Childminder in Cambridgeshire

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 EY298170 Inspection date 13/08/2009 Inspector Sarah Johnson

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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 2004. She lives with her husband and two older children aged 14 and 16 years in the village of Histon, on the outskirts of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire. The whole of the childminder's house, with the exception of two bedrooms and the bathroom on the first floor, is used for childminding and a secure enclosed garden is used for outdoor play activities. The premises is accessed via the front entrance which has a low step and there are toilet facilities on the ground floor. The family has two guinea pigs as pets.

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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 group. She is currently minding five children in this age group, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. Children live in the local area and some children also attend sessions at a nearby nursery and playgroup. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years, both before and after school and during school holidays. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder escorts children to and from the local primary school and attends several social groups with the children on a regular basis. She is a member of a local childminding group and holds an appropriate early years qualification to National Vocational Qualification Level 3.

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Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children make very good progress in their learning and development as they receive sensitive support from the experienced childminder, who provides a stimulating and inclusive learning environment. Children are very confident and actively enjoy their time spent together at the extremely safe and healthy setting. Highly effective partnership working with parents is a key strength, ensuring that important information is continuously exchanged to meet children's changing needs. A strong capacity for continuous improvement is demonstrated through the childminder's effective self- evaluation processes.

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further?

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

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further?

 strengthen the positive impressions children have of their own cultures and faiths, and those of others, by sharing and celebrating a wider range of practices and special events. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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provision

The childminder has excellent understanding of how to fully promote children’s safety. She carries out comprehensive risk assessments of all of the areas in the home and garden that are accessed by the children. She keeps extensive records of these checks and has recently reviewed these to also incorporate the thorough risk assessments that she implements before taking children on outings. The childminder has prioritised relevant training relating to safeguarding children. As a result, she has extensive up-to-date knowledge of the procedures to follow if she has a concern about the welfare of any child and is fully committed to fulfilling her role and responsibilities in protecting children from harm. The setting runs very smoothly and children are kept very safe as the childminder effectively implements her concisely written policies and procedures in practice and ensures children are supervised closely, yet sensitively at all times. The childminder has completed the

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provision

Ofsted self-evaluation form, drawing on her reflective discussions with the children, parents and other childminders. As a result, she has a realistic idea of the strengths of her setting and the areas which she plans to develop to improve outcomes for children. The views of the children are highly valued as the childminder encourages them to draw pictures of their favourite activities and to suggest new ideas.

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provision

The childminder has attended a sound range of training courses to ensure she is up-to-date with current good practice in aspects, such as first aid, observation and assessment and exploring healthy lifestyles. Strong emphasis is placed on working in partnership with parents to meet children's needs and useful information is continuously shared through daily discussion. The children's developmental files are always available for their parents to read through and the childminder values any comments or photographs that the parents wish to add to these. Children's care routines are supported extremely well as the childminder completes a daily communication information sheet for each child, ensuring their parents are kept as up-to-date as possible with their children's eating, sleeping and nappy changing routines. Parents, past and present, write extremely positive comments in the references they provide for the childminder, many commenting on her

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provision

professionalism and how their children flourish at the setting.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder provides children with a wide variety of purposeful play opportunities to promote their progress across all areas of learning and development. There is ample space available for children to move around independently and to spread out in the warm and homely environment, both indoors and in the garden. For example, younger children make good use of the space in the lounge as they grasp onto the edge of the sofa to practise their early walking skills, before moving into the kitchen to sit in a high chair at the table and join in with a drawing activity. Very good use is made of various groups and places of interest in the local community, which brings further variety to the children's experiences. For example, they enjoy visits to the local toddler group and gatherings at the local park with other childminders and their minded children, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

where they develop their social skills alongside others and encounter a wider range of additional resources. The childminder uses regular observations to assess children's abilities and to plan for their next steps in learning, which she records in their developmental files. These are meaningful and individual to each child, providing clear details of their achievements and progress towards the early learning goals, reinforced by photographs of the children at play and examples of their creative work.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has a very warm and caring rapport with the children and successfully ensures they all receive appropriate levels of support and individual attention to meet their individual needs. Babies are sensitively supported to feel included as the childminder takes time to affirm their early sounds and giggles and older children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) are given appropriate time to follow their own interests in their play. Children of different ages chat to one another as they learn to use the hula hoop in the garden. They show care and concern for one another as they remind their peers to 'mind their fingers' as they use scissors to cut pictures from magazines. The childminder promotes this calm and caring ethos as she is a very positive role model and uses sensitive behaviour management strategies, such as lots of praise and encouragement, to ensure children play safely and are respectful of one another. Children are supported to

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

learn about the wider world around them, for example, they make dragon masks during Chinese New Year and share books about Chinese traditions. However, activities and resources which help children to learn more about their own cultures and beliefs and those of others are not as fully integrated into the daily provision as they could be. Creative props are provided to inspire children's role play, for example, they enjoy acting out the roles of a nurse and a patient as they talk about their imaginary injuries and apply bandages. There are rich experiences for younger children to explore paint, cornflour gloop, water, sand and sawdust and they enjoy investigating the natural everyday objects in the treasure basket.

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The quality and standards of the early years provision

Strong emphasis is placed on encouraging children to learn about aspects of a healthy lifestyle. The childminder plans highly meaningful opportunities for children to grow various vegetables in the garden, which they then proudly harvest and eat for snack. They develop their understanding further as they become involved in contributing poems and pictures to a book relating to healthy eating, which is displayed for all to access. Children proudly point out their own towel and colourful handprint displays, which successfully remind them of the importance of washing their hands and fully promote their independence in these routines. 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? 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? 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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