Childminder in Durham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 500733 Inspection date 22/04/2010 Inspector Julie Morrison

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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 2001. She lives with her husband and three children aged 22, 19 and 15 years in Stanley. The childminder’s home is accessed by one step. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder’s home is used for childminding. There is a garden for outdoor play. The childminder cares for children on weekdays from 8am to 6pm for 48 weeks of the year.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding five children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder collects children from the local nursery and attends several toddler groups on a regular basis.

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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 are very warmly welcomed by the friendly and dedicated childminder. She has developed effective procedures to work with parents and ensure that all children's individual needs are being met well. The childminder demonstrates a secure knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage and provides a wide range of activities for children which cover all areas of learning. This enables them to make very good progress in their learning and development. Effective procedures to evaluate the care and education provided, along with a genuine commitment to developing her practice, ensures that continual improvements are made.

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further?

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

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further?

 implement procedures to ensure that all consents, including outings and emergency medical treatment, are available for inspection  develop systems to show how identified next steps are used to inform future planning.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her provision well. She has a detailed range of policies and procedures in place which are used to effectively safeguard children, for example, health and safety, confidentiality and safeguarding children. This is combined with her good understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and procedures to follow should she have any concerns. Written risk assessments and regular checks of all areas and equipment are in place to further promote This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children's safety within the home and on outings.

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the early years provision

Parents speak very highly of the care and learning that their children receive at the setting. Such positive relationships with parents are beneficial to the continuity of care and learning that the children receive. The childminder provides parents with information packs which include all relevant policies and procedures. She has systems in place to request written consent from parents for outings and emergency medical treatment. However, at the time of inspection these had mistakenly been taken home by parents so were not available. An information board, daily information sheets and access to their child's individual learning file ensures that parents are kept well-informed about their child's learning and care. The childminder has established effective relationships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage. For example, she gathers information about current topics so that she can build upon these with the children. This helps to promote

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the early years provision

continuity of care and learning. Currently, no children with special educational needs and/or disabilities attend the setting. However, the childminder demonstrates a positive attitude towards working with parents and reading relevant information to ensure that she can meet all individual needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates a genuine commitment to developing her practice. This includes attending training, completing the Ofsted self-evaluation form and reading relevant information to further develop her understanding of good quality childcare. The recommendation raised at the previous inspection has been positively addressed. This helps to promote outcomes for children. Children’s play opportunities are promoted well through the effective organisation of space, time and resources. For example, children move around the space confidently, accessing from the wide range of resources and making independent choices about their learning and play.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making very good progress in their learning and development as the childminder has a secure understanding of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children benefit from individual files which include examples of their work, photographs and observations which are linked to the areas of learning. The childminder clearly knows the children well and identifies their next steps in learning, however, it is not clear to see how these are used to inform future planning. The impact of this, however, is very low as the childminder provides a wide range of activities which are based upon children's individual needs and interests. For example, following children's excitement at their planned holidays they search for the country they are visiting on maps, which they cut out to make pictures. The childminder interacts well with the children, getting involved in their play and asking questions to extend their learning, for example,

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and outcomes for children

she encourages them to identify what colour paint brush they would like and to count how many dogs they have. Children have good opportunities to develop their creative skills, for example, they paint pictures, explore play dough and are supported by the childminder as they try to mix paints to make more colours. The childminder provides a wide range of resources to promote their problem-solving This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 skills, such as games and puzzles. Older children confidently and proudly complete jigsaws independently, while the childminder supports younger children to complete puzzles which are appropriate to their stage of development. A variety of planned trips and outings help children to learn about the world around them, for example, they go on visits to the beach, the farm and on walks to search for mini beasts. This is combined with having food tasting sessions and celebrating the

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and outcomes for children

Chinese New Year to support children's awareness of diversity and the wider world. Children are beginning to develop their skills for the future as they use the computer, electronic tills and a range of programmable toys. Their communication skills are effectively fostered through various activities, including singing nursery rhymes, reading books and having lots of discussions with the childminder, for example, talking about what noises the animals make.

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and outcomes for children

Children's welfare is promoted well as the childminder plans a wide range of activities to support their understanding of healthy lifestyles and keeping safe. Children enthusiastically help to prepare their lunch, confidently making choices about what they would like to eat. Daily opportunities for outdoor play, for example, going for walks, going to the park and playing in the garden further promote children's good health. Children's knowledge about personal safety is encouraged as they practise regular fire drills and discuss issues such as why they need to use sun cream when it is hot. The childminder is very warm and affectionate with the children and they have clearly developed close relationships with her, for example, she provides lots of reassurance and cuddles when they are tired and children's needs are clearly her priority. Children play well together; they enthusiastically search out their friends to join in activities and attend regular

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and outcomes for children

toddler groups where they have further opportunities to socialise with their peers. The childminder uses a positive and consistent approach to managing their behaviour, which takes into account their ages. As a result, children are well settled, secure and are making very good progress in her care. 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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