Newton, Valerie Ann

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY335071 Inspection date 08/12/2009 Inspector Sarah Jane Rhodes

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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. She lives with her husband, one adult child and one child aged 15 years. The family live in Macclesfield, Cheshire. The whole of the ground floor, upstairs bathrooms and first floor playroom are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family have a cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of whom may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding three children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder drives or walks to a local school to take and collect children. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds an early years qualification.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides a well-organised and inviting play environment to meet each individual child's needs. She uses the Early Years Foundation Stage's (EYFS) six areas of learning to support her observation and assessment of the children's activities. Procedures for assessing each child's progress are being developed. Systems for evaluating the provision's strengths and weaknesses are limited and some documentation lacks necessary detail. The childminder has taken positive steps to meet the recommendations identified at the last inspection and attended additional training.

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further?

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

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further?

 update risk assessment documentation to include dates undertaken and review dates, as well as each type of outing and the trampoline  develop the use of self-evaluation as part of an internal review to inform planning of future improvements  develop further the assessment system to facilitate the clear identification of starting points and progression in all areas of the early learning goals, form links with other Early Years Foundation Stage providers to exchange information on children's progress  update the complaints policy to include Ofsted's correct contact details and ensure parents countersign accident records. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded appropriately. The childminder has an adequate knowledge of child protection procedures, her ultimate role and what records need to be kept. She has undertaken risk assessments for both the premises and outings and maintains a safe and secure building. She is also aware of the need to be vigilant when on trips out and when caring for children of different abilities, for example, toddlers who cannot have access to small toys. However, She has not included some outings and significant risks such as the trampoline in the garden on the written documentation.

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the early years provision

The childminder has addressed the recommendations made at the last inspection. These included undertaking emergency evacuations with the children and obtaining written permission from parents to seek emergency medical advice and treatment for the children should that be necessary. She has also attended a first aid course to improve her knowledge. The childminder has implemented the EYFS since her last inspection and sought out help and advice to set up systems for new requirements such as risk assessments and observations of children. However, she is only just focusing on identifying targets to improve her provision on an ongoing basis.

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the early years provision

The childminder places much emphasis on building partnerships with parents and has a range of ways of sharing information with them. Daily verbal exchanges with parents help her build partnerships with them to ensure continuity in the children's care between the home and the setting. These are supported by written daily diaries for babies noting information such as feeds, sleep times and activities. A number of written policies are shared with parents which gives them a further insight into how their child's care is organised. However, the complaints policy has not been updated with the most recent Ofsted contact number and parents have not always signed the accident record to acknowledge the entry. The childminder is only just starting to liaise with other EYFS providers who also provide care to her childminded children to assist her planning of activities and assessment of children's development. The childminder understands the needs of the individual

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the early years provision

children she cares for and has organised her play space to allow children to access a range of appropriate equipment. This ensures that no child is disadvantaged and all children have their needs met appropriately.

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and outcomes for children

The provision for children's learning, development and welfare is satisfactory. The children benefit from a well-organised playroom which allows them easy access to a range of toys and activities. This along with lots of individual attention means that each child's interests and care needs can be catered for. The childminder has introduced a system for recording observations of some of the children's activities. She uses the EYFS to guide her assessment of these observations and plans the next steps in children's learning. Some of these next steps are clearly followed up This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 by further activity and assessment. The observations on each child are limited in number and no effective working links have been developed with other EYFS providers to exchange information on children's progress which impacts on her ability to robustly ensure children are making adequate progress towards all the

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and outcomes for children

Children are settled and very happy in the childminder's home. She ensures a broad range of activities are provided which keeps children occupied. They enjoy a wide range of craft work activities including painting and junk modelling and are starting to make marks with a variety of pens, pencils and paints. Lots of conversation encourages their speech and children are confident communicators explaining clearly what they would like to do. Counting and identifying colour and shape are woven into the daily routines. The natural world is explored during walks in the local area as well as through investigating in the garden, for example, looking at mini beasts. Children's knowledge of cultures and beliefs is extended through activities that explore a range of festivals linked to a number of cultures and religions. Children have access to larger equipment in the local parks as well as in the garden, giving them opportunity to develop their balancing and climbing

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and outcomes for children

Children are encouraged to enjoy fresh air and walk to school whenever possible. They learn about road safety and are involved in emergency evacuation drills which consolidates their knowledge in this area. The parents provide a healthy diet which includes fruit and vegetables which the childminder serves. Clear procedures about hygiene both personal hygiene and hygiene of the home allow children to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. The childminder manages the children's behaviour in a positive way praising the children, using distraction and helping children negotiate and problem solve themselves, for example, when sharing equipment. Children are making acceptable progress in developing skills for the future and the move to school when the time comes. 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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