Willoughby-Parker, Sharon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY279037 Inspection date 29/09/2009 Inspector Carolyn Gifford

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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 2004. She lives with her husband and two children aged two and 10 years old at Cantley in Doncaster. The whole of the ground floor is available for childminding, which includes a lounge, dining room, playroom, conservatory, kitchen, hallway and downstairs toilet with hand washing facilities. There is a first floor bathroom and two bedrooms also available for childminding. The premises are accessible via a level driveway and path and one step to the front door. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

Local schools, play areas and shops are within walking distance.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years old at any one time. There are currently eight children on roll, two of whom are in the early years age group. Children attend for varying days and times.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder sometimes works with her husband who is also a registered childminder.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, compulsory part of the Childcare Register and voluntary part of the Childcare Register. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder works very effectively in partnership with other settings providing the Early Years Foundation Stage framework (EYFS).

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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

Overall, the quality of the provision is outstanding. The childminder is a reflective practitioner who recognises her strengths, and provides exceptional care and education for young children. She has a clear vision for continuous improvement, including the further development of her existing high level of knowledge and understanding of the EYFS. Children enjoy a wealth of inspiring experiences in a vibrant and challenging environment, where they make rapid progress in all areas of their learning and development. All children and families are welcomed into the setting and the childminder treats children with equal concern. Personalised planning for children and an excellent partnership with parents, carers and other providers, effectively supports children's ongoing development.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop knowledge and understanding of the EYFS framework. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder is vigilant regarding children's overall safety, and has an excellent understanding of her role and responsibilities to ensure that children in her care are safeguarded. There are robust systems in place and policies and procedures are well written and implemented to a consistently high standard. Risk assessments are meticulously detailed, providing a very safe and secure environment, both indoors and out. Children show a very strong sense of belonging as they confidently use all areas available for childminding and interact extremely well with the childminder, other adults and with each other.

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the early years provision

A key strength of the setting is the childminder's evaluative approach to self assessment, as she reflects on existing practice and has a clear vision for driving improvement. The childminder has completed extensive training and is currently studying towards attaining a Foundation Degree in Early Years. This clearly demonstrates an exceptionally high level of motivation to maintain continuous improvement, and extend her existing wealth of knowledge and understanding of the EYFS.

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the early years provision

Parents receive comprehensive information regarding the childminding service, including policies and procedures that underpin important elements of the childcare. The childminder works exceptionally well in partnership with parents and other providers to promote learning and well-being for the children attending. She is proactive in seeking new ways to develop and enhance the service she provides. For example, she has devised questionnaires for parents and children to complete, which means that their views and opinions are clearly valued, as she adapts her provision as needed after considering the responses. This effectively contributes to ensuring that individual children's needs are met, and that parents are involved and can contribute to their child's learning and development when at the childminder's home.

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the early years provision

The childminder's has first class systems in place, for observing, assessing and identifying the next steps in individual children's learning and development. Comprehensive activity plans identify the learning objectives for individual children, which means that activities are planned and tailored to meet children's individual needs. Children are pro-active and can make choices about their play as excellent, high quality resources are readily available throughout the areas available for childminding. The childminder offers consistently high levels of support and guidance, which very effectively contributes to children learning to think critically and to develop their problem solving skills. For example, children enjoy playing with shape sorters and are given time to work out where the shapes fit, with lots of praise and encouragement from the childminder. 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 very happy and settled in the childminder's care, where the environment is very welcoming, clean, safe and secure. Their welfare, learning and development is promoted very successfully by the exceptionally well organised, yet flexible approach of the childminder. She plans the childminding day carefully, ensuring that arrangements and activities are tailored to meet individual children's needs. For example, the childminder finds out about what children know and can do via discussions with their parents at the admission stage. This information is used extremely well to plan appropriate levels of activities to help children enjoy and achieve to their maximum potential.

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and outcomes for children

Children are enthusiastic and extremely well motivated as they make choices about their play from a wide and varied range of resources and activities. Children thrive as they build on ideas and have opportunity to explore, indoors and out, which effectively builds on their natural curiosity as learners. For example, the childminder and children develop an 'interest table' that links with current planning around Autumn. They happily explore and collect conkers, feathers and leaves of varying colours and shapes. The childminder helps children to extend their knowledge and understanding by linking this activity to games and books that are readily available. She uses very effective questioning techniques to consolidate children's learning, and extends their use of vocabulary and understanding of number, shape and texture.

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and outcomes for children

Behaviour is very good as children develop warm and caring relationships with the childminder and other children. Appropriate behaviour management strategies are used successfully to help children to understand the effect of behaviour on others. The childminder's high expectations and extremely effective use of praise and encouragement helps children to learn right from wrong in a caring and supportive environment. The childminder actively encourages children to value and respect each other's similarities and differences and offers a fully inclusive childcare service. All children can participate in activities and the childminder has flexible activity plans tailored to meet individual needs based on children's ages and abilities. The childminder is extremely skilful at extending activities to maintain children's interest and create fresh learning opportunities. For example, as babies explore simple technology and enjoy pushing buttons to see the desired effect, the

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and outcomes for children

childminder introduces other tactile, cause and effect toys to enhance children's enjoyment.

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and outcomes for children

The good health and well- being of children is promoted exceptionally well by the childminder as she actively encourages children to make healthy food choices. She talks to children about the importance of fresh air and exercise and helps children to learn to keep themselves safe and well, by talking to them about road safety when on routine outings. The childminder helps children to learn to manage their own personal hygiene needs and has visual aids, such as posters, to remind children to wash their hands after visiting the toilet. This all very effectively contributes to children developing a healthy lifestyle. 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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