Childminder in HertfordshireOfsted inspection, 2 Feb 2010

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 149512 Inspection date 02/02/2010 Inspector Lynn Clements

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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 1996. She is registered to care for a maximum of five children at any one time, offering places on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently caring for 12 of whom six are in the early years age group and six are older children.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder lives with her husband and three children in a village on the outskirts of Royston, Hertfordshire. The whole of the childminder's house, managed by the childminder, is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has strategies in place to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those with English as an additional language.

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Description of the childminding

She a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA). The childminder holds relevant early years qualifications and has achieved the Hertfordshire Quality Standard accreditation award.

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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

The childminder's excellent knowledge of each child's needs makes sure that her service successfully promotes their welfare and learning. Children are safe and secure and enjoy purposeful learning about their local area and with the wider world around them. Partnerships at all levels are exemplary and significant in making sure that the needs of all children are met, along with any additional support needs. The attention the childminder gives to the children ensures that they progress extremely well, given their age, ability and starting points. Regular and thorough self evaluation by the childminder makes sure that priorities for development are clearly identified and acted upon, resulting in a provision that responds well to all user needs.

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further?

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

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further?

 developing and extend outdoor learning opportunities.

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the early years provision

Steps taken to safeguard children are extremely good. The childminder has a clear awareness of safeguarding issues within the provision at all levels. She attends This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 regular training and has excellent strategies in place to work collaboratively with key agencies where necessary. Comprehensive policies and procedures are implemented consistently and robustly to ensure any concerns are prioritised and dealt with effectively. Children are safeguarded by clear vetting procedures, including maintaining records, which enable the childminder to account for all persons visiting the setting and children's hours of attendance. Focused risk assessments are in place and regularly reviewed in order to minimise potential hazards at all times. Children are kept safe and secure.

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the early years provision

The childminder is highly committed to working in partnership with others and takes a lead role in establishing effective working relationships. Partnerships are well established and open and purposeful channels of communication between all partners involved with individual children successfully promotes their learning, development and welfare. Parents, carers and the children are involved in decision making on key matters affecting the childminder's provision. This is done through well established and highly inclusive procedures, including self evaluation, for example, contributing their views and suggestions which they do with confidence. The highly inclusive systems of communication ensures that there are consistent and productive partnerships with parents, carers and their children. The childminder is effective in seeking and developing social and community cohesion. Self evaluation is rigorous and the childminder analyses what she does well and

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the early years provision

what needs to improve. As a result of her reflective and informed practice, actions taken by her are effectively targeted and have an extremely good impact in bringing about sustained improvement.

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the early years provision

The provider takes the promotion of equality of opportunity as a core part of her work. She effectively and actively promotes equality and diversity, ensuring that all children are well integrated and their development, in relation to their starting points, is very good. She has exceptional knowledge of each child's background and needs and takes the necessary steps to close identified gaps in their achievements. The childminder is proactive in updating her skills and knowledge on a regular basis and helping children to learn about and understand the society in which they live. Furniture, equipment and resources are of high quality and suitable for the ages of children to support their learning and development. The environment is conducive to learning and safety, being managed well by the childminder. The childminder strives to ensure that resources and the environment are fully sustainable.

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and outcomes for children

A highly stimulating and welcoming environment fully reflects the children's backgrounds and the wider community. The excellent organisation of the educational programmes reflects rich, varied and imaginative experiences that meet the needs of all children very well. Assessment through high quality observations is meticulous and the information gained is used effectively to guide planning. Teaching is rooted in a clear knowledge of the learning and development requirements and a full understanding of how children learn and progress. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 All areas of the provision are particularly well resourced and imaginatively laid out, including the outdoor area. The childminder has identified, through reflective practice, development opportunities that will further enhance the outdoor play area to provide increased challenge for high quality physical activity. All children,

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and outcomes for children

including babies make significant gains in their learning. Children play a dynamic role in their learning and wherever possible, offer their ideas and respond to challenges with great enthusiasm. The children demonstrate very good levels of independence, curiosity, imagination and concentration. For example, babies are confident in taking their time to explore the wide range of high quality toys and resources at their leisure, exploring each object separately. They investigate a wide range of resources using their mouths, fingers, palms and feet, discovering, to their intense delight, that they can make sounds by banging two objects together. Older children show care, kindness and consideration for each other and babies. They find toys, suggest games and socialise well together. Opportunities for them to explore information communication technology enables them to problem solve and learn about what happens next or how things work, such as

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and outcomes for children

how their very own robot moves. All children communicate extremely well and are confident to share their ideas with each other and adults. They understand that print carries meaning and that in addition to story books, reference books help them to learn about their particular interests and the wider world. Children enjoy the many purposeful opportunities to learn about their local environment. Joining in village events or travelling further a field with the childminder and engaging in educational visits consolidates and further extends their learning and appreciation of the wider world.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate extremely positive behaviour and a strong understanding of what standards of behaviour are expected and apply these in order to keep themselves and others safe. In addition, they use a range of tools and equipment within the provision and know how to handle these safely. All children show a clear understanding of the importance of following good personal hygiene routines. They have an excellent understanding about healthy eating and making healthy choices at snack and meal times. Children engage in a wide range of physical activities, both indoors and outside and gain a secure understanding about the importance of regular exercise as part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Children work extremely well independently using their own initiative as well as working cooperatively with their peers. The extremely good organisation of the setting lends itself to free flow play and self selection from well organised child height

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and outcomes for children

storage. Children are supported exceptionally well by the childminder to acquire the fundamental skills they need as active, inquisitive and independent learners. 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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