Childminder in West Sussex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY386960 Inspection date 05/10/2009 Inspector Chris Mackinnon

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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 2008. She lives with her husband and one child under five years in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex. The house is easily accessible and the whole ground floor is used for childminding. An enclosed back garden with deck and purpose built play area is also available for outdoor activities. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. A maximum of five minded children may attend, with no more than three attending in the early years age group. The childminder currently has five children on roll, with all five in the early years age group. The childminder attends local play centres and activity groups on a regular basis.

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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 is effective in her support for individual children's care and welfare, and has a consistent understanding of their development needs. A highly organised and stimulating play environment is provided with a wide range of attractive resources and materials. The childminder is confident in her planning and presentation of activities, and children's progress and learning is successfully promoted. The childminder works positively in partnership with parents and other carers, and shows a consistent approach to self-evaluation and maintaining improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop observation and assessment to more fully support children's next steps in learning

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the early years provision

The childminder has a level 3 childcare qualification and has spent several years working in a large day care setting. Her childcare background and experience plays a large part in her successful provision of home based childcare. The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge of the care and welfare needs of the children in her care, and is clearly able to describe their interests and learning stages. The childminder also makes good use of her experience to effectively promote equality and diversity, with regular planned activities and a range of festivals celebrated. During her past years of childcare work, the childminder has attended several training sessions on child protection and this provides a consistent basis for her understanding and application of procedures to ensure children are effectively safeguarded. The childminder has a particularly strong element within her practice, in her provision of a highly organised and stimulating play environment, which is of

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the early years provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 sufficient merit to be judged outstanding. The childminder also has a strong and consistent approach to the planning and presentation of learning activities for children, and shows considerable skill with her application of the early learning goals and supportive learning interactions. Children are also effectively kept safe and secure in the childminder's home, with well organised safety arrangements in place, including outdoor play. Safety is also well supported by clear recording and agreements with parents. The childminder's overall approach to the management of her play programme is good and highly consistent. She also has a strong awareness of the need to maintain improvement, and is able to recognise areas for improvement.

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the early years provision

The childminder's organisation and planning of activities shows skill and experience, and effectively supports children's learning abilities. The highly organised play and learning environment, and exciting nature of the play resources, is certainly the overarching element, that allows the planning and teaching to come together, and provide good quality childcare. The childminder is also aware that parents play a major role in their children's welfare and learning. Throughout the play programme, parents are successfully informed about their children's care and included in their learning progress. Good use is also made of the information gathered from other care settings and children's previous carers, to support individual development.

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the early years provision

This is the childminder's first inspection, and she demonstrates strong motivation and commitment to maintaining good quality within her provision. She has her own ongoing development plan and is confident and clear in her self evaluation. She also recognises the importance of maintaining up-to-date child protection training, which she sees as important for maintaining safeguarding. Children have a well planned day, with familiar routines and timings that help them feel secure. Much care is also taken by the childminder to plan activities that support individual children's learning. Throughout their play, children have opportunities to create games and explore their own ideas, with no aspect of their learning neglected. The childminder's organised and consistent management of childcare ensures that children make good progress in their learning, and engage well with activities.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder produces clear and well organised plans for children's activities and the preparation of the learning environment. Her planning focuses well on all the early learning goals so that children's development is consistently supported. Individual children's interests are also made part of the planning, and festivals and world awareness projects are also included to support diversity and inclusion. The childminder gives good consideration to ensuring children are challenged, and have positive learning experiences. Children particularly enjoy creating their own games with small world and assembly resources, which benefits their creativity and critical thinking. The childminder uses clearly organised methods to observe and assess children's learning. Well produced records are kept on each child's achievements, which are used to mark their learning stages, and to include parents in their children's learning. However, the childminder is not currently making the best use

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 of the recorded information to identify children's next steps in learning. She is consistent in her use of reflective practice, and is able to revise her system, but the monitoring of children's ways forward with learning, is an area for improvement.

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and outcomes for children

Children's future skills are successfully promoted within the setting, with good attention given again to the six areas of learning. The childminder shows good knowledge of the learning goals and applies them effectively during play activities. The childminder also shows considerable skills in guiding children's learning, and makes good use of one-to-one interactions, to support active learning. The childminder helps children to use their hands, and explore texture and materials. Frequent use is made of resources to promote children's manual skills and problem solving. A good example is the use of Duplo bricks, which help children to be creative and find out how things fit together. The promotion of children's language skills and speech is also a strong feature within the setting, and children have good access to books and literacy based activities. For example, children love using the Super Scribbler, an erasable writing pad, to explore mark-making and letter

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and outcomes for children

shapes. Throughout the range of activities, children's practical skills and abilities are well supported. For example, during role play shopping and cooking, children gain confidence with a mixture of household items and technical play resources.

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and outcomes for children

Children are welcomed and effectively supported and helped to feel included. The childminder focuses well on individual children's care needs and gets to know their likes and dislikes. Children are also kept safe and secure within the setting, with good safety precautions and well organised risk assessment. The childminder recognises the importance of continually encouraging children and promoting their confidence. She also uses her close support for children to help them overcome difficulties and challenges. The childminder is effective in promoting children's good behaviour, and during activities she consistently guides children to play well and help each other. The childminder also effectively helps children to understand their feelings and learn how their actions affect others. The childminder has attended training in equalities and is well organised and consistent in her inclusion of diversity based learning. A range of cultural festivals are celebrated, and

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and outcomes for children

disability awareness is promoted in the learning environment. Children are also given a positive understanding of people's differences, through visual learning material and the use of stories from around the world.

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and outcomes for children

A particularly successful aspect of the play provision is the excellent learning environment and wide range of resources provided. Children benefit greatly from the many opportunities to explore play items, adapt resources, and be inventive. Children are also provided with plenty of free space indoors to move around and enjoy active and expressive play sessions, with dancing and music. A key element in the childminder's play setting is the good use that is made of outdoor play areas. Children can use the deck for messy play, and also enjoy games in a purpose built play-house. Children's knowledge and understanding of the world is also well supported outdoors, with opportunities for learning about seasons and the weather. To successfully support children's growth and development, the childminder ensures children have a good range of healthy foods and snacks. Fresh fruits are frequently provided, and children are able to try new food tastes.

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and outcomes for children

Parents are also involved in the promotion of children's healthy eating, and snack- This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 times are used by the childminder to promote children's listening, helping and sharing. 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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