Childminder in Calderdale

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY381949 Inspection date 26/01/2010 Inspector Helene Anne Terry

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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 2008. She lives with her husband and two children aged one and three-years-old, in a detached property in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. Areas of the home used for the children include the whole house apart from the main bedroom. The garden is used for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time, of whom no more than one may be in the early years age range. At present, she has one child on roll under one year, who attends throughout the week. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register. The family pets include two cats.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder regularly attends toddlers groups and is a member of the National Childminder 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

The childminder has developed good knowledge of children's individual needs and ensures that all aspects of children's welfare and learning are promoted well. There are effective systems in place to ensure children's safety, health and well-being are promoted very well. Established links with parents means appropriate information is shared to help support children. Regular cycles of reviewing through reflective practice ensures that any priorities for future development are clearly identified and implemented. As a result, the childminder shows a good capacity to make continual improvements in her setting.

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further?

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

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further?

 further extend information gathered from parents about children's starting points to ensure sufficient challenge and stimulation for their learning and development is implemented without delay.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded well because the childminder has a good knowledge of child protection procedures. She has a clear understanding of the possible signs of abuse and of what to do should she have any concerns about children in her care. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibility to safeguard children from people who have not been vetted and a visitors book is maintained. All areas, both inside and outside of the home, are consistently risk assessed to ensure that hazards to children are minimised. The childminder has completed detailed risk This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 assessments for her home, garden and the places they visit while on outings.

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the early years provision

The provision is well organised with all required records maintained to support children's safety and welfare. The childminder's comprehensive policies and procedures are shared with parents to keep them informed of her practices. Resources are effectively arranged and organised, creating enabling environments for children to play and learn. Many toys are stored at children's level, so that the children can self-select, enhancing their independence skills. The childminder actively promotes equality of opportunity and provides activities and resources that reflect diversity, helping children to understand about the wider world. The children have enjoyed making masks, pertinent to the year of their birth, as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. They also meet a variety of people from various backgrounds at the local toddler groups and children's centre. There is a multilingual welcome poster displayed in the home that enables all families to feel

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the early years provision

Parents are given very good information about the setting, including a range of policies and procedures, menus and activities that their children take part in. They also receive good information about their children's progress through discussions, daily diaries and access to development records and planning for their child. As a result, continuity of care and progression towards the early learning goals are enhanced to the benefit of each child. Although the childminder does gain some information from parents about children's stages of development when their child first starts at the setting, this is not in-depth. This prevents the childminder from rigorously planning for children's individual learning needs across the early learning goals as soon as the child starts at the setting. The childminder does not currently care for any children who attend other settings offering the Early Years Foundation

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the early years provision

Stage. However, discussions reveal she is fully aware of the need to share information between the settings and individuals.

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the early years provision

Systems for monitoring and evaluating the setting are good. The childminder successfully identifies her strengths and areas for improvement through her partially completed self-evaluation form. Parents are involved in this process through discussions and parent questionnaires. Parents' comments are taken into consideration and improvements are made where necessary. For example, the childminder has purchased a mirror for her car so that she can see her minded child whilst driving. Since registering, improvements have been made to the setting, including extending resources and further developing her means of recording and planning children's development. She is also keen on attending training to develop her skills and knowledge. This effectively impacts on the childminder's ability to maintain continuous improvement to benefit the children in her care.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy a good range of interesting activities and experiences which enable them to make good progress in their learning and development. Adult-led and child-initiated activities are both used very well to enhance learning across all areas This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 of development. The childminder's observations of what children can do, along with their interests, are used successfully to plan the next steps in their learning. Children's progress is tracked across all six areas of learning to ensure that they reach their full potential. These records are shared with parents and they are able to contribute to them. As a result, children's progress is enhanced.

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and outcomes for children

Babies delight in looking at books and feeling the various textures as the childminder introduces new words, such as scratchy, smooth and soft. They show great interest in the musical instruments and songs as the childminder sings with them and brings into play concepts of playing loudly and quietly. Babies explore a variety of textures and natural materials in the treasure baskets as they use their senses to make sense of the world. Children enjoy using materials in a variety of ways to express their creativity, for example, they make handprints and print with leaves and other objects that they find. Skills in information and communication technology are beginning to be developed as babies explore electronic toys. They develop coordination skills as they press buttons to see what happens and respond with interest to the noises. The childminder constantly talks with babies to develop their language skills and in response babies make sounds with their voices as part

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and outcomes for children

of the social interaction. They respond well to words and actions as they clap their hands or wave goodbye.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning good practices to promote their health and safety. They have regular opportunities to be active and enjoy physical exercise outdoors. Babies have plenty of opportunities to move around freely in the home, enabling them to develop their large muscle skills and co-ordination. Children learn from a young age that they need to wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating to establish good hygiene habits. They each have a separate towel to dry their hands on, helping to prevent cross-infection. A good choice of healthy and nutritious snacks and home cooked meals are provided and drinks are available at all times. The childminder is conscious of the damage sugary drinks cause to children's teeth, therefore, they enjoy diluted fresh juice. Children learn about their personal safety as part of the daily routine, for example, dangers in the home, how to cross roads safely and they take part in the regular fire drills. Children have close

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and outcomes for children

relationships with the childminder and clearly enjoy their time in her care. They show they feel safe in her care when they readily approach her for comfort and babies respond with smiles. The children behave well. The childminder offers lots of encouragement and praises children freely, which helps to build their self- esteem. 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 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 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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