Childminder in Devon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY400978 Inspection date 26/01/2010 Inspector Juliet Eileen Hartridge

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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 and lives with her husband and child in Exminster, Devon, within walking distance of various local amenities. Children are cared for mainly on the ground floor of the childminder's home, including the safely enclosed rear garden. There is one small step to the front door. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of five children under eight years. Overnight care is not included. She is currently caring for three children, all of whom are in the early years age group.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are very happy and settled; they benefit greatly as the childminder has an excellent understanding of their individual needs and interests and consequently, their welfare is very well promoted. The childminder has a thorough understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which ensures that children most successfully progress in their learning and development. She works very closely with their parents and carers to ensure they are fully involved in the care of their children. The childminder carefully reflects on her provision and has an excellent insight into her strengths as well as the areas she intends to develop in order to further benefit the children in her care.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop further ways to seek information from the children's parents regarding their children's starting points.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a most conscientious approach regarding children's safety. She has an excellent knowledge of appropriate current safeguarding procedures and the steps to take regarding any concerns about the children in her care. This is underpinned by her detailed policy which is shared with the children's parents and carers. All adults in the household have undergone appropriate checks, and evidence of these is displayed in the parents and carers information file. The childminder maintains detailed risk assessments of her home as well as the outings that children regularly enjoy. These are carefully reviewed when new children start or there are significant changes in the weather. Various safety measures in the home, including safety gates, secure doors and regularly practised and reviewed evacuation procedures, ensure children feel safe and secure at all times. The This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

childminder has a meticulous approach to documentation including accident and registration records. Her procedures and policies are specifically devised and therefore appropriate to her provision. They refer to the appropriate legislation and parents and carers are asked to sign to acknowledge that they have read them, which ensures they are aware of the level of her responsibilities and the routines in place, which most effectively support their children's welfare.

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the early years provision

An excellent balance of interesting and good quality toys, resources and books are tidily and accessibly stored in clear boxes or shelves where children can easily make choices as they play. The environment is clean and very well maintained and is comfortable and welcoming to children. Children learn about sustainability when they read a book about recycling, then create a recycling centre together from bricks. The childminder works very closely with the children's parents and carers, which most effectively promotes continuity of care for all children. Information forms are used to record necessary important information from parents and carers when their children start. However, these do not yet contain sufficient detail to enable the childminder to fully assess children's starting points, and therefore, measure their ongoing development. Parents and carers speak most highly of the level of care provided for their children, as well as the commitment and the helpful

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the early years provision

flexibility of the childminder. Detailed and informative daily diaries are used and provide a friendly account of the children's day; the extensive records of the children's achievements and progress are regularly shared. Families receive a warm welcome when they arrive and the childminder effectively uses this time to ensure she is fully updated about the children's changing needs. These various measures ensure that parents and carers are fully involved and informed about the provision for their children, which means the needs of their children are most successfully met. The childminder has started to liaise with another setting some of the children will attend later in the year, in order to establish ways of sharing information in order to fully promote continuity of care, learning and development for children in the future.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a strong commitment to training, having previously completed National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People as well as safeguarding and health and safety training. She also has a current first aid certificate, and Introduction to Childcare Practice, and has identified further NVQ Level 3 training she intends to do in the future, in order to further enhance her provision for children. She has a most positive and enthusiastic approach towards monitoring and assessing the provision for children, having completed the online self-evaluation form. This evaluates in detail her current provision as well as ideas and plans she intends to develop. This conscientious approach clearly indicates the childminder has capacity to continue to improve outcomes for children in the future.

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and outcomes for children

Children thrive in a calm and friendly atmosphere, and are very settled and happy to be in the childminder's care. Children arrive eagerly and receive a very warm welcome, which helps them quickly settle to enjoy their play. They thoroughly This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 enjoy the wide range of interesting activities which most effectively promote their learning and development. The childminder strongly advocates the importance of children learning through purposeful play, and the detailed weekly planning system ensures that children have interesting play opportunities to explore according to their individual interests and stage of development. The childminder has an excellent knowledge of the EYFS which she implements most effectively. Careful and very regular observations are undertaken of children playing; these are assessed in order to devise simple targets and ideas for each child's play in the

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and outcomes for children

future. This information is used to inform a planning web as well as a flexible weekly plan for each child, and all these records clearly indicate the areas of learning, which ensures children have a carefully balanced range of play opportunities to enjoy according to their interests and current enthusiasms. These systems clearly indicate that all children are making excellent progress in all areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident and talk very readily about what they are doing, or distribute 'cups of tea' from the play kitchen. The childminder interacts with them with warmth and enthusiasm, asking questions as they play and encouraging them to think about what they are doing or solve problems, for example, as they assemble the train track. She is respectful of their needs, enabling a new child to play at his own pace when he has recently started, or very sensitively helping a less confident child adjust to new and unfamiliar situations. The childminder is an enthusiastic Makaton user and signing is regularly used in the setting which helps babies and children express themselves and feel valued and included. The childminder effectively includes all children in the play activities. Playing with trains is a current favourite activity, and a baby is given a train shape sorter to play with and push, as the older children push their engines around the track.

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and outcomes for children

Children's confidence and self-esteem are most effectively promoted by the childminder who readily praises them when they have done well. Children play most harmoniously together and are very well behaved, and clear about the childminder's expectations; she helps them develop the necessary negotiation skills as they share their toys and decide on their play activities. She gradually introduces simple board games to encourage turn taking, a most important skill for the future, and children have helpful opportunities to socialise and share with other children during visits to local toddler groups. Children are learning to play safely and respect the resources as they readily help to tidy away their toys when they have finished playing; the simple 'house rules' are displayed. Differences are celebrated as children read interesting books about other cultures, or play with a wide variety of small world toys. Children's creativity and imaginations are

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and outcomes for children

promoted very well when they enjoy a variety of art activities, move to music, do the washing up in their play kitchen or role-play a recent trip to the doctor's surgery. Children have excellent opportunities to develop their communication and listening skills as they play and chat together or happily snuggle onto the sofa where they are engrossed in stories which the childminder reads animatedly. A child later chooses a book independently, and carefully turns the pages as he 'reads' aloud the story to himself. They recognise their names on the towel pegs in the bathroom. Children are learning about numbers and money as they buy groceries from their shop, or learn to tell the time on the clock on their play cooker. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children have excellent opportunities to develop healthy lifestyles. The childminder has a most positive approach to promoting the benefits of exercise and fresh air,

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and outcomes for children

and plans interesting walks and outings to encourage children according to their interests. For example, they enjoy walking to a local railway bridge to observe the passing trains, and benefit from a variety of outings by car to the forest or beach to explore the world around them. Children benefit from a range of healthy options for their meals and snacks; they enthusiastically relish wholemeal pitta bread and humus with raw vegetables for their lunch. They are aware of appropriate hygiene routines, readily washing their hands before lunch and drying them on their individual towels. 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 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

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Stage

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

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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

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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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