Childminder in Cumberland

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 317084 Inspection date 22/09/2009 Inspector Valerie Block

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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 1991 and holds an early years qualification. She lives with her husband and adult child in Seascale, Cumbria, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s home is used for childminding as well as an upstairs bathroom. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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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 range. She is currently minding two children under five years and two children aged from five to eight years. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 15 years. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects children from the local school and goes to several children's groups regularly. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. The family has no pets.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children thrive and learn as the childminder has a good knowledge and understanding of children’s individual needs and has developed, in the main, effective systems for helping children to progress and develop. Children are safe; however, there are some minor weaknesses in risk assessment. Parents are made very welcome and good liaison has been established with parents, carers and other partners in the Early Years Foundation Stage to meet the needs of children. The system for self-assessment to identify priorities for future targets and to maintain continuous improvement is good.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve overall summative assessments using the early learning goals to decide children's next steps and the planning for children's learning  further promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice by providing play equipment and activities that help children learn about people with disabilities and value this social diversity  review the risk assessment to ensure all areas of risk, for example, child safety when highchairs are used and children's access to the greenhouses, are addressed further. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are well safeguarded as the childminder has attended training in safeguarding and has a good understanding of procedures to keep children safe. Risk assessments are in place and regularly reviewed for the premises and outdoor trips. For the most part, these assessments ensure child safety. However, the risk assessment has not addressed the following problems to ensure child safety: children in highchairs do not have over-shoulder restraints to prevent falls and some older children could access the unsafe greenhouse area of the garden. Although the childminder supervises children at all times in the garden and there is a gate and fence surrounding the greenhouse, the gate could be opened by older children so there is a small risk of children accessing this unsafe area at present.

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the early years provision

The childminder is very aware of how continual training and research into childcare and education promote good outcomes for children. She is always looking to improve her skills. She plans training ahead to ensure that certificates do not fall out of date. The childminder is due to attend further training in the Early Years Foundation Stage in the near future as she has assessed this as her priority training need. She is also planning to improve how she teaches children the value of diversity as she has recognised that, although she has activities and play materials that challenge stereotypes and discrimination regarding culture and race, she has not as yet included an understanding of people with disabilities. She also liaises with local authority advisors to ensure she keeps abreast of developments to improve her service. Children have good access to a good amount and range of play materials and toys and the childminder includes children in the family's

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the early years provision

recycling so helping children understand about looking after the world's resources. She uses the local library and toy library to augment children's play materials.

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the early years provision

Self-assessment is robust and the childminder is generally aware of her strengths and weaknesses. A strength of this setting is the childminder's development of questionnaires to assess children's satisfaction with her service, in which she asks a range of questions such as whether children feel safe with her. She also uses parental questionnaires and discussion to inform her self-assessment.

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the early years provision

All children and their families are welcomed and included in the life of the setting. Anti-discriminatory policies are in place that aim to challenge prejudice and discrimination. Children's individual profiles are well known and children are encouraged to become independent through having choices in their play time.

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the early years provision

The childminder engages well with parents, who advise in writing that they are very happy with the service provided. The childminder has made a good start in establishing liaison with other providers to share information useful to children's welfare and learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are well settled and secure and make good progress at this setting. The childminder talks to and reassures children throughout the day and works to a flexible routine so children feel a sense of belonging and safety. The childminder has good knowledge of child development and has a robust understanding of incorporating children's individual interests and needs into her planning. She works with parents to establish children's starting points and uses regular observation to assess children's next steps in learning, although there is a weakness regarding clear summative assessment going across the six areas of learning at present. The childminder shows skill in providing an interesting play environment and plan of activities that meet individual children's needs as well as supporting children to become independent, enthusiastic learners. She uses language well to encourage children to develop their vocabulary and conversation.

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and outcomes for children

Children snuggle up to the childminder and kiss her, showing their affection and that they feel safe and secure with her as together they read books on the settee. The children happily go through to the bookcase to choose more and more favourite books to look at and they enjoy pointing to pictures and talking about the story. They enjoy singing together favourite well-known rhymes that help children to develop their love of music, rhythm and word. Children learn about sizes as they play with toys and try putting things into different containers. They are praised as they proudly put on their own socks, showing self-esteem and growing skills in their personal care. The childminder uses everyday events to introduce children to number in their surroundings. Children participate in outings to local toddler groups, the park, the library and various activity centres so beginning to understand their place in the community and children enjoy making friends at the

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and outcomes for children

childminder's home. There is regular, planned outdoor play, both in the garden and at local parks, so ensuring that children receive a good amount of physical play and enjoy learning in the fresh air.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn to be safe as the childminder teaches them about risks in the home and outside, so enabling them to begin to take responsibility for themselves. They learn to be healthy as they learn about the benefits of regular physical exercise and understand everyday routines, such as washing hands, to avoid infection. Children help happily to tidy away books before choosing the next one, so learning good patterns of behaviour. The childminder is clear with children in a gentle way about her expectations for good behaviour. The childminder supports children to develop skills in numeracy, literacy and information and communication technology, which contribute to their economic well-being. 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 2 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 2 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 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

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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

 make the written statement of safeguarding procedures available to parents (CR9.1) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register). 29/09/2009

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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 above (CR9.1). 29/09/2009

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