Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 220415 Inspection date 30/11/2009 Inspector Sarah Measures

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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 1994. She lives in a house in Rushden with her husband and two adult sons. Minded children have access to the whole of the ground floor, garden and upstairs bathroom. The premises is accessed via a step to the front door. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six minded children under eight years at any one time, including three within the early years age range. The childminder is also registered on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register to care for older children. She is accredited with the National Childminding Association, Children Come First Network and receives funding for the provision of nursery education to three- and four-year-old children. She has links with local schools, childminding groups and pre-school groups. The childminder has a dog that goes to work with her husband during the day-time.

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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 has an excellent understanding of how to use the Early Years Foundation Stage framework to plan effectively to meet children's individual needs. Fully effective operational procedures promote children's welfare and their learning and development. The childminder is dedicated to offering children the best possible experiences whilst they are in her care, and she works tirelessly in order to put their needs first. The provision for continuous improvement is exceptional because of the childminder's determination and because of her thorough and ongoing methods of self-reflection.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to maintain effective methods of self-evaulation in order to ensure each child continues to receive an enjoyable and challenging learning and development experience that is tailored to meet their individual needs.

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the early years provision

Children are very well safeguarded because the childminder places the highest priority upon their safety and well-being. She confidently discusses how she would recognise any possible indicators of child abuse, and she knows how to make a referral in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board policies and procedures. Children are particularly well safeguarded because the childminder encourages them to be confident and to stand up for themselves if something happens that they do not like. The childminder also makes the most of opportunities to include This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 activities that help children to keep themselves safe within her themes and activity planning. For example, children take part in carefully organised activities that help them to understand about stranger danger and road safety. She shares information regarding how to make a complaint, including details of how to contact

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the early years provision

Ofsted in order to ensure a safe and transparent provision for parents and children. Thorough risk assessments are conducted across the provision and regularly reviewed. Risk assessments include trips and outings out of the home and demonstrate the childminder's high level of understanding of how to minimise hazards and keep children safe.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her home so that it is stimulating and very welcoming to children. She offers a welcome to all children and their families because she promotes an inclusive provision. She effectively promotes equality of opportunities through polices and procedures and through the way the children's environment is organised. She organises her routines and her time entirely to supporting the children and to ensuring they are happy and well-occupied. Very effective communications take place with parents which helps the childminder to plan thoroughly to meet their needs. This is because parents are regularly kept informed of children's progress and have various ways of sharing information regarding children's activities and achievements at home. The childminder also has effective systems to share information with other settings that deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. This enables all involved in children's care and

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the early years provision

education to plan cohesively to support individual children. The childminder meets regularly with other professionals and uses various methods of evaluation that are closely monitored. She makes the most of training opportunities and any opportunities available to improve her knowledge. She drives forward improvement in a very capable and determined way.

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and outcomes for children

Children are very much at home within the setting. This is because they feel welcome and have a warm and close relationship with the childminder. Children's individual needs are extremely well met because the childminder works extremely hard to get to know them well. For example, one minded child needed to go into hospital for an operation, therefore the childminder took her on hospital visits and made a scrap book of photos she took that demonstrated what may happen. She also expertly planned activities back at the setting to help the child to further understand procedures and not be afraid. The childminder has an excellent understanding of children's backgrounds and home-life because she works so well with parents, who value the care she offers their children very highly. She makes excellent use of information gained from parents so that she can include children's interests and abilities into her planning to ensure they are able to enjoy and

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and outcomes for children

achieve. She also uses this information within discussions with the children and within activity planning to ensure children feel valued and important.

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and outcomes for children

Children are very independent and engage in purposeful discussions and practical learning opportunities throughout their daily routines. Their knowledge and independent learning is encouraged at every opportunity because of the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 childminder's expert understanding of how they can learn through play and practical activities. For example, children make healthy choices at snack time, they peel their own oranges and count segments and subtract as they eat them. The childminder continually observes the children and as a result has an excellent understanding of where they are at. Children make excellent progress as individuals because of her effective and comprehensive methods of observing and assessing their progress and because of the way she uses this information to plan for their next steps.

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and outcomes for children

Children are fully engaged in an excellent range of learning opportunities expertly planned to follow upon their interests and next stages of development. This means they are fully challenged and develop positive attitudes towards learning. This also enables children to develop to their full potential. Children's learning and development is fully promoted and extended. This is because of the childminder's expert planning to cover a range of learning opportunities that are fun and interesting. For example, children arrive at the setting and can play with polar bears and penguins in the tent representing an igloo. This activity was planned to link in with changes to the weather and because the children had shown an interest in polar bears when taking part in a imaginative play activity, pretending to be different animals. Children carried out research on the lap top to learn about polar bears. They moved on to look at ice melting in the play tray and they made

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and outcomes for children

and explored with pretend snow. Children show extremely high levels of engagement and enthusiasm for learning because activities are well- planned and organised. 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 2 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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