Childminder in North Tyneside

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 EY317778 Inspection date 12/05/2009 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 with her husband, who is also a registered childminder, and their adult son in North Shields, North Tyneside. She uses the whole of the ground floor for childminding. There is an enclosed outside area for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for six children under eight years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

There are currently five children on roll, all of whom attend on a part-time basis, two of whom are in the early years age range. The family has two pet rabbits.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is satisfactory. Children are valued and successfully included in the setting by a practitioner who encourages children to consider each other's needs. Her secure understanding of the welfare requirements and an emerging understanding of the learning and development requirements means that children are provided with activities and experiences that help them make satisfactory progress. However, next steps in the children's learning are not fully considered.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder considers some procedures that improve her practice and knows what she does well but self-evaluation is basic. She has developed positive relationships with the children to ensure that they are secure, settled and happy in their time at the setting.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems to effectively use the Ofsted self-evaluation form  analyse observations to help to plan 'what next' for individual children.

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provision

Children remain safe and secure in their environment due to the childminder’s good attitude and vigilance towards safety. Space and resources are organised adequately to ensure that children remain safe at all times, for example, during lunch. A satisfactory understanding of child protection issues and her role in safeguarding children’s welfare means that children are adequately protected.

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provision

Written policies provide a comprehensive picture of how the setting operates. These are shared with parents to ensure they are fully informed about their child. The childminder has a pro-active approach to working with others providing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Effective systems to share information about This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children’s development contribute to a coherent and continued learning journey for children. Records and documentation are effectively organised in a confidential manner, contributing to safeguarding the children’s welfare.

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provision

Self-evaluation to consider long term plans to improve the service is basic. However, the childminder identifies some issues on a day-to-day basis, such as ensuring that her assessments of children’s development are confidential. Since the previous inspection, the childminder has improved the outside area to provide more opportunities for outdoor play. A decked area means that children have more opportunities to play outdoors all year round.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are very secure and relaxed in the childminder’s care. They eagerly explore new equipment and approach her for support and guidance with confidence. The childminder knows the children well. She uses resources that she knows they will enjoy and encourages children to bring in special toys to help them settle and develop a sense of belonging. The childminder continually assesses the areas that the children use to ensure these are safe and appropriate, for example, by moving the coffee table out of the way. Children are sensitively reminded about safety as the childminder appropriately explains to them about the consequences of their actions. They are cared for in a clean, hygienic environment and the childminder uses secure procedures in her daily practice to ensure that children’s health is successfully promoted.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children behave well in the setting. The childminder provides an effective role model to help children learn about good behaviour, for example, as she encourages children to say please and thank you. Children enjoy a variety of home based activities and they attend groups and explore their local environment as they go on nature walks in the warmer weather. The childminder considers and values children’s interests as she notices a child’s interest in toy cars and responds by getting more cars out of the storage cupboard. Children make choices about what they want do from some freely available toys such as the toy kitchen and storage boxes on the floor. The childminder meets children’s individual care routines well. She successfully shares relevant information with parents to ensure she can make children feel comfortable and maintain a consistent routine, for example, by finding out detailed information about children’s sleeping habits. Children have very

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

positive relationships with the childminder. They enjoy cuddles on her knee and kisses, showing they are valued, happy and content in her care.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a secure grasp of the welfare requirements of the EYFS. She is beginning to develop her understanding of the learning and development requirements by attending relevant courses. However, she sometimes misses opportunities to ensure that all areas of children’s development is promoted through spontaneous play, such as counting in everyday routines. Regular observations of what children can do are linked to the areas of learning to enable the childminder to monitor the range of activities she provides. However, she does not clearly identify children’s next steps to ensure they can make progress. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are becoming increasingly independent and are encouraged to take care of their own personal care tasks successfully. The childminder helps younger children to put their shoes on and older children visit the toilet on their own.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children have opportunities to enjoy being creative as they eagerly use pots and pans as instruments and have other experiences, such as, making collages from different materials. Younger children's language is successfully promoted by the childminder. She repeats words and asks them questions to help them make progress. The childminder uses the environment well to help children identify colours and shapes in a meaningful way. She encourages children to recognise the colours of cups, chairs and tables. Children are consistently praised for their achievements. The childminder claps as younger children take little steps, with emerging confidence on their own. She values their emerging physical development by holding their hands to help them walk across the room 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? 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

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