Childminder in North 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 EY364237 Inspection date 19/02/2009 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 was registered in 2007. She lives with her husband, and her three children aged three, five and seven-years-old, in Churchill, North Somerset. All areas of the property are used for childminding except for the Barn Cottage and 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 three children at any one time when working alone, and she currently cares for seven children aged under five years on a part time basis during the week. She also offers care to older children and when working with an assistant she may care for up to nine children aged under eight years. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes children on walks in the adjoining countryside and to a local farm and collects children from local schools. The childminder belongs to a local childminding network and is currently in receipt of funding for early education for three and four-year-olds.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of care is good. The childminder provides safe and secure care for children who she knows very well. Children make very good progress in her care as she has a good working knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder works very closely with parents and others to identify and meet the individual needs of each child. The childminder has started to monitor and evaluate the quality of her practice, however, this is in its infancy and is not yet wholly effective. The childminder has a very good understanding of how to identify the needs of individual children and ensures all children are fully included in her setting.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure risk assessments cover all outings and activities in which children participate  continue to develop the system to monitor the quality of the provision

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provision

The childminder provides good quality care for children in her warm and well organised home. She uses her knowledge of child development and the Early Years Foundation Stage to inform her practice. Children's health, well-being and safety is assured through clearly written and robust policies and procedures which she shares with parents. For example, there is an effective system in place to identify This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and record the individual health and dietary needs of each child. Children are safeguarded because the childminder has a good knowledge of child protection issues and her policy and procedure meets the guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The childminder works closely with parents and other carers to ensure that each child's individual needs are recognised and met.

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provision

The childminder is committed to ongoing professional development and regularly attends training to update her practice. For example, she has recently completed a food hygiene qualification and she displays all relevant certificates for parents to see. She organises her practice effectively through the use of a chart which details children's days and times of attendance and identifies when and where children need to be picked up. Although the childminder has not completed a formal evaluation of her practice she demonstrates a good capacity for maintaining continual improvement. For example, she has embraced the Early Years Foundation Stage and has implemented good systems to record children's achievements and interests and uses these to plan for their future learning. She has addressed actions from her previous inspection and now maintains detailed written contracts with parents which clearly spell out expectations on both sides

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provision

and include all necessary consents from parents.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children make very good progress in the childminder's care. They begin to learn self-care skills, for example, children take themselves to the toilet and understand about the need to wash hands and follow simple hygiene routines. They benefit from healthy and nutritious food and drinks and the childminder is happy to work with parents if they wish to provide food for their own children. The childminder has a very gentle approach to behaviour management and encourages children to think about how their actions might affect others and helps them resolve conflicts appropriately. Children settle quickly because the childminder has a sensitive settling-in policy which involves parents and children making several visits together to suit their particular needs. The childminder builds good relationships with parents and other agencies and is happy to work with others to provide the best possible care for children. Children are protected from harm because the

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

childminder makes risk assessments of her premises, however, she does not include all outings, therefore, children are not consistently safeguarded.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's learning and development is promoted very well through an exciting range of activities planned by the childminder to cover all areas of learning. She makes regular observations of children and records their progress in learning diaries which she shares with parents. Through her careful observations of children's learning and achievements she supports and extends their learning through their own interests. Children enjoy learning through planned activities, such as walks and crafts, but also benefit from the thoughtful interventions by the childminder and her assistant when playing their own games. For example, two children are playing at going on holiday, they gather essential supplies for themselves and their babies but are having problems carrying everything. The childminder offers suitcases and questions them about where they are going and what sorts of things they might need. Thus, children learn to problem solve

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 through their own play. Children's physical development is promoted though simple games such as pushing trucks backwards and forwards between themselves. They make marks when painting fences with water and explore volume when filling different containers with sand. The childminder has a good knowledge of child development and adapts activities for children with differing abilities and ages. Children are encouraged and enabled to choose their own resources to support their play from easily accessible boxes and drawers, this helps them become imaginative and independent learners. Children make very good progress in relation to their ages and stages of development. 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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