Childminder in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY396945 Inspection date 25/03/2010 Inspector Catherine Hill

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 2009. She lives with her husband and two sons, aged 12 and 14 years, in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. All of the premises are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family has two dogs, a hamster, tortoises and also keeps fish. 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. She is currently caring for one child in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools.

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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

The childminder organises her practice to provide a relaxing, friendly, family environment for children's care, learning and play. Children are happy and enjoy themselves as they are sensitively supported by the childminder. The childminder promotes inclusive practice and all children are treated with equal concern. Documentation is in place to support the childminder's practice, although there is a weakness with regard to the maintenance of risk assessment documentation. The childminder is cheerful and caring and has a positive attitude towards the continuous improvement of her childminding service.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 maintain a record of risk assessment specific to the minding environment identifying aspects that need to be checked on a regular basis and clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Documentation) 09/04/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 improve partnerships with parents by sharing written policies and procedures, such as the complaints and safeguarding policies used to support the childminding practice  ensure the greenhouse is made safe. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder has established good relationships with children and organises her time effectively to meet their individual needs. She recognises the need for children to be able to unwind after school and provides them with time for both free play and to be involved with fun, planned activities to further develop their knowledge and skills. Activities are well resourced and engage children's interest. Children's welfare is safeguarded as the childminder understands her role and responsibilities with regard to child protection. She has risk assessed her home to ensure children are safe and closely supervises children as they play, for example on the rocking horse. She does not, however, have a record of risk assessment specific to her premises, which is a breach of requirements. The greenhouse, identified as a potential hazard at registration, has also yet to be made safe. She works in partnership with parents and others involved in children's care to ensure

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the early years provision

children's individual needs are well known and appropriately catered for. A detailed daily journal keeps parents well informed about their child. The childminder shares some written information with parents, such as her registration certificate and Ofsted's contact details, and verbally shares other information. She has only been minding a very short while but has reflected on her practice and identified how she can further improve her provision for children's learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

Children are totally at ease in the childminder's home and behave very well. They are polite, sociable and helpful, for example, as they help feed the fish. All children are included in play and they move freely and happily around the childminder's home as they play and chat to one another. Children show an understanding of hygiene routines as they wash their hands before they have a snack of breadsticks. They keep healthy through access to a balanced diet and regular exercise and enjoy the opportunity to play ball with their friends after school. The childminder reminds them how to keep themselves safe as they descend the stairs and she ensures they travel safely when transporting them home from school.

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident conversationalists and order their thoughts well before talking, for example, about their dog and birthday present. They are eager to join in with activities planned by the childminder showing a motivation to learn. They enthusiastically pour water over a water wheel and watch intently as the force of water causes the wheel to turn. The childminder extends learning by talking to children about water and its uses. Children observe the effect of wind as they stand with the childminder to blow a mobile of different shapes. They recognise the mobile has two moon shapes hanging on it and the childminder indicates the star shape also present. Children are confident with numbers and counting. They recognise the number 10 on a kitchen timer and ably count out 16 chocolates in a bowl. They show an understanding of the natural world as they talk about tree trunks being brown and colour the leaves on a tree picture green. The childminder

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and outcomes for children

helps develop their knowledge and understanding of the world as opportunities This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 arise. For example, she followed up children's experience of looking at hedgerows by sharing relevant information from an encyclopaedia with them. She plays with children at their level and listens carefully to them, reflecting back their comments to confirm she has noted what they said. Children excitedly talk about a red car they will be getting for their birthday and the childminder builds on their enthusiasm and interest by suggesting they look for something red in the home. Children respond positively to the suggestion and with the childminder they find a red book. They smile and laugh as they play and have good opportunities whilst in the childminder's care to achieve and enjoy themselves whilst developing skills to become confident, independent learners.

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and outcomes for children

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 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 2 The extent to which children feel safe 3 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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