Childminder in Suffolk

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY248710 Inspection date 22/06/2010 Inspector Deborah Kerry

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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 2003. She lives with her family in a village close to Bury St Edmunds. All areas of the childminder’s bungalow are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The premises are fully accessible.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time. There are currently three children attending who are within the early years age group. This provider is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent and toddler group. The family has a dog and two cats as pets. The childminder 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children's welfare, learning and development are successfully promoted as the childminder has a good understanding of their individual needs. Most documentation and procedures are in place to fully promote children's safety and welfare. Children are fully supported through the close working relationships with parents and other practitioners. The childminder has begun to reflect on and review her practice and has identified areas for development to maintain continuous improvement to benefit children's learning and development. The childminder shows her commitment to her ongoing professional development through attending additional early years training.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that a record is kept of the risk assessments undertaken for all areas of the home, equipment and garden (Suitable premises, environment and equipment). 19/07/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further observations and the systems for monitoring children’s progress so the next steps in their learning can be identified  ensure that regular evacuation drills are carried out and details recorded of any problems encountered and how they were resolved. 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 has in place a clear written policy on safeguarding children to ensure that children's welfare is supported appropriately. She has attended training on safeguarding children to develop her knowledge on maintaining children's welfare. The childminder follows a daily checklist to maintain safety in all areas of her home and garden. This ensures that any potential risks to minded children are not accessible and that their safety is promoted. However, she does not complete a record of these to ensure that children's safety is monitored effectively. This is a breach of requirements. She has completed written risk assessments for all outings that she undertakes with children. This ensures that children's safety is further promoted when on outings. The childminder has in place clear procedures for the emergency evacuation of her home, which include a plan of all possible exits. However, these have not yet been put into practice with minded children to help

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the early years provision

them develop a clear understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed close working relationships with parents of minded children. They have provided positive feedback on the service she provides, which clearly meets their children's individual needs well. The childminder shares the learning journey records with parents to keep them fully informed about their child's progress and development. Parents add regular comments to their child's learning journey records about their achievements at home. This helps to keep the childminder updated on their progress and ensures that parents are fully involved with their child's learning and development. The childminder has developed good relationships with practitioners of other settings that minded children attend. She has had a home visit from the children's key person from these settings to discuss and exchange information to support their learning and development fully. She continues themes and topics that children are following at pre-school to support

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the early years provision

continuity of care and learning. Children are provided with resources that reflect our multi-cultural society and they undertake some activities to support their understanding of the beliefs of others.

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the early years provision

The childminder holds an early years qualification at level three. She has attend ed additional early years training since the last inspection to ensure that all children are included and can be supported according to their individual needs. This has also developed her knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage, so appropriate support can be provided to support children's learning and development fully. She has reviewed her practices and has identified additional early years training that will further develop her knowledge and benefit children. She has implemented several positive changes to her practice and children's progress records to ensure that their individual needs continue to be fully supported. The childminder uses written feedback from parents to reflect on her practice and to make positive improvements. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides children with a range of healthy foods to meet their individual dietary requirements and to promote their good health. She works with parents to ensure that children's health and care needs are fully met. Children are provided with their own named hand towels to minimise the risk of any cross- infection. Children wash their hands before meals and after touching the family's pets, and they brush their teeth after meals. This helps them to develop an understanding of developing a healthy lifestyle. Children can access a range of equipment in the garden to promote their physical development well. The childminder teaches children road safety when undertaking regular outings within the local community. This helps them to learn about the wider world and how to keep themselves safe when away from the home.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy putting together connecting straws to create different shapes. They experiment with sound as they drop objects into tins and listen to the noises they make. Children show curiosity and high levels of concentration as they persevere in these self-chosen activities. They also access a range of musical instruments and explore how they work and the different sounds that they make. The childminder interacts well with children in a conversational manner to develop their speech and communication skills. Children are able to express themselves and have their needs understood by the childminder through using a mix of words, gestures and facial expressions. The childminder organises her home to enable children to make choices in what they do. She has photographs of resources so that children can decide what activities they want to do when they arrive. This helps to promote their independence and thinking skills well. The childminder has organised her

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and outcomes for children

garden so that there is a separate area for children to play in away from the dog. She provides shade in the garden to protect children from the hot sun to maintain their good health. The childminder encourages children to help water the plants in the garden and to be gentle when stroking the family dog. This teaches children how to care for their environment and respect for animals.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder undertakes regular observations on the activities children participate in. She records their progress and observations are clearly linked to the six areas of learning. This ensures that children receive a balanced range of activities to support their all round development. The childminder includes information on the areas of observations undertaken by other practitioners on minded children for consistency of care and learning. She has begun to identify the next steps for some children to support their ongoing progress. However, this is not fully in place for all children within the early years age range. The childminder provides a range of resources to challenge and support the different ages of children who attend and this enables them to make good progress in their learning. The childminder knows minded children well and ensures that resources and activities meet their individual needs and interests.

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and outcomes for children

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 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 3 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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