Childminder in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number 208775 Inspection date 15/10/2009 Inspector Gill Ogden

p.1

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.

p.1

Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 1988. She lives with her husband on the southern outskirts of Lincoln city. All of the house is available for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden suitable for outdoor play. There are schools, a nursery, pre-schools, shops and parks within walking distance. The childminder also uses her car to transport children occasionally.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She currently looks after eight children, four of whom are in the early years age group, all on a part time basis.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder holds a recognised early years qualification and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a safe, clean and stimulating home environment where close attention is paid to their individual needs. Effective working relationships with parents contribute well towards ensuring each child is well cared for, including any additional support needs and makes good progress towards the early learning goals as stated in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Links with other providers who may be involved with children are built up when necessary to further ensure each child's good continuity of care. The childminder has a strong history of making improvements to her practice and still takes up training opportunities regularly.

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 link observations of individual children's learning and development more closely to the early learning goals in order to better identify future challenges for them and monitor better their progress across all the areas of learning  develop an ongoing self-evaluation system to better prioritise development needs.

p.4

the early years provision

All the necessary records are maintained well, including the record of existing injuries to children which was the recommendation made at the last inspection. The childminder has a clear understanding of her child protection responsibilities and shares these with parents. All adults in the home have been vetted This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 appropriately for their suitability to be with children. Risk assessments are carried out and recorded. These procedures ensure that children are well safeguarded. The childminder has always attended training events regularly to improve her knowledge and skills and this continues to be the case. Since her last inspection, as well as attending workshops on areas such as the Early Years Foundation Stage, music and signing, she has also completed a recognised early years qualification. Effective forward thinking means that she books on training in plenty of time to

p.4

the early years provision

keep her first aid qualification current and identifies courses regarding, for example, working in partnership, which will help to increase her understanding of current requirements. She has not yet, however, got a systematic approach to self- evaluation in place to help better prioritise her development needs.

p.5

the early years provision

Relationships with parents are strong and contribute effectively to ensuring that every child's individual needs continue to be met. Parents comment extremely positively about the childminder's abilities saying she is 'sympathetic, sensible and responsible' and 'has been a great help…and managed to incorporate speech and language therapy into play'. The childminder is currently working closely with the local pre-school, as well as parents, to support a child who has special educational needs.

p.5

and outcomes for children

Children enjoy a comfortable home environment where good attention is paid to health and safety. There are plenty of toys and play resources to meet their individual interests and needs for both indoor and outdoor play. A selection of books that promote positive images of diversity are particularly enjoyed by the children. Because there is a small covered area in the garden children can spend time outdoors in all weathers. The toilet is not far from the lounge so young children can get to it quickly, especially when they are potty training. A range of equipment is in place, such as a stair gate and cupboard and drawer catches and reins and harnesses are used appropriately to help prevent children having accidents. Children also learn to keep themselves safe as a result of house rules such as tidying up after themselves to stop them from tripping over things and they learn outdoor routines such as road safety and stranger danger. Their good

p.5

and outcomes for children

health is promoted because the childminder is vigilant about cleaning routines, has a clear policy to inform parents about what illnesses will prevent children from attending and helps children to learn good personal hygiene habits from an early age. Children are encouraged to eat healthy foods and make choices about what they want to eat from a selection, for example, of snack foods such as dried fruit, cucumber pieces and bread sticks. Children behave well, responding quickly to the childminder reminding them, for instance, that they should not kick balls in the house. Even the youngest children are aware of each other and considerate of other's needs, for example, drawing attention to what each other is doing, such as playing a drum well, so that the childminder notices and praises them.

p.5

and outcomes for children

Every child makes good progress in their learning and development. Activities that are planned in line with other professionals to help children with specific educational needs are enjoyed by all the children because the childminder involves This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 them and they each take part at their own level. Favourite activities that children enjoy at the moment are puzzles, looking at books, all kinds of musical activities and interactive toys. All these kind of activities underpin the literacy, numeracy and information technology skills that children will need in their future lives. Children's self-esteem and consolidation of their learning benefits enormously from lots of conversation between themselves and the childminder and by the childminder listening carefully to what they say and linking this to, for example, things they have experienced with her or their families.

p.5

and outcomes for children

Children enjoy planned activities in line with the time of year and events that are taking part in the world. For example, they have just done some craft activities linked to Diwali and are now looking forward to Bonfire Night, talking about how they feel about fireworks. As a result of the childminder observing what each child does and says during these activities and their own self-initiated play, along with any comments and observations from others, she plans for the next steps in their learning. However, because the observations are not linked closely enough to the development matters steps towards the early learning goals, the most accurate challenges for each child cannot be fully assured to help them make the most rapid progress nor can their progress across all the areas of learning be monitored closely enough. In spite of this every child is developing habits appropriate to becoming good learners in future.

p.6

and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.7

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.7

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

p.7

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.7

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 2 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

p.7

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

p.7

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

p.7

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

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8