Childminder in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 224375 Inspection date 22/06/2010 Inspector Mary Anne Henderson

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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 1997. She lives with her husband and two children aged 15 and 12-years-old in a house in Staffordshire. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register to care for six children and is currently caring for two children within the early years age group. Children can attend for various sessions during week days. The childminder is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

All downstairs areas of the house are used for childminding and there is an enclosed outdoor play area which is terraced. The family have a dog two cats and there is an aviary in the back garden. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools. She receives support from the local authority.

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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

The childminder provides a welcoming environment for children and their parents. She liaises well with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage which ensures inclusion for all children on roll. There are systems in place to evaluate the provision which are good. However, the systems do not yet fully include the parents. The childminder shows a strong commitment to improving her practice on an ongoing basis.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure parents are fully included in the self-evaluation processes of the setting.

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the early years provision

The leadership and management of the early years provision is good. Relationships between the childminder and the parents is positive which ensures children's needs are identified and met at all times. The children are protected because the childminder has a good understanding of the safeguarding policies and procedures of the setting and how to ensure children are well protected. Risk assessments procedures are good and includes areas, equipment, toys and all outings involving the children. All adults are suitably checked and vetted.

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the early years provision

There are good systems in place with regard to self-evaluation which includes input from the childminder and the children. However, the parents are not yet fully included in these systems. The childminder has good relationships with other settings providing for the children in the Early Years Foundation Stage, thereby This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 further promoting inclusion. Parents are kept informed about their child's ongoing progression in their learning and development on a daily basis through verbal and written feedback. Parents have free access to the policies and procedures of the setting.

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and outcomes for children

The children are beginning to recognise the importance of keeping healthy and those things that contribute to this. They enjoy a healthy balanced menu which includes meat, vegetables, pasta salad and fish. The children also enjoy a broad range of fruit for snack times and have access to drinking water throughout the day. Children know to wash their hands before eating and after visiting the toilet. They talk about the benefits of healthy eating and being physically active with one another and the childminder. Children are beginning to learn about personal safety as they are all included in the fire evacuation procedures of the setting. They also learn about crossing the road safely during outings and through discussions. The children are confident and secure and are beginning to form good relationships with their peers and the childminder. They smile and giggle, ask for assistance or comfort when they need it and show an awareness of feeling safe at the setting.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to move with control and use a range of equipment to develop their physical skills. In the garden they enjoy climbing and using the slide, crawling through the tunnels and running around on the grass. They also like to ride their trikes and involve themselves in water and sand activities. The children explore colour, texture, shape and form in two and three dimensions. They like to use brushes or hands to paint pictures and crayons to colour in. They also like messy play as they explore the shaving foam and gloop and talk about their findings. The children are beginning to use information and communication technology to support their learning. They explore problem solving as they use various computer programmes that extend their learning about shapes, numbers and colours. Younger children also use a variety of table top computers and battery operated equipment to explore and problem solve. The children count in every day situations while on local walks.

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and outcomes for children

They also like to weigh out ingredients looking at the numbers on the scales as they make cakes and jam tarts as a treat for snack times.

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and outcomes for children

The children find out about their environment, identifying features and noticing the natural world. They enjoy a variety of outings to places of interest including Telford Town Park where they use the range of large equipment to extend their climb and balance skills and visit the various nursery characters in Wonderland. They also enjoy visiting Newstead Farm and Park Hall Farm where they look at and talk about the various farm animals they see. Children also enjoy local walks to see the canal boats, watching as they move through the locks and noticing nature and the wildlife around them. Here they also learn about personal safety and why they need to hold hands. The children enjoy regular visits to the toddler group where they are forming positive relationships with other children and using various equipment available to them. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to understand that people have different needs, views, cultures and beliefs. They play with a broad range of resources that depict positive images of diversity including dolls, puppets and small world people. The resources also depict positive images of disabled people. The children also like to look through story and reference books about the world around them. The children enjoy exploring various festivals around the calendar year. During Diwali and Chinese New Year, they read stories and reference books, colour in pictures, eat various foods and make lanterns and dragons. Children's art work is displayed for them around their play areas which fosters a good sense of belonging at the setting. 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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