Childminder in Swindon

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 EY294678 Inspection date 12/03/2009 Inspector Shirley Ann Jackson

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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 has been registered since 2004. She lives with her husband and two teenage sons in a house in Abbey Meads, a district of Swindon, in Wiltshire. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding, with the majority of care taking place on the ground floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. She is registered on the Early Years Register and there are currently three children on roll aged from 18 months to four years. The childminder is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory. The childminder promotes most aspects of children's welfare with success, ensuring they are well cared for. She recognises that each child is unique and manages their care needs effectively. Children are offered a range of activities, although observation, assessment and planning are in their infancy. Partnerships with parents and carers are sound, however, partnerships with other settings offering the Early Years Foundation Stage are not yet in place. The childminder's use of self-evaluation is not yet robust enough to ensure that all gaps in her provision are identified.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure all areas of learning are covered in observations and assessments and that observation is part of every day practice  analyse observations and highlight children's achievements or their need for further support and use these to inform future plans  build links with other settings children attend to ensure that all adults who interact with the child contributes to their assessment and to ensure continuity and consistency of care are offered

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further?

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

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further?

 conduct a full risk assessment of the home, garden and for all outings carried out with the children (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 16/03/2009  plan and provide experiences which are appropriate to each child's stage of development (Organisation) 12/05/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder's home is effectively organised to give children some choice in their play and learning. The childminder has a dedicated playroom where some of the care takes place. The childminder has a wide range of resources and some of these are accessible to give children some opportunities to become independent learners. The childminder's weekly routine gives children the opportunity to experience a range of activities in the wider community. For example, children regularly visit a toddler group to develop their social skills. The childminder has produced some written policies and procedures which reflect her daily practice. The childminder has conducted a risk assessment of her home. However, she has failed to identify the use of the trampoline as a potential risk to children and allows two children to use it at the same time. Written risk assessments for outings taken with the children have not been put in place. These pose potential risks to

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provision

The childminder safeguards the children in her care as she has a sound knowledge of the indicators of abuse and neglect, gained during a training course. Children's health is promoted through established daily routines. For example, a toddler's hands are cleaned with wet wipes before and after eating. Parents are informed of the importance of keeping sick children at home. This helps to prevent the spread of infection.

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provision

The childminder builds friendly, working relationships with parents and carers. Parents are given an information booklet when they first approach the childminder which gives them a bit of personal information as well as details of policies and procedures. Ongoing information is then shared during informal feedback at the end of the day and on a notice board in the kitchen. The childminder has obtained written parental consent to share information with other settings which children attend, but these links have not yet been forged. The childminder has started to evaluate her provision, but this is in its infancy and has not identified a number of areas for development. The recommendation raised at the last inspection has been addressed as children now regularly carry out emergency evacuations of the childminder's home. This helps to raise children's awareness of safety procedures.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children settle well at the childminder's home and are comfortable in the childminder's company. They are well supported in their play as the childminder is on hand to become involved in their play. The childminder is not yet confident with the new curriculum to enable her to offer challenging learning and development experiences tailored to children's individual needs. The childminder offers a range of experiences and activities to the children. However, these are not individually planned to ensure that activities are appropriate to each child's stage of development. Systems to plan, observe and evaluate children's learning are more of an overview of what activities children have taken part in. They do not identify individual achievements or accurate next steps in children's learning. The childminder is keen to develop her knowledge in this area and has identified 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

training which will help her to do this.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Young children feel safe and secure within the healthy relationship they have with the childminder. This gives them the confidence to explore the environment with interest. For example, they move freely around rooms in the childminder's home. Young children enjoy babbling and making noises, which the childminder responds to. They enjoy experimenting with sounds, such as, making noises with their lips. Toddlers show delight in the freedom that walking brings them and they use their increasing mobility to connect with toys and objects. Young children express themselves through physical action or sound, such as, playing peek-a-boo. Toddlers begin to move to music, for example, dancing to the music on the television.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are offered a healthy range of snacks and meals during the day. Some parents provide their own food for their children. Drinks are freely available to children during the day. Children learn how to keep themselves safe as they regularly practise fire drills and learn about road safety as they walk in the local area. Children enjoy regular visits to play parks which are close to the childminder's home. The childminder is a positive role model for the children with her calm manner. She also uses stickers to promote positive behaviour. 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 the last inspection.

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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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