Childminder in Cornwall

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY272110 Inspection date 12/01/2011 Inspector Lynne Bowden

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and their two daughters, one attends primary school and the eldest is works as assistant. They live in the village of Mount Hawke near Truro, Cornwall. The whole of the ground floor and a rear bedroom and bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The family has numerous animals, these include nine rabbits, five cats, four hamsters, three guinea pigs, one dog and numerous aviary birds and chickens along with goldfish and tropical fish.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for up to six children up to eight years old at any one time, three of these can be in the early years age range. When working with an assistant they are able to care for up to nine children up to eight years old, of these six can be in the early years age range. The childminder also cares for children older children. Currently there are 11 children on roll in the early years age range. As an accredited minder, she also receives nursery education funding for some of the three and four year olds. The childminder walks to the local school and has use of a car. She takes children to the local park and libraries. The childminder is a member of the Cornwall Childminding Network.

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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 confident and secure at this welcoming setting, where they have good relationships with the childminder and her assistant. The childminder provides a range of activities which interest children and promotes their learning and development. She shares some information with the local preschool. Parents are well informed about the provision and their children's achievements and progress. The childminder has identified her strengths and some areas for development.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of planning and meeting children's diverse needs  develop systems further to liaise with and share information with other providers to ensure consistency of care and promote children's progress. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are kept safe from harm, as the childminder has a secure knowledge of child protection issues and both she and her assistant have attended training in safeguarding children. Regular risk assessments are carried out and the childminder makes sure that her home is safe. She minimises the risk of cross infection by following effective hygiene procedures. The pets have all had necessary inoculations and the childminder makes sure that children wash their hands after any contact with them, providing paper towels for children's use. Children are well protected in the event of having an accident as both the childminder and her assistant are qualified in first aid. The childminder has taken steps to improve her provision following recommendations made at her last inspection. She has ensured that she has appropriate consents for emergency medical treatment and developed an effective system to record observations in

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the early years provision

children's learning journals. This helps her ensure that she addresses all areas of learning for each child. These records show children's individual progress and how the childminder plans to promote their next steps. However, they do not clearly show the impact of this planning on children's progress, to enable her to monitor, evaluate and review her practice. The childminder provides an extensive range of accessible resources. These include images, books and small world toys which show positive images of people different lifestyles, races and people with disabilities. The childminder uses her resources along with her knowledge of children's interests and abilities to promote their development and stimulate their interest. For example; the children having recently seen newly hatched chickens and with duck eggs being incubated in the kitchen, she provides toy eggs which children use in egg and spoon races along

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the early years provision

with computer programs including instructions and images of baking with eggs. These along with natural questioning and interventions by the adults, encourage children to discuss how eggs are used and their characteristics. Parents are informed about their children's activities and achievements both verbally and in their learning journeys. There is an effective system to inform them about the childminder's policies and procedures. Parents are invited to comment and express their views on both their children's progress and the service provided by the childminder. This enables the childminder to discuss and address the few issues raised. Though she has informal links with a local preschool, where with parental consent they discuss any concerns, they do not routinely share information about children?s progress to promote continuity of learning and progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident and comfortable in the child centred home, where they have good relationships with both the childminder and her assistant. They thoroughly enjoy exploring and playing with the wide range of resources provided. They enjoy manipulating play dough and using tools and moulds to create different shapes, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 confidently naming and identifying them. They recognise familiar numbers and older children relate them to their own ages confidently showing their understanding of number concept by counting and holding up two, three and four fingers respectively. Younger children become aware of shape and size as they complete simple puzzles, play with shape sorters and join in number songs and rhymes. All children enjoy experimenting with a wide range of percussion instruments. They listen to the different sounds they make and some attempt to

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and outcomes for children

describe them. One child accurately describes the sound of an instrument as being like the noise of a fire. They enjoy creating pictures sticking coloured tissue paper onto card and enthusiastically enjoy mark making with both crayons and finger paints. Children develop their mouse control on the computer as they listen to and follow instructions dragging and dropping things as directed.

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and outcomes for children

Young children learn to communicate with increasing confidence, because the childminder and her assistant are both attentive and responsive to their attempts to communicate. They enjoy sharing books and listening to stories. Children learn about diversity through their use of dolls and books showing a variety of cultures and people with disabilities.

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and outcomes for children

Children are protected from infection as the childminder follows effective hygiene routines. Older children automatically go to wash their hands in readiness for lunch. Snacks are sociable occasions when children try a wide variety of fresh fruit; they discuss and describe the differences between different types of fruit. Young children feel safe and secure enough to sleep soundly, checked regularly by the childminder. Children benefit from regular outdoor activities, in the well equipped and secure outdoor play area where they enjoy energetic play on the trampoline and slide and climbing frame. Their imaginative play is encouraged with the purpose built petrol station, where they can refuel their toy vehicles. 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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