurtured and developed. However, despite having copious relevant information on the topic the one subject that she has not developed a written procedure for, is that of child protection.

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provision

All parents and carers receive a prospectus to inform them about all aspects of her setting and when a child commences in her care they are given a comprehensive parents pack. Included in this is an extensive selection of relevant and informative documentation not only about all aspects of her provision, but also about wider topics, for example, information about tax credits. Initially, she gathers very detailed information about every child from their parents or carer, which she updates continuously. Consequently, she has an excellent knowledge of each child that she cares for and is fully familiar with all their individual needs, such as their sleep routine. She works with parents and carers as much as possible so that she can follow their individual routine, thus providing an environment that is as much like their home as possible.

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provision

The childminder uses an excellent range of policies and procedures to underpin her practice and of which parents and carers are made fully aware. She has highly effective systems in place to make sure that all parents and carers are fully informed about all aspects of their children's care, learning and development. Her daily recordings provide parents and carers with a good insight into their child's day and about the progress they are making. She also makes reference to observations that she has made that are linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and she has an excellent understanding of the framework and how to effectively deliver it through children's play. She constantly provides children with a diverse range of exciting, stimulating and appealing play opportunities and experiences that she carefully targets to ensure that they meet the individual learning and development needs of each child in her care.

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provision

Children are extremely well protected because the childminder is very vigilant and has an excellent understanding of the importance of safeguarding the children that she cares for. She regularly undertakes detailed risk assessments to check for potential hazards. She holds emergency details about all the children she cares for and keeps copies of these to hand. Likewise, she provides parents and carers with cards, which hold their emergency details that they can carry with them.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children become very animated at the prospect of exploring the contents of the 'Special Box', excitedly delving into it and pulling out the different items. They carefully examine each one; they press the touch pad on a light and look on in awe as they watch the colour morph, with the childminder telling them the names of the colours. They squeeze the jelly textured ball and find out that this also light ups and they laugh as it changes shape. Torches fascinate them and they persevere with trying to switch them on and then they alternate pointing it towards the floor and then the ceiling, watching the shaft of light as it moves. Children are totally absorbed when playing with the musical instruments and enjoy experimenting with the sounds that they make. They know that they must blow carefully into the recorder. They accompany the childminder as she sings familiar This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

songs and they adeptly tap out the beat on the tom-tom, blow horns and use shakers.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children have an excellent understanding about safety issues and how to keep themselves safe. This is because the childminder gives a very high priority to raising any possible safety issues as they arise. For example, explaining why they must not shine the torch light into eyes. Children enjoy special road safety days when the childminder focuses on this to reinforce the possible dangers. They engage in role play to bring this to life, acting as pedestrians and using prompts, such as a stop and go sign that they have made. They even enjoy a treat of home- made biscuits, which the childminder has iced with relevant road signs that they have to identify before they can eat them. Children also regularly practise evacuating the premises, which means that they are familiar with the process and would be able to respond appropriately in a real life emergency.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder monitors each individual child's progress exceptionally well. She has an excellent knowledge of all aspects of each child's learning and development. She intuitively provides activities that can be used to help children to make progress and is fully aware of how she can adapt these to meet the needs of any child present. She constantly makes mental observations of all the children and selects one daily to record, to evidences the good progress that they are all making. Parents are also kept up-to-date with their child's achievements as the childminder documents this in the daily home book. Children are constantly learning in their play because the childminder plays with them and provides excellent and appropriate support for each individual child. She gently, but effectively encourages children who want to keep playing with one thing to move onto other activities. This not only gives them variety in their play, but also

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

ensures they experience the different areas of learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are developing healthy lifestyles through their daily routine and the different experiences that the childminder provides. They enjoy healthy meals and delight in selecting from a platter of different fruit and vegetables at snack time. The childminder has developed a dedicated undercover outside play area that children access all year round, which is full of a wide array of information and play equipment. Children squeal with delight as they throw and kick balls whilst running around and their self-esteem is promoted through their art and craft work that is on display. They access an attractively presented post office area equipped with stationary and mark making equipment. They find out about the journey of a letter when they write to their parents and then post it, eagerly waiting for its arrival at their home. Children learn about the outdoors and learn how to look after the environment; for instance they go on well planned nature trails and study what

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

can be recycled. 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? 1 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? 1 How well are children helped to be healthy? 1 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 keep and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 30/04/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified for the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. 30/04/2009

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