Childminder in Birmingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY261631 Inspection date 02/06/2010 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 registered in 2003. She lives with her adult son in a house in the Handsworth area of Birmingham. The whole ground floor and one bedroom on the first floor of the childminder's home are used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden available for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years of age at any one time and may also care for older children. The childminder currently cares for three children in the early years age group and three older children. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder provides support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's home where they share a close relationship with the childminder. Children make steady progress in their learning and development and their care needs are met well. Arrangements for safeguarding children are mostly sound. Children are supervised well, although, there are some weaknesses in relation to the safety of children when they are taken out. Partnership with parents is good, however, links with other settings is developing to help support the children's individual care and education needs. The developing self-evaluation system identifies most of the strengths and areas for improvement of the early years provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the risk assessment to include everything children come into contact with  develop further the planning to ensure the learning intention of activities is clear, to help fully exploit the learning potential of activities  develop further observations to include children's starting points and next steps  develop further systems for sharing information with other settings.

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the early years provision

There are generally effective procedures in place to ensure adults having access to children are suitable to do so. The childminder understands her duty in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 safeguarding children from abuse and neglect and she is aware of the steps she should take in the event she is concerned about a child's welfare. She maintains appropriate recording systems with regard to the children’s attendance, medication and accidents to ensure children’s welfare is promoted and their needs met. The childminder supervises children well and the children's care environment is safe and secure with some suitable safety equipment fitted around the home and appropriate attention is given to making sure toys and equipment are safe. However, a record of risk assessment of places she takes children are not effectively maintained. Consequently, some potential risks which children may

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the early years provision

come in to contact with on outings have not been identified.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a developing knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage Practice Guidance. She is beginning to use it to support the children's learning and development as she plans a range of activities for the children, however, at times the learning intentions are not clear. The childminder organises her time around the needs of the children, therefore, children feel at ease in their environment. The room used by the children allows them direct access to the garden giving children the freedom to freely move around and choose what to do. The childminder has made some progress to make further improvements and is beginning to focus her efforts on priorities identified. Systems for self-evaluation to fully monitor the statutory requirements and learning and development requirements of the Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage are being developed. She demonstrates a commitment to bring about sustainable change through attending

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the early years provision

further training to develop her knowledge.

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the early years provision

Parents receive appropriate information about the early years provision and they have access to her policies and procedures. They are kept up-to-date about the children's achievement and progress through daily discussion and access to their learning journals, which helps build close relationships with parents and helps her meet parents' wishes and requests. The childminder observes the children as they play, however, information regarding children's starting points and next steps are not known. Partnerships with the school that the children attend, are being developed to help the childminder plan for their needs and ensure the time they spend at her home complements their day.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy their time at the childminder's house as they seek to do things for themselves and easily move from one activity to another, showing appropriate levels of involvement in their play. The childminder knows when to spontaneously interacts with the children, engaging them in conversation about their families, activities helping to promote their language and communication skills. Children enjoy looking at books and listening to stories about 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. Children like to use their imagination as they play with the role play activities and resources and they adopt roles and make sense of the world as they pretend with the small world play figures.

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and outcomes for children

Children's knowledge and understanding of the world is developing. They learn This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 about their own and other cultures and customs and the wider world, through the childminder discussing and building on what they have been learning at school. They celebrate festivals and events, such as, Diwali, Easter and tasted different food for their Caribbean day. Children engage in some meaningful experiences in which they encounter creatures, people, plants and objects in their natural environment. For example, they visited Sandwell Valley Farm and they observe the natural environment and collect items of interest, such as, leaves for printing.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to develop an understanding of problem solving, reasoning and numeracy as they seek patterns, make connections, count, sort and match through using puzzles, board games and construction toys. They complete simple number worksheets as they learn to add and subtract. Children show a keen interest in information and communication technology as they use the computer and electronic toys. Children enjoy being creative as they paint, colour pictures and draw using a variety of writing materials to make marks. They spend time exploring the treasure basket with different textured materials and interesting sensory objects.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop behave well and they understand what the childminder expects of them. The childminder gives clear explanations to help children understand right from wrong and she encourages them to share and to take turns. Children learn to keep themselves safe through practising the emergency escape plan and they know how to cross the road safely. Children's health is supported well through effective hygiene routines to prevent the spread of infection. They know that they should wash their hands after using the toilet and before meals. Children benefit from a varied range of meals, snacks and drinks, which include some healthy options, such as, fresh fruit and vegetables. Daily children are able to engage in physical activities as they access the garden and regularly visit the local park. Children are satisfactorily developing skills that contribute to their future economic well-being through making steady progress in their communication, language and

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and outcomes for children

literacy and through becoming active and independent learners. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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