Childminder in Swindon

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 EY318595 Inspection date 11/05/2009 Inspector Rosemary Davies

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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 registered since 2006. She lives with her husband and three children aged five, 16 and 20 years in the Moredon area of Swindon, Wiltshire, close to shops, parks, toddler groups and a library. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools, nurseries and pre-schools. The family keep a pet dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time and is currently minding three children under five years. 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. The childminder sometimes works with an assistant. She makes provision for children with learning difficulties and/ or disabilities.

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Description of the childminding

Minded children may use the entire house, although in practice remain mostly downstairs where they have use of a designated playroom. A fully enclosed rear garden is available for outside play. The childminder holds a Level 2 qualification in play-work.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is good. Children's welfare is safeguarded and supported to an exceedingly high standard, which is a major strength of this provision. The childminder works extremely hard and successfully to provide all children, including those with learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities, with a homely environment that meets their individual needs, which is a further notable strength. All children make good progress in their learning and development from their starting points in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The childminder is a reflective practitioner, showing good capacity to maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure all planned adult-led activities reflect children's interests and are meaningful to them  further develop the programme for literacy by developing all children's enjoyment of books.

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provision

The childminder is committed to providing for the needs of all children who come to her, regardless of what these might be, going to considerable lengths to treat all children as individuals. She has adapted her home to provide a larger toilet area This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and a designated playroom with excellent storage facilities, which improves the outcomes for children considerably.

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provision

The childminder reflects on her practice frequently, being well aware of her strengths and most areas for development. She uses her knowledge of the EYFS to provide children with very positive experiences, although some adult-led activities are not fully effective. She safeguards children exceptionally well and makes sure all persons in her household, over the age of 16 years, are cleared as being suitable to be with children, including her assistants.

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provision

All required documentation is in place and contributes effectively to the smooth and efficient daily running of the provision. The childminder has clear policies and shares these with parents, with whom she has established good two-way communications. She does the same with others concerned with the children's care, such as local nurseries, and this united approach benefits the children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children clearly feel confident, secure and happy in the childminder's home, enjoying excellent relationships with her and her family. These lay firm foundations from which all children, including those with learning difficulties and/or physical disabilities, learn and develop well. The childminder makes every effort to provide an appropriate learning environment, both indoors and outside. The provision of high quality equipment supports children's learning and development very well. Children enjoy choosing what they want to do from well-resourced, specialist, low- level storage units. They enjoy lots of choice outside too, experiencing a good balance of indoor and outdoor learning daily.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder supports children's play well. She offers a good role-model for their emerging speech and conversation skills, introducing new words to describe what children do, such as 'turning' and 'sharpening'. She establishes children's starting points when they first come to her home and carefully tracks their progress towards the early learning goals of the EYFS. She knows children's capabilities very well indeed through observing their play and determines what they need to learn next accurately. Effective partnerships with other settings children attend result in all concerned with the children's development and learning, taking a united approach and working towards the same aims, which support children's progress well.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder sets high expectations for children who have additional needs, making sure they are included in all activities, including physical ones. The one exception is in helping children to develop a love of books, which is not promoted fully effectively. This limits the progress children make in developing skills for their future lives.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder offers a suitable balance of adult-led and child-chosen experiences. However, whilst planning pinpoints the skills and knowledge children need to gain next, the adult-led activities are not always based around children's interests or on activities that are meaningful to them, which curtails their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understanding. Nevertheless, children gain skills during such activities, such as learning to sharpen pencils and use scissors.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children use an exceptionally clean and secure, homely environment in which their good health and safety are maintained exceedingly well. All children develop extremely good personal independence skills, following the excellent example set by the childminder for hygiene routines. All follow healthy life styles when with her, spending considerable amounts of time outdoors and getting lots of physical exercise daily. They eat healthy food and learn to grow some vegetables and fruit for themselves. The childminder buys more unusual fruit encouraging children to be adventurous with food and try new tastes, for example, sampling a 'dragon' fruit or papaya.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder teaches children how to keep themselves safe but allows them to take acceptable risks so that they learn how to take 'risks' safely. She is well aware of her responsibilities for safeguarding children's welfare and keeps up to date contact details of local safeguarding children agencies, should she need them. 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? 1

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 1 How well are children helped to be healthy? 1 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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