Childminder in Leicestershire

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 EY101319 Inspection date 07/05/2009 Inspector Christine Holmes

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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 2002 and lives in a semi-detached house on a quiet road on the outskirts of Narborough close to Enderby village. She lives with her husband and two young children.

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Description of the childminding

All of the downstairs rooms are used, the lounge/dining room, kitchen and playroom. Rooms used on the first floor are: child's bedroom (for changing facilities), spare room (for rest provision), and bathroom. The main bedroom is inaccessible to minded children. The back garden is securely enclosed. The family have a cat and a hamster.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time. There are currently five children on roll, three of whom are within the early years age range. The childminder collects children from the local school.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is satisfactory. Children are very settled and play happily within the inclusive and caring environment. Partnership with parents is strong although partnerships with other providers have not yet been developed to support cohesion and continuity for children's learning. Children's welfare is supported well, but whilst the childminder has a generally sound knowledge of how children progress and how she can help this process she has a limited knowledge and understanding of the learning requirements which hinders her ability to fully support children's learning. The capacity for improvement is strong due to the childminder's clear commitment to improving outcomes for children and her emerging use of reflective practice which is enabling her to begin to critically reflect on some of her practice in order to make improvements.

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further?

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

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further?

 make links with other providers to provide cohesion and consistency in children's learning  develop further the arrangements to identify children's individual learning priorities in order to support them to progress as much as they can  develop further the risk assessment to cover anything with which a child may come into contact with. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

Children are cared for in a clean and secure environment. High regard is given to supporting children's good health through minimising infection and promoting healthy lifestyles. The childminder has a strong understanding of safeguarding issues and her role and responsibilities in protecting children's welfare. The premises are organised to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment with a varied range of suitable resources both in and outdoors. Risk assessments are carried out on all aspects of the environment and for outings and the childminder is very vigilant in her supervision of children. However, the risk assessment does not cover the small stones in the garden with which children come into contact with.

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provision

The childminder has a clear commitment to improving outcomes for children. All recommendations from the last inspection have been met which has led to improved safety in the garden and in the provision of toys and resources that reflect a positive image of other race, cultures and disabilities in order to support children's awareness of diversity. The childminder is currently undertaking training and has started to use newly acquired skills in order to critically reflect some of her practice in order to make improvements. This has been particularly evident in the quality of written information available to parent's. The childminder is currently developing her knowledge of the learning and development requirements and she is in the early stages of developing systems to observe and match children's achievements to the expectations of the early learning goals in order to identify their learning priorities.

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provision

The childminder recognises the value of working in partnership with parents and places much emphasis on this. Children's welfare needs are met well as the childminder has developed effective systems to ensure a two-way flow of information in relation to her service, children's individual needs, achievements and progress which supports children's continuity of care. However, partnerships with other providers are not yet developed to fully support continuity and cohesion in children's learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder actively promotes children's good health and gives high regard to minimising cross infection. Parents are encouraged to provide healthy lunch boxes and the childminder provides healthy snacks and makes drinks easily accessible to children. Children learn about a healthy lifestyle through discussions such as explanations of why we wash our hands at certain times. The childminder displays a poster to support children's learning in this area. Children have good opportunities to become active and enjoy the fresh air taking regular walks to school, playing in the nearby park and local indoor soft play activity centre and in the childminders garden.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is placing a growing emphasis on enabling children to make choices and decisions which supports their self-esteem and growing independence This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and confidence. She organises resources so that they are generally easy for children to access and self-select and she listens and responds to children's request to play outside or to sit down and look at the books. Children are supported to recognise and express their own needs, to become considerate of others and to develop a positive awareness of the diversity of the wider world. In addition to this the childminder is in the early stages of developing systems to include children in the self-evaluation of the setting and to implement changes in response to the children's comments.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children enjoy a varied range of adult-planned and child-led activities. They play with a range of different materials such as sand, paint, play dough and crayons to promote their creative development. There is a range of simple technology resources which help children to develop an early understanding of technology and children's imagination is fostered well with a range of small world resources. Children take part in growing and cooking activities and construct using a wide range of resources. The childminder promotes children's learning of colours and numbers as she counts and talks about the colours of the toys they are using during play. She supports children's language development through discussions, singing and stories. However, whilst these activities support children to make satisfactory progress the childminder's limited knowledge of the learning and development requirements means that some play experiences offered do not fully

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

challenge or explore all areas of children's learning. 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? 2

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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? 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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