Childminder in Warwickshire

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 201446 Inspection date 23/06/2009 Inspector Janette Elizabeth Owen

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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 1989. She lives with her husband and one adult son in the rural village of Hampton Magna, near the town of Warwick. There are shops, a park and a pre-school and toddler group all within walking distance. The whole of the ground floor area and first floor bedroom are used for childminding. There is a secure garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom, no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding five children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children from the local school. She 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 satisfactory. The childminder values the individuality of the children she cares for recognising their individual needs, interests and family circumstances. Children are making satisfactory progress in most areas of their learning and development but assessment is not used effectively to fully meet children's individual learning needs. Satisfactory arrangements for information sharing with parents and other agencies ensure children's individual needs are understood. Most procedures are in place to ensure children's welfare is promoted satisfactorily. However, effective steps have not been taken to monitor and evaluate the quality of the provision and ensure that all requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) are met.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems to ensure sensitive observational assessment are undertaken in order to plan to meet young children’s individual needs  develop the educational programme for children’s knowledge and understanding of the world by providing opportunities and practical activities that enable them to improve their understanding and use of Information Technology and Communication (ICT) equipment.

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further?

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

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further?

 complete an appropriate paediatric first aid course at the earliest opportunity (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 23/07/2009  maintain a record of aspects of the environment that 23/07/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 need to be checked on a regular basis and when, and by whom, they have been checked and carry out a full risk assessment for each type of outing (Suitable premises, environment and equipment).

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provision

Children's care and development is generally well supported, the childminder has a good understanding of each child's needs. They receive a good level of individual care which enables them to be confident and self-assured. She is an experienced childminder who provides children with a range of good learning experiences which cover most areas of learning. However, she is not confident in using her sound knowledge of how children develop, to effectively plan activities which meet individual learning needs, or to carry out effective observations and assessments of children's progress.

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provision

The childminder follows most procedures satisfactorily in relation to maintaining children's welfare and has some written policies in place. However, although visual safety checks are carried out and safety equipment fitted where required, she does not have a record of risk assessments carried out in the home or when outings take place. The childminder has not maintained a current first aid certificate. These are a breach of requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. The childminder is able to protect children from harm or neglect because she has updated her knowledge of safeguarding procedures by attended training, enabling her to manage any child protection concerns. She follows Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.

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provision

The childminder works in partnership with parents and other agencies to ensure that children receive the support they need and make satisfactory progress in their learning and development. For example, she has developed arrangements for sharing information on children's development and welfare with the local pre- school children attend. Parents are informed about their child's day through daily discussions and written information, such as policies, and children's developmental records are also made available to parents. The childminder discusses the child's daily routine with parents, an 'All about me' sheet is completed with details of child's interests, likes and dislikes, and routines, enabling the childminder to follow parents' wishes in relation to their child rearing expectations.

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provision

The childminder has partially carried out an evaluation of her provision. She has identified areas which need improvement and has begun to take steps to address the weaknesses identified. For example, she has obtained information to enable her to update her policies and procedures, but has not yet made effective use of the information to improve her risk assessments and children's observation and assessment records. 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

Children are happy and enjoy the time they spend with the childminder. They are kept well-occupied with a good range of activities, which promote their learning in most areas of development. Children take part in many activities which take place out of doors using the secure garden, or outings and visits within the local community. They are finding out about the natural world around them and the community in which they live. Children help to grow fruit and vegetables in the garden, which along with nutritious home cooked meals enable children to learn about healthy eating.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder informally plans activities which make good use of the resources and environment and are based on children's interests and likes. The childminder adapts activities so that children of all ages are able to participate and enjoy the activity. For example, a bubble blowing machine enables older children to work out how the bubble machine works, understand that a button is pressed to turn on the machine and that the batteries make it work. This fosters their curiosity and interest in how things work. Younger children enjoy the sensory experience watching bubbles float in the air, showing pleasure when they touch their skin. Children move to catch the floating bubbles, making movements which help develop coordination and agility as they move around to catch bubbles.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

There are good opportunities for children to be creative and imaginative. For example, they use the good quality resources imaginatively, building models with construction materials or using role play resources. A child makes a model of a games console and shows the childminder how to use it. The childminder is attentive to a child's creative explorations, providing support that does not disrupt the child's flow of thinking and by posing questions which enable the child to explore ideas further.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The interaction between children and childminder is very good, she uses language well to help children develop their vocabulary, encouraging them to listen and to think for themselves. Opportunities for children to make marks and develop pre- writing skills are provided through craft actives and explorative play. Role play resources allow children to act out their own experiences and the childminder provides lots of opportunities for children to talk about what they know and have done. Children talk about what they do at home, such as going to visit Warwick castle. The childminder provides extra resources such as knights dressing up clothes and castles to enable children to extend their play and learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are introduced to numbers, shapes and colours through practical activities, such as recognizing shapes, for example, road signs, and using concepts, such as size and positional language in their play. Children are developing their understanding of problem solving, reasoning and numeracy as they work out how things work and use information communication and technology equipment (ICT). However, the childminder does not provide sufficient challenge and access to ICT to enable all children to fully develop their interest in this area of learning.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are well behaved, polite and respond well to the childminder who This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 promotes good behaviour through consistent messages about right and wrong. They learn the importance of safe play, following instructions when asked to do things. They receive lots of praise and encouragement which promotes their self- esteem and reinforces their good behaviour.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has begun to make observations and to identify the next steps in children's learning. However, systems to enable the childminder to record children's progression towards the early learning goals are not sufficiently well- organised to enable the childminder to effectively match children's achievements to the progress they are making and so, ensure that they are making as much progress as possible. 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? 3 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? 3 How well are children helped to enjoy and achieve? 3 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 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 an appropriate first aid qualification is held (Welfare of the children being cared for) 23/07/2009  undertake a risk assessment of the premises and equipment: at least once in each calendar year, and immediately, where the need for an assessment arises (Suitability and Safety of Premises and Equipment). 23/07/2009

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