Asquith Primary School

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 132795 Inspection date 25/06/2009 Inspector Beverly Anne Brimble

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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 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 1999. She lives with her husband and two children, aged 14 and 10 years, in a four bedroom detached house in Peasedown St John, near Bath. The ground floor is used for childminding which includes a lounge, playroom, kitchen/family room and toilet. There is a safely enclosed rear garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. A maximum of six children may attend at any one time, three of whom can be in the early years age group. There are currently six children on roll in the early years age group.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding. Children benefit greatly from the childminder's total commitment to supporting children's individual needs. She offers an inclusive early years setting, where each child is respected as an individual and their differing needs are effectively met. The childminder maintains excellent partnerships with parents, ensuring high levels of consistency, and works very well with other settings and professionals who help to care for minded children. Children's welfare is very well promoted as the childminder is vigilant and takes great care to ensure she meets all the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework to effectively promote outcomes for every child in her care. Regular use of reflective practice and the recent introduction of formal systems for self-evaluation have enabled the childminder to begin to monitor and evaluate her childminding practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 continuing to implement the recently developed systems for self-evaluation

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provision

The childminder provides a very welcoming and safe environment and is highly organised to ensure good levels of supervision. She has excellent documentation in place, which underpins her professional service. The childminder follows clear detailed policies and procedures, maintains up-to-date regulatory records and obtains all required parental consents to provide continuity of care for each child. Children's safety is paramount to the childminder and she is very protective of the children in her care. Comprehensive written risk assessments for all aspects of her childminding are implemented and reviewed regularly in order to ensure children's safety is maintained at all times. The childminder is fully aware of her vital role in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 protecting children, and demonstrates a very good understanding of the correct safeguarding procedures to follow if concerned about a child's welfare.

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provision

The childminder develops excellent relationships with parents to support her in meeting children's individual needs. Regular exchange of both written and verbal information enables her to adapt her daily routines to reflect the needs of the children. Parents are provided with very good information about the childminder's provision and about how she uses the EYFS to support their children's care and learning needs. She shares her portfolio and all policies and procedures with parents, who sign to say that they have read and agree with them. Parents are invited to contribute comments and information in the contact books that travel between their home and the childminder's, and also to the children's learning journals, which include photographs of the children involved in their play. Sharing with parents these details of how children are progressing helps them all work together to support children's learning and development. The childminder is aware

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provision

of the importance of establishing effective links with other providers of the EYFS, in order to ensure that continuity of care and cohesive learning experiences are achieved for those children who attend more than one setting.

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provision

The childminder has successfully addressed the recommendations raised at the last inspection, to further improve children's safety. The childminder constantly reflects and evaluates her practice, effectively requesting support from other professionals when required. She regularly attends training courses and workshops and, where necessary, adapts her already very good practice to make it even better for the children. Her recently developed self-evaluation record clearly shows how improvements already made and future plans will impact on children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children flourish as a result of the childminder's skilful and competent ability to promote their learning and development, through a balance of both child-initiated and adult-led play. They enjoy a broad range of activities that are based on their individual interests, preferences and abilities. For example, one child loves different textures so the childminder sets out a sand pit, where the child thoroughly enjoys digging in the sand, letting it run through her fingers and watching it fall through a sieve. The childminder organises the environment so children can freely access both indoor and outside play. Children are eager to play outside, crawling through tunnels and sitting in a tent to look at books and listen to stories. Furthermore, they delight in exploring water, rice and pasta. They pour the water and watch what happens to the pasta when it is put in the water. They listen to the noises

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

the rice and pasta make when dropped into metal containers. Children are happy, settled and thrive in the childminder's care. They develop good levels of behaviour for their ages and capabilities, learning about manners at the table and benefiting from the clear boundaries the childminder sets for all children. They learn to take turns, for example, when two children want to play with the same doll's pushchair, the childminder suggests that one child walks around the garden with it first and then brings it back for the other to have a turn. The children quickly respond to this idea and successfully take turns to use the toy. Children learn to respect diversity, such as different cultures and disabilities, as the childminder has a good This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 range of toys and resources which reflect such differences. Children benefit from excellent opportunities to develop their social skills, as they have established

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

positive and trusting relationships with the childminder. They regularly visit the local childminder group where they socialise with others and enjoy outings to the soft play centre and park, where they are able to engage in large physical play. The childminder supervises the children closely and interacts exceptionally well to encourage, praise and recognise children's individual achievements. This in turn helps to build the children's confidence and self-esteem.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder successfully implements the EYFS framework and meets both the welfare and learning requirements for every child in her care, planning interesting and challenging activities and experiences to accommodate differing abilities. She provides many opportunities for children to learn through play and makes both structured and random observations of individual children to meet the full range of their learning needs. The childminder uses the children's learning journals to measure children's individual progress across all areas of learning and to aid plans for their next steps towards the early learning goals. Her records show clear links to the EYFS framework and effectively monitor children's achievements.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's health and well-being are effectively promoted and all necessary steps are taken to reduce the spread of infection. For example, children follow clear hand washing routines and all have their own named towels for drying their hands. They enjoy a variety of healthy snacks and meals that are provided by the childminder according to parents' wishes. The childminder promotes healthy eating and includes fresh fruit and vegetables with home cooked meals to provide a balanced diet. Children learn the importance of keeping themselves safe as they take part in practising the emergency evacuation procedures. The childminder talks to the children about safety during everyday play and activities, such as, explaining why they should not throw the sand. This enables the children to think about safety and learn that there are consequences to actions. 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

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