Freeman, Annette

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY400069 Inspection date 09/03/2010 Inspector Jo Rowley

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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 registered in 2009. She lives with her husband and two children aged four and nine in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding and children have access to a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has a dog, two goldfish and a rabbit.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder provides care on each weekday during term-time and school holidays. She is registered on the Early Years Register to care for a maximum of two children in the early years age range and is currently minding two children in this age group, both on a part-time basis. She also offers care to children aged over five years and this provision is registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Children on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register share the same facilities as those on the Early Years Register.

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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 provides a happy and welcoming environment. She takes positive steps to promote children's welfare through established daily routines and she has a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures. The childminder generally meets the needs of children in the Early Years Foundation Stage and promotes an inclusive environment. All children make sound progress towards most of the early learning goals and sound links with parents and the local children centre help to build positive relationships, promoting consistency. The childminder has an understanding of her strengths and weaknesses and has begun to self-evaluate her setting, taking the necessary steps to improve her practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that the areas of learning are delivered through planned, purposeful play, with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities  provide oppprotunities for children to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world and problem solving reasoning and numeracy skills  ensure that children's next steps are incorporated in to the planning.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding procedures in order to protect children in her care. She has completed additional safeguarding training This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and has devised clear policies and procedures, which are shared with parents. The childminder ensures that children remain safe whilst out of the home as she carries an emergency card for each child. The cards have the child's photo on them with clear emergency contact details recorded, should an accident or incident occur. The childminder has devised written risk assessments, which are completed on a regular basis, to promote children's safety in the home and to further promote children's safety a risk assessment is completed for each type of outing, they take part in, which is reviewed regularly. The children also learn about keeping safe as they take part in an emergency evacuation drill, which is practised on a regular

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the early years provision

basis. Whilst on outings children learn about crossing the road safely, including discussing the consequences of not crossing roads safely, which further promotes their welfare.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates a sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and is seeking to extend this with observation, planning and assessment training which she is hoping to attend in the near future. She has an effective relationship with parents and encourages them to share what they know about their children with daily communication being fully encouraged. The childminder is beginning to develop links with the local pre-school and children's centre and aims to build on these links to promote continuity of care. All children are equally welcomed into the childminder's setting regardless of their background and a written equal opportunities policy is shared with parents, to ensure that no child is discriminated against, promoting inclusion. Each child is offered the same opportunities and experiences, although, these are generally tailored to their individual ages and stages of ability.

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the early years provision

The childminder has some understanding of cultural differences to support children's awareness of the wider community. Although, there are limited opportunities offered to develop children's knowledge and understanding of the wider world. Resources are age and stage appropriate for children and they are encouraged to make independent choices about their play because they can access resources which are generally stored at their height. Children achieve and make progress in most areas of their learning because they have access to an environment where they are encouraged to self-select resources and initiate their own play. The childminder has taken steps to evaluate and monitor her setting, through self-evaluation, and this has enabled the childminder to see where improvements can be made to bring about improved outcomes for children.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, settled and enjoy their time with the childminder. They make steady progress in their learning because the childminder is supportive to their needs. Children are naturally challenged in their play as the childminder encourages them to try and do things for themselves, for example, whilst playing with the train set one child can't switch the train on to move. The childminder encourages the child to try first before helping.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel valued as the childminder listens to them and supports them as they This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 play. Observations are completed for each child, on a regular basis and the next steps in their learning are recorded on these. However, the childminder does not plan purposeful play to include a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities and therefore, children's next steps are not incorporated in to their learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children's behaviour demonstrates that they feel safe as they are encouraged to be kind to each other and share resources. The childminder uses regular, though gentle, reminders to promote children's safety. For example, whilst out of the home they talk about the consequences of not following good road safety awareness. Children take part in the evacuation procedure on a regular basis and are developing their understanding of how to protect themselves, and others. They are confident and secure in their environment and, therefore, actively involved in their learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop their creative skills through daily opportunities, for example, children are able to develop their imaginations as they create different situations with the farm animals. Their physical development is promoted through regular opportunities to listen to music and they enjoy walks in the local community and they have static resources as well as ride-on toys that they enjoy at the childminder's home. Children have regular and independent opportunities to access books as these are available for them to read independently. They also enjoy regular visits to the local library where they choose books to take away or listen to stories read at the library.

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and outcomes for children

Children's knowledge and understanding of the wider world is not fully encouraged because there are limited opportunities offered to them. This is an area where children's development is not fully promoted and there are limited resources to further promote their understanding of this area. Opportunities to extend children's understanding and development of problem solving and numeracy are limited because the childminder doesn't plan activities around this area of learning. They do use mathematical language on occasions, although this is not sufficient in order to promote their understanding and development within this area.

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and outcomes for children

Children have an appropriate awareness of personal hygiene through established daily routines. The childminder encourages children to learn about healthy eating as she offers freshly prepared fruit snacks on a daily basis. 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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