Childminder in Southampton

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY396590 Inspection date 30/03/2010 Inspector Alison Jane Kaplonek

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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 0300 123 1231, 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: 0300 123 1231 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 has been registered to care for children since 2009. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder lives in the Thornhill area of Southampton in Hampshire with her parents, brothers and son. All areas of the property are registered for childminding except for the back garden. The ground floor is easily accessible to adults and children. Toilet facilities are on the first floor. The family have two dogs. The childminder is able to walk to the local schools to take and collect children.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to provide care for three children from birth to eight years. Two of these may be in the early years age group. There are currently three children on roll who attend part time. Two of these children are in the early years age group. The childminder has a relevant childcare qualification.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is inadequate.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a busy, family environment where their routine care needs are sufficiently well met. All children are valued, included and take part in an enjoyable range of activities. However, the childminder lacks knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures and how to promote children's understanding of equality and diversity. The childminder has started to form links with parents but has not yet included the sharing of information regarding children's interests or capabilities or procedures for making a complaint. The childminder is developing systems to make observations and assessments of children’s learning and development but lacks sufficient knowledge and understanding of how to use these to plan challenging experiences for each child.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, the early years provision requires significant improvement. The registered person is given a Notice to Improve that sets out actions to be carried out.

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further?

To comply with the requirements of the EYFS the registered person must take the following action by the specified date:

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further?

 make available to parents a written statement that provides details of the procedure to be followed if they have a complaint (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register) 30/04/2010

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further?

 increase knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and how to contact local 30/07/2010 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 services should a referral need to be made (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (also applies to the compulsory part of the Childcare Register)  increase knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities and encourage children to recognise their own unique qualities and the characteristics they share with other children (Organisation) 30/07/2010

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further?

 increase knowledge and understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. Use this knowledge to develop systems for the observations and assessments of children’s learning and development so that these can be used to plan challenging experiences that are tailored to meet children’s individual needs. (Educational programmes) 30/07/2010

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further?

To improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 carry out regular evacuation drills with the children and record any problems encountered and how they were resolved  further develop working relationships with parents to include the sharing of information about each child’s interests and capabilities  maintain accurate records of children's attendance.

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the early years provision

Children are cared for in a safe and secure environment where satisfactory risk assessments for the premises, equipment and outings have been completed and recorded. The childminder ensures that her First aid qualification is kept up to date and keeps a records of any accidents. However, she lacks knowledge of child protection procedures or how to contact her local children's services should a referral need to be made. The childminder has written a range of policies and procedures which she shows to all parents when their children first start at her setting, although these do not include a complaints procedure. Some of these policies state that certain procedures will be followed, such as regular fire drills and accurate registers kept of children's arrival and departure, but these procedures are not always fully implemented. As a consequence, children are not sufficiently protected.

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the early years provision

The childminder has started to gain some information about the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has made some observations of children's achievements and has folders in place to make assessments. However, she lacks sufficient knowledge and understanding of how to complete observations and assessments and to fully implement a clear planning system which meets the learning needs of the children. All children are able to take part in the range of activities provided, but there are few resources in place to encourage learning about differences or valuing others. The childminder forms kind This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and caring relationships with the children but lacks knowledge and understanding of equal opportunities or how to encourage children to recognise their own unique qualities and the characteristics they share with other children.

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the early years provision

Parents are provided with a satisfactory range of information about the setting, for example, information about the types of meals provided and about activities that the children take part in. The childminder feeds back a good range of information each day, such as the younger children's feeding and sleeping routines, in daily diaries which parents take home. However, she does not talk to parents about children's interests or capabilities when their children first start. The childminder is aware that she is expected to form links with other settings that children attend and has some links with local school teachers. Since registration she has been unable to secure continuous improvement in her practice. However, she is able to informally identify some of her own strengths and weakness and has started to access training accordingly.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has established caring relationships with the children, who are settled and happy in the warm, family environment provided. Children play with and make choices from the range of resources, helping themselves from the boxes or toys on the floor. Activities are provided according to the children's request or needs; for example, older children often request craft activities or enjoy making cards for particular occasions. Younger children choose from the boxes of construction resources, complete puzzles or look at books. They learn new words as the childminder encourages them to repeat back to her the names of the animals or colours in the pictures. Good use is made of the local community and children are often taken out to the soft play area or groups held at the local Sure Start centre. As there is no garden available for outdoor play, the childminder ensures that children go out for regular walks and visit the local parks. The

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and outcomes for children

emotional needs of babies and younger children are well met as they enjoy cuddles and hugs with the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

Children play and learn in a secure and clean environment, where they are protected by the use of a range of equipment, such as stair gates and locks. Fire safety equipment is in place and an evacuation procedure has been drawn up, although children have not yet practised evacuating the premises. Young children are protected from the spread of infection as their hands and noses are regularly wiped and older children use the toilet and washing facilities upstairs. Meals and snacks are provided by the childminder and include healthy and nutritious main meals for those children who stay all day. Drinks are offered regularly and children may request them at any time. All children are welcomed into the setting and behave well. They are beginning to learn that some things are theirs, some are shared and other things belong to other people. They are learning some social skills as they sit together at the table to eat their snack or interact with adults and

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and outcomes for children

other children. Babies and younger children feel safe and secure and express their feelings through smiling or laughing. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 4 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 4

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 4 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 4

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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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the Early Years section of the report (Procedures for dealing with complaints) 30/04/2010

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the Early Years section of the report (Arrangements for safeguarding children) 30/07/2010

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