Childminder in West Sussex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY266859 Inspection date 14/12/2009 Inspector Felicity Gaff

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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 has been registered since 2002. She lives with her husband and three children in a house in East Grinstead, West Sussex. The ground floor of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding six children in the early years age group. The childminder regularly minds with a co-childminder, and together they may care for a maximum of nine children. Currently they are caring for 10 children between them. On occasion, the childminder minds at her co-childminder's house. The co-childminder’s husband and children live at that property. Both

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Description of the childminding

childminders have joint responsibility for the childminding practice. The childminder collects children from the local school and attends several toddler groups regularly. She holds a level 3 qualification in home-based childcare.

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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 childminders plan rich learning experiences that meet the needs of children of different interests, ages and abilities. They create stable partnerships with parents, and provide exceptionally detailed systems for keeping them well informed about their childminding service. Children feel very secure in the warm, nurturing environments the childminders create. Both childminders undertake regular professional training to develop their knowledge and skills, and most of the required documentation is in place and effective.

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further?

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

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further?

 amend the complaints policy to include the correct contact details for Ofsted (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 31/12/2009

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further?

 improve the record of risk assessment so that it includes information on who conducted it, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident. (Documentation) 31/12/2009

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further?

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

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further?

 update the record of risk assessment to include details of any assessments of risks for each type of outing or trip This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  develop clear and accessible records of learning and development that can be regularly shared with parents and with practitioners from other settings that children attend

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the early years provision

The childminders share responsibility for the childminding practice. They cooperate closely and jointly maintain detailed written policies and procedures. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibility to safeguard children from people who have not been vetted. She thoroughly understands child protection issues and knows how to report any concerns. Children enjoy a safe and secure environment because the childminders assess and minimise risks for both their premises. However, the written records of risk assessments do not contain all the required details, which breaches a specific legal requirement. The record does not include assessments of risks for each type of outing, which limits the childminders' ability to review it before embarking on specific outings. The complaints procedure does not include accurate information to enable parents to contact Ofsted, which is a breach of a specific legal requirement.

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the early years provision

The childminders self-assess their practice to evaluate the effects of any changes they make to ensure children's individual needs are met. On occasion, they do not ensure that planned improvements, such as pictorial labelling of storage containers, are implemented equally well in both premises. This limits the benefit to children of being able to identify play resources independently. The childminder develops strong partnerships with parents and other early years settings that children attend. She actively encourages parents to suggest ways in which she can improve her practice. Parents are delighted with the high quality care and education their children receive. They consider themselves very fortunate in their childminder.

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and outcomes for children

The childminders have developed comprehensive systems to gather information on all aspects of the care, learning and development requirements of each child. This means that they are very well-informed about children's starting points. Children learn to keep themselves safe because the childminders talk to them about minimising hazards in the environment and on outings. Children are well protected from illness and infection because the childminders follow and teach good personal hygiene routines. They ensure parents are fully aware of the systems in place to ensure sick or injured children receive appropriate treatment. There are good arrangements to ensure children receive nourishing snacks and meals in accordance with their parents' wishes.

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and outcomes for children

The effective organisation of the co-childminding means each child develops close, supportive relationships with his or her own childminder. These secure attachments enable children to move confidently between the two premises. They This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 develop trust in the co-childminder and begin to form firm friendships with the other children. Older children are particularly supportive of younger ones. They recognise when they need help and are eager to offer it. Their care and concern for younger children reflects the nurturing attention they receive themselves. Children are extremely courteous towards visitors and are proud to show what they do and achieve.

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and outcomes for children

The childminders provide good quality play resources reflecting cultural and ethnic diversity and offering positive images of disability. They work skilfully with children and their families to help children learn to respect difference. The childminders understand how to use children's interests to plan interesting activities to promote all areas of learning. For example, children's interest in watching a tractor pulling a grass cutter led to a broad range of follow-up activities. There is a suitable system to monitor the progress children make and to plan for the next steps in their learning. However, although the childminder has an extremely good knowledge of children's individual personalities and preferences, her records of children's achievements are intermittent and photographs are undated. This limits her ability to track the progress children make in order to share information with parents and

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and outcomes for children

with practitioners from other settings that children attend. 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 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 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 1 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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