Childminder in Bracknell Forest

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 118981 Inspection date 14/06/2010 Inspector Anne Jeanette Faithfull

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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 1987. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and one child in Bracknell, Berkshire. The childminder makes use of local facilities such as parks and toddler groups. The childminder can take children to and collect them from local schools. The family have a pet tortoise and cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder uses the whole of the house for childminding. A fully enclosed rear garden is available for outside play. Her registration permits her to care for six children under eight years and of these three may be in the early years age range, at any one time, and she is currently minding seven children who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage on a part-time basis.

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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's welfare, learning and development needs are superbly enhanced as they are cared for by an enthusiastic and dedicated childminder who is devoted to each child in her care. Children are very happy, confident, settled and secure. The childminder has a clear understanding of how to meet children’s needs as she treats each one as a unique individual. She has an excellent understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and works effectively with parents and other provisions that children attend, to ensure that children’s learning and welfare requirements are fully met. The childminder's highly effective self-evaluation ability ensures she makes continuous improvement in her practice and has a clear understanding of her strengths and areas for improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 continuing to develop links with local childminders and childcare providers to share ideas and experiences to further promote excellent outcomes for children

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the early years provision

The childminder is highly professional in her attitude to childminding and strives to offer a very high standard of care and education to the children she minds. The childminder has an excellent awareness of safeguarding issues. She has recently attended level 2 safeguarding training and has the Bracknell Forest safeguarding cue card readily available so she can immediately contact the appropriate person This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 should a concern arise. The childminder is very vigilant and ensures children are supervised at all times and all adults living in the home have completed the relevant checks to ensure their suitability. An exceptional range of comprehensive policies and procedures are in place and are readily available for parents to see. All records are professionally maintained and presentation is very good. The childminder ensures children remain safe while in the home, garden and while on

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the early years provision

outings through regular and effective risk assessments. She reviews these regularly to ensure the continuing safety of children. The childminder has very good safety procedures in place for example, she wears a name badge both inside and outside the home which displays her emergency contact numbers. Children regularly practise the emergency evacuation procedure to ensure they are aware of the steps to take in an emergency and the childminder reminds them of safety issues when out such as, road safety.

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the early years provision

The childminder has extensive knowledge of how children develop and learn gained through being a childminder for 24 years and she uses her experience to provide an outstanding learning environment both inside and outside. There is a good balance of adult led and child led activities and experiences. Due to the well- organised and child-focused environment, children develop a high level of confidence and independence in their play and learning. The childminder provides a range of exceptionally interesting and stimulating resources which she sources from a variety of outlets including using tokens collected by the parents and she readily shares any equipment purchased with other childminders. She is inspirational in making her own resources to ensure children continually have a very varied range linked to their interests and themes in place. The childminder effectively promotes equality and diversity in many ways including conversations

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the early years provision

with the children about the lives and needs of others. The childminder undertakes regular observations and uses these, along with photographs and a sample of children's work, to record progress. These observations are clearly linked to the six areas of learning and the childminder identifies next steps, which ensures children make excellent progress in their learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent partnership with parents. The parents' notice board contains a wide range of information and leaflets including the Early Years Foundation Stage. Parents are totally included in their child’s learning and development and they receive regular communication with regard to their child’s progress. Parents are also consulted regularly through questionnaires about the service to ensure it continually meets the needs of their children. Parents make many positive comments such as, feeling they have won the lottery when choosing the childminder to look after their children. The childminder has developed excellent links with other settings the children attend to enable information regarding the child’s progress to be shared. She regularly meets up with other childminders in the area to ensure they share their ideas and best practice. The childminder is highly motivated and committed to improving her knowledge and

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the early years provision

practice. She regularly evaluates her service and this combined with regular monitoring and purposeful reflection ensures the childminder continues to provide the best opportunities for children in her care. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children make excellent progress in this stimulating learning and caring environment. They are very relaxed and safe. The childminder organises her home and garden well to ensure children receive an exciting and wide variety of toys, resources, experiences and activities. Children thrive in the childminder's care and really benefit from the individual time and attention they receive from the childminder, who clearly enjoys her work with the children. Children develop positive attitudes towards learning as all activities are fun and based on children's own ideas, interests and abilities. This ensures no child is disadvantaged and all children are challenged appropriately. The childminder is very vigilant and reminds children about their own safety for example, reminding them not to use the large trampoline as they are waiting for replacement net to arrive.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is very patient and calm and uses effective strategies to encourage children to behave well, praise and encouragement are continually given to help the children to develop their confidence and self-esteem. Children show care and concern for each other and readily share the toys when required. Children have many opportunities to socialise with others as the childminder regularly meets up with other childminders in the area for all the children to participate in a variety of activities, fund raising events and experiences. For example, the children recently took part in a tree planting session in the local community as the childminder was given 35 trees to plant. Children who are multi lingual have a range of resources they can choose from which are linked to the various languages they speak. The childminder has an exceptional range of musical instruments from many different countries which the children readily play

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and outcomes for children

and the childminder extends their knowledge by talking about the countries they come from.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is inspirational in using her knowledge and imagination to use a range of different resources outside to encourage children’s physical development. For example, children enjoy weaving ribbons through a large plastic fence attached to a wall and watch corks and other items float down rain pipes and guttering. Children are able to access the garden when they require and readily play on the extensive range of resources and equipment. The childminder incorporates children’s interests in her flexible planning. For example, the children are very interested in bugs and insects so the childminder extended their interests by providing an activity where they had to dig in compost to find hidden plastic bugs and insects. Children readily show the visitors to the home their ant nest and the butterfly container with chrysalises in. They talk about how the caterpillars became chrysalises and how they will be a butterfly soon. Children have many

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and outcomes for children

opportunities to plant a range of vegetables and fruits in the garden. They look with the childminder each day to see if the plants need watering and enjoy helping to feed the tortoise in the garden.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder demonstrates an excellent knowledge of food safety and healthy eating. She provides a range of healthy snacks and home cooked meals for the children and is willing to cater for any requests from the parents or children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are very aware of the routines in place such as counting to 20 while washing their hands before eating to ensure their hands are thoroughly clean. An excellent range of posters and other health and hygiene information is displayed for the children and parents to see and refer to if required. 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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