Crown Centre

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 133750 Inspection date 18/06/2009 Inspector Gillian Little

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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 has been providing care for children since 1972. She lives in a village near Reading with her husband and adult daughter. Her husband is a registered assistant and supports her in her care of the children. The ground floor of the childminder’s house, with the exception of the study, is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. Access to the provision includes a step into the front door.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder offers care on a daily basis. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight at any one time. When working on her own no more than three children may be in the early years age range and when working with her assistant no more than six children may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding six children on the Early Years Register on both a full-time and part-time basis. She also offers care to children aged over five 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 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. The childminder has a positive approach to inclusion ensuring that all children are able to make effective progress towards the early learning goals. She demonstrates a clear understanding of their individual needs, both in their welfare and in their educational development. She works closely with parents to ensure consistency in children's care and learning and obtains some information about how children are progressing in other settings which they attend. She regularly updates her practice and ensures that most regulatory requirements are in place.

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further?

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

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further?

 further improve hygiene procedures by providing individual hand drying facilities  consider making direct links with other settings which children attend to further develop consistency in their care and learning.

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further?

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

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further?

 maintain a record of the risk assessment clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Documentation). 02/07/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder provides an inclusive environment where she treats all children equally and helps them to make good progress in their learning and development. She responds well to their individual needs, identifying next steps in learning for each child and supporting these through their everyday play. She occasionally uses the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance to ensure that children are making as much progress as they can. She ensures that children of different ages can access resources equally and she adapts activities to suit their different abilities. She works closely with parents, providing them with regular verbal feedback about their children's progress, and encourages children to take home things that they have made so that they can share them with their parents. She finds out from parents how children are settling at other settings which they attend but has not yet made any direct links with these settings which limits opportunities to

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provision

The childminder provides a safe and welcoming home with plenty of space for children to play. She ensures that children are under close supervision at all times and deploys her assistant appropriately to provide additional supervision when necessary. She ensures that all household members have undertaken appropriate background checks and she demonstrates a sound understanding of safeguarding children procedures. Her records, policies and procedures generally work effectively to support the safe and efficient management of the setting although there is no record in place of risk assessments, which is a breach of regulation. However, in practice the childminder routinely assesses risks in the home, garden and on outings to ensure that children are safe. The childminder regularly updates her practice, for example, renewing resources when appropriate and refreshing her first aid training before it expires. She receives lots of praise from parents who are

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provision

happy with her care of their children and she shows a commitment to a continuous focus on children's individual needs.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children develop good social and behavioural skills under the close guidance of the childminder. They have good opportunities to develop independence, such as helping to bring the post in, handing biscuits round at snack time and helping to tidy up. They play well together, showing kindness and respect to others. They have opportunities to learn about diversity in society through watching good quality television programmes and sharing books which reflect different backgrounds. They develop close relationships with both the childminder and her assistant and readily go to either of them for help and support.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are able to follow their own interests and the childminder supports them well as they do so. For example, they ask for the dressing up clothes and enjoy putting outfits together as the childminder encourages them to find matching shoes and to think carefully about how to put their fingers and thumbs into gloves. They engage readily in an art activity sticking shapes on to paper to make their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 own pictures. All children who show an interest are able to join in and the childminder talks to them about the different shapes and animals which they can see. They enjoy exploring toy animals and the childminder's assistant supports the youngest children to talk about the animals and their recent trip to the zoo. Older children have good opportunities to form letters correctly and to recognise and sound out letters as the childminder supports them well in their art activities. All

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

children have good opportunities to learn about number through their spontaneous play as the childminder encourages them to think about ‘two legs’ or ‘three purple’ shoes. Children often ask to play in the garden and the childminder facilitates this on a daily basis as well as taking them for regular outings in the local community. They develop an understanding of healthy eating as the childminder often discusses this with them and provides a generally healthy diet including fruit and vegetables. They learn to wash their hands after using the toilet or after messy play activities, although they do not have individual hand drying facilities in the bathroom which increases the risk of cross infection. They learn to stay safe as the childminder talks to them about safety rules, such as not running inside the house and being careful around younger children. Older children practise fire evacuation which helps to develop their understanding of keeping safe in an emergency and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

the childminder supports all children in learning about road safety.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children benefit from the childminder’s very calm and patient approach as well her good quality interactions and awareness of their individual needs and interests. She is familiar with children's different capabilities and she identifies their next steps in learning to incorporate into their everyday play. For example, she encourages older children to develop handwriting and scissor control, and for those children who find it difficult to concentrate she reads stories without pictures or tells stories to increase their concentration levels. 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

 implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (Arrangements for Safeguarding children) 02/07/2009  implement a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register (Procedures for dealing with complaints). 02/07/2009

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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

 implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (Arrangements for Safeguarding children) 02/07/2009  implement a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register (Procedures for dealing with complaints). 02/07/2009

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