Childminder in Portsmouth

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 EY222618 Inspection date 02/03/2009 Inspector Lisa Ellis

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 2002. She lives with her husband and their two sons who are both aged over eight years, in a house in a residential area of Copnor in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Children have access to the ground floor of the property and an upstairs bathroom. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outside play. The house is within walking distance to local shops, pre-schools, schools and parks.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and has pet cats. She is registered on the Early Years Register to care for three young children and on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register to care for older children. She currently has seven children on roll who all attend on a part time basis, three of whom are in the early years age range.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is good. The childminder has addressed the recommendations made at her last inspection and has undertaken further training to gain a childcare qualification. This demonstrates that she makes continual improvements to her provision to benefit the children in her care. Children are recognised as individuals, with the childminder having a good knowledge of their likes and dislikes which helps her to provide developmentally appropriate activities for them in an inclusive environment.

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop procedures for parents to receive regular feedback on the progress that their children make in their learning and development, giving them opportunities for their comments to be incorporated into their children's records

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further?

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

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further?

 request written permission from parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment (Promoting good health) 06/03/2009

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provision

Children are well safeguarded in the childminder's care as she has clear written policies which are followed and shared with parents, detailing the steps she takes to promote all children's welfare. Adults in the household are appropriately vetted This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and children are never left alone with un-vetted people. The childminder undertook child protection training while studying for her childcare qualification and has identified in her self-evaluation that she would like further training in this area to improve her knowledge and keep up to date with safeguarding issues to benefit all of the children that she provides care for. She reviews her self-evaluation to help her identify improvements to her provision that may enhance experiences for the children.

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provision

The childminder organises her provision well, laying out the main play space to allow children to make many choices in their play. Almost all of the required documentation is in place although one specific legal requirement relating to paperwork is currently not being met. Good relationships have been established with parents as the childminder listens to how they care for their children at home and tries to follow their home routines within her setting to promote consistency of care. Parents have the opportunities to read through the childminder's portfolio of information which covers all aspects of her provision. She also has a notice board in the main play space to share information with the parents and uses a daily diary to record what the children have been doing during the day and how they have been. Some parents also use the diary to share relevant information about their children to help the childminder meet their individual needs.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children enjoy their time with the childminder. They are relaxed in her care and thoroughly enjoy playing with her. The childminder observes children as they play and plans developmentally appropriate activities that follow children's interests. Each child has a learning journey which contains possible activities that cover all six areas of learning based around the individual children's favourite things. The childminder keeps up to date records showing the progress that children make, using photographs to illustrate their personal achievements and highlighting the next steps in their learning. These are all kept in scrapbooks which parents can view at any time. The childminder plans to provide parents with a written overview of their children's progress in all areas of learning and ask for their comments each quarter. However this has not been completed to date.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a safe and secure environment where steps have been taken to minimise the risk of accidents. They are protected from the spread of infection as suitable procedures are in place to exclude those who are unwell. Children practise good hygiene routines such as hand washing at appropriate times and learn how to keep themselves safe in the event of an emergency by practising regular fire drills. They learn about healthy eating through their balanced and varied diet and have many opportunities to be in the fresh air, getting exercise as the childminder tends to walk most places with them. Local parks are visited to practise gross motor skills and children are often taken to toddler, music and yoga groups to develop their physical and creative skills while interacting with their peers.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children benefit from the good interaction they receive from the childminder who is skilled at providing activities that cover many areas of learning. For example, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 when looking at books, she talks to the children about colour, shape, numbers and letters, asking them questions to make them think. She helps children to develop their emergent writing skills by encouraging them to use their fingers to trace over letters and helps children to learn how to count using one to one correspondence. Children thoroughly enjoy getting the childminder to sing and dance with them as they use musical instruments to play along to familiar songs and rhymes. They learn about the wider world through books and toys that promote diversity and trips out into the local area. Children learn skills for the future such as recycling to benefit the environment and sharing and taking turns to prepare them well for

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

school. Their behaviour is very good with basic house rules displayed in words and pictures on the notice board to reinforce positive behaviour. The childminder uses puppets to help young children understand about being kind to others and encourages children to talk about their own feelings to help them understand the feelings of others. 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

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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

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