Childminder, Out-of school day care in West Sussex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY340729 Inspection date 22/11/2010 Inspector Kerry Iden

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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 assesses 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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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 four children, in Horsham, West Sussex. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding with upstairs bedrooms used for day time naps. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register; to care for a maximum of five children at any one time, of whom no more than three maybe in the early years age group. There are currently nine children on roll, five of whom are in the early years age group and all attend on a part time basis. The childminder collects children from local pre-schools, schools visits the park and places of interests. 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

The childminder offers a warm and caring service to the children and is keen to work collaboratively with families. The childminder understands the individual needs of each child and is able to differentiate activities to allow all children to make progress. The childminder has adapted well to the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage, keeping up with current practices. Although not fully evaluating yet, the childminder has some awareness of areas for development demonstrating that she does have the ability to make continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop a more systematic system within the observations of children to monitor children's achievements ensuring children are making steady progress towards all areas of learning and allow opportunities for the parents to contribute towards their child's learning.  develop a two-way flow of information with other early years providers to ensure a collaborative approach to children's welfare and learning and development is fully achieved

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the early years provision

The children within the setting are protected from harm as the childminder has a good understanding of all aspects of safeguarding. The childminder has increased her knowledge and understanding of her responsibilities towards child protection This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 since her last inspection and formalised this knowledge by attending child protection training in 2009. The written policies and additional information within the setting supports the childminder with any concerns she may have about the welfare of the children. The childminder completes risk assessments within her home and on all outings away from the setting. With strict arrangements about the collection of children from the setting the childminder demonstrates her commitment to safeguarding children as she works in partnership with the parents.

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the early years provision

The childminder has not yet completed the Ofsted self evaluation form or devised a system of her own to critically evaluate all aspects of her service. She has however, implemented the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage and is continually improving her confidence in her knowledge of the different areas of learning. All recommendations raised at the last inspection have been addressed by the childminder. The childminder is aware of areas of development within her own setting showing she has an accurate understanding of her own strengths and weaknesses.

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the early years provision

The childminder makes resources available for the children and adapts these through the day. The childminder has the skills in her quality of teaching to challenge children effectively and on an individual basis with the resources she uses. Through the childminding group the childminder extends resources away from the home as children become involved in a balance of adult led and child initiated play. Through mini topics and activities and the celebration of each childs birthday within the setting the children are beginning to value and respect others. The childminder works with each parent to gain a good understanding of each child's background and through ongoing discussion continually meets the individual needs of all children. Effective strategies identified by other specialists, are used within the setting to offer children consistency in their development.

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the early years provision

The childminder encourages the parents to talk to her about any aspects of her care of the children; she welcomes comments about the children's routines and day to day care to ensure children's individual needs. The childminder has organised individual communication books for each of the parents, within these she includes mainly information about the children's care needs with some basic information about the activities they have been involved in during the day, although this has not yet been extended to encourage parents to contribute towards their child's learning through the development records she completes. Parents make positive comments about the childminder stating how they feel like part of the childminder's family illustrating that partnerships with parents are well established. Although the childminder gains some general information from some other settings the children also attend, this is generalised and not specific about

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the early years provision

the children's progress towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and settled within the provision. They have warm relationships between each other and show displays of kindness, for example, as children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 attempt to join puzzle pieces together other children pass them the pieces they need. The children interact well together within their own peer group, the childminder and also with older children when the childminder's children return home. All children are able to sustain high levels of concentration through activities and with the encouragement they receive from the childminder they are able to successfully complete their chosen tasks. The childminder is developing chronological scrap books of the children's time in the setting. These are a nice record for the parents with photographs of their children and some written observations of their child involved in different activities. The childminder has

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and outcomes for children

written some reviews with areas for next steps in children's development although has not yet fully implemented a system to ensure children are making good progress in all areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

The children feel safe and secure within the childminder's home, they move around the setting confidently, showing good levels of independence, for example, accessing the bathroom on the ground floor. Through activities and games children are learning how to keep themselves safe. For example, whilst sharpening pencils the childminder chats to the children about their safety and refers them back to how they use scissors correctly. Additionally whilst playing hide and seek the childminder reminds the children that this is a game for inside only, encouraging safety measures without scarring them. Children are learning the importance of healthy lifestyles, the childminder offers herself as a good role model in this area by having clear procedures in place to promote good hygiene. Children are encouraged to wash their hands through routine times of the day, some children comment on why they have to wash their hands for example, one child said 'you

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and outcomes for children

have to wash your hands because 'Morag's really dirty on her feet' after they handled the family pets.

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and outcomes for children

The progress children are making in their communication and numeracy skills secure their knowledge for the skills they will need for future. The childminder uses resources knowing what the children like to do, and uses these well to challenge children in these areas. For example, through the use of different puzzles children are challenged and extended further given their own capabilities. Through child led interest in clocks the childminder reinforces children's knowledge of number as she counts by rote with younger children and asks older children to identify different numbers. Through this activity the childminder introduces vocabulary as she introduces the children to telling the time. Children take initiative, working well independently as well as with their peers. Their behaviour is good and the childminder values the children ensuring everyone can make a positive contribution to the setting. 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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Early Years Foundation Stage

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 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 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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