Childminder in East Riding of Yorkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY339908 Inspection date 23/04/2010 Inspector Margaret Bryant

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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 with her partner and two children aged three and seven years, in the west of Hull, some five miles from the city centre. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding, with the first floor being used for the bathroom, two of the bedrooms are also registered for use by children over eight years. The second floor of the property is not registered for use by minded children. Outdoors, children have use of the rear garden and driveway.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a total of four children under eight years, two of whom may be in the early years age group. Currently she cares, for a total of eight children on a part-time basis, two of whom are in the early years age range. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds a level 3 certificate in Nursery Nursing.

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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

All children's welfare needs are well cared for and the childminder's careful supervision protects them all well. She carries out quite detailed assessments of all possible areas of risk in the home, most of which are recorded, and all parents and children are involved in helping evaluate her practice. All children make good progress in their learning as they are provided with a broad range of carefully planned activities which are evaluated well. Parents learn daily about what their children do and through their own children's files, receive some information about the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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further?

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

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further?

 consider providing parents, who have children in the early years age group, with more information about the six areas of learning  further develop risk assessments to include all identified possible risks in the home, following recent house move, including making sure the second floor is inaccessible to children.

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the early years provision

All children are appropriately safeguarded as the childminder supervises them very well and shows a suitable knowledge of child protection issues. She knows who to contact if she has any concerns about any of the children in her care and all parents receive her safeguarding policy. Children have use of the rear garden, which is mainly lawn and the concreted driveway. However, they only use one of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the areas at any given time which allows them all to keep safe, being in the childminder's sight and hearing at all times. She is very careful with the very youngest of children's safety, as they are just beginning to gain confidence in walking. Older children know to take care when playing near young toddlers, allowing them space to gain their skills of balance and coordination. Many photographs show older children supporting them as they play; for example, as

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the early years provision

toddlers reach up to push and pull the prams in which their dollies sit, they are encouraged not only by the childminder, but by older children, to learn to negotiate the space safely. The childminder ensures all children have equal access to experience the broad range of activities she provides, adapting these if required and supporting children when needed. Children under eight years use the ground floor only, only accessing upstairs for use of the bathroom. However, two of the bedrooms on the first floor are sometimes used by children aged eight years and over. The second floor is not used by minded children.

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the early years provision

There are some features in the childminder's new home, which she identifies as requiring improvement to further enhance the children's safety. These include the fixing of secure devices onto final exit doors and securely fixing the fireguard to the wall. Although most identified risks are recorded, not all identified improvements are. Before she cares for children, she asks parents about their children's individual interests and what they like to do, and gains some information about their stage of development and capabilities. The childminder then makes her own assessment and continues observing and making notes about children's development. Written observations about individual children show her careful monitoring of their development, with links to the main areas of learning being addressed. The childminder shows knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and her weekly planning includes ensuring all six areas of learning are addressed.

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the early years provision

She carefully evaluates all activities undertaken with children, including adult-led and organised activities. She also evaluates the progress of individual children to plan for their next stages of learning.

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the early years provision

All parents are included in the childminder's practice as they receive copies of all her policies and procedures. They communicate together both verbally and through the children's daily diaries. They also know about the recordings she makes and can see their children's files whenever they wish; however, they do not have specific information to which they can refer to about the six areas of learning. The childminder is aware of the importance of forming links with other providers who assess children in the early years age range. Parents spoken with during this inspection speak very highly of the childminder and about how much their children are progressing in her care and gaining confidence in their new-found abilities. The childminder is keen to do well, has all records in place as required and is happy to attend any relevant training to help her in her childminding role and also benefit the children.

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and outcomes for children

All children are very happy in the childminder's care, achieve well and enjoy their learning. They are supported well to develop the skills, knowledge and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 understanding they need to make sense of the world. For example, they have many opportunities to handle different materials which they love using to express their creativity. The children use junk materials to design and make objects, using boxes of different sizes, gluing and fitting these together to make rockets, televisions and guitars which they pretend to play. They celebrate the different seasons, play out in different weathers and learn about different cultural and religious festivals, including Diwali, a Hindu festival, and the Chinese New Year. They make musical instruments, including shakers and dress up in a range of outfits. The youngest children have opportunities to be fully included in all of these

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and outcomes for children

creative activities, being carefully helped and assisted by the childminder. Photographs show them really enjoying themselves and the curiosity and wonder on their faces is evident. While they play the childminder helps young children and toddlers begin to realise that there are different shapes as they play with and explore play dough. The childminder is knowledgeable about child development, illustrated as she supports young children, from crawling to independently walking, providing a necessary safe, supportive environment with props to assist them at each stage.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder encourages all children to become independent, develop confidence and socialise together. Toddlers and young children laugh as they begin to realise the consequences of their actions, investigating the many, clean, safe and interactive resources which help them realise that one action has an effect on another. For example, as they walk on the interactive play mat, their feet press buttons which play music and sounds. As they grow and begin to learn and understand simple instructions, they are helped to develop their knowledge of colours and numbers. All children are guided to play safely and they all keep safe when walking to and from school. The youngest children are securely harnessed into their pushchairs and older children walk closely beside the childminder. The childminder helps children to know about evacuation through practising the fire drill. Young children and toddlers feel really safe and

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and outcomes for children

secure as they sit on the childminder's knee, listening to their favourite stories. She keeps them interested and makes the story enjoyable by changing the tone of her voice and prompting the children to notice and identify the objects on the pages.

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and outcomes for children

All children sit together at the table and enjoy their own packed lunches. They also enjoy healthy snacks and have drinks readily available which they can help themselves to, whenever they wish. All children's individual needs are cared for well, in-line with the wishes of their individual parents. Toddlers are helped to develop independence and feed themselves by using and holding their utensils correctly. The childminder also helps all children to hold tools correctly, including pencils and brushes as they paint and draw. Older children who independently use the bathroom have their own individual towels, helping to eliminate the risk of possible cross-contamination of germs. Children who are able to express their feelings are consulted about what they like and may wish to change at the childminders, and parents complete questionnaires which express their satisfaction with the standards of care given to their children. The childminder cares for all

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and outcomes for children

children very well. Through her careful planning of a broad range of experiences, all children are helped to make good progress in their learning. 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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