Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 226014 Inspection date 12/04/2010 Inspector Dianne Lynn Sadler

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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 1986. She lives with her husband and one adult son in a village in Leicestershire. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor of the premises is used for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on both parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently caring for eight children in total, three of whom are within the early years age range.

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Description of the childminding

childminder takes and collects children from local schools and pre-schools.

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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

Children settle well with the childminder who provides an inclusive environment in which they make good progress. The childminder develops strong relationships with parents and is developing systems to share information with other providers to promote consistency of care for all children who attend. The childminder shows a commitment and demonstrates the capacity to make continuous improvement. She has identified all the strengths of the setting and most of the areas for improvement. Most policies, procedures and records are effective in practice to promote and protect children's welfare.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve further the risk assessment to include everything a child comes into contact with  develop systems to regularly share children's development and learning records and any other relevant information with practitioners from each setting a child attends  match observations made of children's learning to the expectations of the early learning goals  use these observations and assessments to identify children's learning priorities towards all the early learning goals from the beginning of the placement to ensure they make the best possible progress.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded well. The childminder has a good understanding of child protection issues and is confident about her responsibility to protect children from This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 harm and neglect. Documentation is organised well with clear records for accidents, medication and each child's daily attendance. The environment, both indoors and outside, is subject to thorough risk assessments that ensure that all potential hazards to children are effectively minimised. However, although risk assessments are recorded they do not include everything a child may come into contact with.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides a service that is inclusive for all children and their families. She has a good awareness of the children's individual needs and interests and provides them with a warm and welcoming environment. Her caring nature fosters children's sense of well-being. Children benefit from accessing a wide range of stimulating resources that include positive images of diversity. This helps them to learn about the similarities and differences between them selves and others. The childminder is establishing close partnerships with parents which ensure children benefit from continuity of care. Parents access well written policies and procedures and their children's development records. Some parents have completed letters of recommendation and comment on the clean, welcoming home which is well organised. They state that the childminder is a great communicator and children have great fun. The childminder is also developing her systems to

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the early years provision

exchange information with other providers about children's development and progress, but as yet they are not fully implemented.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates drive and ambition to improve her practice and attends training events in order to improve all the outcomes for children. For instance she is seeking training in the use of the risk assessment, self evaluation and observation, assessment and planning for children’s development. She has used a self-evaluation document to reflect on her strengths and areas for improvement and demonstrates that the recommendation from the previous inspection has been improved upon.

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning about the principles of healthy living and how to keep them selves safe. They are well settled and enjoy their time in the setting, developing close relationships with the childminder and each other. When a child is upset they receive lots of hugs and cuddles from the childminder which helps them to feel secure and gives them reassurance. Children benefit from a healthy and varied menu which includes a packed lunch prepared by their parents and stored appropriately by the childminder. For instance, they enjoy sandwiches, salad items such as peppers and fruit such as raspberries and strawberries. Children access fresh air and exercise daily when playing in the garden or walking to and from school and pre-school. They enjoy trips to the local library and attend various toddler groups which develops their social skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children make good progress in their learning and development as they are supported well by the childminder. She observes children's development and has implemented a new system to record the information gained in their ‘Learning journeys’ using photographs and text. However, she is not matching all children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 achievements or their learning priorities to the expectations of the early leaning goals and the system does not show the progress children have made from when they enter the setting. This may hinder the progress children make.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy a good balance of activities which are planned by the childminder and initiated by them selves. They develop their imagination in a variety of ways. For instance, they enjoy imitating adults when playing with dolls in their pushchairs and when dressing up. Children are encouraged to discuss past and present events experienced at home and at pre-school. They discuss a trip to the zoo with their family over Easter and whilst reading a book about animals with the childminder they reflect on how they look for stars in the sky when daddy collects them. All children are developing their communication and language skills. Whilst sitting together to eat lunch, children describe peppers as being crunchy and raspberries as being squashy. They also describe how they received a sticker at pre-school for eating a banana at snack time, but explain that they did not like the black bits! 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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