Childminder in Wiltshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY396237 Inspection date 25/05/2010 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 2009. She lives with her husband and two young children in Odiham, Hampshire. The whole of the home is used for childminding activities and there is an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. The family has three dogs and a guinea-pig.

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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, and may provide overnight care for one child under five years old. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time; no more than one may be in the early years age range. She has two children currently on roll in the early years age range, attending part-time, and two in the older age range who attend before and after school. The childminder provides care from Monday to Friday throughout the year.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children from local pre-schools and schools and goes to toddler group and the local childminding group regularly. The childminder 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder organises activities and documentation well to provide an inclusive environment that helps children make good progress towards the early learning goals. She develops close partnerships with parents which help her meet children’s individual needs well, and she is beginning to develop links with some involved in supporting the children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, such as teachers. She safeguards the children effectively through her thorough risk assessment and knowledge of safeguarding procedures, although healthy eating is less effectively promoted. The childminder identifies areas for development within her provision and acts upon these, but does not yet rigorously evaluate her setting. The childminder cares for more children than her conditions of registration allow. This is an offence.

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further?

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

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further?

 provide children with healthy meals and other healthy snacks and drinks as appropriate  work together with professionals from other agencies where appropriate, such as therapists and teachers, to identify needs and provide the best learning/development opportunities for children  update the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for outings and trips. 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 safeguards children through developing and implementing effective policies and procedures, which she shares with parents. She carries out thorough risk assessments for her premises and outings, but only records those for her premises to support their review. She has a good understanding of the procedures to follow should she or parents have concerns about possible child abuse, and her policy contains contact numbers for ease of reference. However, although the childminder has requested a form to vary her numbers it has not been completed, and the childminder cares for more children than her conditions of registration allow. This is an offence unless the provider gives a reasonable excuse. Ofsted does not intend to prosecute on this occasion.

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the early years provision

The childminder continually develops her provision. Since registration she has set up effective documentation and records. She acts upon most recommendations received during her registration, and has improved the security of the garden and built an outdoor enclosure for the dogs. This supports children’s health and safety. She sets up effective systems to closely monitor children’s progress and plan for their future learning and development. She identifies some of her strengths and weaknesses, and is in the process of accessing the on-line self-evaluation form to help her reflect further on her provision.

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the early years provision

The childminder establishes good relationships with parents. They complete contracts and child record forms and share information verbally about any additional needs children have. They share children’s observational assessment records and daily journals, which involves them in their children’s learning and development. The childminder establishes links with children’s support teachers and seeks information from parents about therapists’ advice. However, she does not seek to share written documentation, such as learning and development records or therapists’ reports, in order to further assess children’s needs and progress.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder observes and assesses children’s progress against the early learning goals. She backs up her written observations with photographs and samples of children’s work, and uses these records to plan for their next steps in learning and development. She provides a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities, and children have free access to the garden for outdoor play. Children access a range of resources that they find interesting, and these are clearly labelled to support their independent choices. The childminder uses children’s interests to encourage their participation. She encourages them to take part in a wide range of activities, such as when she models painting to draw them in before leaving them to develop their play more independently. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are very happy and relaxed and show good levels of confidence and self-

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and outcomes for children

assurance with the childminder. They enjoy her involvement in their activities, relishing games she introduces that have just the right amount of challenge. They ask to repeat the games several times, and she continually introduces new levels of challenge. She teaches them how to recognise pairs as they count their cards, how to compare amounts in different groups of cards and to use their memory skills. Children enjoy these challenges and develop positive attitudes towards learning. Children show imagination as they play with a small play house, and the childminder uses their interest to continually build on their understanding as she extends conversations to include safety messages or links to other activities they have done before. In this way children make connections in their learning and develop clear communication and thinking skills.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder assesses when it is safe for children to act independently, and they enjoy being allowed to go upstairs alone to wash their hands before lunch. They show a sense of belonging as they talk about the other children they will see later, and as they describe how they help stick pictures in their achievement records and recall what they have done and learnt. The childminder ensures all children join in activities at a level suitable for them so they are fully included. For instance, some children dance while others play an air guitar during a game of musical statues. The childminder provides additional equipment to support those who cannot easily play on the floor, and they now have a low table and chairs to sit comfortably at when playing. Children develop some understanding of healthy lifestyles through hygiene routines and outdoor play, when they learn how to be safe in the sun as they enjoy more physical activities and fresh air. The

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and outcomes for children

childminder follows advice parents receive about children’s diets to ensure their needs are fully met. Children choose what they want to eat, but she does not sufficiently guide them towards making healthy choices. This leads to them sometimes eating foods that are high in sugar and salt with little nutritional value. 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 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 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 3 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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