Childminder in Birmingham

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 EY231472 Inspection date 05/02/2009 Inspector Christine Holmes

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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 2002. She lives with her adult daughter in a residential area in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. The whole of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family has a cat. The premises are accessed via a flat path and small step up to the front entrance and the first floor is accessed via stairs.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder works with an assistant and is registered to care for six children at any one time, or nine children when working with a co-minder. She is presently caring for three children in the early years age range and six children over five years.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and of the local childminder's group. She attends local toddler and pre-school groups on a regular basis and operates a collection and delivery service to local schools and nurseries.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the provision is satisfactory. Children experience warm relationships with the childminder which helps them to become settled and feel included in the setting. In general children's welfare is supported appropriately. Children generally make sound progress in their learning and development although this is hindered by weaknesses in systems for planning and assessment. The childminder demonstrates commitment to improving her service and she has begun to self- evaluate her practices although this process has not been successful in identifying all weaknesses. The childminder works in partnership with parents and other carers to ensure continuity of care although communications is not focused strongly on children's learning.

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further?

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

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further?

 maintain an ongoing dialogue with parents and other settings with regard to sharing information about children's learning and development  improve the indoor learning environment by making resources more accessible to children.  develop systems for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of your practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure the risk assessment identifies and minimise all hazards in the setting (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 12/02/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  use observational assessment to match children's achievements against the expectations of the EYFS in order to identify their individual learning priorities (Assessment arrangements). 19/02/2009

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provision

Whilst the childminder continues to provide children with positive interactions and a wide range of experiences in her home and at other venues she recognises she has not yet fully implemented the learning and development requirements. She has made a number of attempts to devise and modify her systems to enable her to make good use of the observations she makes of what children are doing. However, she is not yet matching children's achievements to the expectations of the early learning goals and therefore she is not identifying their individual learning priorities in order for them to make as much progress as they can. The childminder's partnerships with parents and other providers is positive but not yet strong enough to ensure all parties contribute to the assessment process. This hinders the continuity of children's learning. The childminder gives all children positive attention which helps them to feel settled and included. She encourages

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provision

them to make choices such as what snack they would like or if they would like to listen to a story. Children are able to move freely between the front and back room and the dinning room, however, she does not organise her home to enable children to fully benefit from the very wide range of resources and toy because they are mainly stored out of the children's reach.

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provision

Children are safeguarded as the childminder fully understands her responsibilities to protect children from harm and makes sure parents are aware of her safeguarding children procedures. In general children are kept safe and secure. The childminder has made a record of the risk assessment for some parts of her home, garden and outings that ensure most areas are safe. However, it is not effective enough to identify and minimise all hazards that comprise children's safety such as trailing wires in all rooms, hot radiators, uncovered electrical sockets and an unsecured back door.

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provision

The childminder has taken some tentative steps towards self-evaluation. She has begun to use the Ofsted self-evaluation form and she has discussions about her service with parents, her assistant and other childminders. However, she has not completed a full self-evaluation of the impact of her practice on all aspects of children's welfare, learning and development so has not got a complete overview of her strengths or of all areas for development.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's safety is mostly promoted although their risk of accidental injury is not fully minimised when they are sleeping upstairs or playing unaccompanied in the three downstairs rooms. Children are developing an awareness of how to keep themselves safe when practising the fire evacuation procedure and they learn to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 tidy away toys so as not to fall on them. Children are also developing an appropriate awareness of how to keep themselves healthy. In warmer weather they benefit from the childminder's large garden that has a variety of large equipment that enable children to develop their physical skills. On occasions children enjoy walks of the surrounding areas that provide opportunities for them to become familiar with their local community and become aware of the nature around them. Daily experiences support children's awareness of hygiene routines.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Drinking water is available to them at all times and they are offered fruit at snack time, although some children make the choice of biscuits instead. Children's needs are met well in the event of illness because the childminder acts promptly to ensure their needs are met.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are settled and developing confidence, reassured by the childminder's warm and friendly manner. On most occasions the presence of the childminder's assistant provides children with a high level of adult support. Children are well behaved because the childminder is a good role model in helping children to share, take turns and consider others. They show growing levels of independence as they freely move around the environment but they do not have enough toys and resources at their level to enable them to freely access all areas of play and learning which hinders their ability to progress in all areas.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children take part in a wide variety of activities both in the home and at other venues. They listen and take part in stories, singing songs and take part in discussions which supports their communications skills. They show a developing interest in number as they count how many pieces of apple are left and they show suitable perseverance in simple problem solving activities such as constructing the train track to fit in the space available. Opportunities are available for children to develop their creativity through painting, drawing and making collages, some of which are displayed in the setting. Whilst this supports children in enjoying and achieving and learning skills for the future, their progress is sometimes impeded by weaknesses in planning and assessment. As a result, children are not always fully challenged to make as much progress as they could or supported to become involved as much as they could.

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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

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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: 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

 take action as specified in the early years part of the inspection (Suitable premises, environment and equipment). 12/02/2009

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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 in the early years part of the inspection (Suitable premises, environment and equipment). 12/02/2009 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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