Timmins Alison Mairi

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY264600 Inspection date 31/03/2010 Inspector Teresa Marie Taylor

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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 in the Shirley area of Solihull. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house can be used or childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children at any one time of whom two may be in the early years age group. There are currently 13 children on roll of whom six are in the early years age group. Children attend for a variety of sessions. The childminder is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Children can be taken to and collected from local pre-school groups and schools. The family has a dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is able to care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those for whom English is an additional language.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are extremely happy and settled in this child-centred environment where they feel safe and supported by the childminder. They are provided with an excellent range of play activities which ensures they are progressing very well in all areas of learning. The childminder has an excellent understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and actively encourages parents to be fully involved in all aspects of their child's care and learning. The well-organised planning, assessments, developing self-evaluation system and plans for the future significantly enhance children's learning and development, especially as parents are fully involved in these processes. Children’s uniqueness and individuality is recognised and managed exceptionally well. Well-written policies and procedures securely underpin the childminder's practice and all are shared with parents. Effective partnerships with parents and other settings ensures information relating

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

to individual children’s progress and needs is shared effectively and consistently.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 extending the use of self-evaluation as the basis of ongoing internal review.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent understanding of safeguarding and is very well informed about procedures to keep children safe. All required policies and documentation for the effective and safe running of the setting are written, well This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 organised and copies provided for parents. The childminder successfully promotes all areas of equal opportunities and inclusion, ensuring children are given a broad understanding of the wider world. The indoor and outdoor environments are subjected to thorough risk assessments to ensure any potential hazards to children are minimised. Children's safety is significantly enhanced as they regularly undertake activities and discussion to support their understanding of personal safety.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a clear vision for the future of her provision and her practice. She undertakes additional training courses in order to continue to develop and significantly improve outcomes for children, enabling them to develop holistically and to their full potential. The childminder is proactive in obtaining the opinions of both parents and children and reflects on her practice to ensure the best possible care and learning opportunities are provided for the children. She has started to complete a formal self-evaluation to identify additional areas for improvement. Children are involved in the formation of activity and outing plans, which gives them an excellent sense of belonging and increases their self-esteem. The childminder appropriately addressed the recommendation from her last inspection which ensures children have access to a wider range of resources and activities to support their understanding of equal opportunities and diversity. Communication

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the early years provision

both with parents, children and other settings the children attend are a strength. Parents have access to daily diaries, daily discussions, children's individual learning journey folders which ensures they are fully aware of all aspects of their child's day. Parents are actively encouraged to be fully involved in all aspects of their child's care and learning. The childminder has developed good relationships with other providers the children attend ensuring that all individual care and learning needs are identified, met and information given by them is recorded and given to parents promptly.

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the early years provision

The childminder actively promotes the uniqueness and individuality of each child. She provides age-appropriate activities and a wealth of resources to ensure all children can participate in all play opportunities regardless of gender, background, ability or disability. The involvement of children in planning encourages them to be proactive in their own learning. All children and families are highly valued. Parents and children are provided with regular questionnaires encouraging them to take an active part in the setting. Recent comments from parents included the following, 'we enjoy reading the children's diaries', 'excellent communication and information on children's progress' and 'very happy with our childminder'. Children commented on their favourite activities which included the computer, outdoor play and construction but most telling were the comments by most of the children in response to the question about improving the setting which was, 'you can't make it

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and outcomes for children

Children make excellent progress as they enjoy a wide range of stimulating and enjoyable activities. They are very settled and relaxed and are given a high level of support that ensures that they develop fully as individuals. Well-organised planning This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 ensures children are provided with an excellent range of creative learning experiences which keep them involved and eager to learn. Clear information is gained about children’s starting points and carefully undertaken observations and assessments of children’s progress ensure all aspects of children’s needs are met successfully.

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and outcomes for children

Children are supremely confident when exploring the environment both indoors and out. They play a full and active role in their own learning by making choices and decisions with the childminder responding positively to child led activities. For example, after a cooking activity a child wished to wash up the equipment used. She was supported in doing this. The child then wanted to extend this into water play. The childminder provided her with additional items to play with including a jug so that she could pour water into beakers. The childminder encouraged her to recognise the names written on each beaker by identifying the initial letter of each name. A range of experiences and resources help children to understand the wider world as they explore the natural environment, discuss other cultures, abilities and disabilities, celebrate festivals and have a range of books, posters and resources to support their learning. They are given clear rules about how to treat each other,

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and outcomes for children

how to behave and the childminder is an excellent role model. As a result children's behaviour is very good and they have superb self-esteem. They freely express their feelings, ask for help when they need it and willingly share. Children play both independently and together and take care of each other which helps them to develop skills for their future. They make excellent progress in their communication, language, problem solving and number skills as they enjoy a range of challenging and exciting experiences. For example, while completing Easter chick fridge magnets children were encouraged to identify the parts of the chick, describe the shape of the beak, count the wings and feet and glue the parts in the correct place, which they did extremely well. Planning includes resources to be used and includes books, art work and a resume of the effectiveness of the activity and next steps for each child. Children are actively encouraged to access

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and outcomes for children

books, sing songs and repeat favourite nursery rhymes. Children develop good early technology skills as they use a computer, take photographs, print their pictures and complete excellent displays, for example, 'the very hungry caterpillar'. This display included number lines, for the amount of items eaten and written labels to identify the fruit.

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and outcomes for children

Children have a strong sense of belonging in the security of the childminder’s care. They show they feel safe and are confident in asking for equipment and accessing the considerable range of resources for themselves. They show their understanding of keeping themselves safe through their good behaviour, consideration of each other and appropriate use of equipment. Children are protected when on outings and trips because full risk assessments are undertaken and the childminder makes sure that children wear high visibility vests and wrist bands. This enables children to have freedom with safety as they can be seen at all times. The childminder supports children's understanding of personal safety through activities for example, discussions on road safety, stranger danger and by undertaking regular fire evacuation procedures which ensures they could exit the premises in an emergency.

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and outcomes for children

Children show they understand about a healthy lifestyle as they make informed This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 choices about what they eat and drink and know that physical exercise is good for them. The childminder takes children shopping to purchase fruit when colour and quantity are discussed. The childminder extends children's understanding of healthy eating by encouraging children to plant, grow, collect, prepare and eat the fruit and vegetables they have grown. This gives them first hand knowledge about food and were it comes from. The childminder explains how healthy food makes them grow and become strong. Children’s general good health is promoted as they make the most of the fresh air and outdoor play available and they regularly undertake indoor physical activities for example, music and movement, action songs and computer generated, interactive physical games.

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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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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