Childminder in North Tyneside

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY290398 Inspection date 12/01/2011 Inspector Shirley Peart

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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 2004. The provision is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives in the residential area of Benton, Newcastle upon Tyne with her husband and adult daughter. The home is situated close to local schools and shops. The ground floor of the home and a bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden and safety surface area for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to take a maximum of six children. There are currently five children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage age group. The childminder also offers care to one child aged over five years. All children attend on a part-time basis. The childminder holds a level 3 childcare qualification.

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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's individual welfare, care and learning needs are successfully met by this extremely competent childminder. She works effectively with parents and other childminders to ensure that children are highly supported so that they make strides in their progress, learning and development. She reflects on her practice exceptionally well, enjoys her role and is continually looking at ways to improve the service she offers to benefit the children and families that she works with.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensuring that the publication 'What to do if you are worried a child is being abused - Summary' is readily available for reference purposes.

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the early years provision

Children's welfare and safety is of paramount importance as the childminder has a very good understanding of what do to if she has concerns about a child's welfare. Although she states that she holds a copy of the government booklet, 'What to do if you are worried a child is being abused - summary,' this is not readily available for her to refer to. Highly comprehensive written risk assessments are in place, which identify potential hazards on outings and in the home, and very good daily safety checklists further safeguard children's welfare. Records such as parental consents, children's details and accident and medication meet all requirements and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 are maintained in a confidential manner. The childminder has addressed the one recommendation from the last inspection, which has improved safety practices regarding fire drills. She has completed an excellent self-evaluation form, which

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the early years provision

clearly shows what she does well and what she would like to improve to promote the outcomes for children further. She attends regular training to update her knowledge, demonstrating a very high commitment to continuous improvement and her own professional development, which benefits the children's care, learning and development overall.

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the early years provision

Toys and resources are of extremely high quality and very well organised. The childminder invests a lot in good quality play equipment, which benefits the children's development exceptionally well both indoors and outside. Low-level shelving and picture labelling on boxes ensure that children self-select and make independent choices. Resources are in abundance, age appropriate and very diverse. The childminder often ensures that she has two of everything to prevent squabbles and disputes between young children so that they play happily. Children manipulate small world figures in wheelchairs and on crutches, alongside general toys showing them that our society is made up of a range of different people. The childminder has an excellent understanding of how to care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and how to support children with English as a second language, for example by learning words in child's first language.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a wealth of information displayed in her hallway for parents including routines, house rules, meals, Ofsted contact and Early Years Foundation Stage details. Some children's art work and lovely photographs linked to the outcomes for children show what they do to stay safe, be healthy, enjoy and achieve and make a positive contribution. She finds out about the children before they start by completing a record of the child's individual needs with the parents. This covers relevant issues such as their routines, sleep patterns, food likes and allergies, comforters and what they enjoy doing. This gives her an excellent insight into their preferences to help her plan their care effectively. Parental questionnaires are highly positive and show that they are very pleased with the provision. Examples of the parents comments include 'I am very happy', the provision is 'very good' and the childminder is a 'professional, flexible, reliable and

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the early years provision

loving carer.' Some children have attended since they were babies and siblings often take up places, indicating a high satisfaction with the service provided. When children attend other early years settings alongside her provision, she regularly communicates and exchanges very good information to ensure continuity and smooth transition is in place for the children.

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and outcomes for children

Children follow a very good routine attending regular groups and events and sessions at the local children's centre and library. She clearly understands how children learn through play and knows that if they enjoy doing an activity they will gain more from it. She provides a very good mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities, her planning is flexible so that she can meet the children's differing needs and she ensures that their favourite toys are put out ready for them. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Planning is sometimes based around topics that capture the children's interests and covers a range of areas of learning. For example, when thinking about how she can help them learn about using their senses, she provides lots of different materials for art and craft and encourages children to handle story books with different textures. She encourages them to describe what they touch and feel

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and outcomes for children

which encourages them to use their language for thinking very well. She uses the Early Years Foundation Stage extremely well in her practice. Each child has their own file which holds their art work, photographs and observations, which link to the different areas of learning. These show some excellent examples of what children do, what areas of learning they link to and how she can support them and move them on in their development. The summative assessment carried out every six months shows what children have achieved, which gives parents an excellent record of the progress that their children make.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder knows what children enjoy doing and will let them play alongside each other without intervention where necessary. They play boisterously banging hammers and with small world figures, cars and trucks but will also sit quietly up on the sofa to look at books with the childminder. They make their needs known telling the childminder what they want to do. They are clearly engrossed in sticking activities and carefully peel backing paper off stickers with excellent fine motor control, successfully achieving this by themselves. They talk about what they are doing and use their imaginations very well. They are actively involved in their play, highly inquisitive as they ask questions and clearly enjoy using the excellent range of stimulating play equipment on offer. The childminder is fair but firm in her approach to managing children's behaviour so that they gain a good understanding of what is right and wrong. They help to set the table for lunch, sit patiently and

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and outcomes for children

have lovely manners as they say please and thank you spontaneously or when gently reminded by the childminder if they forget. They receive lots of positive praise and their art work and photographs adorn the hallway so that they gain an excellent sense of belonging.

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and outcomes for children

Children eat healthily and clearly enjoy their snacks of mixed fresh fruit and wholesome dinners. There is a variety of very high quality outdoor equipment which promotes children's physical development extremely well such as the sturdy 'climbing rock.' Displays show how children stay safe when they are out and about and children ask questions when the childminder reads a book about road safety. This gives them meaningful information that they can relate to in real life situations, which generates conversations about how and why they need to behave when outside to stay safe. 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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