Childminder in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY257397 Inspection date 19/11/2009 Inspector Jan Leo

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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 registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and three children aged 18, 15, and 10 years in Cressex, on the outskirts of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Most of the ground floor rooms are used for childminding with toilet facilities situated on the first floor. There is a rear 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 the age of eight years at any one time of whom three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding seven children under eight years of age on a part time basis. Of these, four are in the early years age range.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children and attends a number of local toddler and carer groups on a weekly basis.

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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

The childminder works very hard to help children settle and has had considerable success in helping children to integrate and feel safe, having just taken on several new children. She is building links with parents and children's other carers in order to adapt to children's individual needs and provide consistency in their development. The childminder attends relevant training in order to stay up to date and help maintain continuous improvement, and consequently, she has a very secure understanding of how children learn and the skills to promote their development with ease. Health and safety measures are effective in preserving children's well-being but outdoor play is not currently a daily occurrence and the risk assessment lacks the necessary detail to be of full value. The resources are stimulating and appropriate for the children who attend resulting in them all playing well together and thoroughly enjoying their day.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 include more detail in the risk assessment to show when it was completed, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Documentation). 04/12/2009

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further?

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

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further?

 provide daily opportunities for children to play outdoors in order to benefit This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 from fresh air and the experience of outside activities.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a natural ability to provide what children need and she works hard to ensure they feel safe and secure at all times. She has a sound understanding of child protection issues, having completed recent training in order to fully understand the referral process. The childminder supervises children very well to oversee play and she routinely completes effective risk assessments to protect children both on and off site. The childminder is aware of her lack of confidence in developing support systems and keeping paperwork in order and she finds it difficult to overcome her reluctance to formalise her practice. However, despite that, all documentation is in place, clear and most contains sufficient detail to be effective.

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the early years provision

The childminder receives full information about the children before taking them on, in order to tailor their care to suit their individual needs. She shares information about the day at drop off and collection and agrees specific basic goals with parents to provide a consistent approach to children's ongoing development. Partnerships with parents and children's other carers are still under development, as all children have only recently started at the setting. The childminder has already made initial links with children's key workers at pre-school and she has plans to continue contact in order to build a true partnership of care.

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the early years provision

An appropriate and stimulating range of resources is available and the childminder asks the children what they want to do in order to build a feeling of belonging and inspire them to join in. The childminder participates in play, sitting on the floor with the children for the majority of the time, to show them what to do and help them make sense of things. She encourages the use of board games to promote sharing and taking turns, and as a result, the children quickly make friends and behaviour is very good. The childminder monitors the impact of her service on the children who attend in order to continue to develop and remain effective.

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and outcomes for children

The children rapidly settle into play because they consistently choose activities themselves and have the opportunity to follow their interests and share their ideas with friends. The childminder is very good at making meaningful conversations throughout their play in order to bring in other areas of learning and increasing challenges. This helps the childminder confirm children's starting points and continue their development through practical activities within a relevant context. The children routinely learn about health and safety throughout the day, washing hands to remove germs before eating and sitting to eat to avoid choking and learn social skills at meal times. The children listen well to what the childminder says and respond appropriately, some using gestures and others speaking confidently to make themselves easily understood. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The children routinely count things they see, showing off their interest in numbers, and they quickly accept that two can share each fishing rod to enable four to play the fishing game designed for two players. They patiently wait for their turn and understand the need to keep to the same order throughout to be fair to others. The children laugh when they hook the tin can or the old boot and they count up their catch eagerly at the end of their game, in order to see who has won. The children show pleasure in their achievements and the childminder acknowledges their success, regardless of who wins, to help all learn the joy of taking part.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder does not have specific plans for the day to ensure children always work towards their individual next steps, but she fully understands how to extend learning and challenge children to keep them stimulated and occupied. She reinforces colour work, asks questions to promote language and thinking, she explains things clearly at a suitable level, and treats all children with respect in order to raise their confidence and self esteem. As a result, the children make good progress. The childminder photographs children at play and records their progress to track what they do and help keep parents involved in their children's development. The children routinely cover all areas of learning, whatever the activity, because of the natural ability of the childminder in linking leaning in a relaxed and interesting way.

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and outcomes for children

The children have fun with the childminder, saying that number 17 ‘got lost’ when forgetting to include that number while counting to 20. They learn from each other, pretending to play a trumpet and trombone during lunch time discussions as they develop their knowledge of the wider world. The children practise their physical skills on outings and by, for example, playing 'Hungry Frog's' to develop a rapid tapping motion while pushing the lever to gobble up marbles. Children generally play inside on anything other than fine days restricting the opportunities to benefit from fresh air and experience outdoor learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder consistently talks to the children about what they do in order to develop their knowledge of modern life, including for example, where frogs live, why a drinking straw is difficult to push into a carton, and how to get the headlights to pop up on a toy car. The children benefit greatly from their time with the childminder and continue their development effortlessly, becoming enthusiastic learners and sociable and independent young people. 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 3 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 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 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: 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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