Childminder in DevonOfsted inspection, 20 Oct 2009

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY389232 Inspection date 20/10/2009 Inspector Julie Neal

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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 and works with her sister and brother-in- law, who are also registered childminders, at their home in a rural village location near Chudleigh, Devon. The childminder is also registered separately to provide childcare-on-domestic premises, as part of 'Owlets Childcare'. Childcare is provided mainly on the ground floor of the premises, including a large playroom annex, with upstairs being used to provide rest areas. Children also have use of a safely enclosed outdoor play area.

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Description of the childminding

When working alone, the childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, no more than two of which may be in the early years age range. When working with another childminder, they are registered to care for a maximum of 10 children under eight years, of which no more than five may be in the early years age range. When working with two other childminders, they may provide care for a maximum of 15 children under eight years, of which no more than seven may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding 10 children in this age group, at different times. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to provide overnight care for a maximum of three children under eight years.

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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's individual needs are met well because the childminder ensures she is well informed regarding their specific requirements. She works closely with parents to ensure that she is aware of any changes to children's routines as they grow and develop. The childminder's self-evaluations are well focussed on promoting good quality outcomes for children, and her thoughtful reflections on her practice enable her to prioritise areas for development. This results in children's welfare being effectively supported, and ensures they make consistently good progress in their learning and development.

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further?

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

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further?

 review documentation to ensure that written permission slips from parents are fully completed in respect of each child; and that written risk assessments relating to routine journeys, such as school collections, are specific to individual locations  develop a consistent process to identify children's individual starting points, in order to more effectively monitor the progress they are making towards the early learning and development goals. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder's good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and her effective implementation of these ensures children remain safeguarded while in her care. All adults who have regular access to the premises are suitably checked, visitors are asked to provide appropriate identification, their presence is recorded, and they are supervised at all times. The childminder has a good awareness of issues that may give cause for concern regarding the abuse or neglect of children, and shows clear understanding of Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures, and how these should be implemented. Parents are provided with her written safeguarding procedures, and she ensures they are aware of her responsibility to take appropriate action to protect children in her care. Risk assessments are generally thorough and effective in ensuring that all areas of the premises remain safe, secure and suitable for

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the early years provision

children's use. For example, good safety procedures ensure that children can move safely and independently between different areas of the premises; very effective daily routines and checks ensure all equipment and resources used by children are safe and hygienic. Most risk assessments relating to outings are appropriate, however, some that relate to aspects of daily routines lack detail. For example, sometimes the childminder collects children from local preschools and schools, and risk assessments that cover these are not specific to individual locations.

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the early years provision

Generally, regulatory documentation is well maintained. Registers show the times when children are present and that ratios are maintained, for example, when the childminder is working with co-childminders. Children's records contain all required information, although there are inconsistencies with some supporting documents. For example, some children have written permission from parents to participate in photographs, and some do not.

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the early years provision

The childminder's systems of self-evaluation are good and enable her to consistently identify where improvements can be made, and inform action planning for the future. For example, reviewing her skills and experience jointly with her co- childminders enables them to identify specific areas for development that will benefit children. Such as, planning to develop knowledge relating to the support of children with learning difficulties. The childminder identifies the strengths of the co-childminding arrangements, and how these support children's learning and development. For instance, having a male co-childminder presents children with a meaningful example of positive gender roles where responsibilities are shared equally.

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the early years provision

The childminder develops good relationships with parents, working closely with them to gain a thorough understanding of their children's needs. She ensures she is aware of any specific requirements they may have relating to their children's care and ensures these are supported. For example, maintaining babies' sleeping and feeding routines to be consistent with parents' wishes and home routines. Parents receive good quality information about the childminding and their children's care, including copies of the childminders' policies and procedures. Some This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children also attend other settings where the EYFS is provided. The childminder is beginning to establish links with these to share appropriate information that further supports individual learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder ensures children's welfare, learning and development is promoted well. Health promotion with children is good, with them learning well about personal hygiene, and the importance of diet and exercise. For example, children show clear understanding that fruit and vegetables are good for them, and they know to replenish themselves with water after vigorous play. Children enjoy nutritious meals and snacks provided by the childminder, who ensures individual dietary needs are met. Mealtimes are used very well to enhance children's developing social skills. For example, they are well mannered as they sit together at the table, learning to use cutlery appropriate for their ages, and enjoying lively discussions with the childminder and each other. Children show a good understanding of the importance of personal hygiene, ensuring they wash their hands after using the toilet, and putting used tissues in the bin. They benefit from

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and outcomes for children

the effective role modelling of the childminder and her colleagues, who demonstrate consistently good hygiene practice. Clear sickness procedures are shared with parents and implemented well, in order to protect children from the risk of illness and cross infection. Where there are individual health requirements, these are supported well through good cooperative working with parents, and any medicines given are clearly recorded.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a clean, well maintained environment where good routines support their safety and well-being. For example, effective daily checks support the childminder's risk assessments in ensuring that children are kept safe and secure. Children generally learn effectively about aspects of personal safety. For example, they show clear understanding of ground rules that relate to being safe within the home. Emergency evacuation procedures are taught to children, and the childminder is organising fire drills to ensure all have the opportunity to take part.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a good understanding of the learning and development requirements of the EYFS. Activities are planned well to ensure that children make consistently good progress towards the early learning and development goals in all areas. Children's progress is monitored effectively, the childminder uses her observations well in identifying each child's stage of development, and in planning the next steps in their individual learning. Extremely good sharing of information between the co-childminders ensures that children are very well supported as they learn to make sense of the world around them and consolidate what they learn through play. There are some inconsistencies in documents used to record children's progress in learning. For example, the childminder has begun to identify children's starting points, which makes it easy to see the good progress they have made in a short period of time, however this has not been done in respect of all

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and outcomes for children

children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are enthusiastic participants in activities that are well planned to be accessible to older and younger children alike. For example, children of different ages thoroughly enjoy a creative activity together, the childminder having organised resources effectively to enable babies and very young children to participate safely, while ensuring that older children have access to more challenging materials appropriate to their age and stage of development. Children are encouraged to develop their own play, and the childminder monitors spontaneous activities to ensure that children are supported appropriately. For example, children decide to play hide and seek; some can confidently count to 10 while their friends hide, others cannot, so the childminder counts with them until they can manage alone. Children are encouraged to make choices about what they

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and outcomes for children

do, and the good organisation of toys and equipment presents them with a wide variety of learning opportunities. Children benefit from the effective way the childminder uses her good understanding of how children learn and develop to extend their knowledge. For example, while reading a story with the childminder, children identify a range of animals, talk about where they live, they count animals and flowers on the page, they discuss the shapes and textures of objects and relate these to their own experience. Children are confident and have high levels of self-esteem. They interact very well with the childminder and have warm, affectionate relationships with her and her co-childminders. They are well behaved, demonstrating a good understanding of the childminder's simple ground rules, that are based on safety and respect for 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 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 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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