Childminder in North Yorkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 400479 Inspection date 02/09/2009 Inspector Lindsay Helen Dobson

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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 has been registered since 2000. The family live in a semi- detached house in a village near Selby, in North Yorkshire. The whole of the ground floor, is used for childminding and consists of a lounge, conservatory, kitchen and toilet. There is an enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. Shops and other local facilities are a short distance away. The family have a pet rabbit.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six children at any one time, and is currently caring for children seven of which four are in the early years age group. Older children also attend the setting. The childminder walks to the local school to take and collect children. She is also an approved foster carer.

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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 experience close and warm relationships with the childminder which helps them to feel secure and well settled in the setting. The childminder is developing her knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), however, there are currently weaknesses in her documentation. She develops positive partnerships with parents to promote continuity in children's welfare and care. Children make satisfactory progress in their learning and development, although systems for planning, observation and assessment are not fully effective. The childminder is committed to improving practice for the children in her care and is in the early stages of completing and implementing her self-evaluation process. This enables her to reflect on her practices, provide a service based on the individual needs of the children and is a sound basis for her to maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 conduct risk assessments and maintain records of these, for all areas of the home and garden and for all outings undertaken with children. Ensure they clearly state when it was carried out, by whom and the date of the review.(Documentation)(also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 16/09/2009

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  continue to develop knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage so that children's learning is further enhanced by the more effective use of observations, assessments and the planning of next steps.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a sound understanding of safeguarding children, which includes how to recognise signs and symptoms of abuse and the procedures to follow with concerns. She has a range of supporting information which includes contact details for external agencies. The childminder gives supervision of children and keeping them safe high priority, she has the necessary safety equipment in the house and has smoke alarms fitted by the fire service. She has started to complete a record of risk assessments, however, these do not contain sufficient detail or cover all environments which the children come into contact with. This is a breach of a requirement of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.

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the early years provision

The childminder has addressed the recommendations set at the last inspection, which has ensured the certificate of registration is displayed, systems are improved for recording medication and more healthy options are available to children at snack time. The childminder is committed to improving her practice and is in the early stages of self evaluating her provision, developing her ability to recognise some of her strengths and areas for improvement. She has used information gathered from the parents and children to input into her self evaluation and further improve the outcomes.

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the early years provision

The childminder works hard to provide an inclusive service for all children. Her home is warm and welcoming and she provides a suitable range of resources and activities which are tailored to each child's ability. The childminder raises children's awareness of equality and diversity through a range of available resources, television programmes and books. She has attended a sign language course and the children are developing their knowledge of signing. The younger children are able to correct the older ones when they make a wrong sign during their conversation. The childminder promotes positive relationships with parents. She supplies clear information about the setting, which includes background details, certificates of training and some written policies. There are daily opportunities for sharing information verbally, to ensure individual needs are met. The childminder has implemented a daily log book for each child, so that there is a written record

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the early years provision

to support this, which invites parents' comments. She is an important link between pre-school and parents, so that information is shared about children's development to help them make suitable progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy in the setting and enjoy exploring an easily accessible range of activities and resources which support their learning. They are confident and readily approach the childminder for help, support or with a question. Sound This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 opportunities exist for the children to paint, colour, draw and make box craft models with recycled materials, which helps them develop their creative skills. Children show pleasure as they colour their wooden wiggly snakes, choosing colours carefully and making interesting colour patterns. The childminder has made good provision for the youngest children by making them stuffed cloth snakes to colour, enabling them to be fully involved in the activity with their peers and promoting a fully inclusive practice. Children's early communication, language and literacy skills are encouraged by the childminder. A suitable range of books are

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and outcomes for children

freely available and children choose books for the childminder to read to them and for them to look at alone. Children choose their favourite books such as 'That's not my Robot' and join in with the familiar sections of the story. The childminder engages in lots of conversations with the children to develop their vocabulary, for example, they talk about their pets, with the younger children telling their friends about their fish and rabbits.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has started to complete individual portfolios of the children's art work and photographs of them at play. These are attractive, shared with parents and are beginning to build up an interesting journal of the children's time with the childminder. However, the childminder is still developing her knowledge of some areas of the EYFS and is not yet effectively completing regular individual observations of the children to enable her to assess their development, identify their next steps and plan and provide for them.

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and outcomes for children

Children receive healthy choices of food such as bananas for a snack, they also have plums which they picked from the childminders tree in her garden. This encourages the children's understanding of healthy options and where fresh fruit comes from. Children are able to get outside each day in the fresh air, they play in the childminder's garden on a sound range of equipment which promotes physical development and they go out in the community to meet with other childminders, walk to the local school and play in the local park. Children bring their own main meals which are suitably stored and prepared by the childminder, she has discussed healthy options with the parents and children and they cater to this. Children's personal hygiene routines are suitably encouraged as children regularly wash their hands before eating and after toileting. This means that children's health is appropriately promoted.

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and outcomes for children

Children are kept safe in the setting because the childminder maintains suitable safety precautions. Children learn about keeping themselves safe because the childminder reinforces important safety messages, such as 'stranger danger' and crossing the road safely and through practising the fire evacuation procedure. Everyday routines further promote their understanding of safety. Children show a good awareness of the small bricks needing to be kept away from the very young children, explaining that they might choke on them. Children are positively supported by the childminder which encourages and raises their self-esteem and promotes good levels of appropriate behaviour. She encourages the children to use good manners, share and take turns as they play. They respond positively to her gentle reminders, distraction and redirection. 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 3 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary 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

 devise a policy for the procedures to be followed to safeguard children and make this available to parents(Arrangements for Safeguarding Children) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 16/09/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept) 16/09/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary 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

 take action as specified in the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Arrangements for Safeguarding Children) 16/09/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept) 16/09/2009

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