Childminder in Worcestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number 255564 Inspection date 17/03/2010 Inspector Diane Hancock

p.1

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.

p.1

Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder registered in 1990. She is assisted by her sister in a house in the village of Birlingham near Pershore. The house is within easy driving distance of local schools, shops and parks. The kitchen, dining area and conservatory are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder takes children to local parks, toddler groups and day trips.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for six children under eight years at any one time. There are currently 17 children attending, 12 of whom are in the Early Years age group. All of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to eight years. This provision is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to care for children in receipt of Nursery Education funding and is a member of the local childminding network. The childminder has an NVQ Level 3 qualification in children's care, learning and development. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy, settled and well-cared for in a safe and welcoming friendly environment, where individual needs are well-met. Children form good relationships with the childminder and her assistant as they enjoy a wide range of activities, within the home and at different toddler groups, to ensure they make good progress in their learning and development. The childminder meets most of the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage ensuring children's health and care needs are well-met, however there is no written parental consent for emergency advice and treatment in place. The childminder offers a professional service where she works well with parents and other providers to ensure children progress well and have consistency of care. The childminder regularly self- evaluates her practice and is makes ongoing changes, such as updating her policies. However, the self-evaluation does not link to the Early Years Foundation

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Stage and therefore potentially neglects some aspects. The childminder is committed and regularly undertakes training including achieving an NVQ Level 3 and attends meetings to keep up-to-date and maintain her continuous improvement as she strives to provide a good quality care and learning environment.

p.4

further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

p.4

further?

 obtain written parental permission to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment 21/04/2010 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 in the future (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare)

p.4

further?

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

p.5

further?

 improve the organisation of the setting: ensure there is a balance of adult-led and freely-chosen or child-initated activities, delivered through indoor and outdoor play  improve the organisation of the setting: develop the use of self-evaluation to identify areas for improvement in all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder has undertaken additional training to ensure she has sufficient knowledge on child protection and has up to date safeguarding procedures. The childminder monitors children's well-being and records existing injuries. All adults living and working within the home are checked and deemed suitable. Children are cared for in a safe environment with effective detailed risk assessments, including daily checks in place within the home and on outings. Children benefit from good safety routines when out and they learn about road safety. Children learn about fire safety with a visit from the fire fighter to the toddler group, and evacuation procedures are routinely practised and recorded in the home. Toys and equipment are maintained to a high standard. The childminder is well-organised with detailed policies and procedures, effective routines in place, such as preparing menus and crafts in advance to ensure a smoothly run environment. Children are well-

p.5

the early years provision

supervised and sleeping children are regularly checked. Adult to child ratios are maintained however there is not a record of when an assistant is present to demonstrate who is caring for the children. Children receive good health care and appropriate records are in place when medication is given. However there is no written consent of activities and for seeking emergency advice and treatment, compromising child's well-being when out and in emergencies. Children are cared for in a clean and tidy home with good hygiene and nappy changing procedures in place. Children are protected from cross infection, as parents are aware of the sick child policy, and good hand washing procedures in place with children having their own individual flannels or small towels. The childminder has undertaken food hygiene training and acts upon the advice of the safer food manual.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder knows the children well and meets their individual sleep routines. She works well with her assistant and they have clear roles. Both adults have good relationships with the children and interact and care for all the children. Weekly activities are in place, such as various toddler groups and messy play session at the children's centre, offering a sense of security for the children and exciting experiences. A wide range of good quality toys and activities are rotated to provide variety and children can choose from pictures of the toys they want brought inside however, the lack of accessibility limits their independence and ability to self-select resources. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Good working relationships with parents promote an inclusive, friendly and welcoming environment. Children settle well as the childminder takes time to

p.5

the early years provision

gather detailed information from parents regarding their child's routines, care and developmental needs. Parents are very well-informed through discussion and daily diaries each day of their child's care and well-being. Parents receive detailed information on the business aspects and the activities children participate in, including information on the Early Years Foundation Stage, policies and procedures, regular newsletters all of which enables them to be further involved in their child's learning. Children have opportunity to take toys and books they particularly enjoy home with them. Parents are well-informed of their child's development through discussion, photographs and reports including their child's learning goals. The childminder works well with parents to address any health or behavioural concerns. She liaises well with pre-school staff and shares her assessments with staff and parents to ensure children make good progress and

p.6

the early years provision

receive continuity of care. She provides a flexible service for school age children during the school holidays to meet the needs of families. Parents views are valued as they complete a questionnaire as part of the evaluation of the childminders practice. They strongly agree that the childminder provides good outcomes for the children and report that the children are very happy.

p.6

the early years provision

Children thrive as the childminder continues to make ongoing changes, such as improving her written assessments and planning and providing healthier meals with less processed foods. She intends to increase the use of outside by having a smaller enclosed area immediately outside which will be easily accessible and easier to supervise. Children benefit from the significant amount of training the childminder has done in recent years to improve her practice, including communicating with children. She has a wealth of information regarding activities to do to promote children's learning, including helping them to understand different cultures. The childminder attends the childminder network meetings and other professional meetings to update her knowledge and acts on advice from early years professionals to improve her practice.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children are happy and enjoy a range of interesting structured activities, including crafts. Children learn to use scissors and pencil control as they draw a picture of a sheep, cut it out and stick cotton wool on it for the spring display. This was initiated by one of the children when discussing the spring theme. The activity was adapted for a range of abilities where all children used the scissors and some then had a pre-cut out sheep for sticking cotton wool on to. Children have a good appreciation of books as they sit nicely and look at books while lunch is being prepared. The childminder spends time playing with the children on the floor, enthusiastically reading stories, for example, 'There's a spider in the bath' where they become engaged in the story, felt the spider, learn about size as they move their arms to demonstrate small and large and learn new vocabulary such as enormous. They make good progress in their language because of the

p.6

and outcomes for children

childminders encouragement; they sing songs such as 'incey wincey spider', talk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 about the weather and rainbows and have opportunity to make a spider using pipe cleaners. Daily the children learn the day and date as they count the number of days and observe the weather on the chart. Mathematical language and problem solving is also used in everyday routines such as the childminder asking how many chairs do we need today when the children help prepare for meals. Children have a very good routines and understanding of germs and the importance of washing hands. Healthy living is promoted and the children have good opportunities for fresh air as they can play outside in the large garden and on the drive in all weathers. The children develop their physical skills in the well resourced garden and visits to the park and local walks. They enjoy learning about the seasons

p.6

and outcomes for children

especially observing the blossom tree in the garden and playing in the petals. Children learn about plants growing as they plant daffodil bulbs to raise money for charity.

p.7

and outcomes for children

With the childminders encouragement the children are secure and develop their confidence and social skills within her home and at various groups. They have a sense of belonging and self value as they enjoy looking at photographs of themselves and having their pictures displayed. Children take pride over their achievements such as making pizza for their lunch. Children have an enthusiastic appetite as they eat a variety of substantial snacks and meals including fruit and vegetables. The children have good relationships with one another and enjoy the social time of sitting down together to eat as they confidently talk about what they have been doing and their home life. They share and play very well together as a group and communicate well with one another. They comment themselves on their good team work as they pass the chairs to the table. All these skills help prepare children well for their future. Children behave well, they are caring,

p.7

and outcomes for children

sociable, polite and have good manners. They make good progress with the childminder's guidance, routines, praise and encouragement. When children get boisterous they are distracted and positive strategies employed. Children have opportunity to become engrossed in their imaginary play such as when playing with the happy people small world toys with the aeroplane and dolls house however, because of the layout and limited space there is a lack of resources out at anyone time to fully engage children at all times and meet individual preferences.

p.7

and outcomes for children

The childminder plans activities to ensure children develop in all areas of their learning. She ensures that she has sufficient resources to promote all areas such as bring in her lap top to help develop children's computer skills. She sensitively observes and monitors their progress and keeps an accurate record of this for all children which is shared with parents. There is good use of photographs to show the range of exciting and stimulating activities the children get involved in. At the Chinese New Year the children made masks and lanterns which they did a parade as they learnt about the Chinese culture and enjoyed eating some noodles in events for Chinese New Year.

p.7

and outcomes for children

The children learn to keep themselves safe when out walking or in the car. They help maintain a safe environment as they tidy resources. They feel safe with the daily and weekly routines that are in place and the good relationships they enjoy. Children are well prepared in their transition to other groups and school with the good relationships that the childminder establishes with other providers. She This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 knows the children well and is able to work closely with other groups to ensure continuity of care. Individual needs of babies and young children are well met in particular the care and monitoring of their health care needs. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.7

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.9

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

p.9

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.9

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

p.9

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

p.9

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

p.9

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

p.9

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.10

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.10