Childminder in Birmingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 228640 Inspection date 27/01/2010 Inspector Jennifer Turner

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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 has been registered since 2000. She lives with her partner and adult son in the Aston area of Birmingham within walking distance of local schools, parks and shops. The whole of the ground floor of the property is used for childminding and includes a designated play room, front dinning room and toilet. The first floor is not used. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register, the compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register to care for six children under the age of eight years. There are currently three children attending who are within the early years age range and one child in the older age range.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is willing to collect children from local schools, attends local play groups and visits the local park, by arrangement with parents. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and First Steps Childminder Network. She has completed a level three National Vocational Qualification in Child Care and Education.

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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 feel at home in the childminding environment where they share warm, friendly relationships with the childminder. The setting is well organised and resourced allowing the children to freely access toys and equipment in the well resourced designated play room. The childminder provides good opportunities for children to learn and develop within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children are treated as individuals and the childminder works closely with parents and other agencies to ensure their specific needs are met. Most documentation is accurately completed to ensure children's well-being. However, the written risk assessment and the system to monitor and evaluate the quality of the provision are not yet fully developed.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the use of self-evaluation to identify strengths and weaknesses in order to maintain continuous improvement.  update the risk assessment to covers anything with which a child may come into contact 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 is very aware of her role within Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures and has supportive documents readily to hand, along with all relevant contact numbers, thus ensuring any concerns can be handled appropriately. The childminder provides a generally safe and healthy environment for children and encourages them to develop their own understanding of safety through discussion and practicing the emergency escape plan. There is a range of appropriate safety equipment in place to protect children, such as stair gates to restrict children's access to the stair and kitchen and covered sockets. The childminder has completed a risk assessment which generally identifies most potential dangers, however, the risk assessment is not thorough to ensure children's continuous safety, both within the home, outdoors or on outings.

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the early years provision

The childminder effectively organises her day around the needs of the children taking into account their individual care routines and preferences. The childminder manages her time well and spends much of her time interacting positively with the children. She effectively uses the indoor space and local amenities, such as drop-in groups to promote play opportunities for children. There are a good range of resources promoting all areas of learning, these are organised well and regular opportunities are created for children to access them. The childminder takes appropriate steps to ensure resources and the environment are sustainable through regularly replenishing toys, loaning toys from the local toy library and making changes to the environment to meet the needs of the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder has good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage learning and development requirements. She plans a varied range of meaningful experiences to challenge the children's learning and development based on observations of what the children can do and like. Partnership with parents and carers is very well established and ensures each child's care needs are met well. Parents receive information about the early years provision, with the Early Years Foundation Stage poster displayed for them and details of activities carried out and access to her policies and procedures. They are kept well informed about the children's achievements and progress through daily discussion and through sharing the children's developmental profiles, which contains photographs and observations. The childminder shows commitment to establishing partnerships and links with other agencies to support and promote children's achievements and wellbeing and she works closely with the local

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the early years provision

Children's Centre and other childminders.

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the early years provision

Questionnaires are often used to gain feedback and suggestions from parents and older children regarding their views about her provision. Any comments and suggestions are acted on if necessary. However the childminder has not made effective progress with regards to the self-evaluation process in order to help target her strengths or areas for improvement of the provision. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are welcomed into a relaxed environment where they enjoy a special relationship with the childminder. This close relationship leads to the growth of their self-assurance, sense of belonging and emotional health and wellbeing. Children's learning and development is constantly promoted by the childminder who creates an interesting, child-orientated space and provides a warm and welcoming environment where children are able to freely access a good range of resources. Children are helped to consider and value diversity and cultural differences through a range of toys, resources and planned topics. They have tasted various foods from around the world as they explore festivals such as Diwali, Eid and St Patrick's day. The childminder promotes inclusion for all children and they are able to participate fully because she ensures activities are adapted to meet children's needs. She work closely with parents and liaises with other

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and outcomes for children

professionals to ensure that each child’s needs are fully met.

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and outcomes for children

Children's language is developing well, as the childminder reads stories to them and has a wide range of books for them to access. As she reads the story of the 'Little Princess' she raises her voice loudly, 'I want my dinner', repeating what the princess says to the amusement of the children who laugh with excitement. She questions children about the story and about where dinosaurs live to stimulate their thinking as they play with the small world figures. Opportunities for children to explore numbers through counting is maintained. They count to 20 and recognise numbers from zero to ten as they complete a number puzzle. Children enjoy singing number rhymes such as 'Five little ducks went swimming one day', they hold up five fingers and count back. Children develop their sensory skills as they explore different textures such as play dough, sand and water. They are able to use their imagination as they have access to a role play kitchen and dressing up

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and outcomes for children

costumes. Children's creativity is fostered as they are able to draw, paint and make collages using different materials and textures. They have access to a computer and other programmable toys such as a drum that lights up when banged.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder promotes children's health through encouraging daily routines such as hand washing and offers a very healthy and varied diet with a variety of fruits being provided at snack time. Children are learning to keep themselves safe as they are reminded why they must not run whilst indoors, how to cross the road and what to do if there is a fire. The childminder offers positive praise and encouragement to children and gives rewards such as stickers. Younger children are often quite possessive and the childminder persuades them to share explaining why it is nice to do so and offering distraction. 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 3 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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