Childminder in Wokingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY318883 Inspection date 03/12/2009 Inspector Margaret Davie

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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 2005. She lives with her husband and two children aged six and nine years in Wokingham, Berkshire. The whole of the ground floor of her house is used for childminding with bathroom and sleeping facilities on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have two pet rabbits.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of five children at any one time; of whom three may be in the early years age group. She currently minds three children between the ages of four and six years for a variety of sessions. The childminder occasionally works with an assistant. 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

Children are cared for in a welcoming environment, where they have access to a wide variety of toys and resources. The childminder knows them well and makes regular observations of their activities to identify their next steps. She promotes equality of opportunity by working with parents to ensure children's individual needs are known and addressed. A range of policies and procedures is implemented to support children's safety and health; however their welfare is not fully promoted because she has breached a condition of her registration by leaving her assistant alone in her home to care for them. She evaluates her setting and has completed a detailed self-evaluation to identify strengths and areas for development to promote continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the assessment records to more clearly show children's progress toward the early learning goals over time  update the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for outings and trips

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the early years provision

The childminder understands the procedure to be followed if she is ever concerned about a child in her care and has recently updated her child protection training. She has ensured that all adults in her household have had appropriate checks to confirm their suitability. However, she does not fully promote children's welfare because she occasionally leaves her assistant in sole charge of them while they are This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 in her home and has not requested parent's written permission to confirm this arrangement. This is a breach of a condition of her registration which states that her assistant may only be in sole charge of children off the premises. She has given a reasonable explanation why this occurred on a small number of occasions. On this occasion Ofsted do not intend to prosecute. She checks her home carefully and implements a range of safety measures to protect children. For example, she

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the early years provision

has put high visibility tape on the step into the playroom to make sure children do not trip and affixed locks on her kitchen cupboards to prevent them from accessing any dangerous substances. Risk assessments are conducted for all outings, however she does not keep a record to show when they were done.

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the early years provision

The childminder is positive about regularly updating her training and uses the knowledge and skills she gains to constantly promote better outcomes for children. She is currently undertaking an Early Years Foundation Degree in order to further improve her setting. She has addressed the issue raised at the last inspection and regularly evaluates her practice to identify areas in need of development. She discusses her service with parents in order to take their views into account when planning improvements. Her home is well organised to allow children to move around safely and as a result, they develop high levels of independence as they from the wide range of toys and resources. Equality and diversity is well promoted as she works effectively with parents to inform herself fully of children's family backgrounds. She ensures all children have free access to toys and resources which help them make progress toward the early learning goals and actively

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the early years provision

challenges any form of discrimination. Although she uses her many resources well to promote children's learning, she does not use her assistant effectively in accordance with her conditions of registration. Parents report they are happy with the care their children receive and particularly like the warm and caring environment she creates. They receive regular feedback about their child's care and have access to all her development records which ensures they are involved in their learning. She has written to all parents outlining the times and dates that their children are in sole care of her assistant and she has received their verbal approval for these arrangements. Links are established with other settings attended by children and information is shared to promote continuity in their care, however this does not yet extend to exchanging assessment information to fully promote their learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home. She provides a child- friendly environment with a particularly well resourced and stimulating playroom. They move around her home confidently and have free access to a wide variety of interesting toys. Many posters are displayed around the playroom, providing children with visual stimulation. They gain confidence and develop good relationships with each other, learning to share and take turns. Children are encouraged to make appropriate choices and following recent training, the childminder actively supports their understanding of how to resolve conflicts amicably. The childminder follows children's interests and involves herself in their play to support their learning. Children happily play together on the large road This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 mat, making up games as they drive their cars along the roads. The childminder

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and outcomes for children

extends their learning by suggesting they use the bricks to build houses and other buildings to enhance their play. Children show good levels of concentration as they carefully construct a range of buildings, one of them pointing out that a chimney has been added because that is what houses look like. Their thinking skills are developed during tidy up time as they are encouraged to count alternate numbers until all the bricks are in their box. The childminder ensures that all children are able to participate in activities by supporting their differing needs and by ensuring that activities are fun and based on their individual interests. This ensures they reinforce their skills and move forward in their learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children's learning is effectively supported by written observations. Her records are very well organised and evidenced by many photos showing children involved in activities. She identifies children's next steps by linking their activities to the requirements of the early learning goals and uses this information to guide her planning, to ensure their individual needs are met. She also conducts regular summary assessments to make sure that children's progress over time is as expected. However they way these assessments are recorded makes it difficult to see whether children have any gaps in their learning as they progress toward the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder works closely with parents to ensure children receive healthy meals and snacks and makes their drinks available at all times in case they are thirsty. They follow good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of germs, such as cleaning their hands with disinfectant gel following a sneeze. Children have independent access to the bathroom and hand washing facilities. They enjoy daily opportunities to get fresh air and exercise and take part in many outings to places of interest such as the local parks where they can run and explore. This helps them gain an understanding of the natural world. They become familiar with their local environment as they visit the library and regularly socialise with other children at toddler groups.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate that they feel safe and comfortable in the care of the childminder, happily chatting to her as they sit at the table enjoying their snacks. They gain an understanding of how to play safely as they use small tools like scissors and respond positively to gentle reminders about not climbing up on the sofa because they could fall off and hurt themselves. They follow good practices while on outings to ensure they are safe, for example, crossing the road with the lollipop lady and holding hands as they walk along. However, children's safety is not fully promoted because the childminder occasionally leaves them in her home in the sole care of her assistant which is not in accordance with her conditions of registration. Children develop a good understanding of the wider world as the childminder ensures they use resources which reflect diversity in their play such as the small world toys depicting people with a range of differing needs. Festivals are

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and outcomes for children

regularly celebrated and children are provided with opportunities to taste different foods from around the world. They have access to a range of musical instruments such as shakers and noise makers with reflect other cultures. Many photographs show children participating in a range of activities both in the childminder's home and at the groups they attend. As they take part in this range of enjoyable and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 stimulating activities, children develop their key skills and are well prepared for future learning. 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 3 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 2 The extent to which children feel safe 3 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 ensure the childminder is present on the premises at all times when childcare is provided unless prior written approval has been obtained from Ofsted to be absent (Welfare of the children being cared for) 11/12/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 ensure the childminder is present on the premises at all times when childcare is provided unless prior written approval has been obtained from Ofsted to be absent (Welfare of the children being cared for) 11/12/2009

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