Childminder in Kent

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY378832 Inspection date 25/01/2010 Inspector Cilla Rachel Mullane

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Type of setting Childcare on domestic premises 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 setting

The childminder was registered in 2008. She lives with her three children in Margate, Kent. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s house, and the upstairs bathroom, are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder works with an assistant.

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Description of the setting

The childminder is registered to care for six children aged under eight years, of whom three may be in the early years age range. She is currently caring for five children in the early years age range. She is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to look after children aged over five years, and is looking after one child in this age range.

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Description of the setting

The childminder and her assistant walk to local schools and pre-schools to take and collect children. They attend the local carer and toddler groups.

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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

Children make satisfactory progress towards the early learning goals, and enjoy their time with the childminder, because she gets to know them well, and has regard for their individual needs and personalities. Her planning to help all children to make maximum progress is not yet fully in place. She is especially skilled at praising children, increasing their self esteem, and encouraging good manners and turn taking. Children feel safe in the childminder’s home, where an adequate range of resources is available for self selection. All the required written records are in place, but some lack sufficient detail. She maintains continuous improvement by attending training, and is starting to reflect on her practice in order to identify areas for development.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 ensure that all adults who live on the premises have and enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure (Suitable people) 25/03/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the use of systematic observations and assessments of children’s achievements, interests and learning styles in all areas of learning to plan challenging, relevant and motivating play experiences for each child indoors This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and out, across all areas of learning and development  review and update the complaints and safeguarding procedures  improve the detail recorded in the accident and medication records  improve the organisation and availability of toys, equipment and craft resources available for children to self select  develop the use of reflective practice and self-evaluation to identify strengths and priorities for development that will continuously improve the quality of the provision for all children  improve the record of attendance to include children's exact hours of attendance

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her childminding service to a satisfactory extent. She often works with an assistant: they work consistently because they discuss practice together, and share ideas and duties. The childminder ensures that her assistant is familiar with policies and procedures. The childminder’s conditions of registration enable an assistant to be in sole chare of the children, for example, while one of them does the school run, with parents’ written permission. This situation has only occurred on a few occasions, but parents’ permission is not sought in writing, which is a breach of her conditions of registration.

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the early years provision

The childminder is guided by satisfactory procedures for dealing with complaints and safeguarding children, which give her sufficient information to protect children. The procedures give parents most of the information they need, but lack some details. The childminder has ensured that she obtains Criminal Records Bureau checks for most of her adult children, but one is overdue. This is a breach of the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. Risk assessments are in place to help keep children safe, and cover most aspects of children’s care.

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the early years provision

Most required documentation is fairly well maintained. However, the times recorded in the record of attendance are the anticipated times of children’s arrivals and departures, rather than the actual times.

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the early years provision

The childminder’s use of observations to inform her planning for individual children is developing. She currently observes children’s play, takes photographs, and presents these in a folder for each child. They are linked to areas of learning, such as creative development, showing that she has a sound knowledge of the areas of leaning, and enabling her to check that she is providing activities across all areas. However, she does not yet make full use of these to plan challenging activities tailored to the needs of each child. There is not a record of children’s starting points, so their progress from a baseline is difficult to see.

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the early years provision

The environment is set out with a variety of toys and equipment, which promotes learning in all areas of development. Some resources are available for the children to self select, but some boxes are higher on cupboards, or stacked so that they are inaccessible without help. Furthermore, some of the boxes are labelled with pictures to help children choose their favourites, but the labels have fallen off This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 others.

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the early years provision

The childminder has not yet begun to systematically self evaluate her childminding practice. However, her basic understanding of her strengths and weaknesses enables her to plan for future improvement. For example, she wants to improve her planning for individual children.

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the early years provision

Relationships with parents are friendly and supportive. They comment that their children are happy and enjoy their time with the childminder, who they feel is flexible and caring. They appreciate the good quality outings and feel their children are becoming sociable and growing in confidence. The childminder recognises the importance of working in partnership with other settings attended by the children. Where children attend another childminding setting, the two coordinate their themes of activities, and share information about children’s progress, for example, both helping children to become independent before starting school.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder knows the children well, and therefore provides some activities which she knows will help children make progress. For example, she gently encourages shy children to speak and socialise confidently, and provides opportunities for children to practice early writing skills. Her current use of observations to plan children’s next steps is developing in this respect.

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and outcomes for children

Children’s self esteem is good, as the childminder tells them how proud she is as they achieve a goal. They glow with pleasure when she praises them. They share willingly when encouraged to swap toys, and give another a turn. Children are proud of their work, and are keen to show their parents their pictures.

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and outcomes for children

Children count on their own as they place shapes with numbers onto the clock. The childminder draws their attention to the disappearing milk in the magic bottles, encouraging curiosity, and fascinating the children. Children are gaining in confidence because the childminder gently encourages them to ask for what they want, and to act independently.

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and outcomes for children

Outings are frequent and interesting and relevant to the children, and so their knowledge and understanding of the world increases as they think about their local community. For example, they enjoy trips to the local wildlife park. Indoors, they are learning to help care for the dog and cats, and treat them kindly and gently.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe with the childminder. They find a blanket and cuddle up on the sofa. They fall into the childminder’s arms for a cuddle when she laughs and praises a comment or something they have done well. Children feel secure when the childminder recognises their feelings, for example, when they have hurt themselves she is reassuring and kind. Children are learning how to keep themselves safe outside the home, and talk about looking for cars on the road.

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and outcomes for children

Accidents and medication administered are recorded, but some accident records This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 lack sufficient detail, for example, the exact location of a bump on the head is not noted, and parents do not always sign the entry. Also, some details regarding the administration of medication are not consistently recorded. Children enjoy mostly nutritious snacks, and make healthy choices as they ask for grapes later in the day. 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 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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