Childminder in Dorset

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY389312 Inspection date 03/02/2010 Inspector Marie Thompson

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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 2009. She lives with her husband and two children aged two years old and 19 months old in Blandford Forum, Dorset. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding and with access to a toilet on the ground floor. There is also a designated playroom on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden 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. She may care for a maximum of four children under eight years; of these one can be in the early years age group. Currently, the childminder is minding two children, of whom two are in the early years age group. The childminder has some fish. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. The childminder has NVQ Level 3 Childcare and Education and CACHE Level 1 in Home-based Childminding.

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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

Children are making very good progress through the Early Years Foundation Stage due to the effectiveness of the childminder, who is skilled and knowledgeable in child development and the needs of those children in her care. The childminder is highly effective in providing specific activities that interest and challenge children to extend their learning. Self-evaluation systems are efficient and enable the childminder to build on her strengths and provide very good levels of care and education. All children, regardless of age or need are welcomed and their individual needs planned for and met to a high standard. The partnership with parents and others is good and ensures that all adults work together to support and meet children’s individual needs.

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop the range of resources and activities that reflect equality and diversity

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the early years provision

The childminder safeguards children well through developing and implementing appropriate policies and procedures, which she shares with parents. She maintains children’s records accurately and shares these with parents which supports children’s welfare. The childminder has well organised systems to ensure that all adults in her home have up-to-date checks and remain suitable, and that all un- checked visitors are properly identified and supervised. She has a very good This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understanding of her responsibility in safeguarding children and, as a result, children feel safe and secure in their environment and make very good progress towards the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

A comprehensive range of risk assessments is effectively carried out on all areas in the childminder's home and for all outings with the children to ensure that safety and security are maintained at all times. The childminder is starting to make effective use of self-evaluation and reflective practice to accurately identify the strengths and weaknesses in her provision and to develop action plans for the continuous improvement of the provision. Positive relationships with parents and others involved in the children's care are enabling the childminder to ensure that the children are happy, confident and secure in her care. She shares information with parents on a daily basis and provides a daily diary enabling parents to have a good understanding of the activities and experiences their child has experienced.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides an inviting and child orientated environment and uses the local community to extend children's learning and development further. The childminder has a good understanding of equality and diversity which she explains to the children in a naturalistic way, which is meaningful to children. However, at the present time the range of resources and activities that reflect equality and diversity is limited. Although the childminder's planning shows some festivals she is going to cover with the children, such as Easter, Diwali and Hanukkah, Wesack, Holi and Grandparents Day. The designated play room is extremely inviting to children, the deployment of resources is outstanding with well laid out accessible resources and activities to stimulate children. The childminder uses the space really well within the home, with play extended into the living room and hallway. The childminder is positive about the inclusion of all children and works to ensure that

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the early years provision

children of all ages are provided with appropriate activities and experiences. The high priority given to children's health, welfare and safety is consistently maintained. The childminder spends her time focused on children's enjoyment and achievement and her interaction with them is excellent. She is warm and affectionate in her manner and attentive to their needs.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, confident and exceptionally well settled in the comfortable and relaxed atmosphere of the childminder's home. They are able to use the beautiful, designated play room. The room is adorned with colourful posters of numbers, shapes, the alphabet and a lovely elephant wall chart to help the children learn the time. There are lots and lots of lovely toys around the room which children can easily access and many more in the units and boxes. For example, lots of books, a play kitchen, a farm, animals, puzzles, cars, a castle, a zoo and teddies, Happy Land and stickle bricks to name a few.

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and outcomes for children

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. She talks to the children all the time and making repetitive sounds to help the children's word formation. Children have daily opportunities to make marks This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 with crayons or the chalks at the easel, and all their efforts are praised and valued by the childminder. All of the children's drawings are displayed on the kitchen door which increase their self-esteem and pride in their achievements. The childminder plans activities to support children's individual interests. She is aware that one child likes the water so she has arranged to take the child swimming at the local pool to encourage her current interest, whilst the other child loves riding the bikes

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and outcomes for children

outside so the childminder makes a special effort to ensure that there are different bikes and trikes for her to ride on. The childminder has planned some exciting themes to capture the children's interests over the coming months, such as minibeats, colours, the outdoor environment, the weather, numbers, transport and the seasons. Weekly outings the children enjoy include trips to the local parks, walks around the local area, going to toddler groups, soft play and the Children's Centre. Children have fun taking part in a good range of activities, such as story time, singing, playing musical instruments, crafts, cooking, water and sand, play dough, small world, construction, role play, junk modelling and dancing. Children enjoy a good balance of indoor and outdoor play, and the garden is used regularly to promote positive outcomes for children, for example, ride on toys balls, slide, seesaw and trampoline are used to promote physical development and promote

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and outcomes for children

The children's individual scrapbooks provide clear and informed details on all six areas of learning. The assessments and photographs taken provide very good evidence of where the children are in their learning journey. The childminder is skilled in assessing the children from when they first start with her by seeking information from parents on their children's needs, routines and interests. This, along with the childminder's observations, establishes a secure basis to start from to extend and develop children's learning and progress very effectively. The childminder's very good knowledge of child development and her skills in engaging children in challenging and stimulating activities, enables children to make very good progress towards the early learning goals. The childminder is skilful in supporting children of different ages, ensuring that all the children have age- appropriate activities and are supported by her in their learning and play. She is an

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and outcomes for children

excellent role model as well as being very kind and gentle with the children. Consequently, the children are relaxed and kind to each other. 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 1 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 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 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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