Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY391603 Inspection date 16/11/2009 Inspector Kate Bryan

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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 2009. She lives with her partner and children aged one, 12 and 15 years on the outskirts of Wigston in Leicestershire. The ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor of the childminder's house are used for childcare purposes and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of five children at any one time of whom two may be in the early years age range. There is currently one child within the early years age range on roll.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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

The childminder provides a safe and caring home for all children which ensures they are happy and secure whilst they are with her. They make satisfactory progress in their learning and development through the provision of an appropriate range of activities and resources. However, the learning outcomes and some elements of inclusion are not yet promoted as effectively as possible. All required policies, procedures and records are in place and used effectively to safeguard children's health and welfare and are shared with parents. The childminder has a positive attitude to improvement and has identified areas for development, however, she is not yet using self-evaluation effectively to maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop a greater awareness of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in order to progress children's individual learning  ensure observations are linked to the areas of learning so children make equal progress in all areas  develop the use of self-evaluation to identify areas for improvement and to show how continual progress is made  develop equality and diversity by ensuring outcomes for individual children are promoted. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are well protected from the risk of abuse or neglect because the childminder has a clear recognition of these and understands her responsibility to refer concerns to the appropriate agencies. A clear safeguarding policy is in place and is shared with parents when they visit so they understand how their child will be cared for. Children are never left alone with anyone who has not been vetted.

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the early years provision

The childminder has organised her home and resources well to ensure children always have activities they enjoy and they have easy access to these as they enjoy floor play. The home is organised so that children can enjoy free-flow between rooms and between the indoors and outdoors and this promotes their sense of exploration well.

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the early years provision

The childminder shares a good range of written policies and procedures with parents which helps them to understand how their child will be cared for. Daily risk assessments on her home ensures the premises and resources are always safe for children and this is supported by a written risk assessment which also includes procedures for outings. The childminder has a good range of measures in place to keep children safe, for example, stair gates and socket covers. She also helps children to be responsible for their own safety by, for example, talking to them about road safety and being safe when they are out. All required documentation is effectively maintained at all times and this allows the childminder to respond to children's changing needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder has sensitively handled settling-in procedures for children by giving them time to adapt and feel secure. She has achieved this as she works appropriately with parents and discusses their child's daily achievements with them, she is also beginning to consider how she may work with others delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage to children. The childminder has a determination to improve her practice and has attended a first aid course and a 'Developing imagination and role play to enhance children's communication, language and literature' course. She is currently completing an 'Introduction to Childminding Practice' course and has identified other training she would like to undertake, for example, 'Safeguarding'. However, the childminder is only beginning to use self- evaluation to reflect on outcomes and monitor practice and, consequently, her capacity for continuous improvement is not fully demonstrated.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a sound understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and is beginning to plan activities to progress children's learning. However, observations are not yet linked to the areas of learning and systems are not in place to demonstrate children's individual progress. The childminder works with parents to establish children's starting points but cannot yet demonstrate that children are progressing equally in all areas of learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children enjoy their time at the home and warm relationships are in place between them and the childminder. They respond with delight when they receive lots of praise for achievements, such as counting, and they happily play alongside each other as they know the childminder is always available for support. They behave well because the childminder uses simple rules, such as sharing, to help them

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and outcomes for children

understand what is expected of them. The childminder uses the outdoors appropriately to help children develop their physical skills and local parks have large equipment, such as a climbing frame so they have a range of challenges. The childminder asks children a good range of questions to help them think about what they are doing, for example, asking children to match the colours of bridges and trains and they happily involve her in this activity.

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and outcomes for children

Children are settled and happy in the home and the childminder involves them in planning by asking them what activities they would like to do. For example, this gives children the opportunity to select their favourite books for her to read to them. Mark-making is also promoted appropriately because the childminder understands about providing resources for free-play so children can follow their own interests. Children's awareness of information technology is suitably promoted by the use of toys, such as phones, and they are learning to recycle as they use materials for junk modelling.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy some outings in the local community, for example, to parks, and the childminder is beginning to help them understand about the wider world as she provides a suitable range of resources promoting positive images. However, she is only beginning to acknowledge a range of festivals and to promote measures to include children with English as an additional language which means inclusion is not promoted as effectively as possible.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is suitably promoted as they bring packed lunches. They enjoy snacks of fruit and always have easy access to drinks so they can respond to their own health needs appropriately. Children follow sound hygiene procedures, such as hand washing, and they use wipes or liquid soap and a clean towel daily to prevent cross-contamination. 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 2 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: 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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