Childminder in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY411702 Inspection date 22/11/2010 Inspector Gillian Charlesworth

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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 June 2010 and is a member of the National Childminding Association. She lives with her husband and two children age two and five years in the Billington Park area of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. The property is within a residential area close to schools and parks. There is level access to the property and one step to access the rear garden for outside play. Children have use of all rooms on the ground floor including a playroom, toilet, lounge and kitchen. The family keep a pet cat and two chickens kept in a secure enclosure in the garden.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding two children in this age group who attend on a part-time basis. The childminder supports children with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects children from the local school and attends a local toddler group on a regular basis.

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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

The childminder shows a strong commitment to improve and is taking positive steps to self-evaluate the provision. A wide range of strong policies and procedures safeguard children well and promote their welfare. Children are making secure progress in their learning and development supported by a positive atmosphere and generally enabling environment. Partnerships with parents are developing well overall and enable the childminder to get to know the children well, meet their individual welfare needs and promote continuity of care.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further working in partnership with parents - involving them in their child's continuous learning and development  develop further the indoor environment ensuring that resources are easily accessible to children, with particular regard to helping children to explore and learn independently 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 prioritises safeguarding arrangements and keeps confirmation of vetting readily available, to verify the suitability of adults in the household. She keeps a visitor's book to monitor visitors to the premises and supervises children very well, to ensure they are fully safeguarded. She has recently attended safeguarding training and reviews procedures, documentation and guidance materials, thereby meeting all safeguarding regulations and duties well and maintaining a wide range of effective policies and procedures. Effective steps are taken to ensure that children are cared for in a safe and secure environment. These include thorough risk assessments and strategies, such as placing babies in a travel cot to keep them safe on occasions when the childminder collects other children. Arrangements help children to learn to be safety conscious and develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. Good quality resources are

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the early years provision

suitable to support children's learning and development overall. Some, such as high chairs and deep storage chests are not always well utilised to fully support inclusive, independent learning. However, the childminder prioritises her time with the children, adapts routines to meet their individual needs, and engages children in a wide range of activities. There is a growing commitment to using sustainable resources. For example, the family keep chickens in the garden and children enjoy collecting their eggs to use in cooking activities.

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the early years provision

The childminder is strongly motivated to seek further improvement. In the short time that she has been registered, she has been proactive in taking steps to regularly review, monitor and improve her provision, which in turn is having a positive impact on quality. For example, she used knowledge from training to develop more thorough risk assessments and assure children's safety. She has also revised systems to monitor children's progress towards the early learning goals, thus enabling her to identify achievements and gaps in individual children's learning. Although self-evaluation is in the early stages of development, future plans for the setting are well chosen and overall, provide an accurate diagnosis of areas to develop.

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the early years provision

Parent feedback is positive and parents comment that they are pleased with the service the childminder provides and with her excellent communication with children, which in turn, promotes continuity of care to meet children's needs. They receive good quality information from the childminder with regard to children's welfare, including regular text message updates. Parents are suitably encouraged to share what they know about their child when they first start to attend. However, systems are not yet fully developed to involve parents in reviews of children's learning needs, the observation and assessment records, and to fully promote parents understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Partnerships with other agencies are good in some respects but are in the development stage. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The quality of children's learning is satisfactory therefore they are achieving well overall although, on occasions, arrangements to support babies independent learning are not always fully exploited. For example, when older babies engage in craft activities such as painting, they rarely have opportunities to experiment independently because they sit on the childminder's lap. However, children enjoy their learning, are settled and eager to take part in activities the childminder organises. They have chances to make some choices, selecting from the resources available or following suggestions from the childminder such as using play dough. Good systems are being introduced to observe and assess children's learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

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and outcomes for children

Children are making suitable progress in communicating, literacy, numeracy and information communication technology (ICT). They enjoy cuddling-up to read books with the childminder, turning pages with interest, as they take turns to lift the flaps and talk about the illustrations. The childminder warmly helps them to develop their language and communication, praising children as they use simple words to convey messages, or count the animals they see and begin to name them. They take pleasure in making sounds using an interactive mat. The childminder supports them well to take steps and trigger sounds from each step, then encourages them to bounce on their bottoms to trigger the sounds independently. They have opportunities to learn to begin to make marks using interactive drawing mats. They giggle in response to the childminder's playful banter as they warmly communicate with one another. They have some

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and outcomes for children

opportunities to learn about the wider world through a range of outings.

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and outcomes for children

Children are secure and show a strong sense of belonging through their good relationships with the childminder and their sense of trust as they snuggle-in for comfort on demand. They are beginning to demonstrate a clear understanding of issues relating to safety, which helps them to feel safe in the setting. For example, children are learning to hold the banister when coming down the stairs and to look where they are going. Routines are well organised to ensure their safety, and interactions help children learn about dangers and to play safely. For example, the childminder reminds them not to play on the safety gate or put play dough in their mouths.

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and outcomes for children

Children are beginning to show an understanding about healthy lifestyles. Their physical needs are met well, through the flexible arrangements, such as individual sleep and meal routines. Hygiene arrangements are adequate and children eat a balanced range of healthy meals and snacks either provided from home, or by the childminder who often engages children in social conversation as they eat. Children are encouraged to take part in the preparation of food such as making upside- down cakes, thus developing autonomy and self-care. Regular outings and purposeful exercises, help children make positive progress in increasing their mobility and developing their physical skills.

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident, happy and settled, have positive attitudes, and display a This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 strong sense of belonging. They have chances to be independent and are keen to take part in activities. They are learning to form good relationships as they are encouraged to take turns and share. They behave well overall and positive strategies help them to follow appropriate ground rules for good behaviour. For example, they enjoy receiving reward stickers when they sit at the table to eat meals. They have some chances to learn about diversity through resources such as books. 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 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 2 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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