Mills Suzanne

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY256481 Inspection date 21/10/2009 Inspector Susan Ennis

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight and 16 in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. The whole of the ground floor and one bedroom of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. Accessibility to the premises is via one step. The family has no pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder provides care each weekday during term-time and occasionally during school holidays. She is registered on the Early Years Register to care for a maximum of three children in the early years age range and is currently minding two children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years and this provision is registered on the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently two children on roll in this age group. Children on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register share the same facilities as those on the Early Years Register.

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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

The childminder provides a welcoming and generally safe environment for all children and ensures that all are included and supported. Activities are adapted to enable all children to participate and enjoy their time at the setting. Children make sound progress in their learning and development because the childminder's flexible approach to planning generally meets their individual needs. The childminder has taken some steps to evaluate her practice and is consequently able to make changes to improve the daily care and experiences she offers the children, parents and carers. She demonstrates a growing awareness of the practice required to promote the individual needs of the children and has the capacity to improve.

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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 the safeguarding procedure includes the procedures for dealing with allegations against a member of the household (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 05/11/2009

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further?

 conduct a risk assessment and record when it was carried out and by whom. Regularly review the risk assessment, at least once a year, and include in the record the date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to both 05/11/2009 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 parts of the Childcare Register).

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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 use of starting points, observations and assessments to progress children's learning towards the early learning goals and to highlight any areas of concern or further challenge and share this information with parents and others involved in the children's lives  develop further the use of planning to demonstrate the differentiation for meeting children's individual needs and the areas of learning covered by the activity  continue to develop a culture of reflective practice, self-evaluation and informed discussion to further identify the setting's strengths and priorities for improvement.

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the early years provision

The childminder has most policies and procedures in place to ensure that all children are protected. For example, she has attended child protection training to increase her knowledge of the signs and symptoms of abuse and has the required contact numbers for concerns in place. However, as her procedure does not include the action to be taken if an allegation is made against her or a member of her family the regulations are not fully met. She ensures that all those coming into contact with the children are suitable to do so and she also ensures that all family members are correctly checked. Children move freely around the setting because the childminder takes sound steps to minimise the hazards. She carries out daily safety checks to ensure, for example, that the safety gates are closed preventing the children's unsupervised access to areas such as the kitchen. However, as full risk assessments of the premises and garden are not carried out children's safety is

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the early years provision

Children's individual development is generally promoted because the childminder has sound procedures and resources in place to support, monitor and evaluate their progress. The available resources are steadily used and the all-inclusive, child-friendly environment is generally conducive to children's learning and play. For example, low-level storage boxes enable the children to freely select items to play with and rotation of resources provides an interesting environment. The childminder actively encourages environmental sustainability by involving the children in the local toddler groups taking place and by using the toy library or swapping resources with friends to vary the range of resources available.

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the early years provision

The childminder has implemented some systems to improve her provision, such as, meeting all the actions set at the last inspection and attending update training to improve the outcomes for children. However, as limited self-evaluation is currently taking place, strengths and areas for improvement are not clearly identified therefore limiting potential priorities for further development. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder generally updates the parents about their child's welfare and development by using verbal communication to promote consistency. Parents are encouraged to share any concerns they may have and are made aware of the childminder's policies and procedures including the complaints procedure. Parents describe the childminder as 'kind, considerate and patient where nothing is ever too much trouble' and describe the only problem as being ' the children do not

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the early years provision

want to go home.' The childminder demonstrates an awareness of liaising with other agencies and plans to improve this area of her work to provide more continuity for the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a sound understanding of anti-discriminatory practice, enabling her to provide a service which is inclusive for all children and families. She works with the parents to ensure that she understands each child's background, needs and beliefs, for example, incorporating religious practices into the daily routine. Children are gently encouraged to recognise differences and respect diversity. This is encouraged by discussing world festivals and playing with, for example, books and puzzles reflecting the diverse society in which we live.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder offers a sound range of opportunities to support the children to make satisfactory progress in the areas of learning and development. Her flexible approach to planning ensures that children have a choice in what to play with. For example, children play with the small world town until they decide that they would like to play with the cars instead. They are then encouraged to help tidy away the previous activity building their independence skills. However, the planning does not currently identify all the areas of learning covered by an activity or the differentiation for meeting each child's individual needs. Therefore, areas of concern or further challenge are potentially missed. The childminder is generally aware of where the children are in their development and uses observations to record their achievements. However, there is limited information regarding children's points and current systems do not sufficiently demonstrate children's

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and outcomes for children

next steps or their progress. Therefore children's individual needs are not always effectively met.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder generally ensures that there is a sound range of both adult-led and child-initiated activities to stimulate children's interests. They develop their knowledge and understanding of the world by making cress heads with cress seeds and egg shells and discuss dinosaurs in a sticker book and choosing the one they like the best. Their creative skills are encouraged as they play with the water and sand and draw with crayons proudly showing the inspector what they have drawn. Their physical skills are developing as they make active use of the garden and enjoy regular visits to the park and recycling centre where they enjoy disposing of all the plastic containers and discussing with the childminder why the tins need to be washed out. Their social skills are positively encouraged as they visit a range of groups and friends to play alongside their peers and learn to, for example, take turns and share resources.

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are clearly settled with the childminder and demonstrate this by confidently carrying out regular tasks such as collecting the post when it is delivered. They are encouraged to use appropriate behaviour and the childminder, acting as a positive role model, helps them make the right choices. Good manners are encouraged and sensitive reminders are offered when children momentarily forget.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health and welfare are positively promoted as the childminder takes steps to minimise the spread of infection and develop children's understanding of healthy living. They know to wash their hands after using the toilet and to put their tissue in the bin after blowing their nose. They are becoming aware of their own safety as they practise road awareness when, for example, the childminder encourages them to listen for the cars as well as looking for them before crossing the road. 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 (Arrangements for Safeguarding Children) 05/11/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Arrangements for Safeguarding Children). 05/11/2009

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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 (Arrangements for Safeguarding Children) 05/11/2009

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Arrangements for Safeguarding Children). 05/11/2009

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