Childminder in Worcestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 204441 Inspection date 09/09/2009 Inspector Valerie Fane

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Type of setting Childminder to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It rates council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 08456 404040, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may copy all or parts of this document for non-commercial educational purposes, as long as you give details of the source and date of publication and do not alter the information in any way.

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Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

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T: 08456 404040 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.ofsted.gov.uk 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.

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Introduction

Please see our website for more information about each childcare provider. We publish inspection reports, conditions of registration and details of complaints we receive where we or the provider take action to meet the requirements of registration. 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 1997. She lives with her partner and son aged 17 years in the Sidemoor area of Bromsgrove. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. Accessibility to the premises is up one step. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The family have two dogs and some wild birds.

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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. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to work with an assistant but does not currently do so.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children settle quickly with the childminder and develop good relationships with her and with members of her family. Her practice is inclusive and she gets to know children and their families well so that she has a very good awareness of their individual needs. Children make good progress in almost all areas of their learning and development because the childminder has a secure understanding of how young children learn and she provides a range of play opportunities that meet children's individual learning needs. She attends regular training courses to improve her practice and tries to select courses that will enable her to meet the specific needs of individual children in her care. She is committed to making ongoing improvements to her provision so she is completing a self-evaluation document to reflect on her practice and she has already identified a number of areas for future development. She has a generally good knowledge of the EYFS

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

but not all of the welfare requirements of the framework are fully implemented. Her practice is underpinned by a number of written policies and procedures but there is a minor weakness regarding the recording of some risk assessments.

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further?

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

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further?

 update the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for outings  extend the planning of activities to provide more practical opportunities to develop children's problem solving skills. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are protected because the childminder has a good knowledge of the possible signs of child abuse and she is aware of the broad procedures to follow if she has concerns about a child in her care. She is booked on training to refresh her knowledge of this subject in the near future. Children receive care in a home that is safe and secure because the childminder has identified and minimised or eliminated all hazards. For example, in the garden the children use a separate securely-fenced play area so that they cannot access hazardous equipment. Detailed written risk assessments are in place and are updated regularly. The childminder's practice is underpinned by a set of written policies and procedures and these are displayed in the home or available to parents on request.

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the early years provision

The childminder has committed an offence by failing to notify Ofsted of a serious accident to a child who was in her care. This is a specific legal requirement in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Ofsted does not intend to prosecute on this occasion. In other respects children are safeguarded well because the childminder takes robust action to reduce hazards. For example, after the serious accident involving the gate to the local park the childminder immediately reported the incident to the local council and obtained prompt and robust action from them so that the gate is no longer a hazard. She also ensures that children also learn to be careful with such equipment. The childminder carries out visual risk assessments for all outings but she does not keep a written record of these.

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the early years provision

Children thrive because the childminder is committed to updating and improving her practice. She has met the recommendations made at the last inspection so children's care is enhanced because they only receive medication from the childminder if their parent has given prior written permission. In addition the childminder has attended a significant amount of training to update and improve her practice. She has completed a Level 2 childcare qualification and is now seeking funding for the next level. She regularly attends workshops on specific topics and she chooses ones that will help her to support particular children's learning needs. For example, she has recently attended 'Communicating with pre- school children' to improve her support for children with speech and language delay. She is completing a self-evaluation document and she is using this to identify future areas for development. For example, she would like to attend

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the early years provision

special needs training to enable her to offer good support to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from continuity of care because the childminder works in close partnership with their parents and with other EYFS providers who share the care of her minded children. When she takes on the care of a new baby she finds out detailed information from parents about their daily routines and their particular likes and dislikes so that they settle quickly with her. She provides detailed information verbally when parents collect their children and this includes details of their welfare as well as things they have been learning. Parents are able to see children's progress records at any time. If she has concerns about any aspect of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children's development she encourages parents to obtain help from outside agencies or asks their permission for her to seek advice.

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and outcomes for children

Children of all ages settle well with the childminder and feel secure with her. They develop a close relationship with her and also enjoy the company of other members of her family if they are present during childminding hours. Young babies thrive because the childminder finds out detailed information from their parents about children's daily routines and follows these as closely as possible. She ensures that she has a suitable range of resources for the children she is minding so babies enjoy age-appropriate toys such as activity gyms and the childminder observes and notes their development as they begin to take visual interest in their surroundings.

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and outcomes for children

Children of all ages make good progress in almost all aspects of their learning. The childminder has a secure understanding of the six areas of learning in the EYFS and she provides play opportunities that support children's individual progress towards the early learning goals in most areas. However, children have relatively few opportunities to take part in practical activities to develop their problem solving skills. The childminder identifies children's particular learning needs and encourages activities to support their learning. For example, when children are approaching full time education they have additional opportunities for mark making activities and she helps them to learn to write their name. These activities also support children's development of skills for the future.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave well because the childminder sets clear boundaries for their behaviour and if older children do not respond she encourages them to move to a fresh activity to help them calm down. If this is ineffective they spend a short period of time sitting quietly until they have settled. They have good opportunities for fresh air and exercise. Younger children ask to go in the garden where they develop climbing and balancing skills on the climbing frame and tunnel, use ride-on toys or play with favourites such as the large digger. Older children go to the park after school with the childminder. In the holidays children enjoy trips to places such as a local country park where they like to use the large equipment in the adventure playground and take part in special activities such as an Easter Egg hunt where they look for eggs and count them.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder supports children's individual welfare needs well and addresses areas of concern sensitively with parents so that children are less vulnerable with their peers. Children develop their awareness of diversity because they use toys, such as books and bongo drums, that reflect other cultures. They take part in activities linked to a range of festivals. For example, they celebrate the Hindu Holi festival by tasting Hindu sweets and Indian food such as samosas and by creating brightly coloured pictures that include their hand prints.

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and outcomes for children

Older children are caring and help to look after the younger ones. They also learn about the care of living creatures because they sometimes help to feed the baby pheasants and peacocks in the childminder's garden. They develop their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understanding of good hygiene and know that they must wash their hands before meals and clean their teeth afterwards. Parents choose whether or not to supply meals for their children. If children have meals provided by the childminder they have healthy ingredients such as granary bread and they choose their own sandwich filling. They have plenty of fresh fruit and raw vegetables with their meals and for snacks. 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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children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

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and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

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Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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Stage

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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