Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY403906 Inspection date 22/07/2010 Inspector Hilary Preece

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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. She lives with her husband and two children aged four and six years in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. The whole of the house, with the exception of the master bedroom, is used for childminding purposes. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outside play. There is level access to the childminder's house.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, no more than two of which may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding one child in this age group. She offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The childminder is also registered by Ofsted on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is also registered to provide overnight care for one child under eight years. The childminder speaks English, Bengali and Urdu.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

A welcoming and inclusive environment helps children feel safe and enjoy their learning. Children are beginning to make steady progress in their learning and development, although observation and assessment systems are not yet robust in planning for all their individual needs. Positive partnerships with parents are emerging that ensure children are generally well supported. Children's welfare and safety are promoted by some generally sound policies and procedures, most of which are understood and implemented effectively. However, not all requirements are met. Self-evaluation and some plans for the future are being considered but systems are not yet reliable in monitoring the effectiveness of the provision across all areas.

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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 written parental permission is requested, at the time of the child's admission to the provision, to the seeking of any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment in the future (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 05/08/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 develop effective systems in relation to self-evaluation to ensure that the individual needs of all children are met and as the basis of ongoing internal review This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  review organisation of records and documents to support the efficient implementation of the safeguarding children policy and procedure  carry out regular evacuation drills and record the details in a fire log book  use observations and assessments of each child's achievements, interests and learning styles to identify learning priorities, plan relevant and motivating learning experiences and match them to expectations of the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

Children are protected because the childminder complies with vetting and training requirements. This means all adults in the household have undergone checks, the childminder has completed training for childminders and she holds a first aid certificate. She has developed a generally secure set of policies and procedures and understands most responsibilities in keeping children safe. She has a sound knowledge of safeguarding issues overall and has all the required information necessary to follow up any concerns about a child's welfare or to report allegations. However, this is not particularly well organised or readily available, which raises concern over how well the procedure would be implemented. Most records are sufficiently well maintained to ensure the safe management of the provision. However, the childminder has overlooked the requirement to obtain written permission from parents for the seeking of any emergency medical advice

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the early years provision

or treatment. Basic risk assessments are carried out so that children are kept safe and secure at home and on outings. Space is used appropriately to meet children's needs for play, quiet time and physical activity with plenty of opportunity to move between the home and garden as children wish.

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the early years provision

The childminder works hard to build positive partnerships with parents. Parents comment on how helpful they find the daily two-way communication and how children are helped to feel included and part of the family. Parents are provided with copies of her policies and information about the routines and activities offered. The childminder is introducing more comprehensive systems for finding out about children's individual needs to enhance the settling-in procedure. She ensures all families are welcomed by finding out about their cultural backgrounds and encourages them to share knowledge and practices, so that children learn to recognise and value diversity and difference. She has also extended her provision to offer overnight care in response to parental need. Partnerships in the wider context are emerging so that there is some continuity of care for those children attending other early years settings.

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the early years provision

The childminder is keen to further develop her childminding service. She expresses a desire to undertake further childcare qualifications in the future in order to build on her previous training and experience of supporting children in schools. Self- evaluation is in its early stages. She has identified some areas for development, such as converting the large garden shed into an outdoor play house and networking with other childminders and children's groups. She accurately identifies some of her strengths as providing an inclusive service and being able to help children focus their attention on achieving a task or goal. However, systems for This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 monitoring the progress that children make or how effectively she implements the Early Years Foundation Stage using rigorous criteria, are currently under- developed.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides a secure learning environment where children are made to feel welcome and part of the family. Positive relationships are encouraged because all children are listened to and valued. Clear and consistent expectations help children understand how to behave. As a result, children are polite and respectful, use good manners and converse well with the childminder and family members. Children have some opportunities to select their own play and resources, so develop some independence. Other activities are planned by the childminder and these are generally enjoyed. Children follow instructions and are guided to complete a task, such as when painting symmetrical butterflies or making balloon models. They listen and respond appropriately, ask questions and focus their attention on the task in hand. At other times, they are given more opportunity to be creative and express themselves according to their own ideas

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and outcomes for children

and interests. For example, children enjoy developing their imaginative ideas through role play with dolls and dressing-up clothes. They explore the wider world by wearing multicultural dressing-up outfits or uniforms that reflect the jobs that their parents do and by trying foods from around the world such as eating noodles with chopsticks. Children's numeracy and ability to solve problems are developed whilst playing 'shops' as the childminder introduces concepts of quantity and number as children count out money. Their curiosity is encouraged through hunting for bugs in the garden and helping to nurture vegetables growing in the garden.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to make steady progress in their learning and development, given their starting points. The childminder gets to know children and plans some appropriate activities based on individual needs and interests to support their learning. Observation and assessments used in planning are satisfactory. Records and photographs show children engaging in a sufficiently broad range of activities but these are not used specifically in identifying the progress children make towards the early learning goals and planning for their next steps. Neither do parents have frequent opportunities to contribute to these records in order to fully work together to support learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children adopt healthy habits such as good hygiene practices and healthy eating. On returning from school, for example, they understand the routine to change out of their school uniforms and wash their hands before tucking into a healthy snack of fresh fruit and vegetable sticks. They are encouraged to make healthy choices by trying a new variety of fruit juice. They enjoy being physically active in the garden where there is space to run about and use some small apparatus and equipment to develop coordination and movement. They also develop fine motor control using their hands as they thread very small beads to make necklaces and bracelets. They recognise that to do this safely they must sit still so the beads do not spill. Health and safety procedures are mostly effective in ensuring children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 individual well-being is promoted. They develop awareness of keeping themselves

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and outcomes for children

and others safe through being regularly reminded about road safety when on outings and how to use physical apparatus safely. There is a plan for the emergency evacuation of the premises and the danger of fire is discussed with children. Because this has yet to be practised, it is difficult to assess how effective it is in keeping children safe. Overall, the environment is safe and suitably equipped to meet the needs of the children attending. 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 3 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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