Childminder in Gloucestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY282453 Inspection date 05/07/2010 Inspector Diane Hancock

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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 2004. She lives with her husband and their four children, aged 16, 15, 13 and five years and children whom they foster. The family live in a six bedroom detached house in Huntley, a rural town close to Gloucester and the Forest of Dean. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. Local amenities include toddler group, parks, library and regular outings to the Forest of Dean and Dick Whittington. Childminding takes place on the ground floor. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have several pets, including three cats, a guinea pig and four chickens.

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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, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There are currently three minded children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 10 years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register. She is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 are happy and enjoy attending a welcoming home where they form many strong relationships. Children make good progress as they enjoy a wide range of interesting activities in the home and in the local area. Activities are carefully planned around their individual developmental needs as she spends time getting to know the children's routines and interests. She mostly meets the welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage ensuring children's health and care needs are well met, however, she has not informed Ofsted of changes within the household and has not amended her conditions of registration to reflect the changes. She provides a safe environment, however, written risk assessments do not fully include all large equipment which potentially compromises safety. The childminder offers a professional service where parents are well informed through policies, diaries and discussion about their child's care. The childminder works well

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

with other professionals and agencies where appropriate. She is conscientious and makes changes to her practice as she evaluates her practice and attends training therefore demonstrating her ability to maintain continuous 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 that Ofsted is notified of significant changes such as children starting full-time school and use of an assistant when childminding (Suitable People) 26/07/2010 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 To further improve the early years provision the registered person should:

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further?

 extend the written risk assessments to include details of large equipment such as the swimming pool and trampoline

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the early years provision

Children are well protected as the childminder has a good knowledge of safeguarding as she has undertaken additional training and is an experienced foster carer. She has a policy and has all up-to-date information easily to hand. All adults living at the home are checked as suitable. The childminder is in breach of regulations by not keeping Ofsted updated with all changes, such as when her child attends full-time education and fostering arrangements so that conditions of registration can be updated to allow more children in the early years age range. She is very professional with detailed documentation which is stored in an organised manner and shared with parents. All required documentation is in place to ensure children's health and care needs are well met. Detailed written risk assessments are carried out within the home and for outings to minimise risks. However, these records do not include equipment such as the trampoline and the

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the early years provision

swimming pool in the garden, although, effective procedures are taking place.

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the early years provision

Children are well supervised and sleeping children are monitored. All records such as attendance are accurate and up-to-date. The house is clean and children help tidy to maintain a safe environment. Sun-cream is readily applied and use of a gazebo ensures children are protected from the sun. Children are protected from cross-infection due to the childminder's appropriate procedures when children are ill, good nappy changing procedures and she ensures the children use kitchen paper to dry their hands. When out, the childminder is well organised and safety conscious with use of reins and buggies and good road safety routines in place especially when caring for children of a wide age range.

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the early years provision

The childminder meets children's individual needs well, respecting individual routines and knows their personalities well. Through sensitive observation and working closely with the parents she plans activities and resources to ensure they make good progress in all areas of their development. When children have an interest, for example, in trains, toys and books on trains are provided to help children settle and meet their interests. The childminder plans interesting structured activities such as baking cakes and crafts for all children to participate in all regardless of gender, abilities and ages. The childminder has a good understanding of meeting diverse needs of children as she has experience of working with children with special needs and from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

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the early years provision

The childminder effectively self-evaluates the service she provides and makes ongoing improvements, such as, a photo album of what activities they do and liaising with other carers of her children. The childminder has acted upon previous This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 recommendations and suggestions from early years professionals, such as having a personal development record, detailed planning and keeping a record of pet care. The childminder identifies areas for improvement, such as going to the toy library to introduce different resources including those that represent diversity and extending her range of large play equipment in the garden. She has attended some food safety training and she intends to undertake a food hygiene course. Children benefit from the training the childminder completed in the Early Years Foundation Stage and keeping up-to-date with reading material.

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the early years provision

She works closely with other early years providers and parents to provide consistent care for children and enable children to progress. Parents are very well informed through policies, discussion, taking items home such as crafts, planted seeds and baking, photographs and daily diaries on the care their children receive. The childminder has an open and honest relationship with parents and actively seeks their views through questionnaires and discussion. She has started to share the assessments and learning journey folders of children's development with parents to involve them more in their child's learning. She offers a professional service as she gives parents details of Ofsted to contact if they are concerned and encourages them to telephone Ofsted as part of the inspection process. Parents comment that children are very happy, enjoy a wide range of fun activities for all ages and receive excellent care. They say she is professional and keeps them well

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the early years provision

informed, that the home is clean and tidy and healthy meals are provided. The childminder has a wide range of good quality resources which are rotated and some are easily accessible within the home.

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and outcomes for children

Children make good progress in all areas of their learning and development as they enjoy a wide range of exciting and interesting activities throughout the week and after school. Regular routines such as attending toddler groups, provide children with security, stimulation and develop their social skills. Children have good opportunities for exercise and develop physical skills as they regularly spend time going to parks, woodland, nature walks, soft play area, and go-karting or music and movement sessions at home. Good use of local resources including the library offer children a wealth of experiences and they play happily together. Children enjoy playing in the garden freely being able to go outside and play when they wish and enjoy the fresh air. The childminder plans exciting activities such as baking cakes and crafts. Children enjoy mark making with paint and chalk and exploring textures through a variety of media such as play dough, sand and water

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and outcomes for children

play. They develop hand-eye co-ordination, catching bubbles and building blocks.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder incorporates mathematical language throughout their play with shape sorters and daily activities where the children learn about size and numbers such as at snack time counting fruit and singing nursery rhymes such as 'one, two Buckle my shoe'. The children make good progress in their language development as they respond well to the childminder's interaction and the individual attention that they receive as they settle well and form good relationships with her. The childminder's enthusiasm, patience, gentle manner and involvement in their play This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 ensures children are happy, well captivated and interested in their surroundings. Children have a good appreciation of books as they look at books daily and enjoy time sitting on the childminder's knee. The childminder enthusiastically reads stories, such as 'Chocolate mouse for greedy goose', and are engaged and

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and outcomes for children

inquisitively ask questions about what things are and join in the story, commenting on the hyena being naughty for licking the bowl. Throughout her conversations the childminder ask questions encouraging children to think and learn, such as 'how do you know the macaroni is hot?' and 'where is your forehead?' when applying sun cream. Good communication skills, their keenness to explore, learn and their good concentration skills as they sit and play with the laptop help prepare children well for their future. Children learn about the environment and nature as they grow a wide range of fruit and vegetables and add items to the compost and recycle different materials.

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and outcomes for children

Children from a wide age range including the childminders own children have good relationships and make progress in sharing toys. Children make good progress in their behaviour under the childminder's openness, encouragement, praise and guidance. Children are friendly and polite. They are encouraged to develop good independence skills when dressing themselves and eating. Children feel safe as they have good relationships with the childminder, discuss issues, such as any changes and feelings in every day play, such as asking 'how do you think humpty dumpty is feeling when he fell off the wall?'. Children are encouraged to have respect for each other and learn about the wider social world through books, meeting people, discussions and craft activities such as a collage respecting differences. Children can access toys independently and their views are sought regarding activities and outings.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder plans different resources and games for each of the young children to ensure they make good progress in all areas of their development. Individual care needs are well met especially in respect to sleep routines. Children develop an understanding of hygiene through good practice and posters demonstrating hand washing. Young children model appropriate nappy changing with dolls. Children receive good explanations for safety and hygiene, such as when picking fruit, the need to wash the raspberries before eating them in case they have bugs in them. Children have good healthy appetites, for example, eating salad with their sandwiches and lots of fresh fruit. They benefit from a variety of home cooked nutritious meals with home grown vegetables. Children take pride and enjoy a sense of achievement in making cakes and fruit kebabs and the social occasion of all eating together. Children develop a good knowledge of fire safety

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and outcomes for children

and road safety with good routines in place. 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 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 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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