Childminder in Herefordshire

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 EY299224 Inspection date 22/05/2009 Inspector Valerie Fane

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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 2004. She lives with her husband and children aged seven months and five years in Ledbury. The whole house except for the study is used for childminding. Accessibility to the premises is up one step and toilet facilities are available on the ground floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The family have two guinea pigs and some fish.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. There are currently two children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), both of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory. Children settle well with the childminder and make good progress in their learning and development because she plans and provides activities that meet most of their individual learning needs well. The childminder's practice is inclusive and she works closely with parents to ensure that their particular welfare needs are met. However, children have fewer opportunities to extend their awareness of other cultures. The childminder is committed to making ongoing improvements and attends training to improve her practice. She has recently completed a detailed self-evaluation which identifies her strengths and some areas for improvement but she is not fully aware of all of the welfare requirements for the EYFS.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve children's opportunities to develop positive attitudes to diversity with respect to different cultures  extend the opportunities for children to develop their awareness of healthy eating.

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further?

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

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further?

 keep a written record of medicines given to children (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 26/05/2009  inform Ofsted of significant events such as the birth of a child at the earliest opportunity (Suitable people). 26/05/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Children have benefited from some improvements since the last inspection. The childminder has met the recommendation concerning the provision of activities for young children and has an improved understanding of how to plan and provide for this age group. She is committed to attending regular training to improve her knowledge and update her practice and she is currently working towards a 'Diploma in home-based childcare'. She has obtained a grant for technology equipment and now plans to submit a grant application to improve her new garden. She has recently completed a self-evaluation of her practice and is using it to identify some areas for future development such as improving the range of activities she offers to help children's awareness of other cultures.

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provision

Children are safeguarded because the childminder has carried out a thorough risk assessment of her new home. She has put plans in place to remedy any safety concerns such as prickly low level bushes and she is supervising children closely in the meantime. She has a robust set of policies in place that work well in practice. She has ensured most of the EYFS welfare requirements are met but she has not notified Ofsted of the birth of her second child and requested an amendment to her certificate. Children have not been at risk because the childminder reduced her numbers to take account of the new baby. Children's medical needs are met because the childminder has a current first aid certificate and provides appropriate care in the event of them having an accident or needing medication. If children need non-prescription medicine for which parents have provided prior written consent, the childminder contacts their parents and notifies them verbally but she

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provision

does not keep a written record of the medicine she has given.

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provision

Children thrive because the childminder works in close partnership with their parents. She implements good settling-in strategies that she adapts to meet children's particular needs. Parents provide the childminder with written information about children's routines, learning and development before she begins minding. They exchange ongoing verbal information so that the childminder builds up a close relationship and gets to know children and their families extremely well. Children are able to continue their learning at home because they have a regular diary sheet with information about what they have been doing that day. Children with learning difficulties and disabilities and those who attend other early years provision would thrive because the childminder understands the importance of working closely with outside agencies and with other providers such as local nurseries and pre-schools.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children settle well with the childminder and develop a close relationship with her. They make good progress towards the early learning goals because the childminder observes and assesses their development in different areas. She then plans activities to support their next steps in learning. For example, she helps to develop children's social skills in small groups by taking them to the childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 support group each week.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children thoroughly enjoy activities such as making cornflake cakes for a special tea that night. They develop skills for the future because the childminder shows them how to use equipment such as electronic scales and the microwave. They practise recognising numbers on the scales as the childminder weighs out the butter. They learn about the purpose of reading because they look at the recipe with her. They develop hand control as they stir the mixture and they use their senses to smell and taste the ingredients. They excitedly place a sweet on top of each cake and the childminder supports their problem-solving skills by encouraging them to look and see whether any cakes are missing a sweet. Children develop their use of language because they chat to the childminder throughout the activity and are evidently pleased with their efforts because they comment 'It's looking good'. Babies join in with such activities as soon as they are old enough to stand

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's individual welfare needs are met because the childminder follows parents' wishes regarding their daily routines such as sleep times. If children have particular dietary requirements the childminder ensures that the food she provides meets their needs. Children learn about some aspects of diversity because they play with toys such as small world people with disabilities. They take part in occasional activities to celebrate festivals such as Chinese New Year when they make lanterns and taste Chinese food, but the childminder has identified on her self-evaluation form a need to expand the range of such activities. Children behave well for the childminder because she supports good behaviour with well-deserved praise and has clear house rules to minimise unwanted behaviour. Older children are considerate of the younger ones. For example, they find an appropriate toy for a baby who is crying.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children learn about healthy lifestyles because they spend time outside. They usually walk to and from school and develop their knowledge of road safety. In the garden they use the playhouse and take their toy cat for a walk in the pushchair. They learn to care for living creatures because they feed carrots to the guinea pigs and plan with the childminder who will feed them later on. Parents choose whether they will provide food or the children will have food provided by the childminder. She offers healthy home-cooked teas such as spaghetti bolognaise and she is aware of children's favourites. However, only the oldest children discuss healthy eating habits or take part in relevant activities to support their understanding. 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? 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 keep a record of any medicine administered to any child who is cared for on the premises, including the date and circumstances and who administered it (Records to be kept) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 26/05/2009  inform Ofsted of changes of circumstance, such as the birth of a child, as soon as possible and no later than 14 days after the change occurs (Providing information to Ofsted). 26/05/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Records to be kept) 26/05/2009  take action as specified in the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Providing information to Ofsted). 26/05/2009

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