Childminder in Rotherham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 302989 Inspection date 14/12/2009 Inspector Angela Howard

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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 0300 123 1231, 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: 0300 123 1231 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 1993. She lives with husband in Swallownest, on the outskirts of Sheffield and Rotherham. The whole of the ground floor, which includes toilet facilities, and one bedroom on the first floor are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family has chickens, quails, a house rabbit, African snails, and fish in a safe and secure pond. The premises are accessible for people with limited mobility. Care is offered Monday to Friday, all year round. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding six children under five years. She also offers care to five children aged over five years to 11 years. The provision is registered on the Early years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to work with an assistant at times.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

There is an atmosphere of infectious enthusiasm at this setting because the childminder is highly motivated and committed to providing the very best for the children in her care. She has an extremely clear vision for the future, further developing her knowledge and skills and reflecting on her practice in a very rigorous manner. Excellent use is made of space, time and resources to promote children's safety and their eager participation. Leadership is very strong and aspirations for all children are extremely high. The childminder's superb knowledge about how children learn supports children exceedingly well to reach achievable targets at a rapid pace. Every child is treated as an individual and consistent first class interactions enable children to feel very secure and help them to make exceptional progress in their learning.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 continuing to build upon the links established with other settings providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure that the education provided complements the education received at other settings.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent understanding of how to keep children safe and recognises this as her first priority. She has comprehensive awareness of safeguarding issues and ensures she attends up-to-date training related to child protection. This ensures that her practice is under-pinned with first class This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 knowledge of possible signs and symptoms of abuse and the correct procedures to follow. The setting's very detailed safeguarding policy is shared with parents, reassuring them that their children are kept extremely safe. Meticulous safe recruitment practice and the rigorous monitoring of visitors to the setting ensure risks to children are effectively minimised. Policies and procedures are implemented highly effectively. Rigorous daily assessment enables children to freely choose activities, test their skills and make new discoveries within very safe

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the early years provision

The environment indoors and outdoors is organised incredibly well and creatively, so that children can choose independently to access areas and resources, offering them innovative activities to extend their play and develop their independence. The childminder provides a wealth of exciting learning opportunities, many of them homemade, including excellent treasure baskets and props, which inspire children's imagination and encourage them to learn in a fun way. There are also a wonderful theatre and an abundance of puppets. Fantastic opportunities for outdoor play are integral to the way in which she provides an enjoyable and challenging learning experience that is tailored to meet children’s individual needs. This encourages children to be very active learners and has helped the childminder to identify that they behave quite differently inside and out.

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the early years provision

The meticulous observations of children playing in both areas gives the childminder a more complete picture of their personality, their levels of understanding and where they need support. Children have a very strong sense of belonging and have a very close bond with the childminder, helping them to feel extremely settled and secure. Children participate in a very wide range of activities that help to develop their appreciation of the wider world. They explore the festivals through artwork, stories and factual books. They see posters and photographs of people from around the world and of different abilities, and access a wealth of toys and resources that promote positive images of diversity, using these in everyday play situations.

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the early years provision

Excellent relationships with parents are founded on trust and cooperation. The very strong links reflect the childminder's enthusiastic commitment to working in partnership. Parents routinely share information about children's starting points, interests and changing individual needs to help the childminder to reflect children's next steps in planning. The childminder shares information about the planned environment and activities to encourage links with home. She liaises extremely closely with parents to support additional learning needs, which helps her to focus very effectively on the inclusion of all children. Close working links are established with a wide range of professionals, to ensure developmental concerns do not present barriers to children's progress and enjoyment. However, the system in place to ensure a two-way flow of information with other settings providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage is in its infancy. There is an excellent

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the early years provision

ethos of reflective practice throughout the setting. Planning for improvement is highly effective in enhancing the outcomes for children. The childminder is continuously looking for ways to further strengthen the active contribution of parents and children in the process of self-evaluation. She has attended a vast amount of training in specific areas and is close to completing a degree in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 childhood studies. She tests out her own practice against the best that research describes and applies what she learns in a robust manner.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has extensive knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and uses this in a highly innovative way to plan activities which will stimulate children's curiosity and enthusiasm. Assessment is extremely rigorous and achievements are comprehensively recorded. Parents provide a very thorough baseline of information for children's starting points. The childminder uses this information robustly in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage to plan superbly for children's next steps. Children choose from an extensive range of interesting resources and natural materials. They follow their interests with persistence and concentration and have confidence to try new activities by themselves. An extensive range of heuristic play resources and varied treasure baskets stimulate sensory and tactile experiences. Children love to put on puppet shows, retelling favourite stories or using their imaginations extremely well to devise their own story about a tiger and a fairy.

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and outcomes for children

When out in the garden or on outings, they see how many different berries or mini beasts they can find and research about them on the internet. Children enjoy playing with magnets, noticing that one side connects and the other repels. When walking to school, they count how many things they can see of a certain colour. They are highly interested in the environment and ask why the leaves are green on one tree and brown on the other. Children show immense curiosity and soon realise that when they blow through the straw harder into the bubbles they get more and more bubbles. They love the comfy area which has a net canopy, where they can sit reading books or sharing secrets, giving them the feeling of being in a secret place.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning exceptionally well about consequences and how they can affect the lives of others. They show immense respect and kindness and are very skilled in caring for themselves from a very young age. Independence skills are promoted by the childminder in a highly skilled manner. Children take a very active role in being in control of their own learning. They instigate activities, and when on outings to the forest are allowed solitude or group time without adult intervention, to investigate and develop their own skills in outdoor play. For example, they build dens with branches, twigs and foliage. They use stones to make pretend camp fires, and hide in the undergrowth or climb trees. Children love action songs, counting objects and putting jigsaws together. They are skilled at weighing and measuring in baking activities, and when playing shop they sort the stall into different fruits and vegetables. Then add up the numbers of pieces of fruit and

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and outcomes for children

estimate the cost. Recently, to extend this activity for more able children, the childminder has introduced the use of real money. Children become engrossed in studying the life cycle through caring for eggs in the incubator and then the chicks after they have hatched. They have an indoor butterfly garden and are keen for the caterpillars to emerge. This exceptional range of activities ensures every child is a competent learner who is confident, feels included, safe and valued.

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and outcomes for children

Children thoroughly enjoy a wealth of activities to help them think about being This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 healthy and how to stay safe. They love active play time outdoors in the fresh air, balancing, climbing, making an obstacle course and swinging on a rope swing in the forest. Children's awareness of risk and safety is promoted extremely well within their everyday play experiences. For example, planned play activities raise safety awareness, and encouraging children to take the lead in completing risk assessments further raises their awareness of dangers. Children are developing a strong sense of security and understand some aspects of safety. They use equipment safely and have a very good understanding of the need to follow instructions to keep safe. The children show superb awareness of adopting healthy lifestyles, understanding the need for exercise and a healthy diet. They are

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and outcomes for children

provided with wholesome, nutritious and well-balanced meals and thoroughly enjoy the food offered to them. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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