Childminder in Walsall

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY268286 Inspection date 17/03/2010 Inspector Dianne Lynn Sadler

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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 2003 and lives with her father in Walsall. The bedroom on the first floor is used for childminding purposes and all areas of the ground floor, except the kitchen. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time. There are currently five children on roll, two of whom are within the early years age range. The childminder takes and collects children from the local school and pre-school.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates that suitable arrangements are in place to ensure children are sufficiently well included, safeguarded and their good health supported well. She has a generally good knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and her practice is underpinned by a number of written policies and procedures. However, some required information is not in place which compromises children’s welfare. The childminder is developing positive relationships with parents and understands the importance of developing effective relationships with other providers to ensure continuity of care and learning. The childminder shows a clear commitment to ongoing improvement, identifying her strengths but not all areas for improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure the risk assessment identifies all aspects of the environment that needs to be checked on a regular basis and reviewed regularly, at least once a year (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 10/05/2010

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further?

 obtain information from parents in advance of a child being admitted to the provision with regards to who has legal contact with the child and who has parental responsibility for the child (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 10/05/2010

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further?

 record the name and address of every carer and parent known to the provider (Documentation). 10/05/2010

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  use the information gained from observations and assessments to identify children's learning priorities towards all the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

Children are adequately safeguarded because the childminder has a sound understanding of safeguarding issues and is suitably aware of her role and responsibility to report any child protection concerns. She also ensures most required documentation is in place. However, there are some breaches of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Although the childminder has documents in place to record risk assessments carried out on the setting they do not include all areas and everything a child may come into contact with and are not reviewed regularly. In addition, the childminder does not obtain information from parents with regard to who has parental responsibility for the children; legal contact with the children and she does not record the name and address of every parent known to her. This compromises children’s safety and welfare.

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the early years provision

The childminder strives to ensure the setting is inclusive to all. Children benefit from the close relationship that the childminder develops with their parents. She gets to know families well and offers any support that they may need wherever possible. Parents benefit from being given a welcome folder at the start of the placement containing details about the setting and all written policies and procedures. They also access their child’s development records and are told at the end of the day about what their child has been doing and anything new that they have learnt. Parents are encouraged to share their views about the setting recorded on evaluation forms. They state that the childminder knows the daily routine of every child and is flexible, approachable and helpful. They also state that children enjoy attending the setting and they would recommend the childminder to others. The childminder also understands the importance of developing positive

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the early years provision

relationships with other providers when the need arises.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a suitable range of good quality resources for different age ranges. She ensures children make appropriate choices in their play by selecting resources rotated by the childminder and made accessible in the play room. Resources show some positive images of diversity which include dolls of different ethnic groups and books which include ‘All kinds of people’.

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the early years provision

The childminder has taken appropriate steps to monitor the effectiveness of the provision. She has completed a written self-evaluation document and is keen to drive and secure continued improvement in her setting. For instance, she has improved the garden by providing a paved area and children now access a downstairs toilet. However, her self-evaluation is not yet robust enough to ensure she focuses on the most significant areas of development, in order to improve all outcomes for children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy their time in the warm and welcoming setting. They are developing close relationships with the childminder and make satisfactory progress in their learning. The childminder observes children's development and records the information appropriately in their folders using photographs and text. However, although she tentatively links the information gained to the six areas of learning she is not identifying children’s learning priorities towards all the early learning goals. This may hinder the progress children make.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning to keep themselves safe and adopt healthy lifestyles through good daily experiences. For example, older children confidently take themselves to the toilet and safely access a step up to sink which develops their independence. They show the inspector which is their own individual towel hanging on a peg and they discuss the poster on the wall reminding them to wash their hands. Children enjoy healthy and nutritious meals and snacks provided by the childminder and are attempting to grow items such as strawberries. Children also access fresh air and exercise daily and enjoy regular trips to the shops, library and toddler groups. Some children also benefit from participating in activities such as swimming each week.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning to investigate and explore their surroundings. They enjoy playing outdoors and develop their physical skills climbing up the slide and bouncing on a small trampoline. When indoors they are learning to share and co- operate with each other when sitting with the childminder to complete a floor puzzle. They are encouraged to find specific letters of the alphabet which older children confidently name. Upon selecting the letter ‘P’ children are reminded of past experiences by the childminder of a trip they enjoyed to a farm where they saw baby pigs. Children are also developing their imagination and enjoy playing in the ‘Home corner’ where they rehearse familiar roles. For instance, younger children pretend to talk on the mobile phone to daddy and older children offer pretend foods such as grapes to the childminder to eat. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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