Beldon, Polly

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

p.1

Unique reference number EY336464 Inspection date 19/08/2009 Inspector Dawn Bonica Brown

p.1

Type of setting Childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.1

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.

p.2

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).

p.2

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

p.2

Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 2006. She lives with her husband, who occasionally acts as her assistant, and their two children, aged one year and three years, in a terraced property in Bradford. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house, the bathroom and a child's bedroom, located on the first floor, are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children and is currently caring for one child in the early years age group. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder cares for children from Monday to Friday all year round.

p.3

Overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the quality of the provision is good. The childminder recognises the uniqueness of each child. She supports them so that their needs are met and no individual is disadvantaged. All children make progress in their learning and development and their welfare is promoted effectively in almost all aspects of their care. Partnerships with parents is well established and used to promote good quality education and care. The childminder's plans for improvement, including her processes of self-evaluation, are effective and her plans for the future are well targeted to bring about further improvement to the provision and good outcomes for children.

p.3

further?

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

p.3

further?

 ensure that fire prevention and control equipment, such as the blanket, are accessible in an emergency.

p.3

provision

The childminder demonstrates good maintenance of the records, policies and procedures required for the safe and efficient management of her provision. Her policies are extremely well presented in an A5 booklet form and include details of her qualifications and experience as well as the full range of policies. The childminder maintains a valid first aid certificate and ensures that she keeps herself abreast of new developments in childcare through attending courses, such as the local Quality Assurance Training.

p.3

provision

The learning environment helps children to make good progress because resources for them are of high quality, easily accessible and well maintained. The childminder's home is welcoming and well organised. Children use child-sized equipment that is suited to their age and stage of development. Written risk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 assessments are comprehensive for almost all areas and include each individual outing as well as all areas of the childminder's home, garden and car. All the required safety equipment is in place. However, the fire blanket is not stored in a place that is easily accessible during an emergency. Outdoor play is very secure and the childminder has included a sensory area with scented herbs, flowers, fruit and vegetables.

p.3

provision

The childminder strives continuously to provide high quality care and education and incorporates safety issues in her plans of all activities. She demonstrates a strong capacity to make improvements. For example, since the last inspection she has purchased a variety of resources to help children gain an awareness of cultural diversity, such as various dolls, including persona dolls and books. She promotes equality and inclusion by celebrating the languages and culture of children with English as an additional language through songs. The children in her care learn about people from around the world and words from other languages. They engage in activities that help them look for similarities and differences in people around the world. The childminder monitors and evaluates her practice through regular checks and self-assessment, as well as canvassing parent's opinions.

p.4

provision

Inclusive practice is promoted so that all children have their welfare needs met and achieve as well as they can. There are currently no children with disabilities or learning difficulties being cared for. However, the childminder has considered this area of her practice and has policies which identify how she would recognise and support additional needs. She encourages a significant level of involvement by parents in their children's learning and exchanges information verbally and through a daily diary. Parents praise her highly and comment positively on her professionalism and her care for the children.

p.4

The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder is very knowledgeable about child development and supports their learning effectively through well planned, purposeful play and exploration, both in and out of doors. She provides children with a good balance of adult-led and child- led activities that promote active learning and helps them to be creative and to think critically. For instance, children experience home play in a tent in the garden; they also play in a sand pit with digging tools. Their outdoor play also includes simple construction and writing materials, such as a chalkboard with chalks.

p.4

The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder teaches children to develop an understanding of dangers and shows them how to stay safe, as young children are taught how to use the outdoor step safely by using the hand-rail. She encourages them to be active and understand the benefits of physical activity by helping them to enjoy the weather. For example, children enjoy outdoor play in wet weather wearing all-weather suits. They experience the wind in the garden and see its effects by looking at wind socks and listening to wind chimes. As well as taking them to soft play activity centres, the childminder promotes their physical development by involving them in dancing and singing activities at home, setting up obstacle courses for them to crawl through and over objects, and plays parachute games with them using a small scale parachute. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Young children learn to solve simple problems that provide the right amount of

p.4

The quality and standards of the early years provision

challenges at the right stage of their development because the childminder has an excellent understanding of how to help them achieve. For example, she demonstrates how to develop their hiding and searching skills by hiding objects round the room and provides lots of toys for them to investigate, hide and then find again. She helps them to build vocabulary around numbers and colours by using numbers and colours when she talks to them. Children see written numbers, as the boxes containing their toys are labelled with numbers from one to ten. They practise judging size by fitting different objects into different sized boxes.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

The childminder has very good relationships with children and helps them to respond to her expectations of behaviour by letting them know when they have hurt each other and encouraging them to show that they care about each other. She helps children to enjoy their time with her and to make decisions. They choose from a range of toys arranged at floor level, such as small worlds, simple construction, a wide range of books that include those reflecting positive images of cultural diversity, disability and positive gender roles. The childminder provides a variety of treasure baskets themed on textures, such as wood, shiny and sparkly, soft and squidgy materials, or themed on colours. Children engage in messy play, such as finger painting, gluing and sticking, and experience the textures of cornflour and spaghetti. They play with sand and water and play dough, and create three dimensional models with junk play.

p.5

The quality and standards of the early years provision

High quality information is taken from the childminder's excellent observation and assessment of children's development to ensure that children achieve as much as they can in relation to their starting points and capabilities. The childminder plans the next steps in their development extremely well and shares their development records effectively with parents. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.5

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.6

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

p.6

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.

p.6

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

p.6

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? 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?

p.6

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

p.6

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.7