Childminder in Birmingham

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 EY313013 Inspection date 18/05/2009 Inspector Rachel Wyatt

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 2005 and lives with her children aged one and five years in Small Heath, Birmingham. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding. The premises are accessible via a step into the house. Children are taken on local walks and visits to a nearby park.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and is registered to look after a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time. Of these, one child may be within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) age range. She is currently minding one child in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 10 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks to and from local schools and nurseries to take and collect children. She 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 good. Children are settled and comfortable, enjoying the activities the childminder provides which broadly take account of their interests, skills and choices. Children are confident and feel included because the childminder knows them well, and she successfully promotes their cultural and language needs, working in partnership with parents and other settings they attend. Her generally effective systems for monitoring and evaluating her childminding provision ensure priorities for future development are promptly identified and acted on, taking into account the needs of the families who attend.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further opportunities for children to select and use activities and resources independently by improving the layout and use of child-size furniture during activities and meal times and the presentation of books, toys and equipment  improve opportunities for children to express and communicate their ideas, thoughts and feelings by providing a widening range of materials, suitable toys and opportunities for role play  develop assessment in order to track children's progress in all areas of learning, matching observations and assessments to the expectations of the early learning goals. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Children enjoy being at the childminder's home. She is welcoming and reassuring to children and their parents, acknowledging and promoting their cultural and language heritage as part of her provision. She ensures sessions are relaxed so that activities are unhurried and routines are generally well-managed.

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provision

Children are fully safeguarded. The childminder understands her role in child protection and ensures parents are aware of her responsibilities for safeguarding children and taking prompt action if she has any concerns about their welfare. Children are kept safe and are well looked after as the childminder obtains all required information about them and their families, and seeks relevant parental agreements. Parents are reassured as the childminder makes sure they know about her registration, including vetting arrangements, and provides them with details about her training and experience.

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provision

Children's health and safety are effectively promoted. The childminder seeks information about each child's medical history, health, dietary and cultural needs which she effectively supports. Her health, hygiene and sick children procedures are explained to parents, and children have prompt, appropriate treatment if they need medication, have an accident or become unwell. Children's safety is supported by the childminder's risk assessments and regular checks, ensuring prompt action is taken to remove hazards. Her home is comfortable and secure, and outings are well-organised. The childminder has suitable emergency procedures and improvements since the last inspection mean appropriate fire detection equipment is available on both levels of the house.

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provision

Partnerships with parents are valued and effective. The childminder ensures parents understand how she organises and manages her childminding. She discusses the contents of her helpful portfolio which includes relevant policies and procedures. From the outset parents are encouraged to share information about their child, and the childminder gives them regular verbal feedback about their child's achievements, activities and routines. Parents are encouraged to support their child's learning at home, for example, by looking at books chosen on visits to the local library. The childminder's successful relationships with other settings children attend also ensures consistency in supporting each child's welfare and learning.

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provision

The childminder has generally effective systems for monitoring and evaluating her provision and for identifying areas for improvement. For example, she has a clear action plan to develop her knowledge and training such as the Open University early years course she is currently working towards. The childminder has also successfully addressed recommendations agreed at the last inspection in order to improve children's safety, develop her confidence in supporting younger children's learning and development, and to provide parents with effective information about the management and recording of any complaints. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are settled and contented. The childminder joins in their activities, fostering their interest and enjoyment. Children talk about what they are doing and the childminder successfully supports their home languages as well as developing their confident use of English. Children are encouraged to decide what they want to play with. However, the layout of books, toys and child-size furniture is not consistently inviting in order to fully promote their free choice, their socialising and eating together at meal times, or to support and extend their imaginative play.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children make good progress. The childminder is becoming increasingly confident in her assessments and identifying children's learning priorities, in particular with regard to their literacy and numeracy skills. She effectively uses this information to plan and organise activities which take account of and promote children's interests and next steps. However, the childminder does not consistently match her observations to the expectations of the early learning goals in order to demonstrate how she monitors and promotes children's progress in all areas of learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are supported to effectively develop skills for the next stages in their lives. They are encouraged to be creative, expressing their ideas through their art and craft work and using different materials such as dough. However, they have limited opportunities for role play. Children enjoy mark making and the childminder successfully supports their emergent writing and recognition of letter shapes and sounds. Children's critical thinking and understanding of number, shape, size and colour are fostered in practical ways during activities and routines. They behave well, developing positive relationships and learning respect for each other's differing experiences and backgrounds. Children also behave in ways that are safe for themselves and others, for example, learning about road safety and how to use physical play apparatus correctly. Children understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle, through enjoying regular physical play; by becoming increasingly

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

independent in seeing to their personal hygiene and care, and by generally making healthy choices about what they eat and drink. 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: 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 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

 successfully complete either a qualification at a minimum of level 2 in an area of work relevant to childcare, or training in the core skills as set out in the document ‘common core of skills and knowledge for the children’s workforce'. 15/06/2009

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