Childminder in Derby

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY350863 Inspection date 30/10/2009 Inspector Georgina Walker

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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 2007. She lives with her child aged five years. All areas of the childminder’s house can be used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. Access to the premises is via a shallow step and there are steps and slopes in the garden. The childminder drives to the local school and nursery to take and collect children. She attends the local parent, carer and toddler groups and takes children to the library and local park. She shares and seeks information in partnership with other Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) settings the children attend.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding four children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder holds an early years childcare qualification to Level 4 and is undertaking a Foundation Degree. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and children who speak English as an additional language. She 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

An absorbing range of experiences is provided for children. The planning and assessment of learning and development is comprehensive, although it is difficult to follow what are the planned next steps. A safe and stimulating environment is created and children are happy and thrive during their time in the setting. Positive relationships with parents ensure the sharing of children's progress and successful links are formed with EYFS settings the children attend. The inclusion of all children and partnerships with relevant services is a high priority. An extensive range of well-written policies and procedures is shared with parents and the childminder completes ongoing self-evaluation and training to improve her services.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 consolidating the systems used for observations, assessment and planning the next steps to share them more effectively with parents. 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 has made substantial efforts to maintain and improve upon standards judged at the previous inspection to be outstanding. She continues to provide a service extensively above the minimum requirements to ensure children's well-being and the promotion of progress in their learning. The progress depends on the child's abilities, equipment and adaptations when there are mobility restrictions. The childminder's considerable experience and professionalism contributes to providing an exemplary service. Her ongoing self-assessment and clear targets to improve by attending training and extending her qualification to degree level are commendable. First aid and safeguarding children training sessions ensure children's well-being is substantially increased. A place on an advanced child protection course is booked. Relevant persons are being checked or excluded from the premises.

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the early years provision

Copies of the purposeful and well-written policies are given to parents to sign and retain as necessary. Children's daily activities, plus progress in their learning, are all shared appropriately with parents and partnerships are effectively promoted. These are successfully extended as parents are included on outings to celebrate cultural festivals and sessions to learn sign language to support their child's learning and awareness of the wider world. Parents are encouraged to share in extensive documents what they know about their child's developmental progress. Visits prior to the commencement of the placement ensure each child integrates at their own unique pace and the childminder has considerable knowledge of where to seek help from other agencies. Liaison with the nursery the children attend has been successfully instigated and is being developed with the local school.

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the early years provision

Written risk assessments are comprehensive and potential hazards are checked as required. An assessment for each type of outing ensures children's safety is given the utmost priority and the childminder carries with her relevant information about each child in case of emergency. The environment is child-friendly with resources stored where children can access them freely, developing their independence, or can ask for those safely stored in cupboards or upstairs. The lounge and dining room are used, with resources and children's craft work attractively presented. Messy play and crafts take place in the kitchen or outdoors. Children become engrossed in stimulating activities and enjoy sand-play or feeling the textures of dried pasta shapes covered with glitter. Healthy option snacks include fresh fruit, such as pineapple, and drinks of chilled water are available at any time from the refrigerator. Children enjoy nutritious meals from the extensive menu displayed for

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the early years provision

parents. Excellent hygiene practices are meticulously followed to prevent the risk of infection. The childminder has applied for registration with the local environmental health authority and is booked onto a food hygiene course. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder supports children to develop their potential rapidly across the stepping stones towards the early learning goals by using her expertise and experience. She maintains comprehensive planning records to ensure progress for each child as they all attend on a part-time basis. Observation and assessment is extensive on a wide range of documents, including scrapbooks of work, photographs and written records, some of which have the next steps noted on them. The childminder has been constantly evaluating the record keeping and devising systems to observe and plan for children's progress effectively and without this being onerous. She is aware this will assist the sharing of progress with parents, carers and support services to give a clearer picture of overall progress and the next steps of development.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn through an extensive variety of stimulating activities, including outings such as going to the parks, zoo or Diwali festivals. Child-initiated activities, where they show particular interest in a topic or resources, are extended. They develop a sense of caring for and helping others and quickly learn to use sign language. The resources presented are rich in variety and enable children to be self-motivated in making decisions about their play, choosing from those presented or helping themselves, such as from the 'treasure basket,' where they learn to feel a considerable range of textures. Children develop a positive awareness of themselves and their needs through the support of the childminder. They are encouraged to be active and healthy, using the garden daily, where children enjoy instigating their own play, for example, using the resources hanging on the fence as a musical instrument.

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and outcomes for children

Creative imaginations are substantially developed as there is a wide variety of craft resources and they follow up their visit to Derby by creating glitter pictures to represent the Diwali festival. Children write and mark-make with good skills. Language is well developed or extra support and sign language is used as the childminder constantly talks to the children, extending their learning and knowledge. Children have access to a considerable library of books which provide positive images of society to enhance their awareness of differences and acceptance. Children are supported to develop problem-solving and other mathematical skills as they play with cars on the garage or do baking for a Halloween party. Children use tools with dexterity and skills for their future are inventively promoted. They use technology with considerable skill. Excellent behaviour is maintained as children are purposefully engaged and eager to engage

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and outcomes for children

in the exciting learning experiences which are provided. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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