Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 225290 Inspection date 30/03/2010 Inspector Alison Putnar

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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 1992. She lives with her two adult children in the village of Syston in Leicestershire. The ground floor of the house is used for childminding, which includes access to toilet facilities. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding four children, three are in the early years age group. The childminder is registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare 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 works generally well with parents and other settings the children attend to ensure that information about children's care needs are shared; discussions focus less on developmental needs. Systems for safeguarding children's welfare are secure on the whole. The childminder is building knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and is beginning to consider how children learn from the activities provided and how she can plan for further learning. Methods of monitoring and assessing children's development are progressing well. The childminder shows a commitment to making improvements for the benefit of the children. She has addressed most issues raised at the last inspection and begun to complete methods of self-evaluation to assess and improve her practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 maintain a current paediatric first aid certificate (Qualifications, training and skills also applies to both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register). 30/06/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 expand knowledge of the six areas of learning to enable assessments on children's development to be completed more effectively and to plan activities to help children make further progress  provide increasing opportunities for children to make choices from the range of toys available  develop further links with parents and others providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage, such as pre-school staff, to ensure all are working together to support children to reach their full potential  expand systems to evaluate performance and plan for ongoing improvement. 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 has a secure understanding of practices to keep children safe and supervises them well. The home is organised well to create a safe and suitable environment. Basic risk assessments are completed for the home and trips out to further reduce the likelihood of accidents. The childminder demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting children from harm and neglect. She demonstrates a suitable understanding of procedures to safeguard children should she ever been concerned for their welfare. Since the last inspection she has developed a safeguarding children procedure, which is available for parents promoting a shared responsibility in keeping children safe and promoting their welfare.

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the early years provision

Space is created for children to eat and play in comfortable surroundings. An adequate range of toys and resources are provided. The childminder rotates boxes of toys to enable children to make some choices about what they want to play with, fostering their enjoyment. The childminder takes account of individual's interests and provides activities that she knows they enjoy. She actively encourages all children to take part in activities such as building with blocks, playing with the dolls, physical play and baking, promoting equality and suitably challenging perceived stereotypes. An adequate range of toys and books that promote positive images of the wider society enable children to begin to explore and celebrate their differences. The childminder is at an early stage of observing children during play and is beginning to record some aspects of their progress. As the method is so new it has yet to show how children are progressing in all six

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the early years provision

areas of learning equally. Overall, children make satisfactory progress in relation to their starting points.

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the early years provision

The childminder presents a positive attitude to making improvements. Since the last inspection she has worked hard to ensure that required records and policies are now in place to support the safe and efficient running of the setting. She also began a training course for first aid, however, was unable to complete the course and as such this remains an area for development. The childminder seeks and takes on board advice from relevant professionals and has begun to look at her practice to consider areas to develop to further benefit the children. For example, expanding her assessments of children's progress to ensure she is able to help them make progress in all six areas of learning through providing a stimulating environment. Relationships with parents are established to ensure that information about children's individual care needs are shared and documented. Methods for discussing children's development with parents and other settings the children

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the early years provision

attend such as local pre-schools are less well established missing opportunities for all to work together to further support individual's progress. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children generally enjoy their time playing and make sound progress from the adequate range of activities they encounter. Their communication skills are supported as the childminder engages them in conversations about previous experiences and what they would like to play with. A child recalls a baking activity at the childminder's, talking about when they made ginger bread people. Some craft activities are provided; these encourage children to practise using single- handed tools such as crayons and paint brushes, developing control needed for writing skills. Children's imagination is appropriately supported as they play with small world toys such as the dolls and farm animals. Young ones develop some mathematical skills as they count ducks they see at the local pond or talk about shapes they see in the environment during trips out. The childminder is at an early stage of observing children in play and as such has not considered fully how she

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and outcomes for children

can support children to make further progress through activities she provides.

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and outcomes for children

The children settle well and are confident in the setting enabling them to voice their wishes, asking for their snack or to visit the toilet. They independently operate in the setting moving to the kitchen to enjoy the drawing activity or getting out the role-play toys when pretending to make dinner for each other. They practise skills of putting on their shoes, managing toileting and hand washing skills in preparation for school. Children operate safely showing they understand methods to keep themselves safe, such as sitting at the table for snacks and drinks to prevent choking and treating the equipment and each other with respect. During the walk home from school the childminder uses appropriate methods to help children learn to keep safe, for example, learning how to cross the road safely. Children are well behaved in the setting; sensitive methods of discussion are used to encourage children to understand right from wrong and to learn to

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and outcomes for children

share and take turns. The children get on well together and younger ones develop their social skills as they mix with others of a similar age at toddler groups.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is promoted as the childminder communicates with parents about dietary needs and serves meals provided by them. Children follow good hygiene routines, washing their hands before meals and after visiting the toilet. Sometimes children benefit from opportunities to gain fresh air and exercise in the garden or when visiting local parks. They develop some physical skills as they explore equipment such as the wheeled toys and ball games. The childminder has plans to incorporate wider learning opportunities such as planting and growing seeds to help children explore and develop their knowledge and understanding of the world. This has not yet had a positive impact on children, but evidences a commitment to extending the range of activities to further promote children's enjoyment and learning. 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 (Qualifications and training). 30/06/2010

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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 above (Qualifications and training). 30/06/2010

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