Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY257352 Inspection date 16/12/2009 Inspector Lynn Dent

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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 three children aged nine, seven and two years in Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire. The whole of the ground floor, including toilet facilities, of the childminder’s house is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of four children at any one time. She is currently minding nine children, of whom three are in the early years age range and one is over the age of eight years. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local carer and toddler group, takes children to the library. The family has a pet dog.

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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 are settled in the care of the childminder who plans a range of activities and experiences that help to promote their learning and development. Information about children's welfare needs and routines are collected at induction. The childminder is in the early stages of monitoring and assessing children's progress and is beginning to use this information to inform future planning. Good systems are in place to enable the childminder to communicate with other childcare providers. The childminder has started to self-evaluate the provision to identify her strengths and is beginning to recognise areas for improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the arrangements in place to further determine children's starting points so their strengths and interests can be built on  develop further the arrangements for observing and assessing young children to identify their achievements and the next steps in their learning and development and use this information to plan effectively across all areas of learning  improve the record of risk assessment to include all outings; this is with regards to visiting the library  develop further the systems in place to self-evaluate and monitor practice to bring about continuous improvement to ensure that the needs of all the children are met. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is protected because adults living on the premises have been checked to ensure their suitability to be with children. The childminder has a clear understanding of how to recognise and report concerns regarding child abuse and neglect. Children are cared for in a safe and secure environment because the childminder carries out checks to ensure that potential hazards are removed. As a result cleaning fluids, sharp knives and family medication are stored inaccessible to children. The childminder has carried out risk assessments for taking children to school and other general walks around the village. She can explain how she keeps children safe when visiting the library, although this is not reflected in the record of risk assessments.

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the early years provision

A suitable range of written policies and procedures are in place to promote children's health, safety and welfare. These are shared with parents at induction and available for reference at all times so that they understand the service provided. The childminder has established positive relationships with parents and shares information about the children's care and routines through daily discussions and diaries and is also shares their child's developmental record with them. As a result parents are being informed of their child's progress. The childminder has good systems in place to communicate with others involved in the children's lives, for example, the local pre-school where information about children's learning and development is shared. The childminder and teacher at the local primary school have come to an agreement and share information in the form of a written document.

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the early years provision

The childminder has self-evaluated her provision and is able to identify her strengths and is beginning to identify areas for improvement. However, her self evaluation does not yet reflect the impact on the children or the areas for improvement. The childminder has taken the appropriate steps to meet the recommendations from the last inspection and also attended a range of training showing a commitment to sustain and improve her service. The childminder ensures that all children are included and their individual needs are taken into account prompting inclusive practice.

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and outcomes for children

At induction the childminder collects information from the parents about the children's welfare needs and routines. However, very little information is collected about their stage of development and learning. Consequently, the childminder does not have all the necessary information to build in what the children already know and can do, although she uses her own observations of the children to help assess this. The childminder is in the early stages of recording children's achievements and the next steps in their learning and development and is beginning to use this information to inform future planning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children’s health and well-being are effectively promoted because the childminder helps them understand this through daily routines. As a result children can explain why they wash their hands and that fruit is a healthy food which helps them to

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and outcomes for children

grow. Children's independence is promoted as they make choices about what to eat for lunch and which cup they wish to use for their drinks. Children behave well because the childminder sets realistic rules. They are learning to share, take turns, and as a result they play well together. The childminder helps children to understand how to keep themselves safe through discussions about everyday events. For example, on a recent walk the pavement was closed due to a gas leak. The childminder explained and photographs show that she explained the importance of walking safely around this.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe and happy in the childminders care because she provides cuddles when they are feeling insecure or tired. Appropriate support is provided to enable all children to participate in the experiences provided. For example, the childminder shares a tactile story book with the children. They are all asked to touch and listen and to explain what they feel and hear. Older children are asked to explain what the pictures show and younger children are asked to identify the animals and the noises that they make. Older children can identify the initial letters of their name and that of their siblings. They can also identify and count numbers to four on toys. Children learn about the wider world in which they live through activities linked to different festivals through the years. For example, they make jumping bunnies for Easter and divas for Diwali. The childminder cares for a number of children from families with a range of religious beliefs and checks with

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and outcomes for children

parents that they agree to their children being involved in the activities she provides. This shows that she takes account and respects their personal views. Children enjoy growing potatoes and tomatoes in the garden which helps them understand how to care for plants and where foods come from. 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 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 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 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: 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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