Childminder in Wakefield

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY401529 Inspection date 29/06/2010 Inspector Lindsay Helen Dobson

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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 lives in a detached house in Pontefract with her partner who is a registered assistant and two children, aged one and six years old. She uses the ground floor of the home for childminding purposes and this consists of a lounge, dining kitchen and toilet. The garden is accessible to children for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of four children under eight years old. There are currently four children on roll, of which three are in the early years age range.

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Description of the childminding

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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children feel safe and content in the childminder's inclusive and welcoming home and therefore make good progress in their learning and development. Overall, the childminder has a good knowledge of each individual child and an insight into their unique learning and development needs. She has clear systems in place to ensure that children's good health is promoted and their welfare is safeguarded. She has developed good partnerships with parents and those with other agencies involved in the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage are ongoing. The childminder has a positive attitude toward continual development and has started the process of completing the Ofsted self-evaluation form, to help her to highlight her strengths and areas for future development.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure children’s starting points are recorded and used to further their development  develop play opportunities and make resources freely available, which support children to value difference and diversity  provide further opportunities for children to develop their understanding that print carries meaning, for example, through labelling toy storage boxes.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding issues and welfare requirements. There are effective vetting procedures in place, which ensures that all adults living on the premises or having contact with children are suitable to do so. The childminder ensures her childcare knowledge is kept up-to-date by This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 attending a range of training events, such as safeguarding, food hygiene and first aid training. She is confident to report any child protection concerns following the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines. The childminder carries out detailed risk assessments and daily checks to ensure that all potential hazards to children are minimised.

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the early years provision

Parents are well-informed about the setting and they see the childminder's developing portfolio, with clear information about all aspects of her practice, the service she offers and her own family. The childminder records information about the children in daily shared care books, to ensure all required information is securely passed. There are a good range of policies, procedures and permissions in place to ensure the effective management of the setting. These documents support the welfare and development of each child. As a result, parents are able to make choices about their child’s routines and care needs. The childminder is developing the relationships with other providers and agencies involved in delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage. She is starting to foster suitable links with the local nursery school and is organising activities around their themes and topics, for example, the bear hunt. This helps the childminder plan, extend and

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the early years provision

The childminder treats each child as a unique individual and provides activities to support them to reach their full learning potential. She provides a wide range of indoor and outdoor resources, toys and equipment to promote children's all round development. The childminder is positive in her approach to promoting an anti- discriminatory home environment, where she carefully considers the needs of individual children, such as school runs, sleep and meal times. She ensures each child benefits effectively in their learning and development and welfare because she adapts activities to support their individual needs and interests. There are some resources and equipment that promotes positive images of children, adults and diversity, such as books. However, the range of resources freely available to children does not fully promote their understanding of diversity and the wider world. The childminder is committed to improving her practice and hopes to access

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the early years provision

further training in the near future, to continue to develop her knowledge and to aid her in effectively promoting the outcomes for children. The system of self- evaluation is in the early stages of development, with the Ofsted document forming the basis for this. The childminder has received very positive feedback from the parents and she is clearly starting to identify areas she wishes to develop, for example, the outdoor learning environment, for which she has just obtained a local authority grant.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a good understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and consequently, children are well supported in all six areas of their development. She is actively engaged in activities and considers all children’s interests and abilities when planning their learning through play. The childminder has started to complete observations on the children, which link to the areas of learning and identify children's next steps. In addition, she evidences This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children's achievements in their individual files through the use of meaningful photographs. However, this system does not show what children know and can do at the start of their placement.

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and outcomes for children

Children's communication, language and literacy are promoted, as the childminder constantly engages the children in conversations about what they are doing. They have free access to a range of books which they enjoy looking at and sharing with each other and the childminder. More able children are beginning to write their names on their pictures with encouragement from the childminder and the younger children have good opportunities to develop their early mark-making skills. However, children's ability to recognise that print carries meaning is not fully extended, as they do not see clear labelling around the setting, for example, on the storage boxes for the toys. Children's knowledge of the local community and nature is actively promoted, as the children are taken to local groups where they develop their social skills and at the childminder's home, they plant sun flowers and eagerly tell the inspector how they put soil and the seeds in the pot and water

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and outcomes for children

them. Children are enjoying watching them grow and talk about size, as they see which is the biggest. Children are also taken on interesting outings to the bird sanctuary, where they are able to feed the ducks and go on nature hunts extending their understanding of the natural world. Children watch the window cleaner as he works on the house and they talk to the childminder about the water and the big brushes he uses. They watch the water run down the windows and say 'it looks like it's raining'.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is positively promoting children's physical development. They attend indoor play areas, such as soft play and ball pools, they visit parks where photographic evidence shows them climbing on the large equipment and enjoying playing on the swings. The childminder provides children with a sound range of resources in her safe and enclosed garden, for example, children pour and splash in the water and develop their coordination, as they bounce on the trampoline. Children's health and dietary needs are well met. They understand the importance of washing their hands and following good bathroom hygiene routines, as they are provided with liquid soap and individual hand towels. The childminder promotes healthy eating, providing a balanced and varied diet, which includes nutritious home cooked meals and drinks are always readily available. At lunchtime, children enjoy picking the strawberries from the plants in the garden, which they have

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and outcomes for children

helped to grow. Children have their individual needs well met with regard to rest and sleep. This results in children developing a good attitude to living a healthy lifestyle.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning to keep themselves safe, as the childminder reminds them to take care when going into the garden, to play with the toys properly and she provides them with regular opportunities to practice the emergency evacuation drill. Children's behaviour is good and they respond well to the childminder’s clear expectations. Any unwanted behaviour is dealt with calmly and in a manner that is appropriate to the age and level of understanding of the children. Consequently, children are learning to show respect for themselves, others and their environment. The positive praise they receive for their efforts and achievements raises their sense of security and self-esteem. 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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