Mazacs, Alison

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 302389 Inspection date 27/07/2010 Inspector Jane Elizabeth O'Callaghan

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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 assesses 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 1986. She lives with her husband, who is a registered assistant, and their two adult sons on the outskirts of Bradford. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outdoor 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. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. When working with an assistant, the childminder may care for a maximum of nine children under eight years, of whom, six may be in the early years age group. The childminder currently has 16 children on roll, of these, six children are in the early years age group. The childminder collects and takes children to local schools, visits parks and places of interest.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder holds a qualification at level 3 in childcare and 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

All aspects of the provision for children's welfare, learning and development are highly effective, which ensures children's individual needs are met exceptionally well. The childminder's strong commitment to ongoing self-evaluation and training and her pro-active approach to implementing changes ensure she is constantly improving the outcomes for children. Children thrive in the stimulating and nurturing environment provided by the childminder and make significant progress in their learning and development. The strong partnerships with parents and other agencies ensure that the needs of all children are met and that children progress very well. The childminder is very aware of the children's developmental and learning stages as she maintains detailed records of their achievements.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 developing younger children's independence when accessing toys and activities.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a very secure understanding of the safeguarding procedures and her responsibility to protect children from harm. She is pro-active in accessing This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 training to further her knowledge and holds useful reference material on file in case concerns arise. The childminder completes thorough risk assessments and daily safety checks to keep children safe as they grow and develop. An extensive range of clear policies and procedures, which are shared with parents and consistently implemented and updated, underpin the outstanding service provided.

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the early years provision

Children's well-being is significantly enhanced by exceptional organisation and planning for continuous improvement. The childminder holds a Childcare qualification at level 3 and is considering further qualifications in childcare. She regularly accesses training both externally and through the internet and passes on information to the assistant she works with. A detailed self-evaluation process, which takes into account the views of parents and children, is highly effective in evaluating the practice, identifying strengths and areas for development. The childminder has very good links with other providers where children also attend to ensure every child is appropriately supported, and to provide continuity in their learning by sharing development records.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides parents with easy access to essential information and very clear and precise policies to keep them fully informed about the day. All documentation is clear, well organised and easy to follow. The childminder ensures that parents can access their children's daily diaries along with extremely informative profiles and are able to contribute to these when ever they wish. She considers what children do elsewhere when planning for their development, avoiding repetition and extending topics when children wish to do so. Plans for further links exist, in order for the childminder to make sure children cover all aspects of the curriculum equally.

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the early years provision

Children are learning about the wider society as they play with an excellent variety of multicultural resources, including instruments, a very good selection of books, small world toys, jigsaws, lots of posters around the provision and the celebrating of festivals. The childminder has an informative policy referring to how all children are treated equally and with respect. This ensures that children develop their knowledge and understanding.

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and outcomes for children

Children relate very well to the childminder and her assistant and are highly involved in their activities, having fun, enjoying challenge and making choices. They make exceptionally good progress in their learning given their starting points as the childminder knows individual children well and uses the Early Years Foundation Stage effectively. She makes high quality documented observations in the children’s journals and supports this with lots of photographs. For example, the childminder has photographs of the children painting, celebrating birthdays, out on numerous visits within the local community, out in the well-resourced garden and baking. More able children can access the vast selection of toys and activities available, although younger children's independence in obtaining resources is sometimes restricted. More-able children choose to cut out pictures from catalogues and stick them on to paper to take home. Younger children sit with the

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 childminder and empty the treasure baskets, laughing and enjoying banging the spoon on the saucepan lid. All children access a vast selection of books and the younger children look at the picture books of animals and make the appropriate noises of the animals that they see. All children enjoy the free access to the very well-resourced outdoor area. They crawl through tunnels and the younger children balance on the upturned bowls with assistance from the more able children, praising each other when they have climbed over them all. Children pretend to cook food outside and serve it reminding each other to say please and thank you.

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and outcomes for children

Children feel safe as they learn how to protect themselves as the childminder is highly skilled and responsive to their needs. She ensures that children learn about all aspects of safety through talking to children about how to cross the road safely, why not to run in the house and the regular practising of fire drills. She also gives clear explanations to the children for keeping to the safety measures that she has in place. The childminder ensures that children play in a very safe environment, ensuring that daily checks are carried out inside and in the garden to make sure there are no potential hazards prior to children arriving. The childminder also has thorough systems in place when going on trips; all children's contact numbers are to hand and all permission forms taken with her.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the importance of being healthy and become independent in attending to their personal care needs from an early age. They are well-nourished through an excellent varied menu of healthy, nutritious snacks and meals cooked by the childminder. The childminder displays her menu for parents to see and welcomes comments from them. She records any of the children's needs in relation to allergies, religious and likes and dislikes of any food. Physical activity is given priority and children enjoy visits to local parks and places of interest. They also develop their physical skills as they access the broad range of equipment in the childminder's garden. There are clear boundaries in place; children are extremely well-behaved. Older children play cooperatively together as they enjoy playing a number game with tennis balls and a number board in the garden. Children receive consistent praise for all achievements and are encouraged to show respect for

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and outcomes for children

each other and develop good manners. More able children have designed their own house rules which are displayed to remind them. Children clearly enjoy themselves and benefit greatly from the time they spend with the childminder and assistant. 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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Early Years Foundation Stage

The effectiveness of leadership and management in embedding ambition and driving improvement The effectiveness with which the setting deploys resources 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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