Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY400637 Inspection date 26/04/2010 Inspector Alexandra Brouder

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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

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 2009. She lives with her husband, 15-year-old son, adult daughter and baby granddaughter aged nine months in Wigston, Leicestershire. The whole ground floor, except for the conservatory/office of the childminder's house is used for childcare purposes and there is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register only, to care for a maximum of three children at any one time. There is one child on roll within the early years age range, who attends on a part-time basis.

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Description of the childminding

Schools, parks, shops and places of interest are within easy walking or driving distance. The family has a pet tortoise and cat.

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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

Children are happy and settled within the inclusive and welcoming environment. They have formed good relationships with the childminder and feel confident within her care. The childminder has a developing understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and is in the early stages of observing and assessing what children are doing in order for them to make effective progress in their learning. However, she has not yet completed an appropriate childminder’s training course. Positive relationships are developed with parents and carers and sound information is sort before children begin, ensuring that their care needs are fully met. Children’s safety and well-being are appropriately supported, however, records regarding the administration of medication and the consistency of recording accidents, are not appropriately maintained. The childminder is keen to improve her service, but has not yet begun to self-evaluate her practice which hinders her

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

ability to maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

To fully meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 keep a written record of all medicines administered to children, and inform parents (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) 26/04/2010

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further?

 ensure that adults looking after children have appropriate training, skills and knowledge, with regard to completing a childminder’s training course (Suitable people) 26/05/2010

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further?

 keep a record of accidents and first aid treatment and inform parents of any accidents or injuries that are sustained by the child whilst in the care of the 26/05/2010 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 provider (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare).

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the current system for planning to ensure that it is reflective of the needs of all children's ages and stages of development to ensure that they are challenged appropriately and make effective progress in their learning  develop the system of assessing and recording children's progress, highlighting what they should do next within the six areas of learning and use this information to plan practical play activities to help children reach their full potential  use self-evaluation to effectively identify strengths and weaknesses of the provision and use this to develop further skills and knowledge in order to maintain continuous improvement.

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the early years provision

Children are protected as the childminder has a sound knowledge of what to do should she have concerns regarding a child’s welfare. All household members are known to Ofsted and have completed appropriate checks to ensure that they are safe to be in the proximity of children. However, children’s safety and welfare is at times compromised as the childminder does not consistently obtain written consent from parents in order to administer medication, or record when medication has been given. In addition to this, accidents are not always recorded. The childminder minimises risks and hazards to children within the home and on outings through daily checks on all areas that children access and by the use of risk assessments. A comprehensive and detailed range of written policies and procedures are in place to promote children's health, safety and welfare and parents are provided with copies of this important information.

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the early years provision

Sound partnerships with parents and carers is in place ensuring that children’s care, learning and welfare needs are well met and that parents are well informed. Daily discussion takes place each day regarding how children have been and the childminder ensures that any requirements or requests that parents have, for example, ensuring that their child is put down for a sleep at certain times, is listened to and actioned. The childminder understands the importance of working with other settings that offer care to children and demonstrated how this would be managed should this be required.

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the early years provision

An inclusive environment is offered and the childminder ensures that she keeps her numbers at a minimum in order to offer one-to-one care for the children she cares for. All toys and resources are easily accessible and meet the needs of the children in her care well. She recognises all children as individuals and provides an environment that reflects this, for example, through the provision of shape sorters and battery operated toys that one of the children in her care particularly enjoys. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder knows the children well in her care and she is beginning to support children's learning through the use of planning, observation and assessment. However, this does not consistently reflect the six areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, which can lead to children not being challenged effectively at times. The childminder is keen to improve her

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the early years provision

service and demonstrates this through the completion of a paediatric first aid course and a core skills course. However, she has not yet completed a recognised childminder’s training course, which is a requirement of registration. In addition, she has not begun to self-evaluate her setting, which limits her ability to address areas for improvement.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder creates a warm and welcoming environment and helps children to feel settled and included. They enjoy their time with the childminder and make satisfactory progress. Children’s learning and development is appropriately supported and the childminder has begun to plan activities to support this and observe and assess what children do, recording this information and identifying occasional next steps. However, this information is not yet fully prioritising or reflecting the six areas of learning or linking to the Early Years Foundation Stage sufficiently to ensure that children are challenged effectively, which may hinder their progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children’s social skills are developing well. They attend a variety of settings, such as swimming sessions and toddler groups, in which they meet other children, learning how to share and take turns. Children’s behaviour can be challenging due to their young age, and the childminder takes time to offer soothing comments and re-direct them to other activities, diffusing the situation well. They begin to communicate their wants and needs as they point to particular toys and show their pleasure as they squeal excitedly as they play. Children look at books and enjoy pressing buttons on some of these, in particular, one that makes a ‘quacking’ sound. In addition to this, the childminder reads to them each day to enable them to gain an understanding that print carries meaning.

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and outcomes for children

Children begin to develop their skills within problem solving, reasoning and numeracy as they attempt to post different three dimensional shapes through matching holes, but become frustrated when they cannot do this and quickly move on to other toys within the environment. Children begin to operate simple technology as they push buttons on musical toys and delight in the sounds these make. They develop their awareness of the wider world as they play with dolls with differing skin tones and have access to books that reflect a range of lifestyles. They increase their physical skills as they freely and independently explore the environment and some children like to climb in and on toys and furniture which the childminder supports them with to ensure that they remain safe.

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and outcomes for children

Children are adopting healthy lifestyles as they eat foods and snacks that are nutritional and well balanced. They have regular access to the outdoors each day, increasing their mobility skills and improving their health. Drinks are offered This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 throughout the day to ensure that children remain hydrated. Children are safe as the home is well organised to ensure that hazards are limited and the childminder ensures that close supervision is always offered. In addition to this, the childminder begins to talk to children about climbing equipment safely, for example, when at the park, to ensure that they can begin to manage their own safety. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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