Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY243878 Inspection date 13/10/2009 Inspector Andrea Ewer

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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 has been registered since 2002 and is on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. She lives with her partner and two adult children in a terraced house in the town of Market Harborough. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children up to the age of eight years and is currently caring for two children under five years, one of whom attends full-time school. The childminder may at times work with and assistant.

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Description of the childminding

Care is mainly provided on the ground floor which includes a through lounge, bathroom and kitchen. One upstairs bedroom is used for children to sleep and they have access to an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. There is one step to access the house. The family have a guinea pig and a rabbit as pets.

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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

Children are happy and settled with the childminder who provides a warm, homely environment where they feel safe. The childminder treats each child with equal concern and respects them as individuals. Children are generally well protected because the childminder has a sound understanding of safeguarding issues and takes active steps to ensure the risk of accidents is minimised. The childminder has not yet developed systems to reflect on her practice to improve outcomes for children. Partnerships with parents are overall well established and the childminder is developing partnerships with reception class teachers of school aged children, which promotes continuity of care and learning.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 improve arrangements for promoting children's good health by obtaining a paediatric first aid qualification (Promoting good health) (also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 13/11/2009

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further?

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

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further?

 match observations to the expectations of the early learning goals to clearly show the progress children are making  develop the use of self-evaluation to clearly identify strengths and priorities for development to improve outcomes for all children.  improve children's safety by keeping a record of fire evacuation drills, including details of any problems encountered and how they were resolved This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Overall children are well protected from harm or neglect. The childminder has a sound understanding of the signs and symptoms of child abuse and her role in protecting them from harm. Documentation that supports her to carry out procedures correctly are in place and readily accessible. Relevant checks are carried out on the childminder and all household members over the age of 16 years, including criminal record bureau checks. This provides reassurance to parents that they are suitable to have regular contact with young children. The written risk assessment shows that overall appropriate action is taken to minimise hazards to children. For example, safety gates prevent children gaining unsupervised access to the stairs and kitchen, harmful cleaning materials are out of children's reach and fire safety equipment is in place. The childminder does not, however, keep a record of fire drills.

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the early years provision

Generally well maintained records, policies and procedures are shared with parents and inclusive for all who attend. They include a written complaints procedure and system for recording complaints, an equal opportunities and behaviour management policy. Although the childminder has addressed recommendations from the last inspection and attended some training to enhance her professional skills and knowledge including A look at Nutrition and Observation, Recording and Evidence for children, she does not yet use self-reflection to monitor or evaluate her provision and therefore does not have a clear idea of her strengths or priorities for improving outcomes for children.

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the early years provision

The childminder has friendly relationships with parents where they share information about children regularly during daily discussions. The childminder also obtains useful information about children's interests, abilities and preferences at the start of all childminding arrangements which she uses to plan suitable care and learning opportunities that meets children's individual needs. Written statements from parents show they value the care provided and find the childminder to be kind, reliable and flexible. She is developing partnerships with the reception class teachers of older children in her care.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy their time with the childminder who spends her time playing with and talking to them consistently. She uses what she knows about children to provide a stimulating environment that helps them to develop skills for the future and regular daily routines help them feel secure. As a result children develop their language for speaking and become self-assured. Children sing simple songs and rhymes such as 'Happy Birthday to you' and thoroughly enjoy moving to music. They develop increased control of their bodies as they walk briskly to the fast paced music and jump energetically, stamp their feet and wave their hands as they follow the instructions of the songs. Children count spontaneously as part of everyday activities such as counting the number of candles on the cake as they This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 engage in role play and they sort the farm animals into groups and count how

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and outcomes for children

many are in each group. They are gaining an understanding of the wider world. They often watch suitable programmes on television where they learn about disabled people and have regular access to suitable resources that helps them understand diversity.

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and outcomes for children

Children's records show the childminder is becoming confident in her understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She regularly observes children and identifies the next steps in their development. This supports her to provide activities that help children build on skills they already have, however, records do not match the expectations of the early learning goals to show their progress and make the information meaningful to parents.

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and outcomes for children

Overall children are gaining a positive attitude to staying healthy. They understand the importance of good hygiene practises such as washing their hands at appropriate times and enjoy nutritious meals and snacks that contribute well to their healthy growth and development. Records that support the childminder to maintain children's good health are well-maintained including written consent to seek emergency medical treatment or advice, accident and medicine records. She does not, however, hold an up-to-date first aid qualification which does not fully promote children's good health. Space, furniture and equipment are well-organised and create a welcoming and fully enabling environment that supports children to become independent. They readily access resources that are stored on toy boxes on the floor and in low-level cupboards. They start to learn how to keep themselves safe and behave in ways that are safe for themselves and others. For

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and outcomes for children

example, they understand they must put some toys away before taking others out to prevent accidents and they talk about road safety during outings. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 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 2 The extent to which children feel safe 3 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the Early Years part of the report. (Welfare of the children being cared for) 13/11/2009

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