Childminder in West Northamptonshire

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 220540 Inspection date 26/02/2009 Inspector Susan Marriott

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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 1997. She lives with her partner and two children aged 14 years and 11 years in their house in Brackley, Northamptonshire. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor, plus toilet facilities upstairs for childminding, and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time and is currently minding two children in the early years age group and two older children for after school care or during school holidays. The childminder walks to the local school to collect children and takes them to the local park. The family have pet fish and two hamsters.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the provision is satisfactory. This childminder promotes many aspects of children’s welfare with success, ensuring that they are safe and secure. Systems for risk assessment are being established and improved. Children are well-engaged in play-based activities in an adequately inclusive manner and the childminder has made a commendable start towards implementing the learning and development requirements. There is a close working partnership with parents which ensures they are kept well-informed of most issues relating to their child’s care and learning. The childminder demonstrates a genuine willingness to improve the quality of her provision although she does not yet use any form of self-evaluation to identify key strengths and areas for development.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop a quality improvement process as the basis for continuous self- evaluation to identify strengths and take appropriate action to address weaknesses  improve the risk assessment for indoor and outdoor areas of the home and for outings  promote positive attitudes to diversity through activities that encourage children to talk about similarities and differences and the reasons for these; where necessary, help children to learn to value aspects of their own and other peoples lives  develop systematic observations and assessments of each child's achievements, interests and learning styles and use these observations to identify learning priorities and plan relevant and motivating learning experiences for each child. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Written records, policies and procedures underpin the safe and mainly efficient management of this warm, friendly and welcoming provision. The individual learning needs of children are generally met in practice and the childminder has begun to keep annotated photographic observations of children's learning and achievement, arranged under the six areas of learning. However, these are not yet matched to the aspects and criteria in the Practice Guidance document and do not clearly show the progress children are making or the next steps in learning. All activities involve all the children at their individual developmental level. However, the childminder lacks confidence in her ability to actively promote positive attitudes to diversity in an age appropriate manner. Children are kept safe because the childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of vetting procedures and safeguarding issues.

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provision

Children can readily access toys and equipment and this ensures that they develop personal independence and the ability to make choices and decisions. The childminder devotes her time and attention to the children during minding hours, effectively promoting learning through interactive play. Preventative action is taken to address identified hazards and minimise the risk to children. For example, a new gate is being fixed to the side garden entrance. The childminder has some records of risk assessment to meet requirements, but these are not yet complete. The childminder has not yet reviewed her practice in order to identify strengths and weaknesses. Effective links with the parents and carers enable the childminder to tailor activities to the individual children in her care.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's welfare is properly protected. The childminder ensures that she gains appropriate information from parents to enable her to settle new children into her care. Children quickly develop trusting relationships with the childminder and readily accept the cuddles and reassurance offered. Suitable documentation is maintained relating to accidents, medication and incidents and the childminder promotes suitable systems to prevent the spread of cross infection. Clear and effective procedures are in place, protecting the children's health and well-being. Their behaviour is very well-managed through distraction techniques. For example, children are offered a change of room and an early lunch when they begin to get tired at the end of the morning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children benefit from a wide range of informally planned and purposeful play activities provided by the childminder. During the inspection, the childminder involved children in a discussion of the people in the doll's house. The childminder flexibly plans her week to include daily indoor play and outdoor exercise, balancing time spent in the home and time spent walking in the local environment. For example, she takes the children to the library and they enjoy feeding the ducks at Brackley Lake. In the school holidays she arranges picnics and trips to nearby National Trust properties. The childminder intuitively covers the six areas of learning within her activities, ensuring that children spend some time each day in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the fresh air and learn to persevere and concentrate through puzzles and books. She is beginning to identify links to the learning and development requirements

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

and to build the learning goals into her daily routine. This has a positive impact as the children are beginning to extend their vocabulary and learn about early numbers, shapes and colours. 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: 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

Since the last inspection there have been no complaints made to Ofsted that required the provider or Ofsted to take any action.

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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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