Childminder in Milton Keynes

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY393042 Inspection date 16/07/2010 Inspector Sarah Fletcher

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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 registered in 2009. She lives with her partner and two children aged two and nine years in Crownhill, near Milton Keynes, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole ground floor of the childminder’s home is used for childminding, with bathroom and sleeping facilities on the same floor. Children have access to a fully enclosed garden and the family have three pet cats.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, no more than two of whom may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding one child in this age group. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years and is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children from the local school/pre-school and goes to several toddler/activity groups regularly.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children develop secure relationships with the childminder and each other as they settle into the welcoming family environment. Very clear communication systems between parents and the childminder ensure all children’s needs are fully met and their welfare is mostly promoted effectively. Children freely access a vast array of good quality age appropriate toys, resources and equipment and are making good progress in their learning and development.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder takes time to get to know each child in her care, which enables her to recognise their uniqueness, regardless of their ability or background. She provides a variety of flexible activities to include children of all abilities, helping them learn and develop at their own pace. The childminder is very keen to improve her practice and is taking some positive steps to promote outcomes for children effectively.

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further?

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

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further?

 further improve knowledge and understanding of protecting children from abuse and neglect, and enhance children's safety through regular practice of the fire evacuation procedure, particularly after new children join the setting further develop the system of self-evaluation towards continuous improvement to demonstrate effective progress and identify weaker areas of practice. 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 ensures she safeguards children, keeping them under appropriate levels of supervision for their age group and protecting them from unvetted adults at all times. She helps children to develop an understanding of danger through regular discussions and practical demonstrations, such as developing a good awareness of road safety rules when out and about. However, she does not always practise the fire evacuation procedure after new children join the setting to promote their safety effectively. The childminder keeps all areas of her home child- friendly, well maintained and uses appropriate documentation as required. She uses daily checks for assessing and reducing hazards to children and an effective system of risk assessment to include all areas children access, indoors and outside to promote their safety.

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the early years provision

Comprehensive policies and procedures sustain minding practice effectively and all children’s individual records remain confidential and stored securely. The childminder is beginning to assess her practice, taking some positive steps towards continuous improvement through her developing system of self-evaluation. However, she has yet to effectively demonstrate some of her progress since registration or identify some weaker areas of practice towards improvement. The childminder has a reasonable understanding of protecting children from harm and knows the importance of keeping records of any concerns to promote children's safety, although she currently lacks confidence in her knowledge and understanding of protecting children from abuse and neglect. She has created systems to record any pre-existing injuries children may sustain and shares her clearly written safeguarding policy with parents to protect children.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from very clear communication between parents and the childminder, working closely with them to support individual children’s needs, both verbally and in writing. The childminder creates detailed daily diaries and additional records demonstrating each child's developmental needs, which are discussed with parents in confidence and updated regularly with details of progression. Parents are very happy with the childminder’s care of their children, sharing extremely positive responses to her service. The childminder provides parents with an informative registration pack, alongside copies of her policies and procedures. Parents are well informed of the childminder’s knowledge, qualifications and experience as a noticeboard in her hallway displays her certificates, together with a wide range of relevant information. The childminder also understands the need to work collaboratively with other settings children may attend in order to fully

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the early years provision

support their learning and developmental needs.

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the early years provision

Children have safe access to the childminder’s lounge and an upstairs play room, where they can freely choose from a vast array of good quality toys, resources and equipment for their various ages/stages. The childminder makes careful daily selections to provide continuous individual enjoyment and challenge to children, enabling their progress towards the early learning goals according to their personal abilities and interests. She encourages each child to learn at their own pace and is very observant of their changing preferences. The childminder also provides a wide This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 range of good quality outdoor play equipment for encouraging children's physical development and movement as they grow.

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and outcomes for children

Children of all age groups receive good levels of support in their play as the childminder offers high levels of interaction. Younger children receive individual support for both their language and physical development and to encourage their developing self-confidence. Children move around the childminder's home freely and safely as all areas they access are child-friendly, with space to develop their independence in a secure and safe environment. Babies learning to walk have ample space and support for developing their strength and coordination. Flexible activities include a variety of arts and crafts, musical toys, construction and educational television programmes, developing their future skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making good progress in their learning and development. The childminder adapts her daily routine to ensure she provides all children in the early years age group with a range of flexible activities and age/stage appropriate resources to aid their learning. She implements the Early Years Foundation Stage framework effectively and creates individual children’s records with photographs and written examples of her findings, clearly linked to the appropriate areas of learning. The childminder makes regular observations of individual children as they play and includes their next steps of learning and development, which she takes forward into planning to aid their progress towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder effectively reduces the spread of infection through helping children to learn simple hand washing procedures and by maintaining a clean and hygienic environment. Children benefit from the childminder’s good understanding of healthy eating, receiving a variety of nutritious meals and healthy snacks and a supply of fresh drinks to meet their needs. Children have opportunities for physical activity on a daily basis. They play in the fully enclosed garden or visit a variety of parks and activity centres across the locality with the childminder, accessing a range of suitable play equipment under her careful supervision. The childminder also provides regular outings to popular attractions to develop children’s understanding of the world around them and build their social skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to develop their knowledge and understanding of the wider world through their play and a developing range of resources and activities. They are learning to play both independently and cooperatively, with the childminder’s encouragement. She ensures children receive positive praise as they play and encourages them to behave nicely, respect each other and use good manners. The childminder demonstrates consistent behaviour management strategies, reminding children gently of her house rules, as and when necessary. 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 2 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 2

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

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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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