Valley School

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 129515 Inspection date 07/12/2010 Inspector Tina Kelly

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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

Children only attend this setting before and/or after the school day and/or during the school holidays. The judgements in this report reflect the quality of early years provision offered to children during those periods.

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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 1998. She lives with her husband and teenage daughter. They live in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, close to local amenities. The whole of the home is used for childminding although children do not generally access upstairs other than to use the family bathroom. The garden is not included in the registration. The family have a pet guinea pig. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register to care for a maximum of five children at any one time, no more than three children may be in the early years age range, of these one may be under the age of one year. She is currently caring for three children in the early year's age range. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care. The links with home, children's feeling of security and sense of belonging is exceptional. Children are making good progress in their learning and development as the childminder provides a good range of outings, activities and opportunities based on the children's interests. Some of the detail in the children's learning journeys is not effectively used to identify the next steps in their learning. Appropriate documents are in place for the smooth running of the setting. The childminder is beginning to evaluate her practice and is aware of the areas that need to be developed in order for her to maintain continuous improvements.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the process for self-evaluation and to monitor practice and to promote outcomes for all children  ensure children's starting points are identified and plans show how observations and assessments are used to plan for the next steps in the children's learning

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of her role in safeguarding children. Information with regards to the Local Safeguarding Children Board is readily available to parents. The childminder understands requirements for ensuring that all adults are appropriately vetted. Children are kept safe through well-managed supervision and effective risk assessments for all areas of the home, use of the car and outings. These identify and minimize hazards for all children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Well-organised policies and procedures underpin the childminder's care routines which ensure children's individual needs are recognised and are met in full. Children are comfortable with cloakroom routines and nappy changes; they are co- operative and understand what is expected of them. Children are confident in accessing the good range of toys and resources that are stored at low-level around

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the early years provision

the home. The childminder knows the children well, she is aware of their different backgrounds and adapts and extends their routines and opportunities in line with their individual needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder is highly committed to working in partnership with parents. There is excellent communication with parents through detailed daily diaries. Longstanding arrangements with the families give the children a strong sense of belonging. A parent questionnaire gives opportunity for feedback and to evaluate the care the childminder provides. The responses are very positive with high acclaim for the care and service they receive. A questionnaire for the children shows they enjoy their time with the childminder and feel safe. They express themselves well, their comments show they have a very strong bond with their carer. These strong relationships support the children in all aspects of their care, learning and development. Links are being developed with local early years settings where the children attend.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a commitment to develop her skills through training. However, she has not yet established a process to evaluate all aspects of her practice, to enable her to identify priorities, to maximise improvements to her practice and opportunities for all children. Recommendations from previous inspections have been met. The childminder helps to run a local childminder support group organising events and activities. She is committed to developing her service to improve outcomes for all children.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides an interesting, home from home environment. Children are provided with a very good range of toys and games that are age appropriate and readily available. The childminder promotes an inclusive setting; resources, activities and community events are used to promote the young children's understanding of the wider world and different cultures.

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident, they move around the home freely, using the space to extend their play. They show great concentration skills as they play with a wooden train set. They become absorbed and can repair the tracks and replace the train with a little direction from the childminder. Children respond well to their carer when she asks them to help to put the toys away. They are developing a strong sense of worth as they pack all the tracks away and bring the storage box to the childminder. They show great delight as they are praised and thanked. The childminder has established Learning Journals to record the children's time with her, the activities they take part in and to show how they are developing their early learning skills. Photographs show they are taken to activity sessions, the farm This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and nearby zoo. Regular observations are linked with photographs and art work to

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and outcomes for children

show the children take part in a very wide range of interesting activities and events. However as the childminder does not record their starting points, their age, or if they attend other settings, the detail that is in place is not effective in planning for the next steps in their learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder knows the children well. The high quality interaction and well established routines play a vital role in meeting the individual needs of the young children in her care. This helps all children to gain an exceptionally strong sense of well-being and a strong sense of security. The childminder provides all children with an exciting range of learning experiences that establish essential skills for their future learning. 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 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 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 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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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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