Walden Margaret

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 225446 Inspection date 07/07/2009 Inspector Jan Burnet

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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 has been registered since 1998. She lives in a village location to the north of Leicester with her husband, adult son and children aged 15 and 13. Most of the ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding, except for the family's sitting room. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family has no pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for six children under eight years, of whom, three may be in the early years age group. There are currently three children in the early years age group on roll. The childminder provides before and after school care for a total of 11 children and of these, four are aged under eight. All children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder walks to a local school to take and collect children. She attends parent and toddler groups.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA). She holds a Level 3 Diploma in Homebased Childcare.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the provision is good. The childminder promotes children's welfare and care needs successfully and meets their individual developmental needs well. She ensures that all children are valued and included. Information obtained from parents helps her to identify and address children's differences. The childminder is aware of her strengths and areas for improvement and her commitment to continuous improvement is strong.

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further?

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

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further?

 extend systems for using observation and assessment, and information from parents, to plan for each child's learning.

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further?

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

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further?

 inform parents of the procedure for failing to collect their child at the appointed time (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 21/07/2009

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provision

The childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment that is safe and secure. She ensures that all resources are appropriate to children's individual ages This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and stage of development. She is aware of the benefits of self-evaluation and identifies greater use of planning for individual learning as an area that she is developing. The childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to improvement. In order to improve her knowledge and skills she has attended a range of training courses. In 2008 and 2009 these included, a Level 3 Diploma in Home Based Childcare, first aid, safeguarding, child development, observation and assessment, and basic food hygiene. At the time of the last inspection one recommendation was made, to gain an awareness of the Disability Discrimination Act. This has been satisfactorily addressed.

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provision

Information requested from parents that links to the care of each child is thorough and the childminder makes sure that individual needs are met effectively. Written information provided for parents is good. A folder contains clear information on a range of policies and procedures including safeguarding children, complaints, illness, health and safety, special educational needs and behaviour management. However, children's welfare is not fully addressed because parents are not informed of a procedure that the childminder will follow if they fail to collect their child at the appointed time. The childminder asks parents to settle their child in gradually to ensure that the child feels emotionally secure. Children's achievements are shared with parents and the childminder obtains some information from them on what their child knows and can do. The childminder is aware of the benefits of establishing and maintaining positive links with other professionals involved in the

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provision

Children's welfare is addressed well as required measures are in place to ensure their health and safety. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibilities with regard to supervision. She assesses safety each day and a written risk assessment identifies how potential hazards have been identified and addressed. The childminder is aware of her responsibility with regard to protecting children from harm and a safeguarding procedure has been drawn up for parents. All required records are kept up-to-date and in good order.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are making good progress and the childminder is clear of her responsibilities with regard to ensuring that all children are challenged effectively. The range of resources and activities meet their needs well. Children's achievements are being recorded, but systems are not fully developed for using assessment and information from parents to inform planning for next steps in learning for individual children.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are happy, settled and confident. They express their wants and needs and the childminder promotes their independence as they are encouraged to choose activities and toys, and help to tidy them away. Children's creativity is promoted effectively and they are encouraged to explore and investigate. For example, they make their own dough. Children know that the dough is made by mixing flour and water and they measure the flour by the cup full. They choose what colour they would like their dough to be and then smell different bottles of essence to decide which goes best with their chosen colour. One child chooses peppermint to mix This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 with his green dough and one chooses almond to go with her pink dough. They decide that they would like to play on the floor and so the childminder provides a plastic mat and they enjoy the activity playing alongside each other cooperatively,

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

skilfully using rolling pins and cutters. Children play imaginatively as they choose from a range of small world resources, dressing-up clothes, dolls and domestic play materials. Younger and older children play together as they pretend to be waiters and customers in a restaurant. They have access to paint and collage activities. Foot printing on a large scale is a favourite activity.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children name shapes and colours and they count as they play. Older children are learning to recognise numerals. The childminder promotes their thinking and vocabulary as she asks children open ended questions. Children have continual access to books and mark making materials. Manipulative skills are developing well as they are practised daily with the use of safe small toys and tools, including scissors. Children speak confidently. They are encouraged to talk about their families and events at home, in order to gain an awareness of their differences and similarities.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder takes positive steps to safeguard children and promote their welfare because she has a clear understanding of child protection procedures. Children play in a safe and welcoming environment and they are learning how to keep themselves safe. For example, road safety, areas suitable for them and safe use of equipment at the park, why they must hold hands or hold on to the pushchair when out walking and the reason why the fire drill is practised. They are active and understand the benefits of good personal hygiene and physical activity. Children are provided with healthy meals and snacks. The childminder provides a very good variety of fruits for them to talk about and choose at snack times and they choose healthy protein filings for sandwiches at lunchtime. 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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