Southall Gail Lorraine

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 204915 Inspection date 27/05/2009 Inspector Saida Cummings

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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 1996 and lives with her family in a residential area situated in a suburb of Redditch, Worcestershire. There are local shops, parks, playing fields, daycare settings and schools within walking distance. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and daycare settings. Children are taken on local visits and outings.

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Description of the childminding

The main areas used for childminding are situated on the ground floor, with bathroom and sleeping facilities available on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. The childminder has procedures to support children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and those who speak English as an additional language. She is registered to care for six children at any one time and there are currently four children on roll within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and has achieved the Quality First assurance scheme award. She is also a member of the local Childminding Network.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children thrive in the very well- organised stimulating environment. Their learning and development are exceptionally well promoted by the childminder. Their individual needs are very well catered for as the childminder supports each child with developing their skills, which promotes inclusive practice as all children are able to participate at their own level. There are effective partnerships with parents and carers and the childminder has started to make links with other local providers. The self-evaluation system is in it’s infancy and is not yet sufficiently developed to ensure the childminder is able to make continuous improvements in all areas.

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further?

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

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further?

 update and maintain the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for each type of outing  develop the self-evaluation system further to ensure priorities for making improvements are identified and implemented in all areas.

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further?

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

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further?

 make sure that written permission is requested, at the time of the child's admission to the provision, for the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment (Safeguarding and promoting children’s 15/06/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 welfare).

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provision

Children's care is significantly enhanced because of the childminder’s knowledge and understanding of how young children learn and develop. The childminder is extremely committed to ongoing training to ensure that her knowledge is up-to- date and to continue to develop her practice. She has completed a National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in Childcare and early education and regularly attends local appropriate training. Children benefit from the childminder’s commitment to further development as she ensures any changes or good practice are implemented into the care provided. Children benefit from continuity of care as the childminder has developed very good working relationships with their parents and carers. Important information is shared with parents and carers through effective communication systems which ensures that individual children are able to make links in their learning. Well-maintained records are used positively to support

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provision

children and written policy statements are clear, personalised and provide useful information for parents and carers. However, the childminder has not obtained parental consent for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment to ensure children's safety and well-being is fully protected.

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provision

Children’s welfare is safeguarded as the childminder has a very good understanding of the known indicators of child abuse and the action that she should take in the event of a concern about a child in her care. Risks of accidental injury to children are effectively minimised because the childminder constantly completes risk assessments and takes immediate action to ensure children are kept safe and secure in everything they do. However, although the childminder has good safety procedures in place and details any particular issues when taking children on outings, she does not maintain a written full risk assessment for each type of outing to ensure children's safety is fully assured at all times. Although the childminder has started to identify some of the areas within the provision which need further development, the self-evaluation system is not yet sufficiently robust to ensure continual improvements are made in all areas.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children make excellent progress in all aspects of their learning and development because the childminder responds to and fully reflects their individual needs in all aspects of her practice. They are provided with extensive opportunities to enjoy a well-balanced selection of adult-led and child-led activities. The childminder plans exciting and stimulating activities taking into consideration the children's individual interests and experiences. She is a good role model and creates an environment that encourages children to respect boundaries and begin to control their own behaviour. Inclusive practice is promoted very well as the childminder encourages children's positive self-esteem and respects all children's backgrounds and any specific needs. Children’s awareness of the world around them and the wider society is encouraged though a range of activities and outings within the local This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

community. Play equipment and other resources are well maintained and include positive images of differences. Children are provided with various opportunities to develop positive attitudes to diversity and inclusion through activities and resources that encourage them to talk about similarities and differences and the reasons for these to help them learn to value aspects of their own and other people’s lives. For example, children recently took part in activities linked to disability where they had the opportunity to fully discuss different disabilities and use specific play resources such as a child's wheelchair and a doll's wheelchair, as part of their imaginary play scenarios.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has developed detailed records of individual children’s achievements which include pictures of them enjoying various indoor and outdoor activities. The childminder effectively uses observations of individual children's play to track each child's progress. She successfully uses these records to plan developmentally appropriate activities which enables each child to move on to the next stage in their learning. Children are given many opportunities to explore and investigate, extend their imagination and problem solving skills. For example, they enthusiastically join in with the 'Silly Sock' game, where they enjoy matching the various brightly coloured socks into pairs; discussing what colours they are, what patterns they can see and whether they are small, big, short or long. As a result, children are developing their concept of colour, size and shapes through fun, interesting and relaxed activities.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children have excellent opportunities to develop their skills in communicating and literacy. Their language skills are developed through their love of books and story telling, as well as encouragement to join in with relaxed and interesting conversations. For example, they sit with the childminder whilst she uses a rabbit puppet for children to interact with. Children get very excited when they discover that amongst the rabbit's bedding are hidden some other small finger puppets. They spontaneously sing different songs as they take turns to look for the different animals such as 'Little Peter Rabbit had a fly on his nose'. The childminder consistently and positively interacts with the children to encourage their involvement and learning such as encouraging their speech development by skilfully asking them open questions that encourage them to think and extend their vocabulary. Children’s health and well-being are extremely well promoted through

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

effective procedures. Their independence is developed and nurtured as they confidently make decisions about what they would like to play with and have many opportunities to develop their basic skills such as independently washing their hands before eating and after toileting. Children thrive as they enjoy an extensive range of physical activities and have daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise. They relish their time outdoors where they are able to develop their physical skills such as when pedalling on the wheeled toys and balancing on the rocker. 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? 1 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 1 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

 ensure parents and carers are provided with written safeguarding and complaints procedures (Providing information to parents) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 15/06/2009

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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

 take action as specified under the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Providing information to parents). 15/06/2009

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