Childminder in North Tyneside

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY312131 Inspection date 26/01/2010 Inspector Andrea, Jane Lockyer

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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 has been registered since 2005. She lives in a house with her husband and two children in the North Shields area of Tyne and Wear. Local amenities and public transport systems are within walking distance. The whole of the ground floor area is used for childminding purposes. Access to the first floor is restricted to the use of the bathroom and back bedroom. There is an enclosed rear garden available for outdoor play. The family has a pet rabbit. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children, of whom one may be in the early years age range, except for when the variation in numbers for two children in the early years age range applies. She is currently caring for four children in the early years age range. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and receives support and training opportunities from the

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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

The childminder provides a stimulating, child-orientated and welcoming environment in which all children and their families feel highly valued, fully included and secure. Exemplary relationships with parents ensure they are provided with highly comprehensive information and that children's individual needs are met exceedingly well. Children's learning and development is supported extremely well due to highly effective implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The childminder is highly committed to improving her practice and uses effective systems to continually monitor and evaluate her provision to improve outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 recording dates on the assessment sheets to clearly indicate when children have achieved their next steps in learning.

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the early years provision

The utmost priority is given to ensuring that children's welfare is safeguarded. The childminder demonstrates an excellent understanding of signs and symptoms of abuse, as well as procedures to be followed in the event of any concerns. She continues to keep up-to-date with child protection issues by attending relevant training. A highly detailed child protection policy is shared with parents which ensures they are made very aware of the childminder's role and responsibility. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Rigorous safety checks, procedures and risk assessments ensure that all children are able to move around the safe and secure premises and outdoor environment, which means that children feel safe and secure at all times. An extensive range of highly comprehensive documentation, policies and procedures are effectively implemented by the childminder, promoting children's health, safety and welfare

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the early years provision

Children thrive in the extremely well organised and resourced indoor and outdoor environment. The creative organisation and use of rich, varied and quality resources enables all children to self-select and be fully included in all activities. This means they develop high levels of independence, learn to make choices about the toys they wish to play with and are encouraged to get plenty of fresh air to promote their good health.

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the early years provision

High emphasis is put on partnerships with parents which has a significant impact on children’s overall well-being, providing continuity of care and learning. Parents' views about their children's needs, interests and abilities are actively sought before the child starts, and this continues on a regular basis throughout their time with the childminder. Parents are provided with a wealth of information covering all aspects of the childminder's practice, which ensures they are kept extremely well informed about the care, welfare and learning of their children. Children's learning journey files are shared with parents, giving them an extremely clear picture of how their children are progressing. They are invited to make their own contributions to the files and to be involved in their children's observation, assessment and next steps process. Highly comprehensive written daily diaries are used as a two-way flow of information, along with daily discussions to ensure that

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the early years provision

children's individual needs are consistently met. Parents' views are actively sought through the use of regular questionnaires, feedback sheets about the learning journey files, discussions and a comments/compliments book. These ensure that parents are valued and fully included. Termly newsletters keep parents fully updated about current issues and a resource file containing a vast array of childcare information is readily available for parents to use. Written comments from parents indicate they are extremely happy with the care their children are receiving and state 'they could not have found a better childminder'. Children currently attending do not attend any other settings providing the EYFS. However, the childminder has good systems in place to develop positive relationships with others to ensure continuity of children's care, welfare and learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder is highly professional. She is highly committed to driving forward with improvements to ensure better outcomes for children. She is enthusiastic about regular training which has a significant positive impact on the exceptional quality of care provided. For example, after a 'sing and sign' course, she introduced signing to younger children which has had a positive impact on their communication skills. The childminder uses a variety of highly effective systems to continually monitor and evaluate her practice to make improvements. She complements this by engaging parents in evaluating the care and education provided. She has attended a wealth of training which she uses to inform her practice. She has clear targets for future improvement, such as developing children's ICT skills, growing more fruit and vegetables with them to promote This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

healthy eating and researching awareness days to extend children's awareness of diversity.

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and outcomes for children

All children are extremely well supported in their learning. They are making very rapid progress towards the early learning goals due to the childminder's thorough knowledge of how to successfully implement the EYFS. The childminder completes highly detailed individual files for children, which include lively observations and photographs linked to the areas of learning. Observations and assessments about what the children can do ensure that the childminder has a clear outline of how she will move them forward to the next steps of learning. However, the assessment system is not clear in identifying when children have achieved their next steps.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy an abundance of rich and varied activities which are planned exceptionally well. This ensures that all children receive enjoyable and challenging experiences to extend their development across all areas of learning, both in the indoor and outdoor environment. Children thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder. They enjoy affectionate, sensitive and caring relationships with her, and are developing high levels of self-esteem and confidence.

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and outcomes for children

Children's language and communication skills are encouraged exceptionally well by the childminder, who promotes this through engaging the children in conversation and providing an ongoing narrative of what they are doing. Very young children’s early language and communication skills are successfully fostered. For example, they use baby sign language to ask for what they want which is reinforced by words from the childminder. Photos of resources are displayed so children who have not begun to speak can clearly show the childminder what they would like to do. There is a wide range of books available which are clearly enjoyed by the children. They join in excitedly with familiar stories, counting the animals they see and discussing the different shapes, patterns and sizes of the animals. Children participate in interesting and imaginative creative experiences, which effectively nurture their self-expression while having a lot of fun. For example, they

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and outcomes for children

imaginatively use a large cardboard box as a bus and a boat, and chatter to themselves as they play with small world figures. They enjoy creating their own designs and collages by using an extensive range of art and craft resources, including natural materials they have collected. Extensive opportunities to promote mathematical concepts are provided through everyday experiences. They learn about volume and capacity as they play with water, compare sizes of hand and foot prints, and begin to learn that money has value as they help buy items from local shops. The outdoor environment plays a huge part in extending children’s learning, providing excellent opportunities to learn about the wider world and their own community. For example, they visit the lighthouse, coastal areas, farms, take trips on the metro and ferry and go on nature walks in the park. They enjoy bug hunting and examining spider webs in the garden, and go on walks to look at the

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and outcomes for children

local community. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder is fully committed to promoting inclusion and understands the importance of helping children to learn about diversity. She sensitively promotes children's understanding and respect for others through discussions about differences, using an excellent range of resources and activities, and by celebrating a broad range of cultural festivals. The childminder has successfully introduced awareness days, such as learning about people who are deaf and people with food allergies.

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and outcomes for children

Highly successful activities help children to protect themselves and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Children participate in regular fire drills. They learn to cross roads safely and how to behave in a safe manner when out on trips, such as visits to farms and the coast. Safety is reinforced by a variety of games, books and activities with the children to heighten their awareness. The exceptional adult support and guidance helps children gain an excellent understanding of hygiene and a desire to become increasingly independent in their personal care. For example, consistent daily routines for hand washing are supported by discussions and posters in the bathroom. They are encouraged to brush their own hair, wipe their faces and clean their teeth. Visits to the dentist and discussions help children to learn the importance of oral hygiene. Children are also encouraged to maintain a healthy environment by helping to clean toys and wipe tables. Children make choices from

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and outcomes for children

the wide range of healthy, nutritious meals and snacks provided by the childminder, which introduce them to a wealth of different tastes and textures. They grow their own fruit and vegetables which they help to prepare and use for their snacks and meals. A variety of healthy eating activities further extends their understanding of the importance of a healthy diet. Children enjoy an excellent range of well planned, stimulating activities which actively contribute to their physical skills and enjoyment of the fresh air. Each day there are interesting outdoor and indoor activities which help them to enjoy being active. 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 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 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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