Childminder in Derbyshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY402120 Inspection date 10/06/2010 Inspector Geneen Yvonne Hulse-Brown

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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 has been registered since November 2009. She lives with her family in a detached property in Chesterfield. Local schools, shops and parks are within walking distance. She has two children aged 23 months and 11 years old.

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Description of the childminding

Children have access to all ground floor rooms including the kitchen, utility room, lounge, hallway, playroom and toilet. There is a fully enclosed area to the rear of the property for outdoor play. Premises are accessible via a small step to the front door. The family has a pet cat and a giant African land snail.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for five children under eight years and is presently caring for two children in the early years age group. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both parts of the Childcare Register. She meets regularly with local childminders 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder's secure knowledge of the children in her care to enables her to provide them with stimulating and enjoyable experiences in a safe environment. Planning, assessment and observation systems are in their infancy and as such do not clearly identify the next steps in the learning process. Well-established partnerships with parents and carers successfully support providing children with continuity of care as they follow agreed home routines. The childminder demonstrates a secure understanding of her strengths as she is in the early stages of using self-evaluation to help her identify areas for improvement. She has identified that she wants to provide more opportunities for children to develop their awareness of diversity and value differences.

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further?

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

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further?

 consider extending opportunities for children to develop their awareness of diversity  monitor planning and assessment systems to ensure they identify the next steps in the learning process  develop self-assessment and reflective practice to improve outcomes for children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder’s secure understanding of how to keep children safe ensures the successful promotion of their safety and well-being. She demonstrates a clear knowledge of her role and responsibilities with regard to child protection issues and has systems in place for recording concerns. The childminder ensures that people who have regular contact with children are suitable to do so. She has completed safeguarding training and has a comprehensive written policy in place to support her work, which includes up to date guidance. All required information is securely maintained and up to date. Full risk assessments are in place for the childminder’s home alongside a proforma to update outings information when she undertakes them with the children. Daily visual checks on the premises ensure they are safe and she aids children to develop safe practice. She takes appropriate action to address hazards and reduce accidents as the situation arises.

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the early years provision

Well-organised and creatively planned surroundings enable children to explore and investigate a broad range of good quality resources. The very child-friendly environment and the wide variety of easily accessible equipment encourages them to negotiate their way around the home with increasing confidence and begin to make active choices. Quality resources effectively promote children’s awareness of diversity supporting them to recognise and to begin value differences. The childminder recognises the importance of continually assessing and building on what children know as they learn to respect others. She is developing a simple words book to support children who speak English as an additional language and help them settle into their new surroundings. Strong partnerships with parents and carers and ongoing daily dialogue effectively support each child's individual needs. Parents are very happy with the daily care sheets that show what their children

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the early years provision

have done and the childminder is in the process of sending out feedback sheets for them to become more involved in their children’s learning. Records charting children’s progress and achievements are in the early stages of development and highlight their starting points. However, they are not robust in identifying the next steps in children’s individual learning journeys. The childminder has developed links with other childminders in her area, but links with other providers are not in place as the children do not attend other provisions at this time.

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the early years provision

The childminder has taken some steps towards self-evaluation although she is not yet using this fully to help her to target specific areas for improvement. She recognises that she is still in the process of developing her role as a childminder and as such has identified the importance of consolidating her understanding to provide a quality service for children and families. The childminder continues to develop her knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework to help her to plan and provide stimulating activities to extend children’s learning and progress toward their early learning goals. She demonstrates a clear commitment to accessing all available training opportunities to extend her knowledge. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The children enjoy their time at the childminder’s and make steady progress towards their early learning goals. The childminder uses her secure knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage to provide children with a broad range of enjoyable activities and experiences. She understands that children learn through play and encourages them to explore their environment as they extend their independence. Children receive high levels of support as they investigate and move around their surroundings with increasing confidence. The childminder’s planning, observations and assessment systems are in their infancy as she has only recently taken on her childminding placements. Children enjoy loving, warm and caring relationships with their childminder, as she offers lots of cuddles and support as they play together, encouraging the development of good social skills. The homely environment ensures that children are well settled and secure in their

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and outcomes for children

surroundings, new children receive lots of support from their childminder as she uses gentle reassurances and follows agreed home routines.

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and outcomes for children

Babies and young children investigate programmable toys with increasing curiosity, turning switches and pushing buttons to get the desired response. They actively look to adults for reassurance, praise and encouragement that they are doing right and achieving positive results. The childminder chatters to children introducing new vocabulary as they play together on the floor. Babies giggle with delight as they watch older children play alongside them. They enjoy looking at books with tactile pictures gently stroking furry pictures across their faces. They happy wriggle to music and are beginning to shuffle across the room to find their chosen plaything. Children are effectively supported to develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe as older children are reminded to take care as they move around the home. Daily outdoor activities incorporated in the children’s day ensure that they enjoy playing in the garden. The childminder is beginning to incorporate

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and outcomes for children

activities for children to develop their awareness of the natural world as she talks to them when outdoors at their level of understanding. She is aware that by introducing language into their play this will form the basis of early communication and problem solving skills for the younger children in her care. Older children smile and giggle as they line up small world figures and show interest in the inspector’s computer.

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and outcomes for children

Appropriate routines are in place to encourage good health, hygiene practices and prevent cross-infection. Children receive support to learn good manners and personal skills as they sit together to enjoy fruit for snack. The childminder serves food brought from home for children encouraging them to try new tastes and sample different foods. Her consistent approach to behaviour helps children to learn good practice, sensitive reminders help them learn to share and take turns. Children are starting to use number and basic problem solving skills through daily activities, such as posting shapes into sorters and matching buttons on cause and effect toys. They are developing their dexterity as they make marks on paper using crayons and pencils and are encouraged to help tidy up when they have finished playing with toys. 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 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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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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