Childminder in Warwickshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY379078 Inspection date 16/12/2010 Inspector Hazel White

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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 2008. She lives in a village location on the outskirts of Rugby with her husband and two children aged nine and 12 years. The whole of the house is used for childminding. The back garden is secure, only a paved area adjacent to the conservatory is included in the registration. The family has no pets.

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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. When working alone, she may care for six children, of whom three may be in the early years age group. When working with an assistant, she may care for 12 children and six may be in the early years group. There are currently 13 children aged under eight on roll and of these, eight are aged under five. The childminder walks to a local school to take and collect children. She attends parent and toddler groups.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder holds an early years qualification and 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are at the heart of all that happens in the childminder's home. They are provided with high quality care and make excellent progress in their learning and development within a fully inclusive environment. Their individual needs are extremely well met as important information is regularly exchanged between the childminder, parents and others involved in the children's care. Warm relationships are very evident and children are flourishing in the supportive learning environment. The childminder shows a very strong commitment to continuous improvement and very effective systems are in place for self-evaluation.

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further?

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

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further?

 draw on the views of children when self-evaluating and reflecting on practice.

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the early years provision

Children are extremely well safeguarded. Their safety is a priority and the childminder has comprehensive systems in place to identify and minimise potential risks. She demonstrates an excellent awareness of child protection procedures and has attended specific training in this respect. She shares her safeguarding policy This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 and procedures with parents and this means that they are clear with regards to her role and responsibilities in protecting children. All adults in her home are suitably vetted and children are not left unsupervised in the care of adults who have not been suitably checked.

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the early years provision

Children benefit immensely from the strong partnership that the childminder has with their parents and other settings that they attend. Regular two-way communication successfully promotes children's welfare and ensures continuity of care for all children. Parents are provided with high quality information about their children's welfare, progress and the childminder's service. Written policies are clear and comprehensive and they accurately reflect the childminder's effective and inclusive practice. Photographs, examples of children's work and shared observations successfully inform parents of their child's experiences and progress. Partnership working with other professionals is well established to ensure consistency of care for the children. The childminder has excellent links with other early years providers. For example, the sharing of newsletters and planning successfully complements children's care and education. The childminder is

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the early years provision

thoroughly aware of how to access help and guidance from outside agencies to support children's care if necessary. Children of all abilities are fully included in play activities and those who have English as an additional language are actively encouraged to use their home language. An abundance of resources, activities and experiences challenge children's thinking and help them to embrace differences in gender, culture and disability.

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the early years provision

The childminder is passionate about what she does and demonstrates, through her enthusiasm and professionalism, that each child is valued and respected. She has exceptionally high aspirations for quality and uses continual reflective practice to help focus on any areas for improvement and achieve her aims. She completes the Ofsted self-evaluation form and recognises that through the development of her reflective practice, children's welfare and learning can be further enhanced. Recommendations raised at her last inspection have been fully addressed and a variety of improvements have been made to help further improve outcomes for children. For example, the garden has been redesigned to ensure that the pond is inaccessible to children. The childminder has introduced questionnaires to gain parental views in respect of the service she provides and has reviewed all of her policies and procedures. Older children are asked for their views and the

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the early years provision

childminder is considering how these can be used effectively to inform her practice.

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the early years provision

The childminder holds a recognised early years qualification and uses her significant knowledge and experience to successfully enhance children's welfare and learning. She accesses a wealth of relevant training and regularly meets with other professionals to discuss and share good practice. The childminder is very organised and all required documentation is in place. Children have ample space to play and rest and indoor and outdoor space is thoughtfully utilised to maximise children's learning and play opportunities. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a very safe and supportive environment. They make exceptional progress in all areas of learning and have easily access to a vast range of resources. The child-friendly environment helps them to feel at home and secure. Warmth and affection is freely given and contributes greatly to children's sense of well-being. Children relish their time in her care and are having fun. They are happy to go to the childminder for comfort, reassurance and support and she has a very calm and approachable manner. Children are very confident and self- assured. They engage in a wide range of experiences outside the home. For example, regularly go on outings to local parks, farms and community groups. This broadens their horizons, enhances their social skills and helps them to develop a greater knowledge and appreciation of the wider community.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder demonstrates a superb understanding of how children learn. She reads copious amounts of childcare literature and skilfully uses this information to ensure that experiences match their individual interests and abilities. The childminder knows the children in her care really well and knows how to make learning fun. She observes children during play and carefully uses what she has seen to plan children's next steps and inform their progress records. She expertly builds on what children already know and can do and cleverly supports them to progress and learn.

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and outcomes for children

Children are allowed to explore and learn for themselves. They are active and inquisitive learners because the childminder asks open-ended questions to extend their thinking and she encourages them to come up with solutions to problems. They experience technology as they competently use resources, such as, a digital camera, voice recorders and interactive toys. They practise and refine everyday skills as they count objects identify shapes, draw and use scissors.

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and outcomes for children

Health and safety issues are effectively reinforced, together with positive behaviour and attitudes through everyday conversation and experiences. For example, children understand that they need to respect and show consideration for others and property, and good manners are evident. Road safety is practised and reinforced on outings and participation in regular emergency evacuation drills means that everyone is very clear about what they have to do in the event of a fire.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's home is very clean and excellent hygiene practices help to protect children's health and contribute to their understanding of healthy lifestyles. Children enjoy healthy and nutritious food which is freshly prepared and includes lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Children play outside on a daily basis and are learning about nature, alongside gaining plenty of physical exercise and fresh air. They examine icicles and show wonderment as the look at spiders webs when they are covered in frost. Older children help the younger ones and responsibility is encouraged. Praise for good behaviour, achievement and effort is readily given and children thrive as a result. 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 1 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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