Childminder in HertfordshireOfsted inspection, 15 Jul 2010

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY404619 Inspection date 15/07/2010 Inspector Sheila Harrison

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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 registered in 2010. The childminder is registered to co-childmind at four local domestic premises in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. This is a group childminding setting and the childminder works with one or two childminders at all times. The childminder does not mind children at her home address. The whole of the ground floor areas within these homes are used for childminding purposes with access to the bedrooms for sleeping purposes only. All properties have access to fully enclosed gardens for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children under eight years at any one time when she is working on her own and a maximum of six children under eight years when working with another childminder and nine children when working with two childminders. She currently has three children in the early years age range on roll. The childminder is available to work as emergency cover for the childminding groups where she co-childminds. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and has an appropriate early years qualification.

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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 plays a valuable role in promoting a happy and welcoming environment in the home of the co-childminder. Children are kept safe through the secure health and safety procedures. The childminder is well aware of, and responds to, the individual needs and interests of the children. This ensures that the uniqueness of each child is fully recognised and they are making good progress towards the early learning goals given their starting points. Effective links with parents and the local school help to build positive relationships and ensure that the needs of children are well met. The childminder and her co-childminders have an accurate understanding of their strengths and take effective steps to improve their practice.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the safeguarding policy with particular regard to ensuring parents are aware of the duty to report concerns and the steps to be taken including how this will be recorded  develop further systems to value children's own ideas rather than expecting them to complete a worksheet. 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 a good understanding of the setting’s safeguarding procedures. She has undertaken recent training in indentifying the known indicators of abuse and shares this information with the other members of the childminding team. Changes to the recording procedures have been introduced following her attendance at the course and this effectively promotes children’s safety. Information on the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) procedures and the reporting details are easily to hand for reference. The setting has comprehensive records and procedures to meet the needs of the children and the childminder adds to the records and follows the procedures well. Children are kept safe with full risk assessments and the childminder contributes to an individual risk assessment for each child when they start. Valuable communication systems within the childminding team ensure that all children are supervised by fully vetted

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the early years provision

people. Parents are made aware they can see the setting’s policies including the safeguarding procedures although the childminder is unsure if they are all made aware of the setting’s duty to report concerns to the relevant authority. The records of existing injuries are inconsistently kept.

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the early years provision

The childminder uses the Ofsted self-evaluation form to evaluate the service she provides and accurately recognises the strengths of the setting. She actively contributes to discussions within the childminding team and makes changes to the recording procedures to ensure there is a record of the messages that parents give when leaving their children. The childminder continues with her own professional development by achieving an appropriate early years qualification and attending other short courses to update her skills and knowledge. This shows that she is able to make continuous improvements.

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the early years provision

Parents receive worthwhile information on their children’s day. They have regular newsletters and photographs of their children enjoying their play. There is a culture of inclusion as the childminder is well aware of children’s starting points, likes and dislikes through the constructive settling-in procedure and the details parents provide. This information helps the childminder to provide an individualised service and have realistic expectations of the children. Parents are encouraged to share their family festivals and celebrations with all the setting. The co-minders care for young children and they have a good relationship with the local settings that the children go onto when they are older.

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the early years provision

Children’s achievements and well-being are promoted as the childminder uses her time efficiently to give them ample individual attention. The children have key workers and this is organised to ensure that the childminder is on duty on the days her key child attends. The indoor accommodation and play equipment is sufficient and suitably organised to allow the children a positive choice of resources. The childminder ensures full access to the curriculum outside and children can learn on a larger more active scale. 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 making good progress in their learning and development. Assessment is through observations and the information gained is used effectively to guide planning. Children’s folders contain photographs and detailed observations linked to the areas of learning and the plans for the children’s next steps. The childminder is skilled at promoting positive attitudes to learning ensuring that every child is suitably challenged by providing experiences linked to their interests. For example, a game to support sharing is planned using the children’s interest in ball games. Children have sufficient time to explore and develop their ideas. They explore shape and colour using an interesting range of real objects such as different types of orange fruits, vegetable and tissue paper. They can experiment with large amounts of shredded paper both inside and outside although the occasional worksheets do not fully exploit opportunities for young children to think

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and outcomes for children

critically and make links in their learning. Young children’s emerging language is supported with a group activity of songs and rhymes. Children take turns and make links to sounds and letters as they spell out their name in a song. They are beginning to explore number as they sing ‘six fat sausages’ using six plastic sausages as props.

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and outcomes for children

Children are very secure with a strong sense of belonging. Their work is displayed; there are photographs of the children at play and photographs of all the co- childminders displayed at a low level. There is a comprehensive book of photographs in the book corner. Children delight in seeing the photographs of their families and the families of their friends displayed on the setting’s ‘family tree’.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy healthy and nutritious meals and snacks each day which offer variety and choice. Fruit and fresh drinks are readily available to them. The childminder contributes to the menu planning and ensures children's dietary needs are well known and catered for. The childminder positively supports young children’s toileting routines by encouraging their efforts at independence. Children respond to praise from the childminder and this helps to increase their confidence and self-assurance. They adopt good personal hygiene routines. Young children are learning to be safe as they move confidently around the premises and they have plenty of hands and furniture to support them taking their first steps. The setting regularly practises the emergency evacuation procedures to ensure young children are not worried about the change in routine. 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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