Childminder in Worcestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 204611 Inspection date 31/03/2010 Inspector Valerie Fane

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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 1990. She lives with her husband, three adult children and son aged 11 years old in Honeybourne. The whole of the ground floor, with the exception of the conservatory and an upstairs bathroom and bedroom are used for childminding. Accessibility to the premises is up one step. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The family has a dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There are currently two children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), both of whom attend on a part time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years old. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register.

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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 settle very well with the childminder and thrive because she works closely with their parents and with other providers to ensure that their individual needs are met effectively. They make good progress because the childminder has a secure knowledge of how young children learn and she observes their development to identify their learning priorities. They enjoy an interesting range of play opportunities both indoors and outside and they extend their awareness of other cultures through their play. Children have benefited from many improvements since the last inspection including an extensive range of new play equipment and the childminder's commitment to improve her knowledge through training. However, her use of self evaluation is informal and she does not ensure that she reflects on all aspects of her practice. As a result there are some weaknesses in her documentation.

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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 the risk assessment is reviewed at least once a year (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). 14/04/2010

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  improve the systems for the organisation of the setting by developing the use of self evaluation to support ongoing improvements  improve the information given to parents by ensuring that policies and procedures are reviewed and updated regularly.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded because the childminder has a secure understanding of child protection and is aware of the procedures to follow if she was to have concerns about a child in her care. She has attended recent training in this subject to refresh her knowledge. The childminder ensures that her adult children undergo the appropriate checks to confirm that they are suitable to be in contact with children. Children receive care in a safe and secure environment and they are supervised well at all times. The childminder has completed a risk assessment of the premises and is just implementing a record of her daily safety checks which ensure that her home and garden are safe when children arrive. However, she does not record the annual review of the risk assessment as set out in the Welfare Requirements.

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the early years provision

Children thrive because the childminder works in close partnership with their parents or carers. Parents see the written policies that underpin the childminder's good practice before she begins minding. However, the childminder has not ensured that some of her policies are updated to reflect the Early Years Foundation Stage Welfare Requirements. Children's individual needs are known because the childminder spends time with their parents finding out about their current stage of development. They exchange ongoing information verbally and this enables children to continue their learning at home because parents are aware of what children are doing with the childminder. Parents can see children's learning journeys at any time and take them home to show other members of the family. Children who attend other Early Years Foundation Stage settings benefit from continuity of care because the childminder shares information with the local

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the early years provision

playgroup and the school reception class teacher.

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the early years provision

Children enjoy a good range of resources, especially the new play house in the garden. The childminder is committed to attending training to update her knowledge so that she can improve her practice. She has recently completed a Level three qualification and her vision for the future includes further training to expand her knowledge and to continue to develop her practice. She has made other improvements since the last inspection. Children's welfare is supported because she ensures that she always maintains a current first aid certificate. She has also obtained a significant grant for her outside area and has used this to improve the garden. This now has a separate play area and a large, well equipped playhouse with a wide range of resources, including ones that support children's awareness of diversity. However, the childminder has not carried out a detailed self evaluation of her provision and as a result there are some omissions in her

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the early years provision

documentation, as outlined above and she has not identified areas for improvement in some areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children make good progress because the childminder has developed a secure knowledge of the learning and development requirements. She understands how young children learn and she provides an interesting range of play opportunities both indoors and outside that enables children to develop their learning effectively. She makes some detailed written observations of their progress and uses them to identify children's next steps in learning. She also observes children informally and has a clear knowledge of how she is extending their development across all other areas of learning. The childminder supports children's transfer to school effectively and the activities she provides also help them to develop skills for the future. Children develop habits appropriate to good learners because they behave very well. The childminder is a good role model and sets clear boundaries for their behaviour. For example, they are happy to help to clear up toys before getting out

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and outcomes for children

new ones and they develop very good manners when asking for things.

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and outcomes for children

Babies enjoy a wide range of different experiences. For example, they go for a walk to collect autumn leaves and make a collage and they develop a love of books because they like to lift the flaps and look at pictures in favourite stories. Older children attending the childminder's house after school have their needs met because the childminder gives them plenty of opportunities to go to the park and play football or to play with favourite toys, such as trains and cars, indoors.

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and outcomes for children

Pre-school children self select from the selection of toys available or request different ones such as the train set. They develop their spatial awareness by making puzzles. The childminder encourages them to look at the shape of the pieces to fit them together. The childminder makes good use of spontaneous opportunities to support children's understanding of simple calculation with questions such as 'How many more pieces do you need?'. Children look at the lid of the puzzle box and work out which picture they still need to complete. They make an Easter rabbit mask with painting pens and tissue paper. They try to use scissors to cut the tissue paper and the childminder allows them time to discover that they cannot use the scissors without help because they are holding them wrongly before offering help and support. Older children develop writing skills because they learn to trace their name and then to copy it.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy regular outings. They attend a 'Services Day' in Evesham. They enjoy dressing up in clothes worn by fire and police officers. They climb into the fire engine and the police car and experiment with the equipment. They develop their awareness of healthy eating by going for a walk with the childminder to pick blackberries and coming home to make a blackberry and apple crumble. Children learn about their personal safety when they are out with the childminder. They know why they must walk near the hedge and away from the edge of the road and that they must stop at the kerb and look both ways with the childminder before they cross over.

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and outcomes for children

Children who speak English as an additional language make good progress because the childminder understands how to support their emerging English. She This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 uses dual language flash cards provided by parents to help children learn both their languages and she supports parents to understand English words that children are using at home. All children develop awareness of other cultures because the childminder provides relevant and meaningful activities to celebrate different festivals such as Chinese New Year. For example, children visit the local Chinese restaurant to purchase food such as spring rolls, noodles, curry sauce and fortune cookies to taste a wide variety of Chinese food. 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: 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 (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment). 14/04/2010

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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 (Suitability and safety of premises and equipment). 14/04/2010

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