Thomson Victoria

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 EY235426 Inspection date 27/07/2009 Inspector Angela Howard

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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 2001. She lives with her partner and adult children. They live in Sutton-in-Ashfield, in Nottinghamshire, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the ground floor, plus toilet facilities on the first floor of the childminder’s home is used for childminding. The premises are accessible for people with limited mobility. Care is offered Monday to Friday all year round.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding four children under five years. She also offers care to four children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder works with her husband who is also registered as a childminder and 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 outstanding. Children are highly valued and there is a clear inclusive ethos leading to high levels of participation and the children developing an exceptionally strong sense of belonging. The childminder is significantly skilled in treating everything that happens as an opportunity for children to learn. Therefore, children are making superb progress in their learning and are developing an excellent understanding of the world around them. First class partnerships between parents and the childminder ensure children's individual needs are continuously met and parents feel extremely valued and welcome. There is an atmosphere of infectious enthusiasm leading to the childminder using self-evaluation effectively to review, plan and improve her practice.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 develop the use of information collated from parents and children to develop further collaborative working as part of the process of ongoing self- evaluation.

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provision

The childminder has a significantly high regard for the well-being of all children and clearly considers children's individual needs. The adult ratios positively support children's care, learning and development because she is able to offer plenty of one to one care. The childminder works alongside another childminder each day who shares the same ethos and commitment to his work. They work in complete This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 partnership successfully promoting an excellent working atmosphere inspiring children with the superb explanations and presentation of activities. The childminder demonstrates through her practice and documentation an in depth and extremely thorough understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This enables her to plan a highly stimulating personalised learning journey for each child in her care. The planning links extremely well to very interesting activities

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provision

provided through topics, such as dinosaurs, seasons and celebrations from around the world. Differing levels of challenge are provided through individual work and children's spontaneous play, both indoors and outdoors. For example, the childminder initiates the making of a car out of a large cardboard box. Soon the children are taking the lead, deciding how many wheels they need, where the steering wheel will go and that they want a radio in the car. She is highly skilled in developing children's language and communication in their play as they investigate and solve problems.

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provision

The childminder is highly enthusiastic and has an excellent commitment to improving her practice through a programme of excellent quality training. She is currently looking at completing a level 3 qualification in childcare. She has begun to use the Ofsted style self-evaluation form successfully to plan for future targets and to monitor the impact of any changes. However, although parents and children are asked for their views on the setting they are not actively involved in a meaningful way in the self-evaluation process. Partnerships with parents are excellent, which contributes immensely to the children's overall well-being. Ongoing daily verbal communication and very informative written records, observations and assessments ensure parents are kept extremely well informed about their child's care and learning. Children are clearly benefiting from this and are highly motivated and settled in response.

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provision

The highly comprehensive policies and procedures are implemented very effectively and are fully inclusive. They are reviewed and shared with parents, providing a clear sense of purpose and direction. The childminder has a very robust approach to keeping children safe and the understanding of her role and responsibilities in safeguarding children are exceptional. Meticulous risk assessments are completed to reduce potential risk, while allowing children freedom to discover and learn safely. Excellent resources are available and are easily accessed to promote children's all round development.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Each child receives a personalised learning journey building upon things they already know and can do. Utmost priority is given to ensuring initial and ongoing assessment is used to plan effectively the next challenges to stretch each child's learning, play and exploration. Children are at the heart of all that happens in the setting because the childminder is extremely knowledgeable about the children in her care. She knows how to engage their interest and offer them challenge that is achievable. Records are used extremely well to track each child's progress and to plan and make decisions for childrens next steps. The childminder shares an exceptionally warm relationship with the children and has high aspirations towards their learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children participate eagerly and with great enjoyment. They love outdoors where they are offered the freedom to explore, use their senses and be physically

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

exuberant. They scoop compost, separate seedlings, plant them and care for them and then measure how much they have grown. After they have cultivated the vegetables they help prepare them to eat or take them home to share with their family. Children have a very good awareness of number names as they count routinely in activities. For example, they count the pieces of orange and banana and the wheels they need as they build a car. They are beginning to distinguish between more and less, and make comparatives as they match the size of the wheels. They play games which relate to number order, addition and subtraction, such as football, board games and shopping games and are excellent at recognising shapes naming a square, circle and rectangle as they build their cars. Very young children are beginning to distinguish different marks they make linking them to their names, a car radio, wheels and door handles. They are developing

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

extremely good habits as active, inquisitive and independent learners, exploring a wealth of activities, materials and experiences as they develop collaborative skills and problem solving. Making a car out of large boxes, trying to make doors open and shut, deciding how to put in a radio, stick on steering wheels, working out how to make the paper plate stick and solve how the buggy can be folded down to fit in the boot.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children are very clear about boundaries, rules and limits and are able to distinguish between what is right and wrong. The childminder is very proactive in encouraging children to learn about being safe and what is dangerous. Children learn about 'stranger danger', fire evacuation, safety in cars and when out walking. High ratios are maintained on outings and children wear high visibility vests and wrist bands with the childminder's contact number clearly recorded. The childminder is highly skilled in promoting children's health by taking an excellent range of positive actions to encourage healthy eating and life styles. Children are often involved in preparing meals from fresh wholesome ingredients. Children are extremely confident in using an excellent range of equipment to help develop control and coordination of their bodies. 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? 1 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? 1

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Years Foundation Stage promoted?

How well are children helped to stay safe? 1 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: 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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