Childminder in Devon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY315978 Inspection date 11/01/2010 Inspector Judith Harris

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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 2005, she lives in Woolsery in North Devon with her husband who is her assistant and three children aged 10, seven and five years. Minded children have access to the whole of the ground floor of the childminder's home and garden, with the exception of the kitchen. A maximum of four children aged from birth to under eight years may attend the setting at any one time when the childminder is working alone and five children when working with the assistant. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. There are currently seven children attending who are within the early years age range.

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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

The diverse range of observations and assessments that the childminder has developed ensure she is able to build a comprehensive knowledge of each child as an individual which supports her in successfully meeting children's learning and welfare needs. The childminder's precisely organised systems ensure children are safe and secure in her home and on regular outings to the local and wider areas. The childminder builds professional and positive partnerships with parents and other settings, which are clearly very effective in supporting her to meet individual needs. The exemplary use of self-evaluation and reflective practice ensure that the childminder is able to develop a clear vision and successfully drive the improvement of her provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop systems to gather information about children's individual learning and development from starting points in the setting, at home and at other settings attended.

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the early years provision

The childminder's accurate and efficient systems ensure that all adults in her home have appropriate checks and remain suitable, and that all un-checked visitors are properly identified, recorded and fully supervised. The childminder's service specific safeguarding children procedures provide clear and precise information in line with the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines. An exceptionally comprehensive range of risk assessments are carried out on all areas of the childminder's home and for all outings with the children. The childminder ensures that children are able to take an active part in assessing the risks for themselves by carrying out their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 own risk assessments, which are used to inform the childminder's annual risk assessments and daily checks. Emergency evacuation plans are in place which are regularly practised with the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder's precise systems ensure that her record keeping and documentation are exceptionally well developed and successfully provide all necessary information for the ongoing support of each individual child. Her excellent partnerships with parents allow her to effectively share all relevant records and parents are provided with a full range of service specific policies and procedures for the provision. The childminder ensures that all accident and medication records are shared with parents and daily contact books provide information about the activities and events children have taken part in. The professional relationships that the childminder builds with other settings that children attend support her in effectively building clear and complete pictures of each child in her care. The childminder is confident and positive about the inclusion of all children and her knowledge of each child's interests ensures she is providing

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the early years provision

the children with appropriate activities and experiences. The childminder is highly successful in supporting children with diverse needs and abilities. Children have access to a wide range of resources and equipment which the childminder extends through visits to local groups and the toy library. The childminder makes very effective use of her and her assistant's time to ensure that she is able to meet a variety of individual daily routines for the children in her care.

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the early years provision

The childminder's exemplary use of self-evaluation and reflective practice ensures she is accurate in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of her provision and developing her vision for continuous improvement. The childminder has an annual programme of training to support her to continue her own professional development. Her commitment to building valuable and positive relationships with both parents and other provisions show that she has a clear understanding of the importance of these relationships. Parents are provided with regular newsletters, daily written records for parents and questionnaires for parents to complete with their children, which provide a complete picture of the views of all the users of her service.

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and outcomes for children

Children are exceptionally happy, confident and comfortable in the care of the experienced childminder. Through the warm caring relationships that the childminder builds with the children they are unmistakably nurtured and clearly feel secure in this relaxed environment. Children move around the play space with confidence, making free choices from the activities and resources provided. Children have a large amount of play space in which they have direct and safe access to a wide range of toys, equipment and resources that are suitable for their ages. Children play with cars and trucks on a road mat, they are intensely involved in the play, actively using their imagination to develop the game. It has been snowing and the childminder supports the children to extend the game, they choose a range of vehicles with different patterns on the wheels and go out to experiment, making tracks in the snow in the garden. Children are supported to

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 wrap up warm and are clearly absolutely delighted with the activity. There is lots of animated interaction which the childminder makes excellent use of to extend the children's language and challenge them with open questions. The childminder's photo evidence shows children at play and learning through an extensive range of activities, outings and experiences that effectively cover all areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children's individual learning and development is exceptionally well supported by the in-depth knowledge that the childminder has of each child in her care. The childminder makes highly effective use of the learning journey information she gathers for each child. Through maintaining and developing her skills of observation and assessment she has built clear pictures of each child's individual needs and interests. The childminder's enthusiastic interaction with the children uses lots of praise and encouragement and it is clear that the children are leading and directing the play with appropriate support from the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is unquestionably embracing the Early Years Foundation Stage and makes very positive use of this framework to support her work. Each child has a learning journey scrap book which contains photographs of the child at play with clear and accurate links to the learning that is taking place and the early learning goals. Through the range of information collected it is clear that the childminder is successfully supporting children with a diverse range of needs and interests. She is skilfully ensuring that children are provided with appropriate experiences that support them to take an equal part in the activities provided.

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and outcomes for children

Children are carefully supported to learn good basic hygiene skills through the use of good hygiene routines. Children help themselves to drinks from their own cups and they are offered a good range of healthy and balanced meals and snacks with fruit available. The childminder takes detailed information about any special dietary restrictions and works closely with parents to ensure children's individual dietary needs are met. The childminder has a clear understanding of the importance of the use of positive strategies to support children's behaviour. She actively encourages children to share and take turns and her behaviour policy details how she ensures that all strategies are age and ability appropriate for all children. 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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