Childminder in Essex

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 EY384340 Inspection date 15/05/2009 Inspector Anne Daly

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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 2008. She lives with her husband and three children, aged 11, nine and two years, in a residential area on the outskirts of Braintree, Essex. The whole of the premises, accessed by small steps, is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has a dog, two cats and a rabbit.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for five children at any one time, with one part-time child within the early years age range currently on roll and two nearing the end of their settling-in visits. She also offers places for children on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She walks to the local school and pre-school to take and collect children. She takes children to toddler groups and parks. She can support children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and also children who speak English as an additional language.

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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 is very proactive in ensuring the provision of an inclusive and welcoming environment for all children and their families. She provides worthwhile learning opportunities to help children to make good progress in their learning and development. She is developing her observations and assessments of children, recognising the uniqueness of each child. Her good partnership with parents contributes to their children’s welfare. Through self-evaluation, future plans are well targeted to achieve further improvements to her setting and for the outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 make systematic observations and assessments of each child’s achievements to assist with the planning for their next steps.

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provision

Children benefit from the care received from a motivated childminder who continues to attend training courses to extend her knowledge and skills. She promotes a learning environment to help children to progress well towards their learning goals. She maintains the required records to ensure that the needs of all children are met, including clear contracts and signed parental consent forms. She has a clearly written safeguarding policy evidencing that she is fully aware of the steps to be taken if she has concerns about a child’s welfare. She has been registered for a relatively short time, but has developed a varied range of policies This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and procedures to support her good child care practices, which are shared with parents. Written risk assessments are undertaken to safeguard children when they are both on and off her premises. She effectively plans outings linked to learning

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provision

topics to ensure their suitability for all children attending. Safety equipment, such as stairgates and cupboard locks, are used to prevent children accessing potential hazards. The childminder uses self-evaluation and parents’ comments to ascertain ways of continually improving her provision for the benefit of children. She has identified her training needs regarding children with learning difficulties to ensure that she is meeting their individual needs.

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provision

Children enjoy continuity of care through the childminder ascertaining as much as she can about them from their parents or carers before they start in her care to enable her to plan effectively for their individual needs. Daily verbal and regular written communications with parents ensure that she is meeting children’s individual needs and routines. During settling in periods, she gets to know the children well and ensures that their families feel included. She ensures that children develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture through providing play equipment and books reflecting positive images of diversity and inclusion. The provision of worthwhile learning opportunities helps children’s good progress towards their early learning goals. Her development of her observations and assessments is benefiting children by recognising the uniqueness of each child.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a good knowledge of how children learn and develop and she provides a warm and welcoming environment for them. The well organised home enables children to independently select from a varied range of toys and resources. They have a good sense of belonging as they have low coat pegs on which to hang their belongings, while their pictures and posters are displayed around the ground floor. The childminder provides good support for individual children by being relaxed when supporting their play through sitting on the floor to extend their skills. The enabling environment supports babies to be active and to develop their skills of coordination, control, manipulation and movement well. The childminder provides plenty of space for babies to safely move, roll, stretch and explore toys. She ensures that any play materials within the youngest children’s reach are safe for exploration by hands or mouth.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder requests information about any food allergies or individual dietary needs before any child is received into her care and works closely with parents during the weaning process. Children enjoy their food as the childminder helps them to appreciate healthier choices by combining their favourites with new tastes and textures. Children’s physical well-being is supported through good daily routines, for example, the childminder is able to recognise their behaviour changes and understands that young children require undisturbed sleep in a quiet room, monitored via a listening device. The stimulating outdoor environment offers a varied range of activities to encourage children’s interest and curiosity, for example, growing a wide range of vegetables and herbs.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder plans appropriate play and learning experiences based on This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children’s interests and stages of development to help them to make good progress. Her planning is linked to themes and identifies progress towards the early learning goals, following her initial assessments of children’s starting points. She makes observations and takes photographs to evidence children’s progress and achievements. However, she has not yet developed a systematic and routine approach to using these observations when planning the next steps in a child's developmental progress.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder encourages children to be active, inquisitive and independent learners and to develop the skills that will contribute to their future economic well- being. She has devised simple house rules to enable children to understand right from wrong and how to keep themselves safe. She displays a picture time-line so that children will know the day’s routine. Children learn about healthy routines through all having individual hand towels to prevent cross infection. The childminder has clear hygiene procedures, including respecting children’s dignity when changing nappies. Her warm relationships with children support their learning, including the provision of plenty of praise and encouragement to raise their confidence and self-esteem. 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: 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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