Childminder in Solihull

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 250297 Inspection date 10/03/2010 Inspector Mary Kelly

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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 in 1998. She lives with her husband and three sons aged 19, 16 and 14 years in Shirley, Solihull. They live within walking distance of the local shops and the park. The ground floor of the premises is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outside play. Access to the childminder's house is via a small step. The family has a guinea pig and goldfish.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. She is currently looking after 14 children, four of whom are in the early years age range. She also cares for children before and after school.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are extremely happy and confident in the childminder's care, where they benefit from excellent support and gentle encouragement to achieve and enjoy. Each child's uniqueness is recognised due to the childminder's superb understanding of children's individual needs, and her wholly inclusive practice where all children are valued and made to feel welcome. Successful, established partnerships with parents, enable the childminder to significantly promote children's care and well-being and ensure continuity of care. The childminder is currently developing the use of the self-evaluation form to enable her to identify any areas for improvement, and fully implement changes to enable her to facilitate and maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 developing further the quality and improvement processes to monitor and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the provision.

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the early years provision

Robust safeguarding policies and procedures are in place and practised effectively to ensure that children are very well protected. The childminder's excellent knowledge of safeguarding procedures and her awareness of her role in protecting the children in her care ensures children‟s safety is paramount. After attending a recent safeguarding, she has had time to reflect on her practice and update it in line with current legislation. Premises are safe and secure, and detailed risk assessments covering all areas used by children, and outings they participate in, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 ensure that potential risks to children have been minimised.

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the early years provision

The childminder relishes her role by being enthusiastic, dedicated and totally committed to ensuring that her service provides an exceptionally high level of care and education to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children. She is extremely experienced, competent and reflects on her practice. She regularly attends training ensuring her knowledge is up-to-date and uses this expertise to further enhance her exceptional practice. The childminder is very well organised, and manages daily routines effectively, whilst accommodating the individual needs of the many children attending. The environment is totally child orientated and children benefit from an extensive range of resources which are pertinent to their individual needs, interests and play preferences.

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the early years provision

All required documentation which contributes to the children's health, safety and welfare is in place. Extensive additional information, and impressive policies and procedures which are shared with parents and reviewed regularly, support the childminder‟s exceptionally good practice. The childminder demonstrates a significantly good capacity for continual improvement, having maintained her outstanding judgement following her last inspection, and is able to clearly identify further areas for improvement. However, although the childminder is developing the use of self-evaluation, she was able to demonstrate she had a very good awareness of how she can continue to offer excellent care and education.

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the early years provision

The childminder works very well with in partnership with parents, which develops a consistent approach in meeting children's needs. She takes time to gather information relating to children's individual needs and preferences before they start. This ensures continuity between home and childminding environments, and ensures children settle well. Information relating to all aspects of their child care is passed to parents daily. This further develops very good relationships with parents and there are many testimonies in the form of thanks you cards and letters to give to the inspector at the point of inspection. Links with other professionals who deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage are established and consistent methods are used with the children especially with phonics. Equality of opportunity and anti- discriminatory practice is actively promoted as children experience activities which enable them to learn and develop respect for themselves and each other.

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and outcomes for children

A range of exciting activities fosters children's participation, and the childminder's sensitive support and gentle encouragement enables them to enjoy and achieve. They visit local groups, where they benefit from socialising with other children outside the childminder‟s home, and especially enjoy outings to the parks where they can walk, get active in the playground or take their own toys, such as bikes. The childminder's flexible planning develops through the interests and play preferences of children, and ensures they receive a very good balance of child-led, adult-initiated activities along with opportunities to access quiet, active, indoor and outdoor activities within their daily routine. The use of pertinent observation and assessment enables the childminder to plan and extend activities to ensure that This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children progress in all areas of learning and development at a pace suitable to

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and outcomes for children

their individual needs. As a result, children make excellent progress towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

Children are building very positive relationships with the childminder, and are obviously happy and content in her care, proudly showing her what they can do and asking her to join in their games with them, for example, when playing with the play dough and reading stories. Their self-esteem is fostered as the childminder offers praise and encouragement at all times and constantly gets down to their level. They delight in the individual time and attention they receive from the childminder as she involves herself in their play and offers sensitive encouragement to children to help them develop. They are able to choose their favourites and take them to the childminder to read to them, as they sit happily next to her pointing to the pictures and asking questions. The children enjoy looking at books and can access books readily. They are beginning to link sounds to letters as when the children were looking at photographs with the inspector

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and outcomes for children

they were talking about names and informing me that they all began with a „J‟. The day is filled with much laughter as children eagerly participate in fun activities, such as building with construction bricks, as well as art and craft activities while conversing with the childminder. The childminder supports individual learning extremely well by asking questions that encourage children to think.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is very well promoted as they learn about making healthy food choices and have healthy options for snacks and have grown their own tomatoes, and one child said “we love tomatoes”. The childminder encourages children to be healthy and they have regular walks to the local school as part of the daily routine, appropriate rest are offered if required. Children enjoy their time outdoors. They access a range of experiences, such as bikes, trampoline, balls and balancing equipment which help them to develop their physical well-being and skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children are highly valued and respected as individuals and their specific needs are recognised and met appropriately. They are cared for in a warm, welcoming, clean and safe environment. There are excellent procedures in place to protect them from illness and infection. They learn to keep themselves safe as they learn how to cross the road safely, and the childminder sensitively teaches them about stranger danger, and how to be safe in the home environment. Children behave extremely well, and respond to the childminder's expectations of behaviour, which encourages them to be kind to each other and to share toys. Good manners are fostered and encouraged at all times. Children are learning about the wider world as they access a range of resources which promote positive images of diversity. They celebrate festivals and develop this further by having a celebration party. The childminder sensitively ensures that the children are aware of children with

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and outcomes for children

disabilities and they have access to a range of resources that supports this. The childminder's wholly inclusive practice ensures that all children are welcome and made to feel special. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting‟s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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