Childminder in HertfordshireOfsted inspection, 23 Nov 2009

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 129173 Inspection date 23/11/2009 Inspector Lindsay Hare

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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 registered in 1992. She lives with her three children aged 14, 18 and 20 years in Hatfield. The whole of the ground floor, the bathroom and one bedroom upstairs are used for childminding and there is a secure garden for outside play. The family has two cats, a dog, a hamster and fish. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years, three of whom may be in the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder provides care on each weekday during term-time and school holidays. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

Children on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register share the same facilities as those on the Early Years Register. There are currently ten children on roll, who she cares for on a part-time basis and six of whom are in the early years age range. The childminder 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are making good progress in their learning and development, although the observational assessment does not always clearly show children's starting points or identify their next steps. The childminder gives children's safety a high priority through her procedures, policies and thorough risk assessments. Most of the required information is available for individual children. Children benefit from the excellent partnerships the childminder has with parents/carers and other agencies, ensuring that their individual needs are respected and well met. The childminder has attended lots of training to extend her knowledge and is able to clearly identify the priorities for improvement and act on these to improve her practice and the outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that information about who has legal contact with the child; and who has parental responsibility for the child is obtained for each child (Safeguarding and welfare) 23/12/2009

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the system of observation and assessment to clearly show where This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 individual children are in their learning and development and to identify their next steps.

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the early years provision

The childminder supports the welfare and learning of the children through the effective organisation of the setting and the clear documentation she keeps. Arrangements for safeguarding children are robust and regularly reviewed to ensure the childminder's procedures are in line with current guidance. All members of the household have been vetted. The environment in which children are cared for and educated is safe and supportive due to the thorough risk assessments the childminder carries out.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to developing the welfare and learning of every child attending. She knows each child well and is aware of their needs and routines through her excellent partnership with the parents. Regular observations of children and the warm, caring relationships formed ensures that she understands each child's likes and dislikes. However, the observational assessment is not always linked back to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and does not always highlight where children are in their learning and development. This means that children's next steps are not always identified and used to inform future planning.

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the early years provision

The childminder has effectively reflected on her practice and identified the strengths and areas for improvement. She has undertaken additional training and become a support childminder and is involved in running a childminder network group. The childminder is pro-active in developing areas of her practice, for example, she has implemented a healthy eating policy in response to parents' comments. All policies, contracts and documentation is reviewed regularly. However, not all the required information has been obtained from all parents with regards to parental responsibility and therefore children's welfare is potentially compromised. This is a breach of the welfare requirements.

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the early years provision

The childminder is highly committed to working in partnership with others and there are well-established channels of communication between all partners involved with individual children. For example, the childminder has been involved in working closely with a speech therapist in order to promote children's learning, development and welfare. The close, positive relationships she has with the parents/carers means that they are fully involved in sharing detailed information and contributing to their children's learning and welfare. Assessment records are regularly shared with parents/carers and their views are actively sought through these records, newsletters and questionnaires as well as the daily diaries used. The childminder has a good knowledge of each child's background and needs. She continues to update her knowledge of different cultures and religions through discussion with the families she cares for and then shares this with the children to

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the early years provision

raise their awareness of the wider world. The childminder ensures children receive any additional support they may need by sharing information and records with both parents/carers as well as interagency teams. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the setting and generally make good progress in their learning and development. They are provided with a broad range of interesting activities and play resources which are easily accessible and the children take responsibility for choosing what they do. Children are secure and confident and develop a strong sense of belonging to the setting as they build warm, trusting relationships with the childminder and their peers. For example, children feel confident to ask questions and ask for resources even on their first day at the setting and the children's art -work and models are valued as they are displayed around the room. The childminder has introduced circle time to give children some quiet time to reflect and express their views and ideas.

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and outcomes for children

Children have regular access to outdoor play and build on their physical skills as they use various equipment in the garden, parks and at the groups they attend. Children are given opportunities to explore the natural world as the collect acorns and twigs and then use these to create a large tree collage on the floor. They are able to operate programmes on the computer using the touch screen and keyboard. Children are fully involved in activities, for example from helping to make a shopping list by drawing or writing the items needed to using the ingredients they have bought to cooking a variety of foods such as fishcakes and sausage rolls.

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and outcomes for children

Children's understanding of safety issues is demonstrated through their play as they recognise and confidently talk about dangers and how to keep themselves safe. For example, children know what the role of the lollipop lady is and what they have to do during a fire evacuation. Most children show an awareness of being healthy as they discuss foods they are eating and know to brush their teeth after meals. Babies and young children appear content and settled because their health, physical and dietary requirements are well met.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning to be independent, selecting their own resources from the labelled storage. They are able to access resources reflecting equality and diversity and celebrate some cultural festivals with the childminder to enable them to increase their awareness of the wider world. Children's language and communication is actively promoted as they listen to stories and ask questions, discussing the pictures on the individual placemats they use. Children begin to recognise their name as they self-register and their names are displayed on their cups and towel pegs. Children make their own house tiles writing the number of their own house and the childminder's house. Everyday opportunities to develop numeracy are provided, for example, as children count out spoonfuls of ingredients whilst cooking and count out the number of dolls to put in the doll's house. 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 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 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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