Owen Melanie

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 207573 Inspection date 05/10/2009 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 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 1990. She lives with her adult son and 11 year old daughter in the village of Clowne, in Derbyshire. The whole of the ground floor, plus toilet facilities on the first floor of the childminder’s home is used for childminding. The premises are accessible for people with limited mobility. Care is offered Monday to Friday all year round. The family have a cat and two guinea pigs.

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Description of the childminding

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 eight children aged over five years to 12 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children enjoy themselves and are happy and content. Overall their individual care needs are met successfully and inclusive practice is promoted. The childminder and parents exchange relevant information daily to develop a reasonable understanding of each child's welfare and learning needs. However, observation and planning systems are extremely basic, which limits children's progress towards the early learning goals. The premises are safe and secure due to the childminder completing good daily visual safety assessments. However, there is in breach of requirements because the childminder does not maintain a record of risk assessments. Self-evaluation of the setting is very basic but overall, the childminder demonstrates the capacity to improve and is beginning to use self- evaluation to secure improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 keep a record of risk assessments, clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Suitable premise, environment and equipment) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). 30/10/2009

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop the observation and assessment system to include the child’s next steps in learning to provide personalised learning, development This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and support  develop the use of self-evaluation to recognise the importance of continuous improvement and to develop a culture of reflective practice  build upon the links established with other settings providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure that the education provided compliments the education received at other settings  make more effective use of the outdoors to explore the six areas of learning to extend children's own play and learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates an acceptable understanding of her role and responsibility with regards to safeguarding children. She has appropriate knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and the correct procedures to follow, should she have any concerns about a child's welfare. The childminder has adequate systems in place to ensure people who have regular contact with children are suitable to do so. All adults residing on the premises are appropriately vetted and visitors to the setting are supervised at all times. Appropriate resources are available and easily accessed, enabling children to freely choose activities within safe boundaries. The childminder is well aware of her responsibility to keep children safe. She completes daily visual risk assessments, however, she does not maintain a record of risk assessments for the premises. This is a breach of requirements that impact on children's safety.

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the early years provision

The childminder shows good commitment towards ensuring that children are happy and appropriately cared for and has completed all recommendations raised at the last inspection. However, the self-evaluation system in place to bring about further improvement is very basic. Therefore, although the childminder has identified some accurate targets to effectively improve outcomes for children she has yet to develop the system to rigorously monitor and evaluate her practice.

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the early years provision

The childminder has satisfactory knowledge of children's individual needs and challenges racist and discriminatory remarks, attitudes and behaviour. There are some opportunities for children to engage in non stereo-type play, which ensures they develop some sense of equality. The adequate range of resources to increase their awareness of diversity help them to recognise and value similarities and differences. The childminder recognises that parents know their children best and ensures she works very closely with them, to encourage them to be involved in their child's learning and development. Daily discussions are used to ensure a two- way flow of information, which develops a strong link with home and ensures children's individual needs are met continually. Parents comment that the childminder is trustworthy and provides a safe, friendly and reliable service. The parents say children enjoy their time and the excellent care makes them feel very

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the early years provision

much at ease and that the children love the childminder and her family. However, although the childminder has established some links with others who offer the Early Years Foundation Stage, she is not yet able to demonstrate how she ensures that the care and education she provides complements the education and care received at other settings. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance is beginning to emerge. However, due to her lack of rigour in using observations to inform planning for children's individual learning requirements children's progress is acceptable but limited. There are some very basic records of the activities the children have enjoyed but the children's next steps to enable the childminder to plan relevant and motivating learning experiences across all the areas of learning are not identified. The childminder has a sound knowledge of the children's individual learning styles and child development. She takes some positive steps to offer a reasonable range of activities for the children, which are based on their interests. Children love to use the vast amount of craft material, such as play dough, collage materials, paints and thoroughly enjoy recycling boxes and containers to make models. They have used stones from the drive and painted

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and outcomes for children

them to represent animals and faces. Children use their imagination well to re- enact home events, for example, cooking dinners, caring for pets or dolls and play enthusiastically with small world figures and favourite television character toys. They spontaneously sing to songs on the television, self selects favourite books and sit talking about the pictures in books. Children access plenty of electronic toys to press buttons and see lights flash or music play. They love to use the pretend lap top computer and know they have to press the buttons in a certain order to make sounds and music appear. Children walk daily to the shop, visit the horses, the skate park and walk to school or the park to introduce them to their local community. The childminder talks to children when out about the changes in seasons, for example, about the leaves changing colour, why the leaves are falling off the trees and that the weather is becoming cooler.

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and outcomes for children

Children are eager to attend, are settled, feel secure and are confident in the childminder's care. The relationship between the childminder and children is very warm and caring. They show lots of pleasure, smiling and having cuddles. The childminder acts as a good role model listening attentively and speaking with respect. She uses positive methods to manage behaviour and distracts younger children swiftly. Children can choose what they want to do independently. They move freely from one activity to another pressing buttons on musical toys, playing with small world figures and looking at books. An ethos where children are warmly welcomed and valued as unique is effectively promoted. The childminder works in partnership with parents to ensure children's dietary needs are adequately met. She provides some nutritious snacks and children access drinks independently throughout the day. The children take regular physical exercise as they go for

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and outcomes for children

walks in the community to feed the horses and regularly visit local play areas. Therefore, children are developing appropriate control of their bodies as they take part in an acceptable range of physical activities. They use their bodies in different ways, for example, climbing, jumping, sliding and pedalling. However, although the outdoor play area offers children the freedom to explore and be physically active it is not sufficiently well planned to give them opportunities to explore the six areas of learning in different ways from indoors. The childminder is beginning to help children understand how to keep themselves safe. Children routinely take part in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 fire drills, practise road crossing procedures and are gently reminded about stranger danger through discussion. Therefore, children are starting to develop a sense of security and awareness of safety issues which impacts well on their ability

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and outcomes for children

to keep themselves safe. 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 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 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: 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

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Suitability and Safety of Premises and Equipment) 30/10/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 develop a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (Arrangements for Safeguarding Children) 30/10/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 develop a written statement of procedures to be followed in relation to complaints which relate to the requirements of the Childcare Register and which a parent makes in writing or by email (Procedures for dealing with complaints). 30/10/2009

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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

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Suitability and Safety of Premises and Equipment) 30/10/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the child care register section of the report (Arrangements for Safeguarding Children) 30/10/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the child care register section of the report (Procedures for dealing with complaints). 30/10/2009

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