Childminder in HertfordshireOfsted inspection, 22 Feb 2010

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY273895 Inspection date 22/02/2010 Inspector Susan Parker

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and two children aged 15 and 16 years in Hertford, Hertfordshire. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, and the main bedroom situated on the first floor is only used for sleeping arrangements. The garden is used for outside activities with close supervision. The childminder regularly attends the local toddler and childminding groups.

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Description of the childminding

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 minding five children in this age range on a part-time basis. She is also registered to care for children aged over five years to 11 years. The provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The family do not have any pets.

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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 gains excellent knowledge of each child's individual needs through detailed observations and good links with parents and carers. This ensures that she successfully promotes all aspects of children's welfare, learning and development. Children's safety and security are a priority and the children are learning about keeping themselves safe while exploring the world around them. The partnership with parents is excellent and effective links with the local pre- schools and other agencies is highly significant in ensuring that the individual and diverse needs of all children are exceptionally well met. This greatly benefits the children who make outstanding progress across all areas of learning, given their age, ability and starting points. Regular information sharing and an effective system of self-evaluation by the childminder ensures that daily practice is successfully analysed and highlights clear visions for future development.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensuring that the times of any accidents are always recorded in the accident record  matching the observations of the children to the expectations of the early learning goals to effectively record their progress and plan the next steps in their learning and development. 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 a very good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children. She ensures that her robust policies, procedures and practice are mostly consistent with the latest guidance from the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board by attending regular training in child protection. This enables her to embed in the children a very good understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe. The childminder holds a valid first aid certificate which enables her to treat any accidents quickly and confidently, however, not all the accident records show the time of the accident. She has fully encompassed the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) principles which promote outstanding outcomes for children in their welfare, learning and development. She has high expectations for herself and sets high standards which are embedded across all areas of practice.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides an excellent range of toys, games and resources that are used creatively to promote outstanding progress towards the early learning goals for children. The childminder also uses external resources well, such as toddler groups to support children’s all round development including their social skills and understanding of equality and diversity. The childminder gains an excellent understanding of the children’s individual needs, abilities and interests through regular observations and evaluations. This ensures that all children are well integrated and they all make outstanding progress in their learning and development. However, these written records are not fully developed to link clearly to the expectations of the early learning goals. She is highly successful in taking steps to close any achievement gaps through well planned activities which stimulate the children’s interests and maintain their concentration. Children learn

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the early years provision

through meaningful activities, about the wider world and openly discuss the similarities and differences in people places and cultures.

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the early years provision

The childminder has efficiently evaluated her practice using questionnaires asking the parents to comment on her provision. Children are also involved in the self- evaluation process as the childminder closely observes the children to ensure that they are happy and older children discuss the activities and their views are actively sought through discussion.

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the early years provision

The childminder is pro-active and highly committed to working in partnership with others. She has established close links with the pre-schools in advance of the children attending. This is a very effective tool in supporting coherence of learning and development across the different settings and relates to the children's experiences at home. These excellent partnerships enable the children to feel safe and secure in all the settings they attend, and fully supports children’s attitudes to become good learners. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The warm, welcoming and highly stimulating and environment invites children in to play and explore. The childminder is very creative in providing an excellent range of activities and resources which fully reflects the children’s backgrounds and the wider world. The childminder has an excellent knowledge of how children learn through play and motivating experiences. She uses innovative and inspirational teaching methods to motivate the children’s curiosity and interest. Children thrive in this setting, were they are establishing excellent personal care skills such as understanding the relevance of washing hands independently from a very young age. They are given time and support to learn to dress themselves, get themselves a drink and to access an excellent range of toys and equipment. Each child’s starting points are carefully assessed and the childminder plays with and observes the children to gain a detailed knowledge of their capabilities and interests.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe and secure in this setting where they learn how to avoid hurting themselves and to acknowledge and avoid risk of harm to themselves and their friends. The childminder ensures that the children are safe by evaluating and recording any possible risks or hazards that the children may come into contact with. Any trips or outings the children go on are fully risk assessed, all possible precautions are taken by the childminder to ensure that children can explore and learn in safe environments. Children are adopting healthy lifestyles, and are developing a good understanding of eating healthily and the importance of exercise. Children’s good health, safety and well-being are enhanced by the secure knowledge of the childminder and supported by highly consistent implementation of the robust policies and procedures individual to this setting.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is highly skilled in managing children’s behaviour sensitively. This promotes their feelings of self-esteem and is a major factor in promoting children’s confidence to try new challenges and to sustain outstanding levels of learning. She creatively provides a well-balanced selection of activities to enhance children’s progress in all areas of learning. Children are encouraged to choose activities and are given the time and encouragement to develop these.

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and outcomes for children

The children are very confident and the childminder is extremely skilled in encouraging the children to talk about what they are doing and what they think may happen next. They are developing very good social skills. Even from a very young age, children are learning to share and to wait patiently for their turn. Their understanding of number and problem solving expands each day as they confidently learn mathematical language such as wide, long, tall, inside etc. They practise mark making and early writing skills using a variety of tools and materials. For example, crayons and paint, scissors and play dough tools. The childminder has an excellent knowledge of how children learn and introduces activities where the children can feel, see, hear taste and touch. This is very effective in supporting children's learning and enables them to make outstanding progress in all areas of their learning and development.

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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 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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