Childminder in West Berkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY250710 Inspection date 23/10/2009 Inspector Doreen Forsyth

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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 2002. She lives with her two children in a semi- detached home at Burghfield Common, near Reading in Berkshire. All of the home may be used for childminding. There is an enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. Access to the home and garden are restricted by the use of steps.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for up to six children under the age of eight; of these, three may be in the early years age range. Currently there are seven children on roll, aged between one- and ten-years-old, of these three are under five. They all attend on a part-time basis.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and of a local childminding network. The family have a pet dog and a cat.

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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

This experienced childminder works hard to meet the unique and individual needs of all the children she cares for. She ensures that all the children whatever their background are well supported and are not disadvantaged in any way. The childminder helps children to make good progress in their learning and development through the varied and interesting activities she plans for them. Effective arrangements are in place to promote the children's health, safety and well-being. The childminder has a positive attitude towards the further improvement of the childminding service.

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further?

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

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further?

 reassess the risk assessments to ensure the security of children in regard to the steps taken to prevent intruders entering the premises  develop the partnership with parents to ensure they are encouraged to share what they know about their child's progress at home, in order to inform assessments.

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the early years provision

The childminder is skilled and efficient. She ensure that all of the policies, records and procedures that are necessary for the safe and efficient management of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and to promote the children's well-being are in place and that these are routinely shared with parents. The policies include an appropriate safeguarding children policy; the childminder is very confident in the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 procedures she would follow if she had any concerns regarding child protection, she has attended recent safeguarding children training. The childminder has been suitably vetted, she is aware of her duty to inform Ofsted of any changes in her circumstances. She ensures that children are never left alone with people who have not been vetted. The childminder attends relevant training so that she continually updates her skills and childcare knowledge. The childminder has risk

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the early years provision

assessed her home and garden identifying most potential hazards to the children. She has put into place appropriate measures to promote the children's safety, such as using safety gates at the bottom of the stairs and across the kitchen doorway. However, the children's security and safety is compromised as the side gate into the premises is not kept locked.

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the early years provision

All children are welcomed and valued by the childminder, she endeavours to promote an inclusive practice where all children's welfare needs are met and all children are helped to achieve as well as they can. The children have good access to a wide range of suitable toys and resources, these are kept in the lounge so that the children can independently choose what they wish to play with. Others are stored in the basement and used on rotation so that children access a wide variety of suitable resources. Parents are well informed about the children's daily activities; the younger children take home daily diaries and the childminder always makes time to talk to parents about the children's activities and to share news about the day and the children's achievements. She is beginning to make links with the nursery school that one of the children attends. Working closely with parents and other providers ensures continuity of the children's care and education.

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the early years provision

The childminder is using appropriate methods to evaluate the standard of the provision she offers and to identify areas of strength in her service and any areas for further development. She values the support and ideas she receives at her local childminding network.

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and outcomes for children

When with the childminder the children show that they feel safe and happy, they go readily to her for reassurance and comfort. They are confident to explore their surroundings and the toys provided; for example, they enjoy using the wooden fantasy cube and choosing books from the low-level bookcase. The childminder interacts very well with the children, sitting on the floor and talking with them as they play. She encourages their language development, especially by reading well loved and familiar stories and singing rhymes with them. The childminder questions the children well, encouraging them to think and reason. For example, she asked 'what happens when there are big clouds?', 'it rains!' was the confident answer. The childminder is observing and recording the children's progress towards the early learning goals well, she uses the observations she makes to plan a next step in their learning for each child. The observations and assessments are

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and outcomes for children

available for parents to see whenever they wish, but parents are not yet encouraged to add what they know about their children's learning at home to the observation records. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are beginning to learn about how they can keep themselves safe. They practise emergency evacuation procedures with the childminder and when they are out walking they discuss road safety; they learn they must stay close to the childminder when they go out on outings. They enjoy many opportunities to play outside in the fresh air and to develop their physical skills. They walk to and from school each day and to all their daily activities, they enjoy a weekly trip to a soft play centre and often go swimming. The children are offered varied and healthy snacks and can easily access their own drinks. Parents provide most of the children's meals and at meal times they discuss what foods are good for you.

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and outcomes for children

Children go out with the childminder each morning, they attend childminding and toddler groups which provide the children with good opportunities to learn to interact with other adults and make friends with other children. The childminder encourages the children to behave appropriately, she acts as a good role model and expects the children to consider the needs of others as they play. They learn to share and take turns. Through the toys that they play with and through different activities such as celebrating festivals including Diwali, Christmas and Chinese New Year they are learning about diversity and the wider world. 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 2 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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