Mrs Clare Edwards

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 304470 Inspection date 18/05/2010 Inspector Sarah Jane Rhodes

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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 1995. She lives with her husband and child aged 13 years old in the Crewe area of Cheshire, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the childminder’s home is used for childminding, except the bedrooms.

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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. The exception to this is when she is caring for children named in the variation request of May 2010 when she can care for four children in the early years age range. She is currently minding four children in this age group on a part- time basis. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on both parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects children from the local nursery and goes to several toddler groups regularly.

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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 provides a high quality, stimulating environment for all the children. A wide range of activities are provided in a dedicated playroom. The childminder tailors her care to meet each child's individual needs and to help them to be fully included. Well organised records are kept of the children's activities and their progress towards the overarching early learning goals to ensure they make good progress in their learning and development. Systems for evaluating the provision's strengths and weaknesses have been introduced and cover many aspects of the provision. Risk assessments are undertaken but some assessments for outings have not yet been committed to paper.

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further?

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

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further?

 update the written record of risk assessments to include all types of outings  continue to develop the systems of observational assessment to support provision of experiences which help children progress in all aspects of the early learning goals  develop the provision of activities that introduce cultures and beliefs to children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The children are safeguarded appropriately. The childminder ensures that she has a clear knowledge of child protection procedures, appropriate record keeping and her role, in line with the latest government guidelines by attending training and having an information pack as a reference document. This helps to ensure children are protected from harm or neglect. She undertakes risk assessments and maintains a safe and secure building. She is aware of the need to be vigilant when on trips and has documented the risk assessments for some but not all of the types of outings she undertakes.

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the early years provision

The childminder reflects on how she organises her provision and concentrates on how to make each child's time with her the best learning experience it could be, making changes as appropriate. For example, she has installed a decked area in the garden to ease the children's access to the garden and enhance their use of the outside space. She has used two self-evaluation forms to assess her provision and help to make plans for the future. The childminder has attend a number of courses and continues to identify areas where her knowledge could be improved through training, for example, by attending refresher training on safeguarding. She has implemented the changes recommended at her last inspection.

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the early years provision

The childminder places a strong emphasis on working in partnership with parents and other providers who work with the children in her care. She has a range of written policies which are given to parents. This ensures that parents are clear about how the childminder operates right from the beginning of the placement and they can refer back to these policies whenever they need clarification. However, the complaints policy lacks some necessary detail. Parents also see and contribute to their child's observation profile every three months, which helps their awareness of their child's progress towards the early learning goals. She liaises in writing with other providers and childcare professionals to enhance provision for the minded children. The childminder understands the needs of the individual children she cares for and has organised her play space to allow children to access a range of appropriate high quality equipment. This ensures that no child is disadvantaged

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the early years provision

and all children have their needs met effectively.

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and outcomes for children

The provision for the children's learning, development and welfare is good. The children benefit from the care of a highly organised and committed childminder who has enthusiastically introduced the Early Years Foundation Stage to support her work. She has clear methods of observing and recording the children's abilities and setting next steps for them. This builds an excellent knowledge of the children she cares for and the areas of development that activities need to focus on. Examples of the activities undertaken with the children are retained and shared with parents. The childminder records the children's development in individual profile books with observations supported by photographs and links these to the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Early Years Foundation Stage areas of learning. Every three months the childminder draws her thoughts about a child's development together when she

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and outcomes for children

writes a learning and development summary recording each child's development under the six areas of learning, this records the next steps for children and has space for parental comments. At the present time the childminder does not monitor the children's progress towards all aspects of each of the early learning goals. However, in general records provide a good picture of the children's progress and ensures parents are fully updated.

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and outcomes for children

Constant interaction between the childminder and the children provides a vibrant and stimulating environment where children thrive. They are very confident and have busy enquiring minds which are stimulated by themed activities often drawn from or extended by the children's own interests. A constant stream of conversation means that the children have a rich verbal environment to support the acquisition of speech. The children are encouraged to value books and are introduced to phonic sounds as they start to recognise letters. All children are encouraged to use a variety of implements to make marks and start to form letters. Some children are making excellent progress in their problem solving and use of numerals, some can recognise numbers to 10 and 20 and have started to comfortably undertake simple calculations, understanding one more and one less. They investigate nature and natural materials in the garden through growing and

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and outcomes for children

caring for plants or find out the properties of snow through play. The children have more limited opportunities to learn about a range of cultures and beliefs. The children's interest in craft work is nurtured through regular activities and the children's work is valued and displayed with care in the playroom. Yoga for children and other movement activities keep children active. They have access to larger equipment in the garden, local parks and at the toddler groups, giving them the opportunity to develop their balancing and climbing skills.

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and outcomes for children

The children are encouraged to enjoy fresh air and the natural environment. Their welfare is also promoted through the provision of healthy diets which the childminder provides in conjunction with the children's parents for younger children. Easy access to the toilet and clear procedures about both personal hygiene and hygiene of the home allows the children to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. The children are encouraged to keep themselves safe as the childminder reminds them of simple precautions such as safely moving from the home to the car and the childminder includes them in the emergency evacuation practises. The childminder manages the children's behaviour in a very positive way praising the children, using distraction and keeping them well occupied. The children have been involved in drawing up the rules, which are displayed and they are very aware of the boundaries and confident in what is expected of them. The

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and outcomes for children

children are making good progress in developing skills for the future and the move to school when the time comes. 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

 provide parents with written procedures for how complaints will be dealt with (Procedures for dealing with complaints and Providing information to parents) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 30/06/2010

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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 for the childcare register (Procedures for dealing with complaints and Providing information to parents). 30/06/2010

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