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 250510 Inspection date 13/07/2009 Inspector Shirley Delaney

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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 registered in 1998. She lives with her husband, adult son, adult daughter and her partner, child aged three years and grandchild aged one year, in the Kingshurst area of Solihull. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding. The family have two dogs and a goldfish. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. The childminder takes children to local schools and pre-school groups.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time. There are currently two children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 14 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder receives support from the local authority. She holds a Level 3 qualification and is a member of the National Childminding Association and the Children Come First childminder network.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory. The childminder provides a happy, welcoming and inclusive environment where children are cared for well and their learning and development is supported. The effective partnership with parents ensures all relevant information is shared regarding any specific requirements and parents are purposefully included in their children’s development. Children make good progress in their development and learning as they have opportunities to access a range of suitable resources and play experiences. Systems of observation and assessment have been fully implemented, although planning is in the early stages of being developed. The childminder demonstrates the capacity for continuous improvement through identifying areas for professional development, attending additional training and obtaining further guidance through research. Attention is paid to promoting children's safety and

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

welfare, however, the childminder has not ensured that conditions of registration are always met.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop how the information gathered from observation and assessment is used effectively to inform future plans, so that plans reflect and build on each child’s individual learning needs and support children to reach their full potential  improve the system for self-evaluation to promote continual improvement in the service provided. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder has organised her home to provide children with a welcoming, stimulating and interesting environment. Baskets in the porch for children’s personal items and the display of children’s photographs, achievement charts and creative work promotes children’s sense of belonging. Accessible resources enables children to make choices and promotes their skills in independence, as a consequence children confidently explore their surroundings and are kept purposefully occupied.

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provision

A strong emphasis is placed on working in partnership with parents. The childminder genuinely values the role of parents as the first carer and educator of their children. She places real importance on keeping parents informed of their child's progress and provides them with lots of encouragement to be involved, which supports joint working to meet children’s learning and development needs. Parents are also well-consulted about the service they receive from the childminder, as she gathers their thoughts on the provision through questionnaires and acts upon the comments she receives. This influences improvement in the service received by children and their parents and forms part of the process of the childminders process for self-evaluation. The childminder also completes a format for self-evaluation accessed through the National Childminder's Association which has proven to be a useful tool in assessing where her strengths lie. Alongside this

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provision

the childminder has a commitment to her personal development and devotes time to continual research in order to develop her knowledge and skills, which she uses to support children’s care, welfare and learning. This demonstrates that the childminder has commitment to development of her practice. However, the process for self-evaluation is not entirely thorough to enable the childminder to vigorously identify areas for improvement and continually reflect on her practice to promote constant development.

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provision

Arrangements to safeguard children are generally secure. The childminder has a clear understanding of child protection procedures, which she uses to promote children’s welfare. She keeps detailed accident and medication records and has developed a thorough process for conducting risk assessments. Risk assessments cover all areas of the home accessed by children and are supplemented by the completion of daily safety checks, which serve to effectively identify and minimise risks for children. However, the childminder is operating in breach of her conditions of registration. She is caring for children aged under one year and allowing children to use the outside area which her conditions of registration do not allow. This is an offence unless the provider gives a reasonable excuse. On this occasion the provider did so and Ofsted does not intend to take further action.

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provision

The childminder has many years experience of caring for children with disabilities and/or learning difficulties. She has an extremely positive attitude to promoting inclusion and equality and works effectively with other professionals and parents to support children’s recognised needs. Regular attendance at pre-school groups extends children’s social circle and offers them an extension to the range of experiences they are able to become involved in. Regular visits to community This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 venues, such as, the library and planned activities within children centres’ promote children’s awareness and experience of diversity. In addition the childminder plans activities, provides resources and promotes discussion about cultural festivals which she utilises to develop children’s knowledge of diversity.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The learning environment is made stimulating and inviting through the range of available resources and the display posters, some of which are the children’s creative work, for example, young children take an interest in the number line displayed on the breakfast bar. Older children have designed and created fire safety and behaviour posters which act as a reminder if they are required to leave the premises in an emergency or they have need to be reminded of the rules for acceptable behaviour. Children are making good progress in their learning and development because they are well-supported, motivated and interested in the resources around them. They are able to initiate play experiences for themselves and this is balanced by a range of planned experiences, which are organised to take place both within and outside of the setting. This gives the children access to a broad range of experiences.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder makes effective use of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidance and conducts additional research to increase her knowledge and skills. This informs and influences her practice and has a continual developing effect on the attention she gives to supporting children’s learning and development. The childminder discusses children’s development with parents from an early stage and uses information gained as a starting point for children’s future learning and development. She records observations of children which enables her to determine what children know and can achieve and assesses their progress using the EYFS guidance. However, there has not been a clear link established between observation and assessment and the individual plans for children’s future learning. The next steps in children’s learning are not always clearly identified and plans are not specifically based on what is known about each child. As a consequence the

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

childminder cannot be assured that children are appropriately challenged in all areas of their learning in order to reach their full potential.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children’s language development is supported well, as the childminder effectively extends the communication of young children by modelling their speech and encouraging their communication. Young children have opportunities to mark make promoting their pre-writing skills and older children have opportunities to use their writing skills to convey information. Children all share in experiences, such as, planting flowers, seeds and vegetable plants and planned experiences, such as, visits to Conkers develops children’s awareness of the natural world around them. Children are well-behaved and they are interested and keen to take part in play and learning experiences, which builds a foundation for their learning in the future.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children’s good health is well-supported by having access to a range of physical experiences. For example, they have walks in the fresh air on a daily basis, make routine use of the local park and regular visits take place to the nearby activity centre. This provides children with opportunities to become active and develop This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 physical skills both in and out of doors. Children develop an awareness of safety and safe practices as they join in regular fire drills and this is further developed through their inclusion in activities, such as, making a fire safety poster, which is displayed for their information. They are introduced to the importance of personal hygiene and self-care by following routines which include the daily brushing of their teeth and regular hand washing. This is also reinforced through the display of posters in the bathroom to remind them of bathroom routines.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

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? 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? 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: Met

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