Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number EY337509 Inspection date 03/03/2010 Inspector Lynn Palumbo

p.1

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.

p.1

Royal Exchange Buildings St Ann's Square Manchester M2 7LA

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 2005. She lives with her husband and two children in a house in Loughton, Essex, within easy walking distance of shops, parks, nurseries and schools. The whole of the premises is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight at any one time. There are currently two children on roll, within the early years age group. Children attend at different times of the week. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association. She walks to local nurseries and schools to take and collect children

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's individuality is recognised and nurtured by the childminder who has a good knowledge of their individual needs and requirements. Children's needs are met because they are offered appropriate age and stage resources and activities suitable to their individual stages of development. She has established excellent relationships with other providers delivering the early years foundation stage to ensure a collaborative approach for children's individual well-being and learning. The childminder has introduced systems to enable her to reflect upon her practice and identify future areas of development.

p.4

further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

p.4

further?

 ensure prior written permission is obtained from parents for the administration of each and every medicine (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 19/03/2010

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 continue to implement observation and assessment systems in order to fully identify learning experiences for each child across all areas of learning and enable parents to incorporte their comments into children's individual records This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.4

the early years provision

The childminder has a secure knowledge about child protection procedures and if fully aware of the types of signs and symptoms of abuse and/or neglect. She has conducted very detailed risk assessments for her home, garden and all outings which ensures hazards are identified and minimised. The childminder has accident and medication records in place and records accurate information within the accident record. However, although the childminder records medication she administers to the children and obtains parent’s signatures at the end of the day, she does not obtain prior written consent for each and every medicine. This is a breach of regulation. The childminder shares all her policies and procedures with parents at the outset to ensure they are well informed.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder has a good range of toys and resources for the different ages and stages of children she minds. She uses the living area and very effectively rotates the resources to enable children different and exciting activities to explore and play with.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder demonstrated that she has valuable knowledge and information about the children’s backgrounds, needs and languages. Children foster an awareness of diversity in society through dollies, dressing up clothes and books available to them in the environment. They have opportunities to learn about different festivals and cultures.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder has completed a system of self-evaluation and uses this as a tool to identify future areas for improvement. For example, she would like to hold regular formal parent meetings to inform them of their children's learning and development. The childminder has successfully addressed her past recommendations from her previous inspection which feeds into the continuous improvement of her provision and practice.

p.5

the early years provision

Partnerships with parents are strong. The childminder communicates effectively with parents on a daily basis and provides them with additional written feedback within diary books. She has details for parents in her hallway where she provides parents with different information. However, the childminder has not yet fully established systems to incorporate parents’ comments into the children’s profiles to ensure they are fully involved with their child’s learning. The childminder has established extremely good communications with other early years providers. She is currently caring for children who have recently started at new early years setting and is working very effectively to fully establish a two-way flow of information about the children’s individual well-being, learning and development.

p.5

and outcomes for children

The childminder demonstrates a good knowledge of children’s interests and provides resources and activities to extend these interests. For instance, she This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 provides children with a good range of resources to learn about the Chinese New Year because they have been talking about tigers, and children show an interest in making a tiger mask. The childminder has a good understanding of learning and development. The systems to plan for children's individual needs, through observing and assessing children, are established. The childminder is keen to implement these systems to ensure children’s learning priorities are fully identified for all areas of learning.

p.5

and outcomes for children

Children’s writing skills are developing well. They use a variety of resources to make marks, draw curvy lines and older children can write their name. Children are developing very good communication skills; they talk animatedly about a range of subjects, such as liking the taste of apples, grapes and pineapple. In addition, children have a good range of books to select and regularly visit the local library to research their topical theme. Children develop their numeric and problem solving skills well. They can count to number ten, and recognise a variety of shapes. In addition, they build a variety of structures with bricks and align puzzles. Children have good opportunities to develop physically. They regularly climb on the recreational equipment at the local park and run freely in the nearby nature reserve. In addition, they ride bikes, and play football in the childminder’s garden. Children have a broad range of experiences to develop creatively. They know their

p.6

and outcomes for children

colours, sing action songs and have recently made a model of their own body with a variety of materials to represent the features of their body. In addition, they develop their imagination by playing shops and dressing up in costumes. Children develop there knowledge and understanding of the world well. They plant seeds and learn that soil, sun and water make them grow. In addition, they learn that snow melts in a warm atmosphere.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Children are learning about keeping safe, as they talk about road safety and practise fire evacuations. This equips children with good understanding of how to manage their own safety. Children are learning to be healthy. They learn about healthy foods, for example, they enjoy nutritious and well-balanced meals and snacks and talk about the benefits of fruits. They receive water throughout the day. Children enjoy washing their hands, squashing the soap bubbles between their fingers, and a clear explanation as to why it is important to wash their hands is discussed. Children’s behaviour is good. They learn from the childminder who is an excellent role model, about being respectful and polite. Children are active and inquisitive to explore the resources and they receive efficient support in their play and learning from the childminder. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.6

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.7

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

p.7

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.7

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 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s engagement with parents and carers

p.7

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 2

p.7

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 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 2

p.7

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

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8