Childminder in North Somerset

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY263894 Inspection date 07/01/2010 Inspector Carol Cox

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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 teenage daughter in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. The whole of the ground floor of the flat except for the conservatory/store room is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. She is currently caring for eight children in the early years age group at different times during the week. She also offers care to older children. The childminder takes children to and collects from local nurseries, schools and pre-schools. She takes children to local parks, shops, the beach and places of interest and is a member of a local childminder support group.

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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 provides warm and consistent care for children who enjoy their time with her. Children make good progress in their learning and development because the childminder uses her knowledge of their individual interests and achievements to plan for their future learning. She builds close relationships with parents to identify each child's care needs and responds flexibly to the changing needs of families. The childminder has made a thoughtful and analytical evaluation of the quality of her provision and has identified areas for development. She demonstrates very good capacity for continuing improvement through accessing training to meet the changing needs of children and to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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further?

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

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further?

 conduct regular fire drills with all minded children  continue to develop the system of recording children's achievements and using these records to plan for children's future learning.

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the early years provision

Children are effectively safeguarded because the childminder has a good understanding of child protection issues. She has experience of working with others to protect children and attends regular training to ensure her practice meets the current guidance of the Local Safeguarding Children Board. She ensures parents understand her responsibilities for protecting children by sharing her well written safeguarding policy and procedure with them. The childminder identifies all This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 visitors to her setting and records the times of their visits. The childminder is committed to improving her provision and has used her self-evaluation to identify areas for future development. She has addressed all the recommendations from her previous inspection and attends regular training. For example, in the last year she has attended several training courses and registered as a food provider with

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the early years provision

the local authority. The childminder promotes equality and diversity by helping children to recognise that others may be different but of equal value. Children learn to share and show concern for others through well planned activities, resources and gentle explanations. The childminder has built close and often long lasting relationships with parents and other carers, which ensure that the specific needs of each child are consistently recognised and met, for example, helping support children when they have to move. She has good systems in place for recording relevant information about children's dietary and care needs and ensures that all records are signed and dated by parents to verify their accuracy.

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the early years provision

The childminder has approached the process of self-evaluation with a clear analysis of her provision and a thoughtful identification of areas for development. For example, she has noted that although she has started to use learning diaries to record children's achievements, she does not yet consistently document their next steps in learning. However, her good knowledge of how children learn and develop means that they continue to make good progress. Using her considerable experience of working with children and her knowledge of child development she ensures that children enjoy an abundance of interesting and stimulating learning experiences. Her home is well equipped with toys and resources which are well maintained and easily made accessible. Therefore, children begin to make choices for themselves and demonstrate their growing independence skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care. They settle quickly and clearly show that they feel comfortable and at home. The childminder has a sound understanding of how children learn and develop which promotes their good progress in relation to their starting points. She is developing an effective system to use well written observations of children's progress to plan for future learning based on their individual needs and interests. Children enjoy an exciting and well balanced range of activities to stimulate and support learning in all areas. They benefit from regular visits in the local community which progress their learning and increase their understanding of the world. For example, they regularly visit a local playgroup where they enjoy socialising with others and benefit from an extended range of activities. The childminder offers a range of planned activities designed to reflect the learning needs of each child, however, she is very responsive to

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and outcomes for children

children's changing needs. For example, after asking for play dough the children suddenly discover a computer toy which they start to explore, the childminder sits down with them to support their experiments with different buttons, sounds and lights. She uses this play to help one child recognise and name colours, the other enjoys making different sounds. Children re-enact familiar scenes from their lives when playing with small world toys which reflect different people. For example, when pushing a doll in a wheelchair a child finds a baby doll to sit on 'her This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 mummy's lap'. Children learn to recognise and value differences between people and their individuality is carefully celebrated.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is very effectively promoted through the childminder's careful identification of their individual needs. For example, she works closely with parents to understand any changes which may be happening which might affect children and to provide consistent care. Children enjoy choosing healthy and nutritious food and drinks, which the childminder prepares with due consideration to any specific dietary needs. Children learn about the importance of good hygiene and recognise which colour towel is theirs, thus preventing spread of infection and helping children recognise and name colours. There are robust systems in place to seek guidance from parents about any medical needs and to record parental consent and details of medication administered. Children learn to keep themselves safe, for example, when crossing roads on their trips in the local area. The childminder is vigilant in ensuring that appropriate car safety seats are always available. The

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and outcomes for children

childminder makes risk assessments of all aspects of her provision so her home, garden and trips are safe and risks are minimised. There is a clear emergency evacuation procedure in place, however, this has not yet been practised with all minded children. The childminder recognises the importance of sharing all information with parents and observes the need for confidentiality. Children's behaviour is very good and they enjoy appropriate praise and encouragement. They learn to consider others through playing games together and sharing toys. Parents are every appreciative of the flexible approach the childminder has to meeting the needs of their families. Through the wide range of activities and experiences on offer children learn and practise good skills for the future. 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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