Childminder in Devon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY340288 Inspection date 08/02/2010 Inspector Leoarna Mathias

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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 registered initially in 2006 and began minding in 2010. She lives with her husband and two school age children in a residential area of Ivybridge. Children have use of the whole house, which includes an open plan dining and living room, kitchen, bathrooms, including downstairs toilet, and three upstairs bedrooms. There is also an enclosed garden for outdoor play, and a pet rabbit. There are schools, pre-schools, shops, a library and open spaces nearby, including Dartmoor.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered for four children under the age of eight years, including two in the early years age group. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She has four children of varying ages on roll, including three in the Early Years age group. The childminder has completed a foundation course in childminding as well as first aid training.

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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 childminder has created a secure and welcoming environment where children feel safe. She works hard to establish a detailed picture of each child's needs, abilities and preferences. She is well organised, with a good range of policies and a positive approach to her own professional development. She has a clear vision for the type of care she is providing, and is building relationships with others in her community in order to share ideas for best practice. Children's safety is a clear priority for her, as is promoting positive behaviour. Consequently, children are well cared for, accessing as they do both a broad range of high quality resources and ample support for their learning and development.

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further?

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

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further?

 extend the child protection policy so that allegations of abuse against childminding practice have an established procedure  consider ways in which evaluations of childminding practice can be increased, so as to bring about further improvements to practice  continue to develop systems for assessing the progress children are making, so as to further inform individual planning for the next steps in individual children's learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder has a clear understanding of her child protection responsibilities while at the same time acknowledging that she does not yet have a procedure for dealing with an allegation of abuse against her own practice. However, in all other respects her practice and policy is appropriate, and this information is fully shared with parents. She is thorough and consistent in her conducting of risk assessments and in ensuring hazards are reduced. For example, when supervising a newly mobile young child, she stays very close, while at the same time encouraging his standing and first steps. She has a strong approach to fire safety and for dealing with emergencies, medical and otherwise.

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the early years provision

The childminder is growing in her capacity to evaluate her own practice, and has a clear vision, expressed through aims in her parent pack, for the type of care she is providing. Through discussion she can readily identify areas for improvement and proactively suggests ways to develop practice. At the same time, she recognises the value in formalising her approach to reflecting on the quality of her provision. She has a committed and professional attitude towards accessing further training and devising a coherent self-evaluation system. She makes good use of resources, both in terms of organising her time to give children access to consistent care and a range of experiences, and ensures children make use of her broad range of high quality resources that are kept in excellent order.

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the early years provision

The childminder has quickly developed effective strategies for maintaining strong relationships with the families of minded children. She creates a detailed picture of each child's life when taking on a new charge, as well as sharing her policies and procedures through an accessible and well-constructed parent pack. She also provides daily verbal feedback and written information about each child's day. She is committed to working in partnership with other professionals when children in her care need additional support, and liaises with the local school to ensure a flow of information for older children. The childminder is also building relationships with other childminders in her area in order to support her growing skills as a reflective practitioner.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy access to a delightful range of activities and resources that promote their learning and development. Very young children are engaged throughout their time at the childminder's by pleasing toys and games, benefiting from the childminder's close support and enthusiastic response to their achievements. She demonstrates a secure understanding of how each kind of activity can promote learning, and recognises the value of every day tasks in supporting progress. Children also access a varied range of activities outside the home, such as regular visits to a soft play setting and attending local childminding group meetings. Children's communication skills are ably supported. For example, young children's babble is responded to with enthusiasm and plentiful eye contact from the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 childminder. Older children enjoy ready access to a range of activities, such as

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and outcomes for children

cooking, art and craft, and messy play. Their imaginations are fostered through regular access to stories and small world toys, and play which promotes their physical skills is a regular feature of planning. Children are cared for in an environment where behaviour boundaries are consistently set out. Positive behaviour and respect for others are properly encouraged, and children give of their best during their time in the childminder's home. They are also learning to keep themselves safe. For example, children take it in turns, during the walk home from school, to be 'team leader'; the team leader decides when it is safe for the group to cross any roads along their route.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is currently developing tools which will enable her to accurately assess the progress children in her care are making. While she can already do this at an informal level, she is working towards devising a more systematic approach that will enable her to more quickly identify children's achievements and any areas for concern. Nevertheless, her knowledge of each child's stage of progress is strong; testament to how hard she has worked since beginning minding. Furthermore, she has a good understanding of her responsibilities in relation to supporting children with physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties. The childminder's clear commitment to equality and diversity underpin her work, and is visible through her philosophy of equal access to activities and experiences for all and her sensibly constructed policy in this area.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder works closely with parents to ensure children enjoy healthy meals and snacks, and that any intolerances or allergies are effectively managed. Similarly, she has a clear approach to the management of illness and ongoing medical conditions, underpinned by detailed documentation that has regard for each family's right to confidentiality. 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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