Childminder in BirminghamOfsted inspection, 19 Apr 2010

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY264387 Inspection date 19/04/2010 Inspector Elaine Margaret Hayward

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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 two children aged 13 and 10 in a flat in the Longbridge area of Birmingham. The whole of the childminder’s flat is used for childminding. Access to the flat is via a lift. The family has two rabbits and a fish tank.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of whom may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding one child who attends part time in this age group and offers care to children before and after school. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder makes daily use of local facilities including running a local parent toddler group, childminder groups, pre-schools, parks, shops and libraries. She takes and collects children to and from local schools.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder has appropriate childcare qualifications and is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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

Children are happy and secure in the childminder's care as they experience a wide range of activities enabling them to make good progress in their learning and development, given their age, ability and starting points. The childminder knows each child well, recognising the uniqueness of each child in order to meet their individual needs. She works in partnership with parents and other professionals in order to promote continuity of care. She carefully considers what do to promote children's care and learning and shows commitment to making continuous improvements, although the system for self-evaluation is not yet fully effective.

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further?

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

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further?

 extend and monitor the process of self-evaluation to ensure continuous improvements are maintained  develop the dialogue with parents to ensure children's starting points are established on admission and involve them in their children's progress through the early learning goals across all areas of learning  update the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for outings and trips. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Effective safeguarding procedures ensure that children are protected from the risk of harm. The childminder has good knowledge and understanding of her role and the actions to take in order to act quickly and professionally if she has concerns about a child in her care and copies of clear policies and procedures are given to parents. The childminder is secure in her knowledge to ensure that effective vetting procedures are in place and is fully aware of her responsibilities with regard to supervising children in her care. The childminder is aware of potential hazards and regularly reviews the risk assessment. However, although outings are assessed for risks, they are not included in the record of risk assessment.

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the early years provision

Equality and diversity lie at the heart of the provision, promoted by the childminder through good knowledge and understanding and effective practice, encouraging children to respect themselves and others. The childminder knows each child well. She has very close working relationships with parents and other professionals to develop a consistent approach and ensure the needs of individual children are met. Parents speak extremely highly of the childminder, of her advice and guidance, accessibility and flexibility, of how happy their children are and the progress they make. Parents are kept informed of their children's activities and well-being through daily contact, including photographs. However, parents are not fully involved regarding their children's starting points or in their progress through the early learning goals across the areas of learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder is qualified and regularly attends training to update and consolidate her knowledge and expertise to enhance her good practice. She is highly motivated and totally committed to providing a high level of care and education to ensure the best possible outcomes for children. She organises her daily routines successfully, supported by clear policies and procedures to ensure that the individual needs of children are met. The environment is organised with a good range of resources which children can easily access, enabling children to make choices about their play across the areas of learning. The childminder reflects upon her provision in order to promote children's care and learning, identifying areas for development. However, the self-evaluation process is not yet fully robust to ensure her practice is sustained in being fully effective in promoting improvements in all areas of her practice.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and confident in the childminder's care where they benefit from good support and encouragement to achieve and enjoy. They develop a strong sense of belonging in the security of the childminder's care. They feel safe and at home. Warm interaction can be seen. Ongoing praise promotes children's self- esteem. Children make good progress as they play and learn, participating in a broad range of activities, well supported by a childminder who cares and knows them well. Children develop positive attitudes to learning because the childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 knows their likes and dislikes and extends this. She observes what they can do, plans the next step, clearly making links with the early learning goals and stepping stones. Children benefit from a childminder who knows that children learn through play and they enjoy a balanced range of child-initiated and adult-led experiences.

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and outcomes for children

Children are well-behaved, learning right from wrong. They automatically tidy away their rubbish in the bin. They develop independence and learn about respecting others as they share. Older children can be seen encouraging and patiently helping younger children as they build a tower or complete a puzzle, praising their achievements. Young children learn about being gentle and caring for animals as they help feed and care for the rabbits at the childminder's home.

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and outcomes for children

Children love the daily opportunities to get into the fresh air and learn about healthy lifestyles as they visit local toddler and childminding groups. Here they extend their social skills as they mix with other children. They become involved and absorbed in their role play, experimenting with different hats, having their favourites. They experience opportunities to run around and practise their coordination as they ride on toys and bikes. They learn about healthy eating as they try fruits and foods from around the world. Children are impressed by visitors from the neighbourhood including fire officers, police and cooks.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the wider world with regular outings to a wide range of venues, including animal and nature centres, woodland areas, hills and country parks. Here they have opportunities of experiencing the countryside, nature and changing environments, including mud. They can feed and stroke a wide range of animals and experience hens running around their feet. Children can climb, swing and slide on the equipment, learning about keeping safe by not running round the swings.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder praises their achievements. She listens to them, encouraging their language, confirming new words, asking them questions. Children love the opportunities to sit and look at books, especially when choosing their books at the library. They learn respect for other cultures through a wide range of resources such as books, puzzles and dolls and as they celebrate festivals from around the world. Children learn about numbers as they count the ducks they have hooked and hear positional language as they concentrate hard on spreading the icing on a biscuit. They love singing number and rhyming songs and making sounds as they play instruments. Children are developing 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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