Childminder in Central Bedfordshire

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 EY387273 Inspection date 25/08/2009 Inspector Gyatri Rupal

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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 2009. She lives with her husband and two children aged 22 months and three years in Luton, Bedfordshire. The childminder uses the whole of the ground floor for childminding, including a conservatory which has been equipped and organised to cater for minded children. The rear garden is used for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under the age of eight years at any one time, of whom no more than one may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding two children in this age group, on a part-time basis. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She is able to support children with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the provision is good. Children are very happy in a homely environment. Every child is truly valued as a unique individual and they make good progress in their learning and development. Their learning experiences are planned to meet their interests and are carefully matched to the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. The childminder builds good relationships with parents and with other professionals involved in the lives of children to underpin their welfare. Priorities for improvement in her self-evaluation show that she continuously strives to improve her practice and education for the children.

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further?

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

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further?

 review the risk assements to ensure all areas of the rear garden are covered which children come in contact with.

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provision

The childminder uses policies and procedures effectively to promote the learning and welfare of children. She has a clear understanding of local safeguarding procedures and provides a safeguarding policy to parents, which ensures adults understand their duty to protect children. She closely supervises children and keeps records of visitors which further ensure children are safeguarded at all the times. Detailed risk assessments, both inside and outside the home, are in place and actions are taken to manage or eliminate risks for children although these do not always cover all areas of the garden. Suitable documentation is maintained relating to accidents, medication and incidents and clear, robust, procedures are in place, protecting the children's health and well-being. The home and resources are This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 well-organised to ensure that children are able to self-select materials.

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provision

The childminder has actively introduced systems to monitor and evaluate the provision and her practice to ensure that improvements are made as necessary. For example, she actively encourages comments from parents through parents’ questionnaires. These comments show that parents’ contributions are highly valued and how they appreciate the good standard of learning and care given to their children. Observations and written assessment which record the children’s learning and photographic evidence help to give a greater picture to parents. The Well planning education programme ensures that each child receives an enjoyable and challenging experience across all the areas of learning and is securely linked to the early learning goals. Effective systems are in place to monitor children’s progress and plan the activities further to enhance their experiences. The childminder is familiar with the special education code of practice and ensures that

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provision

these children are fully included in the educational programme.

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provision

The childminder shows a genuine desire to promote the very best care and opportunities for children. She has an outstanding attitude to her own training and development which has led to a rich and varied educational experience for the children. Training has been completed such as 'Anti Bias, Safeguarding Children, Special needs education and Tuning into the child’ and she has booked places to attend further training courses and workshops, with a view to enhancing her experience and promoting her continued development. The childminder has begun to use the self-evaluation form as a means of monitoring her practice and recognises the value of this as a tool for securing continuous improvement in the future.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children have lots of fun in a stimulating and welcoming environment where they independently access a good range of age-appropriate toys to initiate their play and learning. The childminder plans various activities to extend the children’s experiences in all six areas of learning and development. Topic activities are well planned in advance according to children’s interests. For example, in summer, the main activity is planned on ‘holidays’ as children enjoy talking about their holidays. Children become active learners who explore from the security of a close relationship with the caring and responsive childminder. They develop independence and the ability to make choices and decisions and the childminder readily responds to child-led play, sustaining a good quality of interaction with the children which develops positive attitudes to learning. For example, children become pilots and estate agents during their imaginative play. The childminder

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

becomes their passenger and extends the children’s vocabulary as she asks open ended questions to children when booking holidays in different countries.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children form friendships with other children of all ages and engage in a wide range of play experiences. For example, they enjoy working as a team when one takes charge of flying the aeroplane and the other serves the food to passengers. They play well with each other in the garden taking turns to use the slide and climbing frame. They develop their understanding of save the planet by playing This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 games on recycled materials. The childminder takes the children to local places and toddlers groups where they can interact with other children and develop their skills in building relationships with a wide range of people. Children are eager to read, draw, write, count and talk. For example, children count numbers when they jump on a trampoline, they use mathematical language as they talk about different shapes of sea shells. They make notes and write details of people when booking

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

tickets. The childminder encourages children to sound out the letters they write.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Children stay healthy and have daily fresh air because they regularly play in the garden and have daily exercise sessions with the childminder and go out to the local park. They understand how they can stay healthy through various planned activities and reading books such as ‘how our body works’. Children learn about keeping themselves safe through hand puppet stories, and ‘stranger danger’. They understand what action to take if there is a fire as they regularly practise fire drills with the childminder and are constantly reminded of any dangers around them with clear explanations. Children's behaviour is managed well because the childminder reminds children about their expected behaviour and rules. She resolves disagreements fairly. She always tries to end on a positive note, encouraging the children to make friends again if they have a 'falling out'. Effective strategies ensure their social, physical and economic well-being are very well met.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

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? 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? 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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