Setting

Inspection report for early years provision

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EY231472 Unique Reference Number 06 October 2005 Inspection date Janet Ashcroft Inspector

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Integrated Type of inspection Childminding Type of care

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The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

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ABOUT THIS INSPECTION

The purpose of this inspection is to assure government, parents and the public of the quality of childcare and, if applicable, of nursery education. The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004; the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding; and, where nursery education is provided, the Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage. The report includes information on any complaints about the childcare provision which Ofsted has received since the last inspection or registration or 1 April 2004 whichever is the later.

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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The key inspection judgements and what they mean

For more information about early years inspections, please see the booklet Are you ready for your inspection? which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder was registered in 2002. She lives with her 13-year-old daughter, her adult daughter and her 2 grandchildren aged 3 years and 7 years, in a residential area in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. The whole of the house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The family has a cat to which minded children have supervised access.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The childminder works with an assistant and is registered to care for 6 children at any one time, or 9 children when working with a co-minder. She is presently caring for 1 child part-time and 2 children full-time, 1 of the full-time children receives nursery education funding.

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WHAT SORT OF SETTING IS IT?

The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and of the local childminder's group. She attends local toddler and pre-school groups on a regular basis and operates a collection and delivery service to local schools and nurseries.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Children are actively and consistently learning about good hygiene routines through the childminder's excellent practice and infectious enthusiasm. The childminder proactively supports the children's developing skills of self-reliance with a profusion of attractive equipment; she inspires the children's interest in hygiene through her own exemplary practice and through discussion and activities.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children are provided with an exceptional range of exciting and stimulating daily activities and opportunities to develop physical skills and a daily outdoor activity is a feature of the setting. A wealth of exciting equipment allows children to practise and develop physical skills in the secure garden area and full use is made of opportunities outside the setting, for example country walks and seaside trips.

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Helping children to be healthy

Children’s nutritional needs are comprehensively accommodated by an excellent range of meals, which are planned in advance according to nutritional guidelines and individual requirements. An exciting range of cookery and tasting activities inspires children to learn about healthy eating.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. The setting is appealing and welcoming for all children; it is gloriously stimulating, with attractive child-centred posters, numerous items of personal equipment and extensive displays of children's creative work. All areas of development are fostered as the children freely access an extensive and exciting range of stimulating toys, equipment and furniture, which are kept in an a very clean and safe condition.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The childminder has a high level of awareness of all possible risks to children’s safety and has taken extensive steps to remove any hazards; as a result the setting is commendably safe for children to play, eat and sleep. The children are learning how to keep themselves safe through participation in active and meaningful safety routines, for example, fire evacuations and road crossing drills. Children’s protection from abuse and neglect is promoted through the childminder's comprehensive understanding of child protection procedures and through the top priority she gives to children's welfare.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is outstanding. Children are able to engage in a splendid range of activities, planned to help them make progress in all areas of development. For example, on the day of Inspection they were engaged in an exciting creative activity of making spiders and webs following observations made during the morning outing. Children are given frequent opportunities to explore and investigate and to relate to others during daily learning and play opportunities outside the home, for example regular visits to toddler group and the local library to select books and to participate in story times. Holiday time trips to farm centres and aquariums stimulate their interest in the natural world.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s language and social skills are enthusiastically promoted through general conversation and through the frequent questions asked of them by the childminder, effectively stimulating recall and vocabulary. She enhances their self-confidence by listening carefully to their responses and acting upon them as required. The print-rich environment fosters children's awareness of other forms of communication.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Children’s development and learning is enhanced by the childminder's thorough knowledge of 'Birth to three matters', which she uses effectively to assess children's progress as a basis to plan future activities.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The quality of the teaching and learning is good. Right from the start, the childminder finds out about the children's skills, interests and needs and builds upon this information effectively to help the children achieve as much as they can. She has a thorough knowledge of the Foundation Stage and her flexible approach to planning provides a good balance between adult-led and child-initiated activities, allowing children to follow their own interests and to learn at their own pace. The children's progress is effectively monitored and recorded in a variety of ways, although this is not always fully linked to future planning.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The exciting activities and experiences captivate and challenge the children and as a result they are able to stay on task, developing their skills of independence and persistence. The childminder makes excellent use of time and her practice of providing daily opportunities for physical outdoor play has enhanced the children's skills in movement and coordination. Her carefully planned holiday day trips, for example to the country, the seaside and the Sealife Centre, stimulate the children's interest in the natural world and they are able to recall and describe their experiences, demonstrating their developing vocabulary.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder makes excellent use of everyday resources to promote children's learning, for example, showing care and concern for living things by contact with the family cat. She stimulates the children's interest in numbers and counting during domestic routines, such as table setting and counting stairs on the way to and from the bathroom.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The childminder has high expectations of children's behaviour and uses a variety of effective methods to encourage and support the children's skills of negotiation and compromise. The

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. children work cooperatively together and are beginning to consider the consequences of their own actions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The children benefit tremendously from being recognised as individuals and having their differing needs comprehensively met. The childminder has a real commitment to equality of opportunity; she is experienced in caring for children with special needs and carefully plans activities to accommodate their particular routines and requirements. Children are able to access a wealth of exciting resources and activities to actively raise their awareness of diversity and to promote their understanding of others, for example role play equipment, cookery and craft activities provide exciting opportunities for children to explore other cultures and traditions. The children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is exceptionally well fostered during these activities, with the childminder herself as an excellent role-model for the children.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The children's behaviour is exemplary. The childminder has a positive approach to behaviour management and encourages children to take responsibility for their own behaviour. Younger children are consistently supported in leaning to take turns and to share and older children are enthusiastically encouraged to have individual responsibilities, for example helping to tidy the table.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The partnership with parents and carers is outstanding and children thrive as a result of the excellent continuity of care which has developed through this first-class partnership. The childminder takes every opportunity to involve parents in the care of their children; she has an exceptional number of strategies to exchange good quality information on children's achievements and progress and on developments in early years care and education. The childminder actively seeks parents' views about their children's needs and the children benefit greatly from their parents involvement in their learning.

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Organisation

The organisation is outstanding. Children benefit from the extensive and continuing professional training undertaken by the childminder. She has a thirst to develop and improve her practice and to build upon and share her strengths.

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Organisation

Children’s health, welfare and safety is very effectively safeguarded through the childminder’s policies, procedures and records, these are commendably organised to enable required information to be located immediately and are exemplary in their level of detail, maintenance and review.

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Organisation

Leadership and management is good. The childminder reviews her provision and the children benefit as a result of the improvements she strives to implement. She has a real commitment to the promotion of quality care and education for young children and supports her co-minder and assistant in developing their own practice.

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Organisation

The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The provision is outstanding in meeting the needs of the range of children for whom it provides. It is exceptionally well organised, stimulating and welcoming, and exudes warmth throughout.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, the childminder was asked to ensure that the range of outdoor toys meets the needs of all children. The childminder has provided a wealth of exciting equipment which allows all children to practise and develop a range of physical skills and which caters for all levels of ability.

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Complaints since the last inspection

There are no complaints to report. The provider is required to keep a record of complaints made by parents, which they can see on request. The complaints record may contain complaints other than those made to Ofsted.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

On the basis of the evidence collected on this inspection:

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the care are outstanding. The registered person meets the National Standards for under 8s day care and childminding.

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THE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF THE CARE AND NURSERY EDUCATION

The quality and standards of the nursery education are good.

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The quality and standards of the care

No recommendations for improvement are made because the quality and standards of care are outstanding.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

To improve the quality and standards of nursery education further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that activities build upon all children's abilities and skills, by using individual progress to inform future planning.

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

set out in the leaflet Complaints about Ofsted Early Years: concerns or complaints about Ofsted's role in regulating and inspecting childcare and early education (HMI ref no 2599) which is available from Ofsted's website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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The quality and standards of the nursery education

The inspection was carried out under Part XA Children Act 1989 as introduced by the Care Standards Act 2000 and, where nursery education is provided, under Schedule 26 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

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