Childminder in Staffordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY412278 Inspection date 01/12/2010 Inspector Linda Tomkins

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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 2010. She lives with her and husband and two children aged nine and 13 years in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. Access is via a driveway sloping downwards to the house.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more that three may be in the early years age range. She is currently caring for one child in this age group. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes children to pre-school groups and to local shops and parks. She 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

Policies and procedures are well maintained and implemented to ensure continuity of care and learning and a good capacity to maintain continuous improvement. The childminder has detailed knowledge of the children's interests and abilities, which ensures their individuality is recognised and respected. The childminder works in partnership with parents and has a sound knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage which ensures children make good progress in their learning. Some of the required paperwork is not in place. The childminder continually identifies aspects of her service that she would like to extend and develop and monitors her service by comparing and sharing ideas with other childminders and parents.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 ensure the information about who has legal contact with the children: and who has parental responsibility is obtained in advance of the child being admitted to the provision. (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 14/12/2010

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further?

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

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further?

 review the positioning of the fire blanket to ensure it is working order. 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 attends various training courses to extend and enhance her knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. These include first aid, safeguarding and Early Years Foundation stage workshops. She is clear about safety issues and ensures children are safe and secure inside her home. The childminder conducts visual daily safety checks and the required risk assessments for all areas of her home are completed and regularly reviewed. However, the fire blanket in the kitchen is not securely positioned to ensure effective operation. The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibilities regarding child protection issues and how to report her concerns. The childminder has not yet obtained details on who has parental responsibility and legal contact with children in her care. This has the potential to compromise the safety and welfare of the children. The childminder has ensured that all adults living on the premises are

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the early years provision

suitable to have contact with children. She has close partnerships with parents to share most of the information required to safeguard children.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of the need to develop systems to share plans with other settings that deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure continuity of education for the children. The childminder is successful in offering an inclusive service and has a sound knowledge of how to seek additional help for children. She ensures children make significant progress and enjoy individual support to enhance their learning experience. The children's progress is discussed with parents in order to promote continuity and progression. Parents receive verbal and written information on their children's physical care on a daily basis. In addition, parents are invited to comment on their children's development files, one writes 'We are really pleased', 'he is comfortable and happy here', 'like home from home'.

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the early years provision

The childminder is forward thinking in her determination to maintain and improve her good quality childminding service. Her future plans include undertaking further training in safeguarding and food hygiene. In addition she is working towards making the rear garden safe for outside play. The childminder provides the children with a wide range of challenging and exciting experiences and activities. She has good quality resources and ensures that the environment is stimulating, warm and welcoming. The childminder uses the self-evaluation form to evaluate her practice to enable her to recognise the learning value in daily routine activities.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and content and enjoy the time they spend with the childminder and her family. Their confidence grows as they are provided with interesting experiences and individual support, which helps them develop a positive sense of themselves. Children are involved in the local community and enjoy outings to the park, shops and pre-school groups. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children's personal independence is developing as the childminder encourages children to learn to take care of their own personal needs, such as wiping their own hands and faces before food and feeding themselves at meal times. The childminder joins in with the children's play. She extends free play by rolling the ball towards the children to help them send it down the helter-skelter tree-house toy. The varied range of resources are freely available and stored at a low level,

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and outcomes for children

including books which are chosen to read as part of daily activities. Currently a favourite book is about a hungry caterpillar. Children make strong progress and celebrate their achievements with praise and applause. The childminder expertly uses daily routines to extend the children's learning experiences such as encouraging them to help tidy toys away and counting how many letters the postman has delivered.

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and outcomes for children

Children make decisions and select their own toys and activities. Resources are used imaginatively as part of their play. For example, the children become absorbed when pushing buttons on an activity toy to make the lights flash and music play. The childminder is helping the children to understand the importance of keeping safe and respecting rules by ensuring children are securely strapped into car seats, pushchairs and highchairs.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy frequent walks and visits to pre-schools to develop their sense of well-being and physical skills. These activities provide opportunities to use large equipment and enjoy freedom with boundaries. The childminder demonstrates good hygiene practice by teaching the children about a healthy lifestyle and eating healthy food.

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and outcomes for children

Children are creative, they are helped to paint colourful pictures and enjoy playing with recycled materials. Opportunities to extend their understanding of diversity and minority groups are included in the planning of activities together with resources with positive images of other cultures.

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and outcomes for children

Children's enthusiasm and self-esteem grow as the childminder praises and thanks them for their compliant behaviour and achievements. They are rewarded with smiles, praise and hugs. Children are taught to be aware of others and play together companionably. They are learning skills for the future as they experience early numeracy, communication and literacy skills in free play and daily routines. For example they are learning to sing number rhymes and match shapes in jigsaws.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder fully assesses children when they first attend to ascertain their starting points. This is done by discussion with parents and completing the detailed registration forms. Systems to monitor progress and to record the next steps in development are in place to fully inform individual plans. Children have frequent opportunities to extend their understanding of the society in which they live, through visits, discussion, stories and increasing their awareness of culture and minority groups. 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 2 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 2 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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