Childminder in Buckinghamshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY386752 Inspection date 08/10/2009 Inspector Ann Hilary Guy

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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 2009. She lives with her partner, and one adult child in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The childminder uses the ground floor for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have a pet dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, the compulsory part of the Childcare Register and the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, to care for a maximum of five children at any one time, and is currently minding two children under five. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and pre- schools, and attends toddler 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

Children receive a warm welcome in this family home, which offers individual care tailored to the needs of every child. The childminder is skilled at encouraging the children to develop their knowledge and understanding by providing a good range of opportunities that meet their individual needs. Clear daily records and observational records give a very clear picture of the child's development against the early learning goals, although they do not identify steps for future learning. Risk assessments are carried out regularly, covering the house and outings, to ensure children's safety at all times, however they are not all fully recorded. The childminder is skilled at helping children with additional needs and constantly reviews her practice, adapting it to meet the individual needs of the children in her care.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure all risk assessments completed are recorded  develop the recording of observations to include the next steps for learning  further develop links with other professionals involved in the care of the children to enable the child to receive consistency of care.

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the early years provision

The childminder is extremely aware of the need for safeguarding the children at all times and makes extremely good use of stairgates within the home, as well as having clear rules for children when away from the home to ensure their safety in the car and when walking. She fully understands her responsibilities with regards to child protection and has all the local authority information readily available. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder's practice is supported by brief policies and procedures that cover all aspects of the care she offers. She is extremely good at utilising all her skills gained from attending courses and her experience as a nurse and mother. A wide range of resources are available both in the house and garden for children to have free access. The childminder plans her week to meet the needs of the children and extend their learning but is very flexible and will rearrange these plans as required

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the early years provision

to meet the children's individual needs on any day. She is constantly within sight of the children, playing alongside and talking to them, helping them develop and extend their play. She is continually seeking additional resources to further extend the activities she offers and makes very good use of local resources. She is very keen to promote equality and diversity in a positive way and has a good range of equipment that promotes this. The childminder also responds to children's questions in a positive way offering explanations appropriate to their age. The dedicated playroom area has access to a wide range of books, small world toys, bricks, puzzles and creative activities, all put to good use by the children.

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the early years provision

Clear risk assessments of the house, garden and regular outings identify the level of risk and any actions required. The childminder also carries out a visual check each day, but does not record these unless she identifies something that needs attention. This ensures the house and garden are as safe as possible before the children arrive. The childminder constantly reviews her practice in order to adapt it and offer the best possible care to the children and families.

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the early years provision

The childminder is skilled at caring for children with additional needs and meeting their individual requirements, fully including them in all activities. She has developed a professional relationship with the parents, working closely with them to ensure their child receives the best possible care. The childminder would like to work with other professionals involved in the care of the children and demonstrated clearly how she would do this in order to benefit the children and their family. She intends to get parental permission to do this before making contact and as the children have not been with her long, this is not yet in place. The childminder is extremely skilled in positive behaviour management and puts this to very good use. She is inventive and uses everyday objects to extend children's play, for example, having an old rowing boat in the garden for free access by the children, encouraging them to use their skills of imagination.

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and outcomes for children

Children are settled and kept very busy in this homely atmosphere. Their day is structured around school times with the childminder taking the younger children out to socialise in a larger group whilst the older children are in school and nursery. The childminder plans activities based on the individual needs of each child, including art and craft activities, water and sand play, using the garden equipment and having free access to the toys in the playroom. The childminder closely monitors the children whilst at play, ensuring their safety and helping develop their knowledge and understanding. The children have access to a wide variety of books and particularly like to sit and read stories with the childminder or go into the garden and use the wide range of resources found there. Each child This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 has a scrap book which they are slowly building up, sticking in their drawings and

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and outcomes for children

favourite pictures they have found. These are all collated into a learning journey.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder helps to develop children's manners, encouraging them to share and enabling them to play together. This is sometimes challenging due to the particular needs of the children in her care but through lots of positive praise and understanding of the individual children's requirements they are making good progress from their various starting points. One child particularly enjoys outside play and water play, so the childminder has provided water and a paint brush to use on the side of the garage, a bucket and mop to wash the patio and water pistols with which the plants can be watered. She finds after being in school all morning the children require some time out of the house and so these activities meet their individual needs and enable them to feel they are being helpful.

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and outcomes for children

The daily diary gives a very clear picture of how the children are developing in all areas since coming to the childminder. She carries out periodical observations, sometimes on activities she has planned but more often on the children's spontaneous play. These clearly show how the children enjoy activities, covering all aspects and areas of learning. They do not show the next steps for learning but the childminder fully understands these and this is shown by the future planning.

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and outcomes for children

The health and well-being of the children is promoted through good personal hygiene practices and procedures. Children are encouraged to be as independent as possible and use the bathroom situated just off the playroom. The childminder does experience adverse behaviour at times from the children but is extremely calm and follows the principles of positive behaviour management enabling the situation to be swiftly rectified. Through their activities, sharing of books and discussions, children learn how to keep themselves as safe as possible and learn about healthy eating. They are provided with healthy meals each day, which include a good range of fruit and vegetables, together with drinks available at all times. The childminder is happy to adapt the menu, in consultation with the parents, to meet any special dietary requirements.

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and outcomes for children

Children mainly have access to the rear of the house and the garden, although they occasionally go into other areas with the childminder. The room used is an open plan kitchen/dining room and playroom with a bathroom leading from it and door to the enclosed rear garden. The childminder is registered to care for a child overnight but has not made use of this as yet. All areas of children's development are promoted through the wide range of activities available, both at the house and away from it, together with the positive interaction between the children, their parents and the childminder. 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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