Childminder in Devon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY361725 Inspection date 01/10/2009 Inspector Judith Harris

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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 registered in 2007. She lives in the village of Stibb Cross, North Devon, with her partner and two children aged three and five years. The whole of the ground floor of the of the childminder's home is used for childminding and children use the bathroom on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. A maximum of four children aged from birth to eight years may attend the setting at any one time. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. There is currently one child attending who is within the early years age range. The family own two rabbits.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder has a good knowledge of each child's individual learning and development needs which allows her to support them through well planned activities and experiences. Children's safety and security in the childminder's home is well supported and good risk assessments ensure safety is maintained as well as on regular outings to the local and wider areas. The childminder's good partnerships with parents effectively support her to meet the children's individual needs. The positive use of self-evaluation and reflective practice ensure that the childminder is successful in developing her service and continuing her professional development.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to promote respect and positive attitudes to diversity by encouraging children to talk with each other about similarities and differences, using props and stories about children who are both like them and different from them  continue to develop the systems for collecting information about children's learning, in the setting, at home and at any other setting attended to support planning for next steps

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the early years provision

The childminder's systems are well organised and enable her to ensure that all adults in her home have up to date checks and remain suitable. All visitors to the childminder's home are identified and supervised to ensure children are not left in the care of un-vetted adults. The safeguarding children policy is in place and provides information for procedures in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines. The childminder has a comprehensive range of risk assessments This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 for all areas of the home and for all outings with the children. The emergency evacuation plans are in place and good systems for the safe arrival and collection of all children are used by the childminder. The childminder's systems ensure that all required records and documentation are available and effective in providing all necessary information for the support of each child's individual needs. The

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the early years provision

childminder is effective in sharing all relevant records with the parents, including any accident and medication records and daily information about activities and events.

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the early years provision

The childminder supports each child's diverse needs equally using the information that she collects through the children's learning journey records and information she gathers from parents. The childminder's planning shows how she ensures that activities and experiences are planned to meet the children's individual needs and interests.

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the early years provision

The childminder uses all the information she gathers through the evaluation of activities and the children's records to reflect on the effectiveness of her service in meeting the children's needs. The childminder's self-evaluation enables her to accurately identify the strengths and weaknesses in her service and to develop action plans for the continuous improvement. The childminder continues her professional development by attending a variety of training and workshops. The childminder is committed to building good positive relationships with both parents and other provisions. She provides daily information for parents and ongoing records of children's learning journeys are effectively shared.

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident, happy and comfortable in the relaxed atmosphere of the childminder's home. Children are carefully supported by the childminder which enables them to feel secure and confident in making choices from the activities and resources provided. Children's individual learning and development is clearly effectively supported by the understanding the childminder has of children's individual needs. The childminder has developed her use of learning journey records to support her in gathering information about each child's starting points and their individual interests. The childminder has a variety of observation and assessment formats to support her to gather a wide range of information. She is enthusiastically embracing the Early Years Foundation Stage and has a secure knowledge of how to plan and provide activities that meet children's individual needs and extend and challenge them through their own interests. The planning

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and outcomes for children

and individual learning journey records effectively demonstrate the childminder's knowledge and understanding of the early learning goals. The range of information that can be gathered for each child ensures that the childminder is able to meet each child's needs equally and to plan successfully for children's next steps.

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and outcomes for children

Children play in the sitting/dining room where they have direct and safe access to a wide range of toys, equipment and resources that are suitable for their ages. Children play in the garden; they have a water tray with a variety of tools and bowls and buckets to pour and measure with. Children use their imagination to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 extend the play. They have two ride-on cars that they include in the game, first using the water as petrol to fill the tank with and then washing the cars with the water. The childminder supports the children's play that they are clearly delighted in. She is observant to ensure safety and uses her interaction to encourage the children to explore, experiment and discover. The childminder's interaction with the children is enthusiastic and she uses lots of open questions and praise to help extend their learning and develop their language skills. Children have access to

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and outcomes for children

creative art and craft activities, musical instruments and dressing up clothes. Children are beginning to learn about the wider world through regular visits to the local area. Children have daily outdoor play in the childminder's garden and at local outdoor areas.

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and outcomes for children

Children are carefully supported to learn good basic hygiene skills through the use of good hygiene routines. Children go with the childminder to the toilet and wash their own hands; they are provided with paper towels to maintain good hygiene. Children are offered a good range of healthy and balanced meals and snacks through good partnerships with parents. The childminder takes detailed information about any special dietary restrictions to ensure children's individual dietary needs are met. The childminder has a clear understanding of the importance of the use of positive strategies to support children's behaviour, and the good levels of independence support children in not becoming upset or frustrated. Children are actively encouraged to share and take turns and to have respect for the feelings of others. The childminder is careful to monitor the children at play to ensure that a good balance is maintained between children being safe

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and outcomes for children

and their freedom to explore and experiment. 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 2 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 2

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 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 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: 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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