Childminder in North Northamptonshire

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 220785 Inspection date 09/06/2009 Inspector Alison Edwards

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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

This childminder registered 1986. She lives with her husband and adult son in a house on the northern outskirts of Corby in Northamptonshire. Minded children use the ground floor of the house. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six children aged under eight years, including three in the early years age range. There are currently five children under the age of eight on roll, including three in the early years age range. The childminder is also registered on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register to care for older children. The childminder does not receive funding to provide nursery education to three and four-year-old children.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. The childminder is very caring and responsive in her dealings with children, so helping to promote their welfare effectively. Children enjoy their activities and are helped to make progress because the childminder has a good practical overview of what they need to learn, and understands the value of practical play and first hand experiences. The childminder shows a commitment to on-going review and development of her practice through systematic self-evaluation and continuing training, so helping to ensure she has a generally good understanding of how to meet the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). She is experienced and committed to working with parents and other relevant agencies to support the inclusion of children with disabilities and additional learning needs, so valuing children's individuality.

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further?

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

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further?

 establish more systematic arrangements to seek parental views on their children's initial abilities and interests across the main areas of learning to provide a good awareness of their starting points  update the record of risk assessments to include assessments of risks for each type of outing.

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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 record of accidents and first aid treatment. (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare; also applies to the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register) 30/06/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Childminding is generally organised well to meet children's needs. The childminder shows a continuing commitment to building on her existing high standards, for example, by undertaking training towards a recognised level 3 qualification, and by continued membership of an accredited childminding network. She systematically reviews her current practice against the criteria identified within the EYFS, so helping to ensure she has a generally good understanding of the strengths in her provision, and of some relevant priorities for future development.

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provision

The childminder has a good understanding of how to implement a number of clear and individual policies helping her to safeguard children from harm. For example, she is clear on how to implement local and national guidance in the event of any child protection concerns in order to safeguard children from abuse. Required records, such as children's contact, health and attendance details, are generally methodically kept and readily accessible, so effectively underpinning the safe management of most aspects of children's care.

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provision

There are good arrangements to work in partnership with parents, and other relevant agencies involved in children's care, in order to support the inclusion of all children. The childminder has long-standing working relationships with a number of families, so helping to support continuity and consistency in children's care. Prospective parents receive useful information about arrangements for children's welfare and learning through initial visits and well-presented written information. They are encouraged to share initial information about children's care and welfare needs with the childminder. Daily discussion, and review of children's developmental records, help to ensure that the childminder and parents share information about children's progress, and the next steps in their learning, on a regular basis. The childminder makes use of continued training and local networks to maintain her established contacts with other local agencies involved in children's

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provision

care, so showing an awareness of the value of partnership working in supporting all children's welfare and progress.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children's personal, social and emotional development receives very high priority. Children settle very readily in the childminder's care because she is extremely sensitive and responsive to their individual ways of expressing their needs and preferences. She has a confident awareness of how to use a range of positive methods to help children recognise and learn to manage their own strong feelings, and to build positive relationships with other children. Children are helped to develop high levels of awareness and respect for individual and cultural diversity, because the childminder encourages their play with a varied range of resources reflecting positive images of different lifestyles, and actively encourages all children's abilities in skills such as signing. The childminder has taken practical steps to make her services as accessible as possible, for example, by providing sloping access to the front door, and is experienced in caring for children with

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

disabilities and from diverse backgrounds. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder has a good overall understanding of what children need to learn, and of the value of practical play and first hand experiences in promoting their communication, creativity and understanding. For example, younger babies and toddlers develop their problem solving and reasoning skills as they use a range of stacking and fitting toys. Children learn how different substances behave as they explore using wet and dry sand in a sand wheel, and show an interest in science in everyday life as they position solar garden lights and talk about how they work. The childminder intuitively responds to younger babies' gestures, facial expressions and vocalisations to encourage their communication, and encourages children's interest in simple stories and factual books to help them make links in their

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

learning. Children are encouraged to participate in a range of creative and mark making activities in the home and at local toddler groups. They use a selection of resources such as 'cause and effect toys', play tills and mobile phones to help them become familiar with aspects of everyday technology. They are therefore establishing a good foundation for their future development and learning. The childminder has established frequent use of her own observations to assess children's abilities and identify the next steps in their learning. She already seeks information from parents about children's current care needs and preferences when they start with her. However, systematic arrangements to take full account of parents' knowledge of their children's individual interests and abilities across the main areas of learning are not yet established in order to best provide a full awareness of children's starting points.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

There are generally good arrangements to promote children's health and safety. Children are helped to develop an understanding of simple safety issues, for example, by talking about how to stay safe when out walking. They are cared for in a very comfortable and well-maintained family home, which is organised effectively to enable the childminder to offer consistently high levels of supervision. Risk assessments are undertaken and recorded to underpin the many sensible safety precautions taken in the house and garden, and to identify general precautions taken to keep children safe when off the premises. However, as yet, these records are not consistently updated to include assessments of risks for each particular type of outing, and so do not fully underpin the practical measures taken to maintain children's safety. Children are helped to develop a healthy lifestyle because the childminder gives high priority to helping them understand and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

implement good hygiene practices in their daily routines. For example, children learn that risks of transferring germs are reduced because the cloakroom tap is controlled by a movement sensor, rather than manually. They learn to wash their hands thoroughly because a timed light indicator on the tap helps them understand how much time this takes. Children enjoy a variety of opportunities to extend their physical skills and experience active play in the fresh air. Arrangements for parental provision of meals helps to ensure that these are well- suited to children's individual dietary needs and preferences. The childminder has clear systems in place to help minimise the spread of any contagious illnesses, and to ensure that any necessary medications are appropriately administered and recorded. She has generally effective procedures in place to manage any accidents in children's best interests, for example, by recording clear details about any pre-

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

existing injuries, obtaining parental consent to seek emergency medical treatment if needed, and maintaining a current paediatric first aid qualification. However, the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 childminder lacks full awareness of the requirement to keep records of all accidents in order to fully underpin children's care effectively. 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: 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

 take action as identified in the Early Years Register section of the report. (Records to be kept) 30/06/2009

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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 identified in the Early Years Register section of the report. (Records to be kept) 30/06/2009

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