Childminder, Out-of school day care in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 225287 Inspection date 11/03/2010 Inspector Alison Edwards

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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

This childminder registered in 1992. She lives with her husband and three adult sons in a house on a residential cul-de-sac on the outskirts of a village in the Charnwood, district of Leicestershire. Minded children use the ground floor of the house for play, with access to the first floor if required. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. A cat and a tortoise are kept as family pets. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six children aged under eight years, three of whom may be in the early years age range. There are currently four children under the age of eight on roll, including two in the early years age range, both of whom are in full-time education. The childminder is also registered on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register to care for older children.

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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

The childminder has appropriate arrangements to work with parents to ensure that she has sufficient information about each child to meet their individual needs. She is sufficiently familiar with her responsibilities under the Early Years Foundation Stage in order to support their care and developmental needs appropriately. Consequently, current arrangements enable children to establish sound personal and learning skills to provide a satisfactory foundation for their future wellbeing. The childminder has taken appropriate steps to address the recommendation raised at her previous inspection by ensuring that children are familiar what to do in the event of a fire. She maintains the required paediatric first aid certificate, and has worked sufficiently closely with local sources of advice and support to meet the overall requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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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 there is an accurate daily record of the hours of children's attendance. (Documentation - also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 12/04/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that the risk assessment covers all resources used by children, with particular regard to access to the full-sized trampoline in the garden  promote equality of opportunity by providing positive images and activities to challenge children’s thinking and help them develop respect for equality and for differences in culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, learning difficulties and religion This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  develop arrangements to assess children's interests and stage of development and to share these with all adults involved in children's care in order to more systematically plan challenging and enjoyable experiences across all areas of learning  develop systematic arrangements to review existing strengths of the childminding service and to identify priorities for further development to improve the quality of provision for all children.

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the early years provision

Sound arrangements are in place to safeguard children from harm. The childminder confirms that she is aware of her legal responsibility to notify Ofsted of any changes in the composition of the household, or of any significant events, to enable required checks to be undertaken. She is aware of what child abuse and neglect are. She has procedures in place to follow nationally and locally agreed procedures in the event of any concern about a child, or any allegation of abuse in order to help protect children from harm.

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the early years provision

Required records are generally in place to underpin the safe management of children's care. For example, the childminder seeks and records information about each child's contact, medical and dietary needs. The childminder holds a current paediatric first aid qualification, and obtains written parental consent to seek emergency medical treatment if needed. Consequently, she has appropriate arrangements in place to manage incidents such as accidents or sudden illnesses. The childminder already maintains a daily register. However, this does not currently accurately show children's actual hours of attendance, and so is not fully in line with the specific legal requirement to do so. The childminder makes some use of local sources of advice and support to ensure that her childminding arrangements are otherwise in line with the welfare and learning requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, so helping her to meet children's care and

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the early years provision

developmental needs. However, she does not yet make systematic use of internal self-evaluation processes to clearly identify specific areas for development to further improve the quality of provision for all children.

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the early years provision

The experienced childminder has established long-standing relationships with a number of families, so helping to provide continuity of care for younger siblings. She uses her own written agreements and has recently introduced a range of written policies and procedures providing useful background information on her childminding service. This helps to ensure a shared understanding of arrangements for children's care. Informal discussion with parents and with school staff, enables the childminder to share essential current information about events and experiences in children's lives and about some aspects of their changing interests and abilities. The childminder is aware of the value of working with parents and other relevant agencies to support the identification and inclusion of any children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. She takes account of children's own expressed awareness and interest in aspects of diversity, for example,

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the early years provision

through some conversations and activities linked to school topics related to different faiths and festivals. However, she does not yet make consistently full use This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 of well-planned and presented activities and resources reflecting positive images to actively promote children's recognition and respect for individual and cultural diversity.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a comfortable and suitably-maintained family home, so helping to underpin their health and safety. They use liquid soap and frequently changed towels when washing their hands, so helping to reduce risks of cross- infection. The childminder incorporates some stories and discussion about aspects of health in daily routines, so helping to build children's awareness of healthy living. She has flexible arrangements with parents for the provision of snacks and meals to help ensure that these are appropriate to individual children's needs and family routines. There are sound practical arrangements to help maintain children's safety. For example, external doors, gates and fencing are secure, and household medicines and cleaning materials are inaccessible to children. The childminder talks with children about how to act safely, for example, when out walking. She has access to an appropriate range of equipment and resources, such as a high chair,

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and outcomes for children

travel cot and buggy, in the event of taking on the care of a baby or younger toddler. The childminder has recently established the required use of risk assessments to underpin her practical safety measures. However, these do not yet take full account of all equipment used by children, with particular regard to ensuring that children's use of the full-sized trampoline in the rear garden is in line with manufacturer's instructions and nationally recognised guidance. Children are settled and relaxed in the care of this experienced childminder, who is affectionate and caring in her dealings with them. The childminder establishes consistent guidelines for their behaviour, so helping them understand what is expected of them. Children of varying ages establish good relationships with each other as they cooperate in using resources such as construction sets, or as they learn to take turns and 'play by the rules' when using board and matching games.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has recently restarted providing care to school-aged children within the early years foundation stage, after having previously worked only with older children for several years. She is aware of the learning requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and recognises her responsibility to help young children make progress towards the early learning goals. The childminder takes account of children's individual energy levels and expressed interests and abilities when involving children in deciding what to do. She has a sound practical awareness of how practical play activities and first-hand experiences help to support the development of children across the age range in all areas of learning. For example, she understands how the use of gesture, eye contact and simple language help to establish young babies' communication skills, and knows that play with resources such as stacking beakers helps them to establish an awareness of

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and outcomes for children

shape and size. Consequently, children experience an appropriate range of activities helping them to make sound progress towards the early learning goals and to establish a sound basis for their future skills. For example, children enjoy listening to favourite stories and talking with the childminder about the characters' feelings and experiences. They use a selection of mark-making and creative This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 materials to express their own ideas, for example, by drawing, painting and simple writing. Children gain practical awareness of shape and size as they build with plastic construction sets and use their number skills as they keep score in games such as tiddlywinks. They learn how to use simple kitchen implements and investigate how ingredients change when mixed and baked as they take part in simple cooking activities. They enjoy using some electronic games and become

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and outcomes for children

familiar with the on-going changes in the local neighbourhood as they walk to and from school. The childminder seeks initial information from parents about children's needs, interests and abilities when starting with her, so helping her to get to know them as individuals. She already shares her informal observations of children's changing interests and abilities with parents on a continuing basis. However, systematic arrangements are not yet established to make best use of her own on-going assessments and those of other adults involved in children's care and learning, to plan challenging and enjoyable experiences to fully complement and extend children progress across all aspects of development. 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary 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. (Documentation) 12/04/2010

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary 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. (Documentation) 12/04/2010

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