Childminder in Warwickshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY377975 Inspection date 01/12/2009 Inspector Dianne Lynn Sadler

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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 2008. She lives with her husband in a bungalow in Atherstone in Warwickshire. The family has a cat and two dogs. The whole of the premises is used for childminding purposes and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to provide care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. She is currently caring for seven children, three of whom are within the Early years Foundation stage (EYFS). The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children from local schools. She has an appropriate play work qualification.

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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 enjoy their time in this fully inclusive setting. Their individuality is recognised and nurtured by the childminder who has a strong knowledge of their backgrounds, family circumstances, interests and capabilities. The childminder works effectively with parents to ensure all children make good progress in their learning and development and is developing systems to work in partnerships with other providers. The childminder has developed effective systems to monitor and evaluate her practice and attends ongoing training events, which provides a strong basis for her capacity to maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the two-way flow of information with other providers to include children's learning and development  use observations and assessements to identify learning priorities and ensure children make the best progress they can towards all the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded very well. The childminder is vigilant about all safety issues and ensures all adults are checked and suitable to work with children. She maintains clear written risk assessments for the premises and ensures children are also kept safe when walking in the community on outings. The childminder has developed a clearly written safeguarding policy and procedure to share with parents. She is confident about her responsibility to protect children from harm This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and neglect and has written details about the Local Safeguarding Children Board's procedures.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a service that is fully inclusive for all children and their families. She has a very good awareness of the children's individual needs and interests. She provides a warm and welcoming environment and has a very caring manner which fosters children's sense of well-being. The childminder makes very effective use of space and the stimulating range of good quality resources to support and motivate children's learning. Children benefit from accessing a wide range of resources that include positive images of diversity which gives them and their families a sense of belonging and of being valued. This includes scrapbooks she has developed herself showing images cut out of magazines of people and children from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of different needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder works closely with parents to ensure each child gets the support they need to make good progress. She provides parents with a set of well-written policies and a portfolio detailing checks that have been completed to evidence her suitability and certificates of training courses attended. She records what children have been doing on a day-to-day basis in their 'Me to you' books which parents also use to record events at home. Parents show complete satisfaction with the service and make comments on their six-monthly questionnaires. They state that their children settle very well in a warm, friendly and supportive environment in which the childminder provides a wide range of interesting activities. The childminder is also developing systems to communicate with other providers. She shares information about children's welfare but does not yet share information about their learning and development.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to improving her practice. She has attended a very wide range of training events to develop her knowledge and skills in all areas which improves all the outcomes for children. The childminder has developed effective systems to monitor and evaluate her service and has used a self- evaluation document to reflect on her strengths and areas for improvement. In addition to seeking the views of parents she also seeks the views of children which they record in their own individual questionnaires. They make comments which include 'I like coming here because I can colour in fairy pictures' and 'nice fun'.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy a stimulating and relaxed environment in which they feel confident and fully included. They access a large, bright and airy play room in which most of the resources are stored. The children chose the colour of the playroom when it was being recently decorated which instils a good sense of belonging. Children make good choices and decisions about their play and select activities according to the differing interests. For instance, if they want to relax after school they can select their favourite book and sit quietly on the mat to read it. Alternatively, those that wish to be more active, eagerly sit up to the table to make Christmas cards for their parents using chalk and materials, such as cotton wool. All children are able to explore and investigate. They observe with excitement the changes made as This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 they watch the crocus bulbs they have planted in beautifully decorated pots grow.

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and outcomes for children

These will be given to their parents as gifts for Christmas. All children enjoy walks out in the local community where they collect materials, such as twigs and grasses to use in their collage. They also enjoy placing food out for the birds at the bird table. They consider what varieties of bird visit the garden as they check the species they observe against a chart in the playroom.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder observes the good progress children make and records the information in their development folder which includes their 'Me to you' books, a scrapbook of photos and separate observation sheets, all clearly linked to the EYFS. She uses the information gained to assess children's progress within all the six areas of learning, but not all the educational programmes. This may compromise the progress children make towards some of the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

All children are learning to keep themselves safe and are learning about healthy lifestyles. They discuss good road safety when out walking, access safe and appropriate toys, furniture and equipment and practise the emergency evacuation plan each term. To help learn about appropriate behaviours children have written the setting’s rules which are displayed in the playroom. These include 'stand still near animals’ and ‘be careful in the park'. Good hygiene routines are in place and the children are reminded of the need to follow such routines verbally and by posters being displayed in the bathroom. Children enjoy healthy and nutritious meals and snacks prepared by the childminder. For instance, they enjoy home- made strawberry mousse and wholemeal bread and butter as a snack after school and help themselves to a drink from a jug of water at the table. All children sit together very well at the table which helps to develop their social skills and

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and outcomes for children

confidence. 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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