Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 225869 Inspection date 21/01/2010 Inspector Patricia King

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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 1996. She lives with her partner, two children aged 15 years and an adult child in the village of Fleckney which is situated in the south of Leicestershire. All of the ground floor of the childminder's house except the dining room and the utility room is used. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for 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 five children in this age group. She also offers to care for children aged over five to 11 years. The provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has an early years qualification. She walks to local schools/pre- schools to take and collect children and attends the local parent/toddler group. 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

This childminder fosters positive working relationships with parents providing them with good information about her services and their child's care and learning. She takes care to find out all the necessary details to meet children’s individual needs, consequently, she knows them well and they are happy, settled and confident in her care. She works closely any other providers or agencies working with children to promote continuity of care and development. Children have access to a broad range of activities which promote play and learning indoors and outside the home. She has not fully established an effective system to assess her strengths and weaknesses such as the recording of the risk assessment of the premises and positive use of learning records.

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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 record of the risk assessment showing when and by whom risks have been checked (Suitable premises, environment & equipment also applies to both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register). 04/02/2010

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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 observations of what children can do are used effectively to check that learning is secure in all areas and planning is consistently informed to promote children’s next steps in their learning and development  develop systems in place to ensure self-evaluation is used effectively to identify strengths and weaknesses in performance and plan ongoing improvement

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded effectively because the childminder has a sound understanding of child protection procedures and knows what to do to report any concerns. A suitable range of written policies and procedures are in place to promote children's health, safety and welfare and copies of these documents are available to parents. She has organised her home effectively to provide a secure, welcoming environment to children and their families. She promotes children's safety by undertaking appropriate risk assessments of the premises and any outings and by maintaining close supervision at all times. However, the record of the risk assessment of her home is not complete which is a breach of requirement.

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the early years provision

The childminder has established positive relationships with parents and has formed partnerships with others involved in the children's lives, for example, the key workers at the local pre-school. This helps to support and promote children’s overall learning and development. She is vigilant to obtain necessary written permissions, however, not all agreements with parents are fully established and signed to secure arrangements for children’s care and welfare.

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the early years provision

The childminder gives careful consideration to the inclusion of all children and effectively organises activities and learning opportunities so that they are fully enabled to participate safely and confidently. She has completed most of the improvements required and recommended at the previous inspection but she has not established an efficient system to assess her strengths and weaknesses and secure ongoing improvement.

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and outcomes for children

This childminder has organised her home and routines to provide a safe, secure environment for children where toys, activities and resources are stored within easy reach to promote independence and choice. Consequently, children move freely around the areas of the home used confident to select a toy, activity or game to play with. This means that children develop a sense of belonging and build positive relationships with this childminder and her family. The childminder provides a varied and suitable programme of activities in her home and uses local pre-school settings to engage children's interest and extend their learning opportunities.

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and outcomes for children

Children’s health and well-being are well promoted because the childminder is a This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 positive role model, helps children learn through daily routines and plans practical learning opportunities. Consequently, children understand why careful hand washing after using the toilet and before handling or eating food is important to their good health and follow these personal care routines carefully. Children behave well and are developing an understanding of what is right and wrong. They are learning to share, take turns and show care and concern for each other because the childminder introduces games and activities to practise these skills. They follow the sensible house rules to promote safe behaviour and respond happily to gentle reminders when these are needed. They are learning to be safe outside the home as they practise road safety on outings and talk about stranger

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and outcomes for children

The childminder understands the needs of children of differing ages and stages of development and that children learn as they play. She spends time getting to know each child's likes, dislikes and individual comforts which means she is well prepared to settle any child distressed by separation from their parent or carer. She gets down to their level, talks to them and asks appropriate questions to stimulate their involvement and learning. Consequently, children feel confident to express themselves, for example, asking for a favourite toy, comforter or cuddle when tired.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning about the environment and their community as they visit groups, parks, the library, shops and places of local interest. In this way the childminder uses spontaneous opportunities to help children learn such as observing the effects of the weather and seasons and collecting resources such as twigs and leaves for their creative work. Children’s imagination and creativity are fostered well as they are involved in role play and have suitable resources and opportunities to create pictures, models and collages. Discussion and photographs show they enjoy finding about the wider world and their place in it. Systems to sensitively observe and assess what children can do are in place, however, this information is not yet used consistently to plan for individual children’s next steps. 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 ( Suitability and Safety of Premises and Equipment). 04/02/2010

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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 early years section of the report ( Suitability and Safety of Premises and Equipment). 04/02/2010

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