Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY256419 Inspection date 10/12/2009 Inspector Susan Tuffnell

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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 2003. She lives and works with her daughter who is also a registered childminder and her four other children, who are aged 16, 14, 13 and 11. The family live in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The premises are accessed by a low step to the front entrance.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder provides care every weekday during term time and school holidays. She is registered on the Early Years Register and compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for to care for three children on the Early Years Register and currently four children attend on part-time and flexible contracts. The childminder does not currently provide care for any children on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (CCR) and there are currently three children attending on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register (VCR). When working with another childminder they may care for no more than six children in the early years group, and of these, not more than two children may be under one year at any one time. All the children share the same facilities. The family have two dogs and guinea pigs.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder holds the Introduction to Childcare Practice qualification.

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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 make satisfactory progress in their learning and development. The childminder offers a welcoming environment that generally supports children's welfare, learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children benefit from some planned and imaginative activities and an effective partnership with parents contributes to ensuring that the individual needs of the children are met. Children are valued at the setting because the childminder has a good understanding of diversity and equal opportunities. Some procedures are in place for evaluating her practice, identifying the strengths and weaknesses and setting some priorities for improvement in the future.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that at least one person who has a current paediatric first aid certificate is on the premises at all times when children are present (Safeguarding and the welfare of children). 30/03/2010

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  ensure that children's identified learning needs (next steps) are carried forward, implemented into future planning and evaluated to give a clear picture of children's progress towards the early learning goals  update the child protection information in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidance.

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the early years provision

Most major aspects of leadership and management are satisfactory, some areas of weakness have been identified, and the childminder demonstrates that she has the capacity to improve. For example, all recommendations made at the previous inspection are satisfied. The childminder has updated her first aid training. However, she does not have the evidence to confirm that she has attended and completed a paediatric first aid course approved by the local authority, to ensure children's health and safety are fully protected. Parents are actively encouraged to be involved in supporting their child’s learning and development. For example, positive comments in recent questionnaires are used to enhance the childminder's practice and improve outcomes for children. Children are generally protected because the childminder knows and understands child protection. However, the child protection information does not fully reflect the Local Safeguarding Children

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the early years provision

Board guidance and procedures, to ensure safeguarding regulations and duties are met and in line with current requirements. The childminder takes steps to eliminate risk and help to raise children's awareness about how to keep themselves safe. For example, children practise road safety as they walk to and from school. Clear procedures ensure children's safety and well-being. For example, the risk assessment lists identified hazards and details for contacting Ofsted are available to parents in the complaints procedure.

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the early years provision

Good quality resources are freely available to the children and are sufficient to support their learning and development. Regular observations and assessments are carried out to generally track children's progress through the early learning goals. However, children's identified learning needs are not securely carried forward, implemented into future planning and evaluated to give a clear picture of their progress. The childminder promotes equality and diversity well, through effective policies, procedures and practice. Children begin to understand about diversity as they experience the wider world with art and craft activities, stories and roll-play. Parents are encouraged to be involved in supporting their children’s learning and development, through an exchange of verbal feedback and the sharing of some of the children's work and photographs.

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and outcomes for children

Children are provided with a satisfactory range of opportunities to help them make progress across the areas of learning and development. They have free choice as This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 they access play materials from the low-level boxes and shelves and benefit from some interesting equipment and activities that challenge their learning. For example, children use calculation and numeracy as they enjoy a game of skittles. They count the number of skittles knocked down and then calculate how many are left. Children show good skills as they roll the ball towards the skittles and then adjust the angle to reach the skittles remaining. Mathematical language is encouraged by the childminder as children add and subtract numbers. Children take turns nicely, praise and congratulate each other and thoroughly enjoy the game. Children are encouraged to recognise and identify colours, shapes and

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and outcomes for children

letters in the local environment, such as car colours and number plates and letters on signs.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder supports the children's learning with praise and encouragement for their efforts and achievement. As a result, children are confident, happy and secure. They have ample opportunities to instigate play as they choose from boxes of age-appropriate resources. Children's language development is supported by the childminder as she asks open-ended questions to encourage a response. Young children repeat one or two words back and are beginning to make short sentences and to associate words with actions. For example, children mimic the sounds of the dogs and say 'juice' clearly when it is offered. They are beginning to express their emotions verbally as they interact with others, listen to conversation and use language to get a response. Good resources such as books and art and craft materials give children daily opportunities to enjoy stories and make marks.

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and outcomes for children

Children follow appropriate personal hygiene routines and they are beginning to understand the importance of regular exercise and healthy eating. Children collect sticks, twigs and logs and work together to build dens and camps in the woods. Young children are praised and encouraged as they use the toilet and wash their hands independently. They sit quietly at the breakfast bar, wait patently for their snack and ask nicely to leave the table when they have finished. Children walk everywhere with the childminder and have daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise. Knowledge and understanding of the world is planned for well. For example, children use black coloured rice, carrots and sausages to design Halloween spiders and they test their skills at 'bobbing' for apples. They use plastic carving kits to cut and scoop the inside of pumpkins to make faces and have great fun winding paper around each other to make Egyptian mummies.

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and outcomes for children

Interesting resources and activities are available about the wider world to help children value and respect diversity and differences. For example, lanterns are made for the Chinese New Year celebrations and children design cards and dance to music at Diwali. Musical instruments and electronic musical toys, including drums from Nigeria are available for children to create different sounds. 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 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 2 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 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: 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

 ensure that at least one person who is caring for children has an appropriate first aid qualification (Welfare of the children being cared for). 30/03/2010

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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 compulsory childcare register section of this report 30/03/2010

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