Childminder in West Berkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 506083 Inspection date 30/11/2009 Inspector Loraine Wardlaw

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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 1992. She lives with her grown up daughter in Thatcham, Berkshire, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding and one room on the first floor is used for sleeping purposes. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is also registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register and may care for six children under eight years, no more than three of whom may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding three early years children, full time and part-time. The childminder walks to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

All children are lovingly welcomed into the nurturing home, where their welfare needs are met with success. The sympathetic and warm childminder interacts beautifully with young children engaging with them at their level, building extremely good, positive relationships with them. However, her lack of knowledge of the EYFS learning and development matters is hindering children's rate of progress towards the early learning goals, in some of the learning areas. The childminder has started to evaluate some of her work, but it is not yet rigorous enough to ensure good continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 obtain written permission from parents before administering medication to children (Safeguarding and promoting welfare) 02/01/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 use the EYFS guidance to develop the observation and assessment system, identifying and implementing children's next learning steps in all six areas  develop a self-evaluation system identifying and implementing EYFS good practice with emphasis on developing an enabling learning environment with plenty of choices for children, covering all six areas  liaise with other providers who share children's care and learning to be able to complement each other 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 safeguarded well because the childminder is confident about her child protection procedure should she have concerns that a child is being abused and shares the procedure with parents. The childminder is vigilant with regards to safety matters and conducts risk assessments to ensure hazards are minimised. She protects children's privacy and dignity during the nappy routine, by ensuring they are out of view of visitors, demonstrating her cautiousness regarding safeguarding issues. Children benefit from good care and attention from the childminder, who organises her time and day to solely meet the needs of young children. Documentation is mostly up-to-date with the exception of one written consent from parents to administer medicine. The experienced practitioner is sensitive to each child's specific needs. Each day she selects age appropriate boxes of toys for the individual children she cares for, from the extensive range she has

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the early years provision

stored in the garage. Older children tell the childminder what toy resources they would like out each day, but non-verbal children are unable to; consequently the range accessible to each child is satisfactory and does not effectively facilitate child-initiated learning in all areas of learning. The childminder plans the use of her garden in fair weather. She values and respects all children's cultural background, using their own individual words for family members, but activities and books to fully embrace a child's cultural heritage have not yet been put into the practice. The childminder builds up her knowledge of current practice issues by attending workshops such as 'sensory motor project' and 'support for EYFS'. She implements some changes into her practice although she is not clear on the observation and assessment requirement. Although the childminder is aware of her many strengths she has not thought through and identified areas for future improvement, which

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the early years provision

impacts on the overall quality of the EYFS provision. A good two-way partnership between each parent and the childminder exists with daily verbal chats and a written daily diary. These include a few observations of children's developmental progress, although they are not linked to the areas of learning. Parents write extremely positively and knowingly about the provision. The system to liaise with other providers who provide care and education to the children is not yet established.

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and outcomes for children

Under two's build an extremely strong bond with the kind childminder who is on hand to meet their individual needs. She keeps to their individual sleep routines to ensure they grow and develop into happy, healthy children. They receive lots of cuddles and physical contact from the childminder who cradles them while they have their milk after waking up. During exploratory play the childminder lies on the floor with the children and engages their interest in age appropriate toys; they laugh together and have fun as she picks up individual children's games and extends. For example, sensitive, positive and encouraging support is given to a toddler as they attempt a shape sorter with the childminder. She interacts well with the children, talking naturally about shapes, colours, extending their speech, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and picking up on their vocalisations. A toddler then decides to take the lid off and

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and outcomes for children

put shapes in; the childminder tunes in to this and asks where has it gone? This meets with the toddler peering it's face into the cylindrical shape sorter saying ' there'. They are encouraged to pick it out again, which they repeat building on their classifying, understanding and communication skills; they effectively respond to the childminder's requests and attempt to say ' star' and 'duck'. Under two's enjoy books ' snuggling in' to the childminder as they attentively listen to her talking about animals and are encouraged to make the animal noises. Despite the children's love of books there is only one book for the young children to choose from in the lounge which is the main play area. They are learning the actions of simple rhymes; when a one-year-old sits facing the childminder on her lap they catch her eye and clap their hands; the childminder picks up on this saying ' oh you want to play pat a cake' and sings it to them, which meets with a shy smile

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and outcomes for children

and coy look to the visitor. Children learn the safety boundaries from a very young age; when the childminder is in the kitchen heating up their home made meal for lunch time they stand in the dining area watching her. When they vocalise about their lunch the childminder explains what she is doing. They sit safely in a high chair and relish their food which is provided by the parents. Although the childminder provides a nurturing home to children she is not systematically observing and assessing children against the six areas of learning to ensure all areas are covered and their next steps are implemented. 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 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 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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