Childminder in Rotherham

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number EY337075 Inspection date 18/01/2010 Inspector Gill Ogden

p.1

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.

p.1

Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 2006. She lives with her husband and two children aged 11 and 14 years, in Maltby, South Yorkshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. Amenities such as shops, park, library, schools and pre-schools are within walking distance. The childminder also uses her car to transport children.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. Currently she looks after 15 children, five of whom are in the early years age range, on a part-time basis. The childminder holds a relevant early years qualification and is an accredited childminder for the local authority linked to the local children's centre. She is also a member of the National Childminding Association.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in a very safe and stimulating home environment. The childminder has an excellent knowledge of each child's uniqueness and provides for them accordingly. Extremely close attention is paid to children's welfare needs, especially safeguarding. Every child makes at least good and mostly outstanding progress in all the areas of learning as identified in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Relationships with parents are such that children's continuity of care is excellent. Links with the local infant school are extremely strong and support every child's best interests. The childminder is ravenous for new knowledge and skills and constantly strives to make her service the best she can.

p.4

further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

p.4

further?

 developing further the system for self-evaluation to best support continuous improvement.

p.4

the early years provision

An extremely robust framework is in place to support the care of children. All the necessary records are kept very efficiently and policies and procedures are clearly presented in writing. There is a wealth of material to promote and support safeguarding which both the childminder and parents can use for reference. Risk assessments of all the environments children use are rigorous and extremely well This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 documented. A daily risk checklist supports the overall risk assessments effectively. The childminder organises her home very well. The play room is very conducive to learning with a rich and imaginative range of toys, play equipment and materials, both bought and homemade. Resources promote diversity extremely positively along with the childminder's drive to ensure that every child is valued and respected. The childminder is very aware of where she can access additional

p.4

the early years provision

resources quickly and easily if they are needed. The garden is spacious and has a good range of fixed play equipment as well as providing an immediate environment where children can explore nature.

p.5

the early years provision

Since the last inspection the childminder has shown her passion to continuously develop by taking every opportunity to improve her provision and get to grips with the new Early Years Foundation Stage legislation. She has attended a myriad of training including updating her safeguarding and risk assessment knowledge. The acquisition of completely new skills and knowledge such as the use of empathy dolls, treasure baskets, and using Makaton, has featured highly. Currently she is working towards achieving a Foundation Degree in early years, the local authority quality mark and National Health Service Healthy Foundations accreditation. She reflects on her practice carefully and has identified aspects of her provision which will have a positive impact on children's experiences, such as improvements to the garden, but has not yet fully established an ongoing self-evaluation system to ensure the very best continuous improvement.

p.5

the early years provision

Parents have very close working relationships with the childminder and are extremely pleased with her service. They comment especially on how much their children have developed, the amount of support she has given to them as parents and their peace of mind in knowing that their children are safe with her whilst they are at work. The childminder encourages parents to take a full part in their children's learning and development by, for example, sharing their observations with her and looking through their child's learning journey record. She provides detailed information about their child's day via individual diaries as well as sending parents photographs every so often by mobile phone. Regular newsletters keep parents well-informed about, for example, special outings in the school holidays. Links with the local infant's school not only allow for sharing of information about each child's current situation and allow the childminder to follow up their learning

p.5

the early years provision

at home, but also for sharing resources to help promote children's learning better.

p.5

and outcomes for children

Vigilant attention is given to children's health and safety. Children are positively encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles by having a variety of opportunities to exercise regularly and get fresh air. They play outdoors every day as much as possible, walk to school and do yoga indoors. They are introduced to healthy foods by cultivating vegetables and picking apples and plums from trees in the garden. They are then able to prepare and eat this food. Different fruits and vegetables are bought from the local grocer's where children choose for themselves those that they would like to eat. A high standard of cleanliness is maintained in the home with children being encouraged to wash their hands appropriately and younger This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 ones copy older ones with nose blowing habits that minimise the spread of infection. Posters on the play room walls remind children to 'catch it, bin it, kill it'.

p.5

and outcomes for children

Children's safety is assured because the childminder is rigorous about ensuring the premises are totally safe and children are very well supervised. Most recently she has had a new kitchen fitted and she is unwilling to use it while children are present until she has ensured it is fully safe, for example, all safety catches have been fitted on the cupboards and drawers. As a result, at the moment she is pre- preparing meals such as sandwiches which can be stored most easily without the need for a lot of attention whilst the children are around. As well as children learning to keep themselves safe through fire drills, road safety and talk of stranger danger the childminder has made the most of the very cold weather conditions to help children learn about the dangers of walking on icy patches on paths so that they do not slip and hurt themselves. The hard work the childminder has put into encouraging children to be kind and considerate towards others has

p.6

and outcomes for children

been rewarded in that as well as the childminder being a good role model, the older children also act as good role models. They have patience with the younger children and make sure that they are able to join in all their activities. The childminder's recent introduction of using Makaton to help communication with younger children has fired the imaginations of the older ones and they are learning the signs so that they can communicate with the younger ones more easily too. All this promotes the younger children's self-esteem because their needs and abilities are seen as being equal to others.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children's mostly outstanding progress happens because the childminder works very closely with parents to establish children's starting points, has an observation system in place that is effective in identifying children's achievements and plans purposeful activities both indoors and outdoors that cover all the areas of learning. The childminder is also especially knowledgeable about individual children's learning styles and provides extremely well, for example, for children who demonstrate clear schemes such as transporting and enveloping. She has created some very useful equipment such as a wooden kitchen towel holder with large metal curtain rings that children stack on the holder and take off again and 'thread' onto their wrists competently and quickly from an early age, thus developing excellent hand-eye coordination skills. Every child is consistently encouraged to think for themselves, make choices and become independent. For example, young

p.6

and outcomes for children

children know the routines and help the childminder clear the table for snack, removing toys and the table cloth and putting another tablecloth on without prompting. They choose the fruit they want for snack from a selection the childminder puts on the table and decide whether they want milk or water to drink. Safety knives are used by the children with great skill to cut up bananas into appropriate sized pieces for them to eat. The childminder makes excellent use of these everyday routines to incorporate counting and other mathematical concepts. Children enjoy a singing session and even if they cannot always remember the words they love joining in with the actions to songs such as 'Dingle dangle scarecrow'. They are alert to sounds around them and can distinguish them. For example, when playing outdoors on the trampoline, children hear the sound of a plane and look for it in the sky and when recorded music is playing they notice

p.6

and outcomes for children

when the singing stops and the person says goodbye to which they respond even though they are involved in other activities at the same time. Children also notice the slide show playing on the laptop and shout out the names of their friends that This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 they see on the pictures and recalling what they were doing. All this, along with a host of other activities and experiences, fully ensure that every child develops the skills and knowledge they will need for their future learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.6

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.8

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

p.8

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.8

and managed?

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

p.8

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 1

p.8

Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

p.8

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

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.9

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.9