Childminder in Leicestershire

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 225348 Inspection date 11/03/2009 Inspector Alison Edwards

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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

This childminder registered in 1993. She lives with her two adult children, and her husband who is registered as her assistant, in a house on the outskirts of Loughborough in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire. Children use the ground floor of the house for play with access to the bathroom and two bedrooms on the first floor. There is an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. Goldfish are kept as family pets. The childminder holds a recognised early years qualification at NVQ Level 3. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six children under the age of eight years at any one time, including three within the early years age range. She does not receive funding to provide nursery education to three- and four-year-olds. There are currently four children in the early years age range on roll. The childminder is also registered on the voluntary part of the Childcare

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. The experienced and well-qualified childminder knows children well as individuals and is sensitive and responsive in her dealings with them. This promotes their welfare effectively because it helps them to feel secure, included, and valued. The childminder has a good overview of how to support children's development across all areas of learning identified in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), so helping children to make good progress. The childminder makes thoughtful use of self-evaluation processes, helping her to identify the many strengths in her provision and recognise further potential to build on existing good practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop existing use of the outdoor environment to further extend children's independent, challenging and purposeful learning across all areas of development  develop further existing planning and provision to fully extend children's critical thinking and to actively encourage them to make links between different aspects of learning.

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provision

Childminding is organised effectively to meet children's needs. The childminder has taken active steps to build on the recommendation raised at her last inspection, ensuring she has a good awareness of how to implement current guidance on provision for younger children. She makes continuing use of many relevant training opportunities to build on her existing skills and awareness, and systematically This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 reviews her practice to identify further potential opportunities for improvement.

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provision

There are good arrangements to safeguard children from harm. Systematic risk assessments are generally used well to identify and minimise potential hazards to children, both on the premises and on outings. Required records, such as children's health, contact and attendance details are methodically maintained and readily accessible to underpin the safe management of their care. The childminder has a clear understanding of what child abuse and neglect mean, and of her responsibilities to implement current locally and nationally agreed procedures in order to protect children from abuse.

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provision

Well-established arrangements with minded children's families effectively support continuity and consistency in children's care. Initial discussion of comprehensive written information about many aspects of the childminding service, together with the use of written agreements, helps to ensure that the childminder and prospective parents have a good shared understanding of arrangements for children's care. In addition to informal daily discussion about events and experiences in children's lives, the childminder shares photographs and informative assessments of children's achievements with parents on a regular basis. The childminder actively works with other early years providers, such as pre-schools, to share relevant information about aspects of children's health, care and development. Consequently, there are good arrangements to work in partnership with parents and other agencies to promote children's welfare and development.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder offers good levels of supervision to children and encourages their own understanding of safety issues, for example, as she encourages pre-school children's spontaneous conversation about why they wear armbands when swimming. She has careful contingency plans in place to manage an emergency such as a fire, for example by ensuring that an 'evacuation bag' containing items such as children's contact details and emergency supplies is always readily accessible. The premises are secure, comfortable and well-maintained, enabling children to safely enjoy participating in a varied range of play activities. Children are familiar with choosing their preferred toys from simple picture catalogues, created by the childminder. This enables them to be safely involved in deciding which items they would like from a wide selection of play materials stored in the garage, which is not accessible to them. The childminder already makes regular

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

use of the garden and the local environment for children to be physically active and learn about the natural world, for example, by observing and feeding the birds. However, she recognises the potential to further develop outdoor provision to fully extend opportunities for children to extend their critical thinking and make connections between all aspects of learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are encouraged to develop a healthy lifestyle within their daily routines. The childminder promotes their enjoyment of healthy foods by encouraging them to choose from a wide variety of fruits, such as kiwis, strawberries, blueberries and apples at snack time. She reminds them of the importance of drinking plenty of water to keep themselves healthy, and encourages them to develop their dexterity This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and independence by helping pre-school children to safely chop bananas with a small dessert knife. The childminder takes account of her observations of children's developing physical abilities, for example, with regard to balance and coordination, to informally plan activities and experiences to help them develop growing confidence and competence in their movement skills.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is making effective use of frequent observations, linked to individual aspects of learning, to help her assess children's progress across all areas of development, and to identify the next steps in their learning. She has a good overall understanding of what children need to learn, and provides a varied range of experiences and activities, taking account of children's interests and abilities. As a result, children are engaged and interested in their play, for example, as a baby shows independent interest in looking at a wide selection of picture board books in a comfortable book tent, or when pre-school children carefully select appropriate shapes and sizes of plastic bricks and talk with each other about who can build the most 'enormous' tower. Children already participate in many worthwhile activities supporting many aspects of their learning. For example, they learn about the natural world as they search for mini-beasts in the garden, or as

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

they mix fat and seeds to make 'cakes' for the birds. They become familiar with everyday technology as they use play phones or swipe tills in pretend play. They show pride in their independent drawings and play dough creations, and enjoy a wide range of books, stories and music. However, as yet, activities and experiences are not always used to their full potential to fully extend children's independent critical thinking and to encourage them to make links between different aspects of their learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's personal and social skills are developing well. They are confident and relaxed in the childminder's care because she is sensitive and responsive in her dealings with them, taking account of her knowledge of their individual circumstances and emotions. The childminder has a clear understanding of how to implement positive and consistent expectations taking account of children's individual stages of maturity, so helping children learn to show care and concern for each other and for their surroundings. Children develop a good understanding of each other's similarities and differences because, for example, the childminder incorporates use of books reflecting different family circumstances, abilities, cultures or languages into their everyday experiences. As a result, children learn to confidently negotiate and share with each other, and are interested in their play and activities, so establishing good foundations for their future development and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

learning. 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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