Childminder in Bath and North East SomersetOfsted inspection, 1 Oct 2009

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY242289 Inspection date 01/10/2009 Inspector Beverly Anne Brimble

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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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and one child aged six years, in a two bedroom semi-detached house in Peasedown-St-John, near Bath. The ground floor is mainly used for childminding which includes a lounge and kitchen/dining room. Toilet and sleeping facilities are provided on the first floor. There is a safely enclosed rear garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. A maximum of five children may attend at any one time, of whom three may be in the early years age group. There are currently eight children on roll in the early years age group. The childminder also cares for children over the age of eight. She supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The childminder is a member of the Abbey and Central Childminding Network and the National Childminding Association.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's individual needs are exceptionally well understood and met. The childminder promotes inclusion extremely well and high priority is put on valuing the uniqueness of each child. Children thrive in the childminder's care and make very good progress in their learning and development. The childminder is highly motivated in what she does and this is reflected in her ongoing approach to the evaluation of her practice. She is committed to continually increasing her knowledge and developing her role through ongoing training courses and workshops. The childminder has a very successful partnership with parents and others by valuing the importance of working together to promote high quality care and education.

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further?

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

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further?

 continuing to develop systems of gathering feedback from children, parents and others to further promote continuous improvement.

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the early years provision

The childminder places a strong emphasis on children's safety and in their protection. She has an excellent knowledge of safeguarding issues, which include protecting children in her care through being vigilant about recording existing injuries children arrive with and knowing the signs and procedures to follow in the event of being concerned about a child. She also has a detailed and informed This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 safeguarding policy which is shared with parents. Comprehensive and detailed records of risk assessments for the childminder's home, garden and outings are in place. This ensures possible hazards are identified and minimised promptly, therefore, maintaining children's safety at all times. The childminder implements effective policies and procedures to promote children's welfare, safety and development. Her excellent organisational skills ensure the environment and

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the early years provision

activities are ready for children on their arrival, and she has systems in place to allow children to independently choose from the resources that they cannot directly access. Her effective daily routines allow her time to supervise, interact, observe and enjoy being with the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder develops outstanding relationships with parents and carers. She actively promotes equality of opportunity and works closely with parents, carers and other agencies to support and meet children's individual needs to a high standard. Parents are provided with a wealth of information about the childminder's provision to support them in making an informed choice. They are provided with regular newsletters informing them of activities, planning and training the childminder is undertaking. There is also a notice board, daily diaries, learning diaries and a daily two-way exchange of information between the childminder and parents. This ensures parents are very well informed of their children's care, welfare and development. Parents are delighted with the service they receive and comment in letters about the childminder's 'great patience and understanding' and the 'positive and happy environment', which helps children to

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the early years provision

develop confidence and feel secure. Effective links with other professionals and settings that deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides continuity in the children's care, learning and development.

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the early years provision

The childminder shows a dedication and commitment to her role as a childminder. She has completed the Ofsted self-evaluation form very thoroughly and effectively to enable her to identify strengths and any areas for development. Parental views are sought through an annual questionnaire, and the childminder is continuing to develop ways of gathering feedback from children, parents and other professionals in order to maintain her high quality provision and further enhance and promote the outcomes for children. The childminder is proactive in updating her knowledge and skills and has attended many training courses since her last inspection.

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and outcomes for children

Children are extremely happy and settled at the childminder's. They relish their time exploring age appropriate toys, which are skilfully supported by the childminder to extend learning and challenge their thinking. Children demonstrate a strong sense of well-being through their self-confidence, laughter, focus on play and the caring affectionate relationships they share with the childminder. The children have excellent opportunities through the day to have continuous access to the outdoors, which they take full advantage of. The outside area is very well resourced and set out to offer broad and varied range of learning experiences and opportunities. Children thoroughly enjoy making foot prints and painting with water on the paving slabs and walls, then watching their creations disappear as This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 they dry. They dig in the garden looking for bugs and stones, and learn about

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and outcomes for children

living things as they plant sunflower seeds and watch as they steadily grow. Children learn about respecting diversity. They explore festivals and celebrations from around the world through planned activities, observe differences in everyone around them and have access to a varied range of toys and resources which reflect positive images of diversity. The childminder promotes children's speech and language development by asking many open ended questions. Children develop their speaking and listening skills through the excellent ongoing opportunities to interact with others and the positive encouragement by the childminder for them to talk. Children enjoy sharing books with the childminder. They join in with familiar phrases of a story and point out pictures they recognise and start to understand from an early age that print carries meaning.

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and outcomes for children

Children make excellent progress in all areas of development because the childminder has a very good understanding of both the EYFS and outcomes for children. She is skilled at using children's individual interests and ideas to plan interesting and enjoyable activities that provide opportunities for children to explore their environment and learn and develop new skills. For example, children show a particular interest in cars and putting things in and out of containers. This prompted the childminder to introduce problem solving skills. She provided different sized cars, tubes and pipes and encouraged the children to determine which cars would fit into which tubes or pipes, and then to hold them at different heights to make the cars go down the lengths of pipe and guess which cars would go the fastest. The childminder records children's individual progress in learning diaries. Children's starting points are assessed at the beginning of the placement

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and outcomes for children

and from these the childminder makes observations of the children at play, identifies next steps in their learning and plans for these in future activities. The childminder knows each child's individual characteristics extremely well and is able to identify the best way for each child to master a new skill. Children's learning diaries clearly show their significant progress towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is extremely well promoted. They demonstrate a very good understanding of the importance of good personal hygiene removing outdoor shoes when they come in from the garden and following hand washing routines. They understand that they each have their own coloured towels and picture flannels, and that they have to have 'clean hands' before eating. They learn about healthy eating as they are offered a wide range of home cooked meals and freshly prepared snacks that are provided by the childminder. Children have opportunities to enjoy outdoor play on a daily basis and benefit from fresh air. They also visit local parks, soft play centres and a children's gym sessions which provides them with many opportunities to develop their physical skills. Children show they feel safe in the childminder's care, through their developing independence and very good levels of self-esteem. They are introduced to visitors to the home in a very

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and outcomes for children

reassuring way, which helps to build their confidence and all visitors are clearly recorded to further safeguard children. When on outings children learn about road safety and 'stranger danger' to help them understand how to keep themselves safe. Children behave very well, the childminder is consistent in her approach and ensures that children understand requests through clear explanations. She constantly gives the children positive praise and encouragement for their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 achievements, to which they respond very well, clearly showing that they have excellent relationships with her. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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: 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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