Childminder in Solihull

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 250408 Inspection date 25/08/2009 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 1993 and lives with her family in a residential area situated in the Knowle district of Solihull, West Midlands. There are local shops, parks, playing fields, day care settings and schools within walking distance. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and day care settings. Children are taken on local visits and outings. The family has no pets.

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Description of the childminding

All of the ground floor areas are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. The childminder is registered to care for six children at any one time and there are currently three children on roll within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also cares for older children. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children’s learning and development are well promoted as they benefit from a wide range of interesting and challenging planned and spontaneous activities. They settle quickly and thrive in the childminder's welcoming home. The childminder provides children with a stimulating learning environment, where their individual needs and interests are well supported. There are effective partnerships with parents and carers as the childminder ensures they are kept fully informed of their children’s care arrangements. The childminder has introduced systems for self-evaluation which include seeking views and suggestions from the parents, carers and children. She is able to identify the main strengths and areas for improvement and demonstrates an awareness of making continuous improvements.

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further?

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

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further?

 extend planning documents to ensure all areas of learning are consistently covered and to include information relating to how individual children will be supported to make progress in line with their individual learning and development needs  update and maintain the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for each type of outing.

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provision

Children are happy and settled in a safe, friendly and homely environment. Their independence is nurtured as they are able to self-select from the wide range of good quality, interesting toys and resources to instigate their own play. Children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 benefit from the childminder’s commitment to providing good quality childcare. A weekly routine includes regular visits and outings which encourages children’s awareness of the world around them. The effective partnership with parents and carers plays a key part in providing high-quality care and early education for individual children. The childminder is aware of the importance of involving parents and carers in the care of their children and constantly consults with them, ensuring they are kept fully informed of how their children spend their day. The childminder has developed appropriate written policies and procedures which are shared with

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provision

all the parents and carers. She has effective systems for gathering relevant information from parents and carers when children first start to ensure individual children’s routines are adhered to.

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provision

Inclusive practice is promoted as the childminder encourages children's positive self-esteem and adapts the activities to ensure all the children are able to join in at their own level. The childminder ensures children's safety by undertaking visual risk assessments of the environment and by providing close supervision at all times. She completed effective risk assessments to include when children use the indoor and outdoor play areas. However, although the childminder has good safety procedures in place for taking children on outings, there are no records maintained of the risk assessments completed for each type of outing. The childminder has a positive approach to her professional development and regularly attends appropriate training. Children benefit from the childminder’s commitment to further development as she implements any changes or good practice into the care provided. Self-assessment is evident in her practice and the childminder has a clear

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provision

vision for high quality and inclusive care.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children thrive in the childminder’s care as they benefit from playing in a well- organised environment which allows them to be independent and make choices. They have formed harmonious relationships with their peers and the childminder. Children are comfortable with the childminder and have built a warm and trusting relationship. They play alongside each other taking turns and sharing. Children’s language skills are developed through their love of books and story-telling, as well as joining in with relaxed everyday conversations. They have many opportunities to extend their problem solving skills and hand-eye co-ordination when they enjoy using a variety of construction toys. For example, they construct with various brightly coloured building materials and take great pride in their work when they realise they have managed to form specific shapes, such as when they join up some of the long poles to make triangles. Children are creative and enjoy using a

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

variety of writing materials to make marks. They have many opportunities to explore and investigate whilst developing their imaginative play. For example, they all enthusiastically join in with spontaneous role play activities, such as pretending to ‘take a trip to the moon’. They excitedly pack a picnic using the pretend food, clamber onto the garden bench and start to count down for the ‘rocket to take off’. As a result, children are developing their creative skills in an exciting and stimulating environment.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are progressing well in their learning and development as they benefit This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 from an exciting range of activities which are appropriately adapted to ensure individual children’s preferences and needs are fully catered for. The childminder has developed a system for observing, assessing and planning appropriate activities for each child which provides them with many interesting opportunities to develop their skills. However, the planning documents are not sufficiently developed to ensure all areas of learning are consistently covered and to include information relating to how individual children will be supported to make progress in their learning and development. Children’s behaviour is well managed and they are encouraged to take turns and share. They help each other with their chosen tasks and are encouraged to give consideration to each other. For example, whilst

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

watering their home-grown plants, they take turns to use the various watering cans and the older children help the younger children use the tap for re-filling their watering cans.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children’s safety and well-being are promoted through effective health and safety procedures. They are made aware of safety through everyday routines and activities, such as how to safely use the outdoor play equipment. Children enjoy a varied diet of freshly prepared meals and snacks using a variety of healthy and nutritious ingredients, including fresh fruit and vegetables. Meal and snack times are used as social times with all the children and the childminder sitting together to eat and hold interesting conversations. They are made aware of healthy living through a variety of activities which include regular opportunities to exercise and develop their physical skills. For example, they enjoy taking part in local outings, such as visiting the park and taking part in local walks. Children’s independence is developed and nurtured as they are encouraged to develop their basic skills and carry out tasks for themselves, for instance, they are encouraged to put on and

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

take off their coats and shoes. 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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