Childminder in Worcestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY282998 Inspection date 07/01/2010 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 08456 404040, 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: 08456 404040 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 2004. She lives with her husband and children aged 12 and nine years old in the Warndon Villages area of Worcester. The whole of the ground floor is 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 hamster and some fish.

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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 group. There are currently five children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). One child attends full time and the others attend on a part time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language. She provides funded early education for three and four- year-olds. She 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 enjoy care in a warm and friendly home where they develop a close relationship with the childminder and with other members of her family. They make good progress with their learning because the childminder has a secure understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage so she identifies and supports children's individual learning effectively. Children's welfare needs are met because the childminder works closely with their parents to ensure that she gets to know individual children and their families well. Children learn about our diverse society because the childminder provides activities to support their understanding and she has some resources that reflect other cultures but she has identified a need to expand the range of resources that reflects other cultures and diversity. She is committed to ongoing improvements and attends regular training to support her knowledge. Her practice is always reflective and she is beginning to use a formal

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

self evaluation document to support her identification of areas for future development.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the range of resources to support children's opportunities to develop positive attitudes to diversity. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded well because the childminder has a secure knowledge of the possible signs of abuse and the procedures to follow if she was to have concerns about a child in her care. She maintains a record of any existing injuries. She has recently updated her training on this subject. Children receive care in a safe and secure home. The childminder has conducted a twice yearly risk assessment and completes daily safety checks. She is always alert to possible dangers and takes appropriate action. For example, she is currently installing fencing around the bottom of the trampoline so that young children cannot run underneath when others are bouncing.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a clear vision to continue to develop her provision. She is currently particularly focusing on developing an effective method of recording children's progress both for her own benefit and as a record for parents. She has met the recommendations made at the last inspection so parents are now fully aware of how to make a complaint to Ofsted should the need arise and an effective system is in place to record any medication. Children have benefited from a number of other improvements. For example, the childminder has attended many training courses, such as 'Letters and Sounds' to improve her practice, she has completed a Level three qualification and she has become an accredited childminder. She has recently obtained a substantial grant for new equipment so children are enjoying an improved range of resources outdoors and to develop their skills in technology. The childminder has identified a need to use some of the

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the early years provision

remaining money to increase the range of resources that reflects other cultures and diversity.

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the early years provision

Children thrive because the childminder works closely with their parents or carers to ensure that she is fully aware of their individual needs. Parents receive detailed information about the provision including copies of the childminder's comprehensive set of policies and procedures and they provide all required information and consents before their children attend. Children are able to continue their learning at home because the childminder talks to parents about what children have done each day and shows them her diary record. The youngest children have a daily diary to record their welfare and learning. The childminder has not cared for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or children for whom English is an additional language but she understands how to support their particular needs and the importance of working with other agencies. Children who attend other Early Years Foundation Stage provision benefit from

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the early years provision

partnership working because the childminder offers information to the other providers. She finds out what children are doing and learning so that she can provide additional support. 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 in their learning because the childminder has a secure understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and how young children learn through play. She observes and assesses their development and identifies their next steps in learning so that she can provide appropriate play opportunities to support their progress and provide appropriate challenge for all children. She shares her diary entries and photographs with parents so that children can continue their learning at home and she is developing the use of learning journeys.

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and outcomes for children

Children settle well and develop good relationships with the childminder and other members of her family. Babies look to the childminder for security in unfamiliar situations such as the arrival of a visitor. Older children chat confidently as they play. Babies have fun with age appropriate toys. They respond with enthusiasm when they see themselves in a mirror and they are fascinated by the lights and sounds on an electronic caterpillar. They develop an early love of books as they look at pictures with the childminder and point enthusiastically at the pictures.

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and outcomes for children

Two-year-olds confidently select favourite activities such as play dough and show sustained concentration in their play. They use tools such as knives, rolling pins and shape cutters to manipulate the dough. They develop imaginative play as they pretend to make toast and improve their problem solving skills as they work out how to use the play dough toaster for themselves. They confidently use mathematical language as they talk to the childminder, telling her 'Look, it’s a circle.' Older children enjoy activities such as making cakes with the childminder. They develop co-operative skills because they take turns to stir the mixture. They improve their co-ordination as they try to spoon the mixture into the cases. They enjoy decorating the cakes with icing and characters from 'Postman Pat'. They love listening to stories such as 'The Three Little Pigs' and they act out the story afterwards with the childminder. They use equipment such as the computer to

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and outcomes for children

access age appropriate websites and activities such as these also support their development of skills for the future.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop their awareness of other cultures. They use some toys and books that represent different nationalities and the childminder is in the process of developing her range of toys. Children take part in activities linked to different festivals. For example, at Diwali they try to make special sweets, they make pottery candle holders and they draw Rangoli patterns. The childminder helps children to understand about the festival they are celebrating.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop a very good awareness of healthy lifestyles. They are protected from cross infection because the childminder provides individual hand towels. Posters above the basin remind older children how to wash their hands properly and younger children show a keen desire to develop their independence in these routines. Families choose whether to bring their own food or to have meals and snacks provided by the childminder. Children help to prepare food and develop very good self help skills as they learn to spread butter and cut their cheese sandwich in half. They develop their knowledge of healthy eating through activities This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 such as helping to harvest carrots from the garden. Children spend plenty of time outside. They have great fun sliding in the snow and using a toboggan. They help the childminder's own children to build a big snowman. The childminder has

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and outcomes for children

recently purchased a gazebo so that children can play undercover in poor weather or keep out of the sun in the summer but still be outside.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave very well because the childminder has clear expectations for their behaviour and they learn to respect each other. The childminder uses sticker charts to support certain aspects of individual children's behaviour. They develop awareness of their personal safety because the childminder teaches them about road safety when they are out with her and indoors they learn to use tools, such as knives, safely when they are making their sandwiches. 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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