Childminder in HampshireOfsted inspection, 3 Jun 2010

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY344381 Inspection date 03/06/2010 Inspector Louise Bonney

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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 2007. She lives with her husband and two school- aged children in Alton, Hampshire. The whole of the childminder’s house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. She has a cat and guinea pigs.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of which three may be in the early years age range. A temporary variation allows her to care for four children in the early years age range on Thursdays. She has eight children currently on roll in the early years age range, attending full and part-time. The childminder provides care from Monday to Friday throughout the year, and offers baby sitting and overnight care. She is a community childminder and works with other agencies and offers respite care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children from local preschools and schools and attends local toddler groups and the childminding network group regularly. The childminder is a network provider and is registered to accept funding for three and four-year-olds under the Early Years Education scheme. 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

The childminder evaluates many aspects of her provision with input from the childminding network co-ordinator, and shows good levels of drive and ambition as she continually develops and extends her service. She provides funded early years education and children enjoy a wide range of activities that promote their good progress towards the early learning goals. She works closely with parents and other agencies to ensure children’s individual needs are well supported. Children develop trusting relationships and feel safe with her family, including those placed with her by the local authority. She rigorously risk assesses children’s activities and environment to ensure hazards are minimised, and promotes their understanding of health and safety through routines and activities.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop a regular two-way flow of information with other providers, such as nurseries, to share the children's development and learning records and any other relevant information  develop sustained shared thinking and intervention when appropriate to offer This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 encouragement, clarify ideas and ask open questions which support and extend children’s thinking, help them make connections in learning and promote their identified learning aims  develop the systematic evaluation of how well interaction and daily activities help children progress towards their identified next possible steps in learning and development.

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the early years provision

The childminder develops and maintains appropriate records, policies and documentation which support children’s health and safety. She has Advanced Child Protection and Space training (supporting children, young people and families every day). She is a community childminder and cares for children placed with her by the local authority, and has close partnerships with other agencies which helps safeguard children and provides continuity in their care. She thoroughly risk assesses her premises and outings, and reviews her assessments regularly, taking prompt action to reduce any identified hazards. She seeks and follows advice from the fire officer and practises her emergency drill with the children, which ensures they know how to quickly evacuate the premises. This safeguards the children well.

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the early years provision

The childminder continually develops and extends her provision and shows good levels of drive and ambition. She is now a community childminder and is registered to accept early years education funding from the local authority for three and four- year-olds. She has completed the Diploma in Home-based Childcare and plans to attend Level 3 NVQ training. She seeks feedback from parents and the childminders’ network co-ordinator to support her self-evaluation. She identifies some areas for future development such as the provision of sensory equipment, and her local community is helping her collect supermarket vouchers to provide this equipment. She systematically monitors children's learning and development, which helps ensure they make good progress. However, she does not systematically reflect on how effectively her daily provision supports their identified next steps in learning, to further identify areas for development.

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the early years provision

The childminder establishes good relationships with parents. Their feedback reflects how their children ‘absolutely love’ attending, and they are very satisfied with her provision. Parents receive copies of the childminder’s policies and procedures and share all records, including a daily diary that informs them briefly about children’s care and activities. Parents periodically meet with the childminder to share their children’s learning and development records and a summary report written by the childminder, and together they identify children’s next possible steps. This helps involve parents in their children’s learning. The childminder has started to establish partnerships with some other settings the children attend, such as nurseries, and some share the early years education funding with her. However, they do not share records, such as observational assessments, to further promote continuity in children’s learning and development.

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the early years provision

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children show high levels of confidence with the childminder, her family and each other, and the atmosphere is happy and caring. The childminder shows good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and provides a wide range of activities that children thoroughly enjoy. Children move freely between indoor and outdoor areas as they develop their own play. They dress themselves up during role play activities, confidently look after their own personal care and toddlers feed themselves during sociable mealtimes. This reflects good levels of independence.

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and outcomes for children

Children make choices as they select activities from accessible resources, and a photo chart shows other stored resources which increases their options. They show good attitudes towards learning new skills and enjoy the interaction of the childminder. Toddlers persist as they try to copy older children using hoops and join in counting games. The childminder encourages them to explore and be curious as she provides messy materials such as gloop and sand. Children show a love of stories and concentrate as they actively participate when the childminder reads them The Hungry Caterpillar, and guess the next word or repeat a familiar phrase or action.

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and outcomes for children

Children tell the childminder about their interests, such as space and flags, and she introduces books and resources to develop these. The childminder records observations of children during their activities together with photographs and samples of their work. She uses these to assess their learning and development and to identify future provision. This leads to children making good progress in their learning and development. However, the childminder does not always help children develop their self-initiated play to promote these learning aims further, such as by questioning or modelling ways to use numerals or phonics.

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and outcomes for children

Children use resources sustainably. The childminder reminds them to take care of their toys. She teaches toddlers how to replace lids on pens to stop them drying out. Children use recycled cartons and tubes to make models with and experiment with different ways of joining materials. They learn to play safely around younger children with gentle reminders from the childminder as they chase bubbles, and revisit rules such as why they need to stay out of the kitchen when the childminder is cooking lunch. Children develop healthy lifestyles as they play outside and visit parks, where they have space to run and climb. The childminder liaises closely with other agencies and provides excellent emotional support to children, helping them feel safe and to develop trusting relationships. She seeks information about children’s home cultures and languages from parents, and reflects these with DVDs, books and dressing up clothes, as well as through parents coming in to cook

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and outcomes for children

traditional foods for the children. This values children's individuality and promotes understanding of similarities and differences. 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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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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