Childminder in North Lincolnshire

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 505184 Inspection date 19/06/2009 Inspector Gill Ogden

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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 2000. She lives with her husband and two children, aged 11 and 13, in Epworth, North Lincolnshire. All the ground floor of their home is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden suitable for outdoor play. Amenities such as shops, schools, pre-schools and a park are within walking distance. The childminder also uses her car to transport children.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She currently looks after six children, three of whom, are in the early years age range. The childminder holds a relevant early years qualification.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children are cared for in a safe, clean and comfortable home. The childminder uses her experience and knowledge well, to ensure each child's welfare and learning needs are met. Every child makes good progress within the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder has strong relationships with parents and others who are involved with each child, which makes a considerable contribution to children's well-being and achievement. The childminder reflects on her practice with the children regularly and has started to self-evaluate the whole provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop an ongoing self-evaluation system to fully ensure continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 maintain a record of the risk assessment clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Documentation). 03/07/2009

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provision

All the required records apart from one are in place and well-kept. The lack of a risk assessment record has little impact on children's everyday safety because the childminder is aware of potential hazards in the home, garden, car, on the walk to school and regarding regular outings, and has minimised them as much as possible. She provides detailed written information for parents regarding her This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 safeguarding role and has some very useful documentation to support her own practice in the event of a child protection incident occurring. Recommendations made at the last inspection have been taken up and as a result the provision for children's health and safety has improved. The childminder maintains a current first aid certificate so that any accidents children may have can be dealt with appropriately. She attends as much training as she can which is relevant to her

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provision

own development needs and the individual needs of children. For example, last year she attended several workshops related to the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder has always reflected on her practice with the children to ensure their needs are met and has started to self-evaluate her provision overall, with the outcome being that she has realised that her recording of risk assessment was lacking. However, she has not yet put into place an ongoing system to fully ensure continuous improvement.

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provision

The childminder has very strong links with each child's family and other provisions that they use, such as, the local school and pre-schools. She has many years involvement with these provisions, which impacts positively on the children in her care because a trusting relationship promotes good information sharing, which is in the best interests of all the children. Parents are fortunate to receive a very useful, clear written pack of documentation about the service she offers.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a 'home from home' environment, which parents request for them. Good standards of hygiene are maintained and the childminder is particularly vigilant about children developing good personal hygiene habits, especially washing their hands well after using the toilet. Parents are informed about illnesses that will prevent children from attending and are encouraged to discuss situations with her to ensure appropriate exclusion periods, so that cross- infection is minimised. The garden provides plenty of space for children to run around freely and get plenty of fresh air regularly. Safety precautions in the home, garden and car contribute well to preventing accidents. Children learn to keep themselves safe through, for example, taking part in regular fire drills, following road safety rules, discussing the importance of seat belts in the car and being wary of strangers. Even the youngest children have a good awareness of the potential

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

implications of, for example, a hot drink being spilled.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are able to access most resources for themselves because they are stored and organised well on units in the main room that they use. The childminder plans for individual children's interests by ensuring that toys that they like are set out for them when they arrive and she makes the most of these to challenge and extend their learning. For example, from her observations she knows that a child can use a shape sorter well, fitting the correct pieces in the matching holes and naming some of the shapes. Other shape names are not so well-known, so the childminder takes every opportunity to help the child recognise and name these shapes during her play and to make sure she recognises all shapes when they are a different size or colour. When a child hears something and asks what it is, the childminder considers the sounds she has heard, mentioning the dustbin lorry, and then asks the child questions, such as, 'was it a whistling noise you heard?', and suggests it

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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 might have been the wind in the chimney, pointing out the open fireplace to the child and where the sound might have come from.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Each child's achievements are recorded well in their 'Look at me' books as a result of regular planned observations. These are then used to assess children's progress against the early learning goals for all the areas of learning, to clearly identify their next steps. Parents are encouraged to take part in a thorough 'de-brief' when they pick their children up, so that they are able to make a full contribution to decisions that are made about their child's learning priorities. The childminder aims that each child who leaves her care should be well-grounded, polite and an independent learner. This contributes well to every child developing the habits and behaviour appropriate to good learners, their own needs, and those of others. 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

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