Childminder in Swindon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY346742 Inspection date 21/04/2010 Inspector Susan Esther Harvey

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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 2006. She lives with her husband, one grown up child and two children aged nine and 10 in Elcombe, near Wroughton, Wiltshire. Most of the childminder's home is used for childminding and there is a downstairs bathroom for children to use. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have a small holding attached to the home with pigs, sheep and chickens, as well as three dogs.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding 17 children in this age group, some in part-time places. The childminder also offers care for children over five years of age and works with assistant where numbers of children cared for may be increased.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects children from the local school and pre-school and regularly attends several toddler groups, the library and soft play activities. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and has a National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in Childcare and Education and a Certificate in Early Years Practice with the Open University. The childminder is an approved Accredited Childminder and part of a Childminding Network.

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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 makes all children welcome. She has a good relationship with parents, she is helpful to them and accommodates their needs. The individual needs and outcomes for children's learning are adequately met, but the supervision of assistants in their understanding of children's learning as part of the early learning goals, is not fully in place. Also the management of assistants, so that they are aware of all policies and procedures, is not implemented.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder is keen to attend training especially since the last inspection and has improved her knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. There is a good selection of toys in a well stocked play room from which children can independently choose what they wish to play with.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure documents are linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework with special regard to the complaint record  ensure that assistants are well supervised so that they work with the children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage framework  ensure that assistants are aware of the policies and procedures in order to clearly define them to parents as and when required  ensure that there is an effective system in place so that the needs of all the children are met through the planning of activities to identify the next stage of their learning

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the early years provision

The childminder has a sound understanding of child protection issues. There is a suitable system in place to protect children from people who are not vetted. This includes a record of those who visit the home and clearance checks for assistants who live on the premises. The childminder has a complete risk assessment covering inside the home and on visits. Most of the policies and procedures provided for the safe and efficient management of the provision are in place, but the complaints procedure and record is not linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her home sufficiently well for childminding purposes. For example, posters and pictures displayed around the walls of the play room are welcoming to children and give them an understanding of the diverse nature of the world in which they live. Toys and resources promote equality of opportunity to which all children have access. The childminder has had an opportunity to attend training on the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, but she has yet to develop an effective system for planning activities to meet the needs of all the children, or to consistently identify the next stage of their learning around all areas of the early learning goals. The childminder evaluates her practice using the Ofsted self-evaluation document and part of a local authority assessment scheme. As a result, she has identified areas for improvement such as further training on the six areas of learning and development and food hygiene.

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the early years provision

The childminder's partnership with parents is well established. She ensures that parents are fully informed about her practice and what their children achieve. The childminder provides parents with a formal report about their child as well as giving them a learning journal, which provides evidence of activities they have taken part in. The childminder successfully liaises with other settings to which the children attend, so ensuring that a two-way flow of information is maintained. The childminder is responsible for the work of an assistant, however, there is an inconsistent management of the tasks assistants do which has an affect on the quality of care for children and their learning opportunities.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to learn about healthy living. They have daily fresh air and parents provide a healthy lunch box. Children are beginning to know their bodily needs as they frequently reach for their drinks, know when they want a rest and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 independently the use the bathroom. Parents provide written consent for the childminder to obtain emergency medical treatment and advice. The childminder has a recent first aid certificate and is present with the children at all times.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the world around them through first hand experience. For example, they can handle baby chicks after seeing them hatch from eggs, they can watch new born lambs frolic in the garden and spend time planting potatoes in sacks and watching them grow. Through a variety of visits outside of the childminder's home, children learn about the local community. This includes visits to the local café for breakfast, ordering their meal and interacting with members of the public, taking turns to 'pay the bill', so learning the value of money. Visits to parent and toddler groups give children the opportunity to learn social skills and play with others.

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and outcomes for children

Children are generally well behaved, which gives them some security in knowing they are safe, however, lack of supervision during disagreements, creates a negative experience for some children. The childminder's home is secure and has the necessary fire precautions in place, such as regularly tested smoke alarms and fire blanket. Mostly young children are beginning to develop a sense of belonging, they go to the childminder for comfort and frequently call her name, to which the childminder responds positively. However, some young children find it difficult to settle. Children receive lots of praise from the childminder for work well done, for example, while making models from cereal boxes and cartons, children use the opportunity to show the childminder their efforts. These receive lots of praise. Children's paintings and drawings receive recognition for their efforts by being displayed for all to see.

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and outcomes for children

All children have access to a well-stocked play room. Quality toys and resources are freely available. Young children relish in the chance to experiment with paint, while playing outside. They play hide and seek inside a tent erected indoors and crawl through a three-sided tunnel. Young children concentrate hard to fit pieces together to build a tall tower with brightly coloured bricks and move small world animals round the 'farm'. Children talk about significant things in their lives, such as family and friends and confidently move around the setting. All children are beginning to develop early skills to support them in their future learning. For example, the childminder is constantly talking to them, helping them to communicate and play with other children and providing the opportunity to make decisions for themselves. 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 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 3 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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