Childminder in Norfolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY316856 Inspection date 14/01/2010 Inspector Melanie Calway

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 nine and 14 in King's Lynn, in Norfolk. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding and the bathroom and one bedroom on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play although this is currently not in use due to building work.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding four children in this age group. She also offers care to children from five to eight years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks to take and collect children from the local school and takes children on regular outings to local parks, the shops, the library and the museum.

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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 happy and settled in the childminder's care. Their individual needs are met because the childminder knows them well and so is able to provide them with activities which are appropriate to their stage of development and which take account of their particular interests. She is beginning to make observations of their play and learning and takes these into account when planning activities. The childminder shares information with parents and works with them to address any concerns. She has made improvements since the last inspection and has used the self-evaluation process effectively to reflect on her practice and identify further areas for development.

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further?

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

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further?

 use observation and assessment more consistently to identify learning priorities and plan relevant and motivating learning experiences for each child across all areas of learning  develop further the partnership with parents creating a two-way exchange of information about children's learning and development and obtain information about children's starting points  develop systems to share information about individual children's learning and development with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) when children attend more than one setting. 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 effectively safeguarded from the risk of abuse or neglect as the childminder has a clear policy on safeguarding. She is aware of her responsibility to refer any concerns she may have about children's welfare, has completed training on the subject and keeps all the necessary information to enable her to follow the required procedures. Her procedures ensure that children are always well- supervised to prevent access by unauthorised persons. Children are kept safe within the home. The childminder has completed a rigorous risk assessment covering all areas of her home and reviews it if circumstances change. Stair gates prevent children accessing the stairs or kitchen and furniture is placed to minimise accidents. A detailed risk assessment has been carried out and recorded for each outing and the childminder reviews this every time she goes out. Children are given explanations about safety in the daily routine so they learn how to keep

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the early years provision

themselves safe, for example, she reminds them to take care when negotiating the step into the kitchen or when climbing onto the chair. Fire evacuation procedures are displayed and these are practised regularly so that children learn what to do in the event of a fire. Daily, weekly and monthly cleaning schedules ensure that the house is maintained to a high standard.

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the early years provision

The environment is well-organised to meet children's needs. Resources are stored on low shelves and in storage boxes, which children can access independently. The childminder encourages children to select items and put them away again, thus promoting their independence. Children can move about freely in the downstairs rooms but access to the outside is currently limited as the garden in not in use. The childminder runs an inclusive service. Clear policies and procedures provide parents with useful information. Children are encouraged to develop respect for each other through the use of resources and topics which help them to understand how other people live. The childminder involves the children in the setting by asking their opinions about what they like to do and getting them to help to form the rules. The childminder communicates regularly with parents about what their children have been doing and any concerns they might have. She is not yet

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the early years provision

sharing systematic observations of children's learning or encouraging parents to provide information about children's starting points or ongoing learning themselves. The childminder talks to parents about how children are progressing at other settings to ensure that she is working consistently but systems have not yet been developed to share information about individual children's learning with other providers of the EYFS. The childminder has made good progress since the last inspection, addressing all the areas raised. She has used her self-evaluation to consider ways she might improve further and uses the internet to research current developments in childcare to keep herself up to date.

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and outcomes for children

Children are provided with a suitable range of appropriate activities. Regular outings to the shops and the library provide them with opportunities to become This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 familiar with the community and the world around them. Daily trips to local parks ensure that children have access to physical play experiences, while the garden is not in use. In the home, children can select from a range of resources, which are easily accessible for them. The childminder has a quiet calm manner and interacts well with children supporting them as they play and joining in when appropriate. She plans loosely around themes but keeps planning flexible to meet children's needs. She takes account of children's interests when planning for example providing opportunities for children who love trains to make their own train with junk modelling. She also jots down any particular achievements and provides

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and outcomes for children

opportunities for children to practise and develop skills, for example, helping them, to name colours correctly. She has started to keep records for children, to record their achievements and to identify the next steps for their learning. However, she is not yet using observations consistently for all children and is not yet using these in a focussed way to plan for each child across all the areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children communicate confidently with the childminder who talks to them sensitively as she supports their play. Children express themselves as they chat about what they are doing and are confident in asking for support or saying when they are hungry. They look at books together and chat about what they see. Children can easily select the books they want from the shelves and put them away again when they are finished. Construction and puzzles enable children to problem-solve and the childminder counts with them as they go out or as they play. There are regular opportunities for creative play and messy play is introduced at intervals although exploratory or investigative play is limited while the outside area is not in use. Topics planned by the childminder help children to learn about the world around them. The current topic of food enables her to discuss what the children like or do not like, foods that are good for us and food from other

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and outcomes for children

cultures. Programmable toys are available and children sometimes use the lap top to become familiar with information technology. Opportunities for physical play in the home are currently limited and provided through daily trips to local play areas. Children are learning about consistent boundaries as the house rules are consistently reinforced by the childminder who involves the children in forming them. Children are developing positive relationships with the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is promoted well. The childminder has effective policies and documentation to ensure that children's health needs are met. Children learn good hygiene as they wash their hands and use individual towels to minimise the risk of cross-infection. The childminder has a display of foods that are good for us and involves the children in talking about what they like and what is good for them. Children can access their drinks easily and tell the childminder when they are hungry. Parents provide snacks and meals and the childminder encourages them to provide healthy options. She ensures that the children have some fresh air every day. Children feel safe and secure in the setting and have built up trusting relationships with the childminder. Children who speak English as an additional language are included and the childminder learns key words to use with them to help them to communicate. Behaviour is managed appropriately and her methods

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and outcomes for children

are shared with parents. Children are learning skills for the future as they develop communication skills and form positive relationships. 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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