Childminder in Northumberland

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 EY282945 Inspection date 17/06/2009 Inspector Julie Larner

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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 lives in Blyth, Northumberland with her children aged five, 12 and 14 years old. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor is used for childminding. There is an enclosed back garden available for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years old, and a request to increase her numbers to care for six children under eight was agreed during this inspection. There are currently three children on roll, one of whom is in the early year range, and all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder is also registered on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The family have a pet goldfish. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and has completed the Diploma in Home based Childcare.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children are valued by the childminder as unique individuals with differing needs that she meets very successfully. The childminder clearly identifies her strengths and areas to improve, and prioritises those that will have the most beneficial impact on the children. However, some record lack specific details. She continuously assesses and improves her practice with a committed effort to further training to gain new skills and knowledge. The childminder successfully plans for children’s play, which she also includes the children’s ideas in. However, some next steps for children’s learning, that are identified by the childminder through observations, are not then consistently planned for.

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further?

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

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further?

 consistently analyse observations to help plan 'what next' for individuals and groups of children  improve risk assessments to ensure they contain all of the neccessary detail, for example, the date that they were carried out.

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provision

The childminder organises her space and resources well to ensure that children’s individual needs are successfully met. Children confidently move around a well organised setting that helps them to become independent. They confidently carry toys back and forwards from the dedicated playroom. High levels of supervision and regular checks contribute towards protecting children’s safety. A full risk assessment is in place, however, it is not dated to show when this was conducted. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder has gained a good grasp of the Early Year Foundation Stage, and provides many interesting and worthwhile activities that both promote children’s learning and development and also focuses highly on children’s interest to celebrate what they can do. She shows a determined and dedicated effort to update and add to her own skills, by attending several training courses. This, in

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provision

turn, benefits the care of the children as they are looked after by a highly knowledgeable adult. The childminder understands how children develop and clearly is aware of her responsibilities to ensure they are successfully safeguarded. The childminder has successfully completed the recommendations from her previous inspection. She has made her procedures for promoting children’s personal hygiene more secure. The other recommendation related to obtaining written parental permission from parents when others, such as, the childminder’s sister, collect children from school is no longer needed.

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provision

Partnerships with parents and others providing the Early Years Foundation Stage for children are successful. The childminder builds positive relationships with the parents, by respecting their wishes and encouraging them to become involved in evaluating the setting as they fill in questionnaires about her childminding. These good relationships ensure that the parents value the childminder as an important person in their lives, for example, as she accompanies parents to school for meetings about their child on occasions.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children clearly have extremely positive relationships with the childminder which provides them with a strong sense of belonging. They confidently move between different areas making choices about what they want to do and play with. The childminder is highly successful in extending their learning. She constantly encourages children to think about what they are doing, and to recall events which helps them to become very confident and successful communicators. Children thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder as they laugh together. The childminder highly values the children in her care. She constantly engages them in routines to let them know what they will be doing next and later on in the day.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are involved in lots of fun and exciting trips in their local community and beyond. They learn about people who help them, and also fire safety as they visit the fire station. Children benefit from a wide range of healthy foods and drinks. Children have daily opportunities to be physically active that engage their interests, for example, by dancing, and also contributes towards helping them to stay healthy. The childminder ensures that children learn about safety effectively. They know the telephone number for the police and read books about stranger danger and practice road safety when they go to school to collect and drop off children. Children behave very well. They are successfully encouraged to talk and think about behaviour by the childminder. She provides a highly effective role model for children as she gets them to think about how to behave when attending other settings such as nursery and think about rules and boundaries. Discussions about

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

sharing and encouraging children to do small appropriate tasks that they clearly enjoy, such as, answering the telephone helps to raise their self esteem and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 confidence.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children make good progress in their time with the childminder. They proudly write their names on the pictures they have coloured in and count competently in their everyday play. Children love to be creative. The childminder provides them with a wide range of good quality materials to decorate wooden spoons. Children are beginning to develop a curiosity to understand how things work which the childminder supports very well. Children enjoy making paper aeroplanes that they fly around the back garden, and notice the wind moving their windmills in the front garden as they come downstairs. 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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