Childminder in East Sussex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY251826 Inspection date 14/04/2010 Inspector Stacey Sangster

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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 was registered in 2003. She lives with her husband and two school aged children in Eastbourne, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links.

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Description of the childminding

The ground floor of the childminder’s home is used for childminding, with a bedroom on the first floor for overnight care. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family has a dog, rabbits and guinea pigs.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. The childminder is currently minding 15 children, of whom five are in the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, the compulsory part of the Childcare Register and the voluntary part of the Childcare Register. The number of children cared for may increase when working with an assistant or with an approved variation from Ofsted.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is eligible to receive funding to provide free early education to children aged three and four.

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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

The setting meets the needs of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage effectively and all children make progress at a good rate given their starting points and capabilities. The childminder is very aware of her strengths and weaknesses, she regularly reviews her progress and reflects on how she can improve on what she does. She demonstrates the capacity and commitment to continually improve.

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further?

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

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further?

 take essential records and equipment on outings including consent for emergency medical treatment and ensure that these are always easily accessible  ensure assessment includes elements of what parents have observed that their children can do, some form of benchmarking and the next steps identified in the child's development. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Safeguarding is given high priority by the childminder, her policy and procedures are clear and systems are in place to ensure that only adults vetted by Ofsted and confirmed as having a suitable Criminal Records Bureau check are permitted to have unsupervised contact with minded children. Risk assessments are thorough and include outings, the required record of these is maintained.

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the early years provision

Resources in this setting are plentiful, well maintained and are of good quality. Children can easily self select from what is on offer and all equipment is well organised and stored at a low level to enable children to access it safely. The childminder has three assistants registered to work with her and usually works with one of them and occasionally two at a time. This enables children to receive high levels of adult interaction when appropriate and good levels of supervision.

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the early years provision

Arrangements for self-evaluation include the assistants as well as consultation with local Early Years, Childcare and Extended Schools Service. The focus of the plans for improvement is appropriate and currently centres on updating paperwork and reorganising the extensive resources that the childminder has. The childminder strives to continually improve the service that she offers children and their families. Regular training is attended to enhance the childminder's knowledge of good practice, including food hygiene and play worker courses.

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the early years provision

All children are made to feel included in the setting. Planning incorporates the childminder's extensive knowledge of each child. Children are observed to influence the play environment, request food which they would like for lunch and negotiate outings for later in the week at favourite child-centred local attractions. Books, posters and dressing up clothes reflect a wide range of ethnic and religious images. Disability is positively reflected within the range of play people. Children get to ask questions, explore and investigate a range of celebrations that are important to different people within their own and the wider community.

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the early years provision

Parents are effectively engaged in sharing information in relation to both education and welfare, and the childminder shares detailed information on a daily basis in verbal form and in writing approximately once a term. These arrangements enhance the care and education that children receive both at the setting and at home. When children are cared for by other providers who also deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage, the childminder works hard to establish a partnership with them to ensure that all involved in a child's care are sharing information effectively.

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and outcomes for children

Children have fun and enjoy their time in this setting. It is well organised, thoughtfully arranged childcare. The children receive high quality interaction, which extends their knowledge, provides them with interesting challenges and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 motivates them to explore further. All six areas of learning are supported effectively and children make good progress across them all. Routines are well balanced. While some activities are adult led the provider understands that children gain confidence and appreciate time to play without adult intervention on occasions. The well laid out home and secure garden enable them to do this while being adequately supervised from a distance.

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and outcomes for children

Planning assessment and observation records have been updated recently and a new system is being trialled. This provides a good tracking system but does not assess how well children are making progress. The record does not accurately reflect all of the childminder's good practices, such as her benchmarking against the Early Years Foundation Stage, the careful planning that takes account of the next steps and the consideration given to contributions that parents make to her assessments which are informally shared with her. This reduces the effectiveness of the record, particularly if the child moves and the records need to inform another practitioner.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder and her assistants are all first aid trained which results in children receiving prompt and appropriate attention if an injury occurs.

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and outcomes for children

Records are all well kept and enhance the care and education that the childminder offers. Consent forms completed by parents in relation to consent to seek emergency medical treatment are easily accessible for most children, the arrangements for their use are, however, not fully effective as they are not taken on outings and are not always filed together, increasing the time it takes the childminder to locate them.

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and outcomes for children

Children have regular access to fresh air and exercise as they access the garden freely. They engage in lots of complex role play led by older children and enthusiastically participated in by all ages. The children behave exceptionally well, they are confident and settled in the setting, indicating that they feel safe. They approach adults confidently and excitedly tell visitors about the toys and resources they have available to play with and the fun activities they are planning to take part in.

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and outcomes for children

Future skills are well supported as children have good opportunities to use the computer, mark make and practise emerging writing, for example listing activities and outings they want to attend in the summer holidays. All children are developing social skills which help them to make friends and get on well with others. 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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