Childminder, Out-of school day care in Derbyshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY318263 Inspection date 27/10/2009 Inspector Geneen Yvonne Hulse-Brown

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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 2006. She lives with her family in a detached property in Dronfield Woodhouse near Sheffield. Local schools, shops and parks are within walking or driving distance. She has a daughter aged seven years and a grown-up son.

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Description of the childminding

Children have access to all ground floor rooms including the kitchen, lounge, playroom, conservatory and downstairs toilet, with upstairs access to one bedroom. There is a fully enclosed area to the rear of the property for outdoor play. Premises are accessible via a small step to the front door. The family have a cat and a rabbit.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered for the care of five children under the age of eight years and is presently caring for 11 children in the early years age group. The childminder offers care to children up to 15 years of age. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She meets regularly with local childminders and is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA). The childminder holds a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in Childcare and Education.

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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’s very good knowledge of the children in her care enables her to plan stimulating and challenging activities. Activities personalised to children’s individual needs, interests and abilities successfully encourage them to undertake a broad variety of experiences and develop new skills. The childminder has established effective links with parents, carers and other providers to ensure children’s individual needs are consistently met. She demonstrates a strong commitment to reflective practice, clearly identifying her strengths and areas for areas for development.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop planning, observations and assessment systems to identify children's next steps in learning  continue to monitor reflection systems on practice to improve the outcomes for children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Successful promotion of children safety and well-being is due to the childminder’s good understanding of keeping children safe. She has robust systems in place for recording concerns and existing injuries. A comprehensive written policy supports this area of her work and demonstrates her strong understanding of her role and responsibilities. She is clearly aware of signs and symptoms and has recently updated her knowledge through external training. Consistent use of NCMA documentation ensure she records all information regarding minded children. The childminder makes daily visual checks on her premises both indoors and outside, with full written risk assessments completed annually or as hazards arise. Comprehensive written policies and procedures support practice and are freely available to parents.

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the early years provision

Easily accessible good quality resources are attractively displayed in the well- planned and organised playroom. The child-friendly environment provides children with space to move freely between rooms, extending their independence and making active choices of what to do. Equipment both indoors and outdoors is safe and secure offering children numerous opportunities to investigate, explore and start to take manageable risks. Resources promote children’s awareness of diversity, supporting them to recognise differences, as they access all available toys and start to plan their own learning.

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the early years provision

Well-established partnerships with parents and carers effectively support children’s individual needs, as they work closely together to extend children’s learning and development. Parents are encouraged to contribute to children’s records via daily discussions and diaries, which keep them up to date regarding the childminding day. Strong links with home ensure that children’s individual needs continue to be met. The childminder is an active member of her local childminder network, offering support and cover for others as needed. She is developing links with schools and local toddler groups to ensure consistency of approach to children’s care and education.

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the early years provision

The childminder has started to establish systems for ongoing reflection and monitoring of her practice, although evaluation of her provision in not robust in terms of how it will improve outcomes for children. Her good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework enables her to plan and provide good opportunities for children to extend their learning and development. She demonstrates a high commitment to personal training and development by accessing all training opportunities offered.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy their time at their childminder’s, making good progress towards the early learning goals in all areas of learning. The childminder demonstrates a strong understanding that children learn through play, effectively using her good This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 knowledge of the EYFS to provide them with a broad range of activities and experiences. She competently channels their individual interests to build on what they know and extend their thinking. Very good organisation of the environment offers children numerous opportunities to freely explore their surrounding both indoors and outside. Children make active choices from a wide variety of toys, books and games in a stimulating and challenging setting, as they are well supported to be active and independent learners by their childminder. They demonstrate high levels of self-esteem and confidence playing cooperatively

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and outcomes for children

together. Younger children watch with interest from the comfort of their childminder’s lap, where they receive encouraging cuddles. The childminder completes comprehensive observations of all minded children and has recently reviewed her systems to ensure they identify the next steps in the learning process. However, these new systems are still in the early stages of development. The childminder plans a broad range of activities for minded children based on their ages and abilities.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy warm and caring relationships with their childminder and peers alike. They approach visitors with differing degrees of confidence and soon engage in conversations about what they are doing. Photographs aid children in recalling outings and events as they point themselves out and ask who everyone is. Cause and effect toys and posting boxes introduce children to simple technology as they press buttons to make sounds and see shapes disappear into holes. The childminder sits with the children as she supports them to learn new skills and extend their learning, introducing new vocabulary as they chatter together.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn how manage their own safety as part of daily routines and activities, for example, crossing the road with care on outings. They negotiate their way around the home with increasing care and a well thought-out evacuation plan is practised regularly. The childminder has planned an outing to the local fire station in preparation for bonfire night to help the children learn the dangers of fire in a safe way. Photographs show children negotiating large and small equipment in the park with confidence. Children enthusiastically enjoy many opportunities to discover and explore their environment on outings to look for spiders’ webs and collecting leaves to make large collage trees for the playroom. They learn about the life cycle of frogs and butterflies as they look at memory books to remind them. Young children act out ‘Incy Wincy spider’ as they dance round with a large plastic spider. Letters to the childminder from children highlight what they enjoy

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and outcomes for children

doing and that they are happy and settled in her care.

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and outcomes for children

Good health and well-being are positively encouraged as children enjoy healthy and nutritious meals and snacks. They childminder serves food provided by parents and uses topics and activities to help children learn what foods are good for us. Children sit together at the table for meals and snacks, developing good manners and social skills. Good hygiene practice, including children’s own towels, is effective in preventing cross infection. Children show independence as they take themselves to the toilet and receive high levels of praise and encouragement as they work together on toilet training. Children behave well, as they learn to share and take turns. They sit together at the table colouring pictures and chattering as they recognise the colour of their crayons. Children take pride in their achievements as they show off the castle they have built and receive warm praise This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

in response. They enthusiastically explore their natural creativity as they paint, explore textures in collages and act out roles using small world toys. Children use regular opportunities to develop their understanding of number and problem solving through daily routines and activities. They are competent users of tools, as they feed themselves and make marks on paper. Children enthusiastically decorate the playroom following a Halloween theme with collages, pretend spiders’ webs and witches’ faces they have made. Good photographic evidence is used to support children’s progress and as a tool to share their development with parents. 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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