Childminder in Walsall

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY342795 Inspection date 20/04/2010 Inspector Jennifer Turner

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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 2006. She lives with her husband and three older children in Streetly, Sutton Coldfield. The location is convenient for shops, parks, schools and public transport. The whole of the ground floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to provide care for six children at any one time and is currently minding 11 children, of whom five children are in the early years age group. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register, compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder holds a NNEB qualification 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is good. Children are welcomed into a warm and child-friendly environment where the childminder ensures they are valued as unique individuals and their learning and development needs are addressed well. Effective arrangements exist to ensure children's safety, health and well-being. Strong links with parents and carers help involve them in their children's care and education and they are kept well informed. The childminder strives for improvement and the process of self-evaluation is effective.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the planning to ensure the learning intention of activities is clear, to help fully exploit the learning potential of activities.

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the early years provision

There are effective procedures in place to ensure that adults having access to children are suitable to do so. There are robust policies and procedures to ensure the safeguarding and welfare of children, clearly understood by the childminder. Detailed written risk assessments of the environment indoors, outdoors and places she takes the children means prompt action is taken to manage and eliminate risks. Positive steps are taken to ensure children are safe and that furniture, equipment and toys are suitable and safe. Detailed records, policies and procedures required for the safe and efficient management of the service and to meet the needs of children are in place and regularly reviewed and updated. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder has a good knowledge of the learning and development and welfare requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Practice Guidance which

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the early years provision

ensures she is able to promote children's learning and development. She holds an early years childcare qualification and regularly attends training to keep abreast of changes. She has current first aid and basic food hygiene certificates to ensure she is able to effective safeguard children's health and well-being. Activities are planned to ensure children are suitably challenged and based upon accurate observations and assessment, but on occasions the learning intention of activities is not always clear and the children's experiences not fully exploited.

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the early years provision

Partnership with parents and carers is very well established and ensures each child's care needs are met well. Parents receive detailed information about the early years provision, activities carried out and its policies and procedures as the childminder shares her portfolio with them. They are kept well informed about the children's achievements and progress through daily discussion and through sharing the children's developmental profiles. A good two-way flow of information helps build close relationships with parents and helps them meet parents' wishes and requests. The childminder shows a strong commitment to establishing partnerships and links with other agencies to support and promote children's achievements and well-being. She works closely with other settings that children attend and share information about children's daily activities and interest which she then uses to extend children's learning. The childminder actively seeks the views of parents and

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the early years provision

she recognises the value of continuous quality improvement through self- evaluation and informed discussion to identify the strengths and priorities for development that will continue to improve the quality of provision for all children.

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and outcomes for children

Children are welcomed into a learning environment indoors and outdoors, that encourages a positive attitude to learning through providing a rich and stimulating range of experiences. The competent, qualified and experienced childminder supports the children's learning through planning around the six areas of learning, which contributes to children making good progress towards early learning goals. All children make good progress in their learning in relation to their capabilities and starting points.

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and outcomes for children

The strong emphasis on the children's personal, social and emotional development means all children develop close relationships which are warm and caring. They work well together to complete difficult jigsaw puzzles and learn to share and take turns. They develop a positive sense of themselves and others and easily express their ideas and feelings. Children play well independently and with their peers, as they freely move around choosing activities to play with. Children's communication language and literacy is supported well. The childminder provides opportunities for children to develop early writing skills through everyday play and activities. A selection of books incorporated in an area of the room and regular story and singing sessions gives children daily opportunities to share and enjoy books, music and songs. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children benefit from time to develop spoken language through sharing

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and outcomes for children

conversations with the childminder as they talk about things that interest them. The children's knowledge and understanding of the world is supported well to help them make sense of the world. Children benefit greatly from being able to explore and investigate the natural environment. They feed and care for the childminder's pet rabbit and engage in a good range of meaningful experiences in which they encounter creatures, people, plants and objects in their natural environment and real-life situations. Children are introduced to a range of cultures and religions through stories and foods and a variety of resources in their play. Children's problem-solving, reasoning and numeracy are building well as they seek patterns, make connections and recognise relationships through finding out about and working with numbers, counting, sorting and matching. They enjoy a wide range of experiences to express their creativity through experiencing a variety painting

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and outcomes for children

techniques, using a range of arts and crafts and using their imagination during role play activities. They create pictures on canvas to display in the play room.

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and outcomes for children

Children behave in ways that are safe for themselves and others and are developing an understanding of dangers and how to stay safe, as they regularly practise the fire drills. Children show an excellent understanding of health eating, because the childminder provides them with well-balanced, healthy and nutritious meals, snacks and drinks, which are freshly prepared by the childminder. She offers children an array of healthy food and snacks and encourages children to try new foods to develop their taste buds. Children have opportunities to engage in a wide range of physical activities and also benefit from daily access to the garden and local parks. This helps children develop a positive approach to taking exercise and adopting a healthy lifestyle. They successfully develop skills that contribute to their future economic well-being through making good progress in their communication, language and literacy and problem-solving, reasoning and

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and outcomes for children

numeracy skills and through demonstrating an understanding of the wider world through their play and communications. 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 1 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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