Walker, Kathryn

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 EY241999 Inspection date 16/02/2009 Inspector Cathryn Parry

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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 husband and two children aged four and seven years in the residential area of Washington in Tyne and Wear. The childminder’s home is accessed by three steps. The whole of the ground floor and the study on the first floor of the childminder’s home is used for childminding. The childminder cares for children on weekdays from 07.00 to 18.30 for 47 weeks of the year.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding three children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder works with her husband who is also a registered childminder. When this occurs she may care for a maximum of seven children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than five may be in the early years age range. The childminder collects children from the local school and attends a parent and toddler group on a regular basis.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding. The childminder offers an extremely warm welcome to all children and their families. Children are really well protected and cared for in a child-orientated home. The extensive range of activities she provides ensures all children make very good progress in all areas. These include a small number of festivals being celebrated. The childminder has experience of caring for children with learning difficulties and disabilities and is highly committed to providing an inclusive environment. This includes liaising very closely with parents and offering an exceptionally flexible approach to the service she provides. She is clearly motivated to maintain continuous improvement, including starting a nationally recognised quality assurance scheme.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 further develop activities to nurture children's respect for their own cultures and beliefs and those of other people.

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provision

The childminder has started to complete a self-evaluation form to complement the robust system she has in place to evaluate the outstanding care and education she provides. This includes gaining feedback from the parents and children both This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 verbally and with written questionnaires. She accurately recognises her strengths as being the brilliant team she and her husband make in providing excellent childcare, and the very wide range of toys and activities they offer. She is also highly professional in her approach to identifying areas for improvement. An example of this is where she discusses the need to become more knowledgeable of other festivals to celebrate with the children. The childminder has positively addressed the recommendation brought through from the previous inspection. This significantly increases her ability to care for children with learning difficulties and

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provision

disabilities and her knowledge of where to seek advice if needed.

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provision

The childminder has built very strong relationships with parents. She speaks to them daily, completes written diaries for younger children and holds three-monthly parents evenings. Consequently, they are fully informed of the activities their children have participated in. She and her husband are innovative in the ways they demonstrate the service they provide to parents. An example of this is where they are preparing a slide show of activities participated in to present at the parents evening. The childminder is proactive in encouraging parents to be involved in their children's learning, for instance by letting the children run a book lending library from her home. She has built significant links with the local school. This has resulted in them giving her storage units and other resources, as well as having a short training session on presenting a slide show for parents. She also gains information regarding the themes they are following so as to provide continuity

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provision

The childminder demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of safeguarding issues. She clearly understands the procedures to follow and is fully aware of the need for confidentiality. Consequently, children are extremely well protected. Extensive risk assessments take place on a daily basis and are recorded to effectively promote children's overall well-being.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates a very good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and is keen to attend further training to increase this knowledge. She is animated as she interacts with the children, showing a real enthusiasm for her chosen career. The childminder has arranged her home exceedingly well to promote children's self-help skills. This includes providing low-level coat pegs with the children's photographs. Children have excellent opportunities to socialise with others as they play and eat together within the childminder's home, when they attend parent and toddler groups and enjoy trips in the local community. They develop a sensitive awareness of diversity and an understanding of the needs of others. This is achieved through positive discussion with the childminder and accessing a wide range of resources, which promote a broad outlook of the wider world. The older children celebrate festivals at school, however only a limited

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

number are celebrated with the childminder. This has a slightly negative impact on nurturing their respect for their own cultures and beliefs and those of other people. A vast array of activities promotes children's awareness of the written word, including an extensive variety of age-appropriate books, the provision of a children’s newspaper and well-labelled resources. Children's mathematical thinking This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 is promoted really well as young children explore shape sorters, older children enjoy number challenges and all endeavour to weigh ingredients for baking. Highly innovative methods of nurturing children's knowledge of the natural world are employed, including participating in listening walks and identifying the sounds that they hear. A comprehensive variety of creative activities both indoors and out promote children's self-expression whilst having a great deal of fun. The

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

childminder employs a very positive and consistent approach to managing behaviour, which takes into account children's understanding and maturity. An exceptionally good balance of child-centred and adult-led experiences ensures appropriate challenge for their age and stage of development. This is complemented with the highly effective planning of activities, which is informed by observations of the children. These are collated in individual files to show progress in each area of learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's safety is significantly enhanced as the childminder’s home is secure at all times. This is supplemented with highly effective procedures for adults collecting children. They experience excellent levels of supervision and all safety equipment is in place to ensure hazards are effectively reduced. Children are cared for in a very well-maintained environment, where toys and equipment are cleaned regularly to an exceptionally high standard. The children enjoy being involved with this, for instance when bathing the dolls, which promotes good lifestyle habits. The childminder is proactive in increasing children's knowledge of personal hygiene. She provides individual wash bags for children, which include a tooth brush and flannel and complements this with a paper towel dispenser. Comprehensive policies, excellent relationships with parents and relevant training ensure individual children are cared for well should they become ill, reducing the risk of cross-

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

infection. Children flourish as they access excellent opportunities for physical play. These include accessing the imaginatively resourced garden and trips to the park where there is more space to run and play football. The childminder’s exemplary knowledge of individual children and her extremely flexible routine incorporates time for quiet play and rest. This ensures their specific needs are effectively met. Children’s well-being is enriched through accessing a healthy diet, including an array of fresh fruit, pasta dishes and milk puddings. This is complemented by children taking part in imaginative food related activities, such as preparing fruit salad, which encourage healthy eating. All relevant documentation with regard to health, including specific dietary needs and consent forms are in place and up to date. These positively safeguard children’s well-being. 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? 1 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? 1

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 1 How well are children helped to be healthy? 1 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 1 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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