Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY394350 Inspection date 10/12/2009 Inspector Veronica Sharpe

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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 lives with her husband and their two children aged four and two years in central Cambridge. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for up to four children under eight years at any one time. There is currently one child on roll in the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

Minded children have use of all of the home, including an enclosed back garden for outdoor play. The childminder lives within walking distance of parks, play areas and activity groups. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds an Algerian teaching degree.

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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 offers a warm and welcoming home where all children feel valued. She knows the children well, which enables her to meet their individual needs and provide an environment that reflects their unique backgrounds. The childminder plans and provides a good range of activities and has accessible resources that generally enable children to follow their own interests. The childminder has a good understanding of the quality of her provision and is beginning to develop a system for self-evaluation. As a result, she is able to ensure continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 consider further ways to make toys and resources accessible to children to enhance their ability to make independent choices about their play  further develop the observations and assessments and ensure parents have frequent opportunities to contribute to the records so they take an active part in children's learning and development  develop an effective system for self-evaluation that identifies strengths and priorities for development in order to ensure continuous improvement.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibility to safeguard children. She has attended child protection training as well as other courses that develop her knowledge, such as domestic violence awareness. She keeps her home secure and ensures children are constantly supervised and therefore protected from unvetted adults. Ongoing checks as well as written risk assessments contribute to children's safety both in the home and on outings. Resources are checked and cleaned to maintain their hygiene and safety. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Relationships with parents are warm and friendly; daily verbal communication as well as a shared diary mean parents and childminder work well together in order to ensure children's well-being. The childminder respects families' home language and cultural background and is therefore adept at offering an inclusive and supportive

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the early years provision

environment where children can feel at home. Although children are not currently attending other settings the childminder is building links and is aware of the importance of partnership working.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her home well to meet young children's needs. The children's room offers a warm and secure place to play and includes a good range of suitable resources, although these are not always clearly labelled or at a low enough level to enable children to be fully independent. However, the childminder is proactive in laying out suitable toys that appeal to the children, such as shape sorters and peg puzzles thereby ensuring children maintain their interest and make good progress in their learning. Activities are well planned to suit a range of ages and abilities so minded children and the childminder's own children can be fully included.

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the early years provision

The childminder is well organised in her business practice; she has all the necessary documentation in place, including policies and procedures that help keep parents well informed about the provision. She is keen to extend her knowledge of early years practice and has made good links with other childminders and the nearby children's centre, which she accesses for advice and training courses. She shows a good understanding of the strengths of the provision, such as music, arts and crafts and is beginning to develop the self-evaluation in order to work towards the priorities for improvement. As a result, she has a sufficient capacity to maintain continuous improvement.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a warm and friendly environment where they are welcome and valued. The childminder's good settling-in procedures and her sound relationships with parents ensures children are settled and content. Children enjoy the company of the childminder's own children and they play together happily. Resources in the playroom are generally well organised, children have a wide selection of books and choose, for instance, shape sorters and age-appropriate puzzles. The childminder is developing her system for recording children's achievements and has linked observations in with the six areas of learning, however, stages of development and the next steps are not always clearly identified. Although parents freely access the development records they do not yet fully contribute what they know about their children's achievements at home so the childminder can more effectively assess children's progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children thoroughly enjoy arts and crafts, developing their small muscle control using glue and glitter. Dressing-up clothes, such as builder's hats or face masks enable children to express their imaginations. The childminder talks to children throughout, developing their listening and communication skills. She values This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children's own languages and uses familiar words so they feel at home. Resources are carefully chosen to represent the wider world, such as puppets, small world toys and play food so children gain positive messages about diversity. Children learn to problem solve in practical ways as they decide which shape fits in the shape sorter. They count readily, beginning to assign number to quantity. Electronic toys, such as a keyboard, toy telephone or a globe stimulate their interest in technology and develop their skills for the future. Children particularly

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and outcomes for children

enjoy music; they hum familiar tunes and move in time to the music or spontaneously sing 'Twinkle, twinkle little star'.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy a healthy lifestyle as they are taken for walks every day; they visit local parks and activity groups to gain fresh air and exercise. Meals are healthy and nutritious with an interesting range of foods to encourage children to experiment with taste and texture, for instance they try avocados, blueberries and strawberries. The childminder works with parents to ensure food is safe and suitable. Children learn to keep themselves safe as they practise their fire drill, or learn where to cross roads. They begin to learn good hygiene as their hands are washed before meals and the childminder disinfects highchairs and the meal table. 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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