Childminder in North Yorkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY398219 Inspection date 03/02/2010 Inspector Christine Snowdon

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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 2009. She lives with her husband and their three children aged three, nine and 11 years. They live in a semi-detached home in the village of Barlby near Selby. There are schools, shops and play parks within walking distance. The ground floor of the property is used for childminding purposes, with the bathroom situated on the first floor. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time and currently cares for one child in the early years age group and seven older children, who all attend on a part-time basis.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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

Children are cared for in a very child-orientated and welcoming environment where all aspects of their safety and welfare are met with success. The conservatory has been transformed into a playroom with a lovely range of resources to provide free- choice and self-selection. Colourful posters and wall displays are generally effective and used to support children's learning and development needs very well. Effective working relationships with the parents contribute significantly to the childminder's sound knowledge of the individual needs of the children she cares for. All aspects of their children's care and development are well documented and shared with parents on a regular basis. However, there are limited systems to enable parents to contribute to these or to share them with other early years settings. All required policies and procedures are in place and generally used well to support her practice. The childminder has only been registered for a short time but

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

demonstrates her utmost commitment to providing a good quality service for children and has already started to monitor and self-evaluate her provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 consider improving the systems for sharing the policies and procedures with parents  improve further the labelling within the setting so that more of these are located at child height, are in lower case text and include numbers  provide more opportunities for parents to contribute to children's individual learning and development records. 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 is fully aware of her responsibilities with regards to safeguarding children. Robust systems are in place along with detailed written policies and procedures and contact details for the relevant agencies. The childminder has completed online child protection training in order to fully understand the signs and symptoms of abuse. All existing injuries and accidents are fully discussed with parents and clearly recorded. The childminder is very safety conscious and all areas of the home are safe and suitable for children. Safety equipment is used effectively throughout the setting. For example, safety gates, a fireguard and a washing machine lock ensure children play safely and freely throughout the ground floor area. The written risk assessments include all areas of the home and garden as well as the journeys to school and local play parks. In addition, the daily check sheet is completed to make sure all areas are clean, safe and suitable in readiness

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the early years provision

Since registration the childminder has made great progress and is clearly committed to the continual improvement of her setting. She fully embraces the inspection and is very receptive to feedback, acknowledging that the recommendations will assist in her future development. The childminder is proactive in gaining new skills and has booked onto relevant courses provided by her local authority. In addition, she seeks useful childcare information from the internet. The childminder has completed the Ofsted online self-evaluation and reports that she found this effective in identifying her strengths and areas to develop further. Parents have also been involved in her reflective practice by completing her recent questionnaires, which are all very positive indeed. The childminder spends a lot of time planning a wide variety of activities which contribute effectively to the good progress children are making towards their early

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the early years provision

learning goals. She carries out regular observations and assessments and uses this information to identify and promote their next steps in learning. Their journals and record folders give lovely examples of their progress through photographs, text and children's artwork.

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the early years provision

The childminder has effective working relationships with the parents and very detailed information is shared with them on a regular basis. When starting the setting all her policies and procedures are shared with them and they sign to say they have read and understood them. However, because these are handed back to the childminder, parents do not have them to refer to should they wish to do so. Parents are kept up to date with their children's daily routine, progress and development. For example, through daily verbal feedback and children's journals, which are sent home on a regular basis. However, the childminder does not have a system in place to encourage parents to contribute to these records, or share them with the other early years settings their children have recently started to attend. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides a very clean, warm and welcoming home that is very child orientated. Her conservatory playroom is very well organised and provides a stimulating and inviting area for children to play and learn. For example, large soft floor cushions are provided in the book corner and an array of musical instruments is displayed in the music area. Various other aspects of play are fully promoted including role play, construction and creativity. The childminder is creating an environment which is rich in print through the many posters and labels displayed. However, these are not fully effective as some of the posters are located too high for children to see and use, and labels are written in capital letters and do not include numbers. The effective organisation of space and resources ensures that children freely choose their own toys, become independent learners and develop good levels of confidence and self-motivation.

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and outcomes for children

Children love to be outdoors and benefit from the childminder's encouragement to be active and have lots of fun in the garden area. They have lovely well-planned activities and games that effectively promote their understanding of nature and living creatures. Children can recognise and name many of the small plastic insects, such as ladybird and spider. They take turns and excitedly run around the garden hiding them in various places. They develop their counting skills as they count up to 10 with the childminder before going off to find where they are hidden. The childminder asks them how many legs the spider has and they count them together. Children feed the wild birds and listen carefully to hear them singing; they tell the inspector the names they have given the birds. Children are developing good coordination and balancing skills as they take turns to be goalkeeper or to shoot the football into the net. Indoors children concentrate well

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and outcomes for children

and use their skills to manoeuvre and fit the pieces into the jigsaws. They enjoy building up the small blocks and say they are making a tall tower. The childminder asks, 'how many blocks are there?' and the children confidently count them and correctly say 'six'. Children know their colours and the childminder is effective in promoting this through their daily play. For example, when asked, they say their jigsaw piece has red, green and blue colours on it. Children draw, write and make marks through a variety of ways and mediums. A lovely assortment of books promotes their early interests in stories, text and pictures.

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and outcomes for children

The children are very happy and relaxed in the homely environment where they are made to feel welcome and part of the family. They have a close and trusting relationship with the childminder, putting their arms around her and saying 'I've missed you' and giving her a kiss. All children are valued and their individuality is effectively promoted and respected. Their 'all about me' displays are a lovely way of developing their awareness of similarities and differences in a positive way. Their individual photographs and scripts record personal likes and dislikes, such as liking Peppa Pig but not cabbage.

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and outcomes for children

Children's behaviour is very good. They play well together, sharing resources and taking turns. Any minor disagreements over toys are effectively resolved through the childminder's appropriate strategies, praise and encouragement. Mealtimes are This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 very sociable times and children know to eat their savouries first from their lunchboxes provided by their parents. The childminder promotes their understanding of healthy eating as she talks to them about foods that are good for them and what their favourite fruits are. 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: 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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