Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY100202 Inspection date 20/10/2009 Inspector Jan Burnet

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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 was registered in 2001. She lives in a village location to the south of Northampton with her husband and four children age nearly two, five, eight and 12 years. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home is registered for childminding and a conservatory is a designated playroom. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outside play. Pets are four chickens, kept in a fenced area of the garden.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for four children aged under eight years at any one time, of whom two may be in the early years age group. Her husband is her registered assistant and when working together registration is for a total of six children and five may be in the early years group. There are currently four children on roll and three are in the early years group. The childminder walks and transports children to and from a local school. She attends parent and toddler groups.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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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

The childminder's understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is strong. She promotes children's care needs well, although one requirement is not being fully met, and meets their individual developmental needs effectively. The childminder ensures that all children are valued and included. Information obtained from parents helps her to identify and address children's differences. The childminder is aware of her strengths and areas for improvement and uses this awareness to review her practice. Her commitment to continue to monitor and extend her practice within her childminding supports the development of children’s care and learning.

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further?

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

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further?

 request written permission for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment from all parents (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 30/10/2009

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further?

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

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further?

 extend systems for using information from parents, as well as observation and assessment, to plan next steps for individual children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a warm and welcoming environment and measures are in place to promote children's health and safety. She is aware of her responsibilities with regard to supervising the children in her care. Necessary checks for herself and her family have been completed and the childminder ensures that children are never left unsupervised with a person who has not been vetted. Most welfare requirements are met well, however, children’s best interests are not fully served because written permission has not been requested from all parents for seeking emergency medical advice or treatment. A written risk assessment identifies how potential hazards have been identified and addressed in the home and on outings. The childminder is aware of her responsibility with regard to protecting children from abuse. She completed child protection training in 2006 and has booked designated person training for December 2009. A thorough safeguarding

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the early years provision

procedure has been drawn up for parents. Records are kept up-to-date and in good order. The childminder makes sure that resources are chosen for their quality and durability and that they meet the different developmental needs of children well. Toys are maintained in a good state of repair.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of the benefits of self-evaluation and identifies areas for improvement as updating her safeguarding knowledge, developing a vegetable plot that will include an area where children can dig freely and providing a newsletter for parents each term. Her commitment to improvement is strong and she has recently begun studying for a Certificate in Early Years Practice with the Open University. Between 2007 and 2009 the childminder completed training courses on first aid, food hygiene, EYFS and 'Action Kids'. There was one recommendation raised at the last inspection; to improve opportunities for children to make spontaneous independent choices by freely accessing a range of books, art and craft materials and mark making equipment. This has been addressed well as children are able to choose and easily select resources.

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the early years provision

Information provided for and obtained from parents is good. Written policies include ones on safeguarding, complaints, equal opportunities, special needs, managing behaviour, a missing child and a child not collected at the agreed time. Parents sign to say that they are aware of all policies and procedures. The childminder also provides comprehensive information on illness. Parents are shown a portfolio containing information on her family, past Ofsted reports and registration certificates, insurance, training certificates, police clearance information and references from former parents. The childminder seeks the views of parents about the provision, verbally and with a questionnaire. Feedback is requested on communication, routines, activities, any concerns about their child's development, management of behaviour, and whether they have any other comments. The childminder completes a daily diary for each child and shows

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the early years provision

parents their child's observation and assessment records.

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the early years provision

The childminder encourages children to gain an understanding of difference, for example she provides resources that reflect different cultures and disability and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children gain an awareness of different religious and cultural festivals. In discussion, the childminder explains how she ensures that the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and English as an additional language are met. For example, by obtaining as much information as possible about each child's individual needs from parents and by agreeing with them how they can work together to meet these needs. The childminder is aware of the benefits of establishing and maintaining positive links with other professionals involved in the care and education of the children.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making good progress and the childminder is clear of her responsibilities with regard to ensuring that all children are challenged effectively. The range of resources and activities meet their needs well. Children's achievements are being recorded, but systems are not fully developed for using information from parents as well as from observation and assessment to inform planning for next steps in learning.

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and outcomes for children

Personal, social emotional development is strong. Children are happy and settled. Their independence is promoted effectively as opportunities for them to choose and select resources are very good because storage is well organised in the playroom. They are able to address there own personal hygiene needs as they have easy access to the ground floor toilet. Children play cooperatively and they are learning to share and take turns. They develop social skills at parent and toddler groups and develop physical skills at home, at the park and at soft play centres because they have access to age appropriate climbing, balancing and riding equipment. They dance and their creativity is promoted as they move imaginatively to music, play with a range of role play resources and enjoy art and craft activities.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop good manipulative skills as they play with a variety of resources that are appropriate for different ages and stages of development. They make marks with pencils, crayons, pens, chalks and paint, and as they play with dough. Children enjoy looking at books and choose favourite stories for the childminder to read. They learn to recognise their name in print as the childminder uses a, 'who's here today' board and labels pegs for hand towels. Children count randomly as they play. The childminder promotes young children's development effectively as she encourages, 'one on one' counting, initially to three and then to five. Children are then encouraged to recognise numerals on the same basis. Problem solving is promoted and children are alert and confident. For example, a young child immediately notices that the top of a stacking toy, which is the head of a chicken, is on upside-down and he corrects it.

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and outcomes for children

Children play in a safe environment and they are learning how to keep themselves safe. For example, why they must hold on to the pushchair when out walking, and looking and listening before and whilst crossing the road. They are active and understand the benefits of physical activity. The childminder provides healthy snacks and parents currently choose to provide meals. Children understand and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 adopt healthy habits such as good hygiene practices. They develop an awareness of their own growth needs in relation to other living things, for example the care of the chickens and what they need to do to ensure that their strawberry plants grow. They help to pick tomatoes that they have grown and learn from the childminder, "red ones yes, green ones no!". 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 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 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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