Childminder in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY345090 Inspection date 13/12/2010 Inspector Anne Archer

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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 2006. She lives with her partner and son, aged four years, in the east Northamptonshire town of Irthlingborough. Childminding takes place primarily on the ground floor with access to two small bedrooms on the first floor for sleeping and the bathroom, if required. The family has two dogs which live outside.

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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. She may care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time including three children in the early years age group. She currently cares for 14 children in total including five in the early years age group. All are part-time arrangements.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds a relevant L3 qualification.

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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 make good progress in their play and learning and their welfare is successfully promoted. Safeguarding systems are thorough and partnerships with parents and with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage are well established and generally effective. The childminder knows the children well and works hard to make sure she meets their individual needs thoroughly. The childminder's ongoing self-reflection ensures that strengths are recognised, areas for development are identified early and steps taken to bring about improvement. As a result, the childminder's capacity to make continuous improvement is good.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to explore ways to encourage and enable parents to contribute to their child's on-going assessment by sharing what they know about their child review the system for recording observations and assessments so they show children's progress towards identified next steps.

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is effectively safeguarded because the childminder has a very good understanding of her responsibilities in relation to child protection and to keeping children safe. She is confident in her knowledge and understanding of potential concerns and in her ability to respond by following the current guidance This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 from her local Safeguarding Children Board. The childminder ensures that Ofsted is informed of new household members and that suitability checks are carried out. Visitors are asked for identification and are not left alone with children.

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the early years provision

Policies and procedures have been devised thoughtfully and are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the childminder's good practice. Risk assessments are conducted on the childminder's home and garden and on outings prior to the children's first visit. The childminder also carries out daily visual checks to ensure that any potential hazards are minimised before children arrive or start to play with a particular piece of equipment.

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the early years provision

The childminder helps children learn to keep themselves safe and negotiate risk without impeding their developing independence, such as, when she reminds them not to run on the tile flooring in stocking feet. She takes effective steps to promote children's health and well-being and has very clear procedures to prevent the spread of infection and to care for children if they become unwell. She holds a current paediatric first-aid certificate and has a well stocked first aid kit for emergencies. The childminder is fully aware of children's dietary needs and works closely with parents to encourage children to adopt healthy eating patterns.

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the early years provision

The effectiveness with which the childminder promotes equality and diversity is good. She has a thorough knowledge of each child's welfare and developmental needs including their culture, beliefs and ethnicity. She has established a clear system for observing, assessing and planning for children's learning needs. She provides adult-led activities and opportunities for child-initiated play which take into account children's starting points and capabilities. However, the assessment records are not fully linked to children's progress towards identified next steps and progress towards the early learning goals.

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the early years provision

Behaviour management strategies take account of children's maturity and level of understanding, are consistent and have a positive effect on children's learning. The childminder's engagement with parents and carers is good. A recent quality assurance questionnaire shows that parents are happy with their arrangements. Parents are kept very well informed of their child's achievements, well-being and development through daily conversations and regular reviews of the children's achievement records. However, parents contributions in the records of achievement, to support the childminder's work, are spasmodic and therefore do not reflect children's all-round achievement.

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the early years provision

Partnerships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage are good. The childminder has devised a procedure for approaching and sharing information with other settings which ensures both settings have a full picture of each child's learning and welfare needs. The childminder's premises are suitable and safe for purpose and she strives to maintain a stimulating and supportive environment in which children flourish. Resources are suitable for the stage of development and interests of the children. She has a clear vision for the future of her provision as she constantly reflects on her practice and attends training to support her development. This commitment ensures that her capacity to maintain continuous improvement is good. 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 very well settled, content and keen to take part in activities and play with a range of suitable toys. Activities reflect the interests and learning needs of the children. The childminder makes observations of the children while they play and uses this information to provide activities she knows they will enjoy and which challenge them and so help them to make good progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the importance of safety and of adopting healthy lifestyles through daily routines, such as, wearing appropriate clothing when they play outside and having clean hands before eating their snack. Children take part in regular emergency evacuation practises and are becoming aware of the reason for this.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy the childminder's attention and show by their behaviour and mannerisms that they feel safe in her care. They show by their actions that they understand the childminder's house rules such as tidying away occasionally to make space for other toys. They behave well under the childminder's consistent and supportive approach.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy listening to short stories, particularly about teddy bears, and often join in or anticipate what happens next. They learn to problem solve as they try to make the scales balance by adding a few counters at a time to each side. They like to make marks on paper and are able to tell the childminder what they have written about. Children are taken on a range of outings to improve their knowledge and understanding of the world and develop their socialising skills. They enjoy helping the childminder plant and care for vegetables during the summer months. They are happy to try them at meal times although some children found the peppers a little too hot.

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and outcomes for children

Children have opportunities throughout the day to play outside on the patio when the childminder sets out a range of activities for them to choose from. They also go to local parks where they can develop their skills on the play apparatus.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop skills for the future as they make progress in communication, numeracy and reasoning during their play and when they respond to the childminder's questions. Quite often a child may ask a question that they then all go off to find the answer to, such as, 'why don't slugs have ears?', or, 'what is snow made of?' When the answer has been found they are eager to share their knowledge with their parents and others. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 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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