Childminder in Somerset

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 EY289470 Inspection date 24/02/2009 Inspector Carol Cox

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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 August 2004 and lives with her daughter aged six, in Yeovil, Somerset. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding. There is an enclosed rear garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children aged under eight years at any one time. There are currently three children under five years on roll. The childminder also offers care to older children before and after school. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of a local childminding group and receives support from the local authority.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. The childminder offers individual care to every child to promote their care, learning and development needs. She builds good relationships with parents to identify and meet the specific needs of each child, this means that children make very good progress in relation to their starting points. Children enjoy a healthy lifestyle and learn good life skills. They are safeguarded because the childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder has not yet formally evaluated her provision but she demonstrates a commitment to ongoing improvement through her effective implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage and her identification of areas for future development.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop knowledge and understanding of how to promote children's learning, development and welfare within the Early Years Foundation Stage

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provision

The childminder organises her practice very effectively and offers children a warm and child-friendly place to play and learn. She follows well written policies and procedures to support her practice and shares these with parents. For example, her child protection procedure meets the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and includes appropriate contact details. The childminder takes a robust approach to ensuring children's safety, for example, she makes regular and detailed risk assessments of her home, garden and outings. The childminder checks her house regularly and practises fire drills with minded children. She has This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 established cover arrangements with local childminders in case of emergency situations and ensures that children and parents have met them. She builds relationships with local schools to ensure continuity of care for children.

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provision

The childminder is well qualified and attends regular training to ensure her practice offers children best care. For example, she has completed a food hygiene course in line with guidance from the Food Standards Agency. She has not yet completed a self-evaluation of her practice but has recently commenced the Somerset Advanced Practitioner training which includes a quality assurance process. She is a reflective practitioner and has clearly identified areas for development, for example, although she has a good knowledge of child protection issues, she has booked onto a course to ensure her practice is current. Thus she is able to clearly demonstrate continuing improvement.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a good knowledge of how children learn and develop and uses the Early Years Foundation Stage effectively. She has developed her own system to record children's achievements and progress which is clearly linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage. This means that she knows what each child needs to learn next and children make very good progress in relation to their starting points. She uses this detailed knowledge of children's abilities and observations of their interests to plan a good balance of adult-led activities and opportunities for children to choose their own play, to cover all areas of learning. For example, she has identified that two young children are beginning to count and supports and encourages them through simple everyday activities such as counting cars when on walks. She challenges a baby in her care to become more mobile by placing favourite toys just out of reach, the child quickly realises the

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

need to stretch to reach the trolley full of bricks. Children's language skills are extended through the childminder's good use of open questions and playing games where they listen and match sounds and words. The childminder offers children a wealth of opportunities to visit their local community and the wider area to learn about the world. For example, children talk animatedly about their visit to a local wildlife park and remember the animals they liked best. Children enjoy new experiences and are eager to learn and share experiences with others. For example, a three-year-old picks up two bricks and bangs them together rhythmically, an 11-month-old baby copies and follows the simple rhythms. The children and the childminder share a love of learning and all work and play happily together.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's welfare is assured through the childminder's stringent hygiene routines. For example, two children are toilet training, the childminder quickly responds and takes them upstairs to the bathroom where they learn to wash their hands appropriately whilst using individual towels to prevent the spread of infection. Children benefit from fresh and nutritious food and can always help themselves to drinks when they are thirsty, thus they learn to identify their own needs and are able to address them independently. There are clear and well documented records of accidents and all medication is administered with full consent and guidance from parents. The childminder works closely with parents and others to identify and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 meet all health and development needs. She is sensitive to the changing needs of families and is prepared to be flexible. Children behave very well and learn to value

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

each other and be considerate of differing needs. They show a strong sense of belonging and contribute to the daily routines by helping tidy up toys and prepare for lunch. 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 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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