Maughan, Steven Robert

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY335129 Inspection date 11/11/2009 Inspector Margaret Bryant

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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 2006. He lives with his wife and two children aged nine years and 10 months in the east of the city of Hull. Most of the downstairs is used for childminding and includes the front lounge, the playroom, and the kitchen with supervision. The first floor is accessed by children for use of the bathroom only. Outdoors to the rear is an enclosed garden, currently not in use due to some ongoing building work. However, alternative provision is made on a daily basis for children to enjoy local walks, visits to the park and outings to places of interest.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. He is able to care for a maximum of five children under eight years, two of whom may be in the early years age range. His wife is also a registered childminder and works as a co-childminder with him on a part time basis. When working together they may care for a total of six children. Currently seven children are on roll, five of whom are in the early years age range. He is also registered to provide overnight care for a maximum of two children. He 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children make good progress in their learning as they are cared for by a childminder who provides them with a wide range of opportunities and he is fully aware of their individual needs. Systems in place which monitor children's learning are effective and involve parents, though links with others who assess children in the early years age range are not yet fully in place. With his co-childminder he has ambitious plans for continuous improvement of the provision and risk assessments take into account all areas of the home, making sure children are totally safeguarded at all times. He has addressed the improvements required from the last inspection.

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further?

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

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further?

 further develop the areas within the playroom which allow children free and easy access to all resources  further develop links with others who assess children in the early years age range. 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 is very clear of his role in safeguarding children and protecting them from harm. He keeps them at all times within his sight and hearing as they freely move around and express themselves. He maintains clear accident records, is aware of medication requirements to protect children and fully understands child protection issues. Parents get a copy of the safeguarding policy and many other policies as well. He knows all parents very well, works with them to ensure children's individual care needs are met and creates a shared approach to their learning. Parents inform him of what their children do at home and he reports daily to them about what their children have been doing. At the end of each term and with his co-childminder, parents are given detailed, written reports about their children's progress across all six areas of learning. Parents can access children's files whenever they wish and these include information about what the six areas

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the early years provision

are, enabling them to know his role in helping their children learn. Parents provide their written consent allowing him to observe children at play and make notes and take supporting photographs. He identifies well children's individual next stages of learning, through his good use of the Guidance to the Early Years Foundation Stage. He then plans with these in mind, including the wishes of children and their interests and displays the short term plan for parent's information.

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the early years provision

Children in the early years age range make good progress in their learning. He completes children's assessment files, however, the co-childminder mainly takes responsibility for doing these. He has regular contact with local playgroups and schools, to which he takes children. He knows what their current themes and topics are and they provide some verbal information about individual children. However, this is not sufficient to ensure a shared approach in respect of individual children's learning. His kind and caring approach, however, helps all children feel safe and secure in his company. He develops their confidence and skills as they grow and is very willing to learn, which benefits children. For example, he has renewed his first aid certificate, attended safeguarding and food safety training. Assessment of risks, along with daily checking of premises and resources keeps children safe. Although some building work is

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the early years provision

currently taking place to further improve outcomes for children, children are not at risk. Newly built shelving houses the wide range of resources, some of which have to be given to the youngest children who are not yet able to help themselves. Plans for continuous improvement include re-organisation of the playroom into the six areas of learning, enabling all children to have freer access.

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and outcomes for children

As children play happily with many freely available resources, the childminder intervenes gently when he sees opportunities to aid and extend their learning. For example, when This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 playing with toy cars which have dolls in car seats, he helps children to understand about car safety, making associations with the dolls and the seats in which children sit when going on outings in his car. Children listen well and feel safe and secure in his company and also take part in fire drills to help them know what to do in emergency situations. They go to many places of interest including the library where they choose their own books and to local parks. They have real fun at this time of year as they jump in and out of the piles of fallen leaves. As they walk through them, the childminder encourages them to listen to the sounds they make,

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and outcomes for children

introducing them to words, such as 'scrunching' when they feel them underfoot. He also helps young children begin to understand about why leaves change colour with the seasons. Sometimes children collect leaves and use these later for collages. Children under three years have many resources to stimulate their imagination. There are interactive toys which help them see the effect of their actions, for example, when they press buttons, lights flash and music sounds. He enjoys seeing the delight on their faces and also helps them develop their physical skills and confidence as they take their first steps.

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and outcomes for children

He consults with children about possible outings for holiday periods and older children choose to go bowling, to the museums and all children enjoy outings to the seaside. Photographs show children really enjoy themselves on these many outings. Seaside trips help children to notice the environment, such as the crashing waves and learning about rock erosion. Some children enjoy collecting small pebbles which they later paint at the childminder's. These are placed on display, as with much of other children's work, which helps them feel proud. Children visit the seaside not only in warm weather but to experience what it is like in cooler, windy weather and they learn about wearing warm clothing to suit the weather. Children are helped to share, be kind and caring to each other and respect each other's differences. They celebrate Remembrance Day, make their own poppies and learn about other cultural celebrations including the Chinese New Year.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's home is clean and all children learn about keeping healthy from a very young age. Good hygiene measures in operation involve children adopting healthy habits as they use their own, different coloured towels on which to dry their hands. They enjoy healthy snacks and nutritious meals provided by the childminder and all children freely access water from a newly purchased water dispenser and from their own bottles and cups, in the case of younger children. Visits to the home by the dental hygienist help children know about caring for their teeth, brushing them correctly and being aware of how much water to use as they do this. Experiments involving children over three years, help children learn about 'cause and effect', for example, an experiment conducted with sample teeth brought in, shows when left in solutions of different drinks, which drinks are good for their teeth and which are not. These experiments help children become active

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and outcomes for children

and curious learners. 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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