Gannon Mandy

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 317799 Inspection date 23/11/2010 Inspector A Howard

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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 1997. She lives with her family in Bentley, on the outskirts of Doncaster, close to shops, parks, schools and public transport links. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed play area available for outdoor play. Care is offered Monday to Friday all year round. Overnight care is offered for a maximum of two children at any one time. The family have a cat.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children at any one time and is currently minding three children in the early years age range. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The childminder has procedures to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and who speak English as an additional language. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder is strongly committed to inclusion and all children are able to fully participate. Significantly enhanced partnerships with parents support children's care and learning and help them to develop a strong sense of belonging and being valued. There is an atmosphere of infectious enthusiasm because the childminder is highly motivated and committed to providing the very best for the children in her care. She has an extremely clear vision for the future, further developing her knowledge and skills and reflecting on her practice in a very rigorous manner.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 build further upon the links established with other settings providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure that the education provided complements the education received at other settings.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an excellent awareness of the possible signs and symptoms of abuse and the correct procedures to follow should she have any concerns. She records first class information about existing injuries and discusses these with parents, showing that safety of the children in her care is always her first priority. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Extremely well documented policies and procedures, which are shared with parents and continually reviewed, provide a clear sense of direction and significantly enhance the care and learning of children. Meticulous risk assessments are completed to reduce potential risk, while allowing children freedom to discover and learn safely. The environment indoors and outdoors is organised incredibly well and creatively, so that children can choose independently to access areas and resources. This offers them free access to innovative activities to extend their play

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the early years provision

and develop their independence. The childminder provides a wealth of exciting learning opportunities, including excellent treasure baskets and props, which inspire children's imagination and encourage them to learn in a fun way. Fantastic opportunities for outdoor play are integral to the way in which she provides an enjoyable and challenging learning experience that is tailored to meet children's individual needs. This encourages children to be very active learners and has helped the childminder to identify that they behave quite differently inside and out. Children participate in a very wide range of activities that help to develop their appreciation of the wider world. They explore different festivals through artwork, stories and factual books. They see posters and photographs of people from around the world and of varying abilities, accessing a wealth of toys and resources that promote positive images of diversity, using these in everyday play situations.

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the early years provision

Partnerships with parents are excellent, which contributes immensely to the children's overall well-being. Ongoing daily verbal communication and very informative written records, observations and assessments ensure parents are kept extremely well informed about their child's care and learning. Children are clearly benefiting from this and are highly motivated and settled in response. Excellent working links are established with a wide range of professionals, to ensure developmental concerns do not present barriers to children's progress and enjoyment. However, the system in place to ensure a two-way flow of information with other settings providing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage is in its infancy. The childminder has an ambition for excellence, she has a clear vision for the future and has significantly enhanced skills which she uses to promote children's welfare and to support their learning and development. She uses self-

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the early years provision

evaluation robustly and has devised an active training development programme to ensure she keeps up-to-date in the skills required to provide the best outcomes for children.

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and outcomes for children

Children are at the heart of all that happens in the setting because the childminder is extremely knowledgeable about the children in her care. She knows how to engage their interest and offers them challenges that are achievable. Parents provide a very thorough baseline of information for children's starting points. The childminder uses this information robustly in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage to plan superbly for children's next steps. Children participate eagerly and with great enjoyment. They love outdoors where they are offered the freedom to explore, use their senses and be physically exuberant. They scoop compost, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 separate seedlings, plant them and care for them and then measure how much they have grown. An extensive range of heuristic play resources stimulate sensory and tactile experiences. Children show immense delight in making mud pies and

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and outcomes for children

feeling how cold the water is. They skilfully and enthusiastically operate simple electronic toys and sing along to favourite music. Children have a very good awareness of number names as they count routinely in activities. For example, they count the bananas they need for the day and spontaneously count the wheels on a car. They are beginning to distinguish between more and less, and make comparatives as they match the size of the slides outdoors. Children play games which relate to number order, addition and subtraction, such as football, board games and shopping games. They are excellent at recognising shapes, naming a square, circle and diamond when eating cheesy biscuits. The environment is exceedingly rich in signs, symbols, notices, numbers, words and books to support children in developing confidence and a superb disposition to become competent in communicating. They love repetition and sing the same song over and over again

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and outcomes for children

building up their memory and confidence. All children develop an excellent sense of worth through the first class interaction, care and attention they receive from the childminder. For example, children respond eagerly to constant praise and encouragement and enjoy the warm, caring reassurance from the childminder and her family. They feel good about themselves and show respect for each other and are beginning to manage their own behaviour successfully. The childminder has high expectations and her highly effective use of praise ensures children feel self assured and supported.

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and outcomes for children

Children's awareness of risk and safety is promoted extremely well within their everyday play experiences. They learn about their own safety through following the excellent practice of the childminder and the constant but gentle reminders of safety rules to reinforce safe practice. This helps children understand why rules exist and gives them confidence to explore and learn in a safe and secure yet challenging environment. The introduction of children taking the lead in completing risk assessments further raises their awareness of dangers. The children show superb awareness of adopting healthy lifestyles, understanding the need for exercise and a healthy diet. They thoroughly enjoy jumping in puddles and show excellent co-ordination as they pedal, jump, run, skip, climb and hop with gusto. Children are provided with wholesome, nutritious and well-balanced meals and thoroughly enjoy the food offered to them. Meals are freshly prepared using some

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and outcomes for children

vegetables and fruit children have helped to plant and care for. Children help with the preparation of meals and understand why some food is healthy and others are not. The innovative use of the 'Eat well plate' introduces children to portion size and different groups of food. This helps children to understand how to keep themselves healthy from a very young age. 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 1 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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