Childminder in Wakefield

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 321916 Inspection date 24/01/2011 Inspector Dawn Lumb

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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 1999 and works in partnership with her husband who is also a registered childminder. She lives with her husband and two children aged 13 and 16-years-old in the village of Altofts, near Wakefield. The children have access to the whole of the ground floor as well as two log cabins in the rear garden. There is an enclosed garden suitable for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years and 12 children under eight, when working with her husband. There are 15 children on roll. She also offers care to children aged over eight years. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register, compulsory and voluntary part of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and of the Wakefield Childminding Network. She holds an National Vocational Qualification(NVQ) Level 3 in childcare and education.

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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

The childminder provides a caring and welcoming home environment, for the children and their families. Where her excellent knowledge and recognition of the uniqueness of the children in her care, ensures that children's individual needs are exceptionally well met and their welfare is promoted. Children enjoy learning through a good range of play opportunities and activities, which are challenging and allow children to gain the most from their play and learning experiences. The childminder fosters excellent working relationships with parents and well- established links with other providers to promote continuity of care and learning for all. The childminder is committed to reflecting upon her practice and has made an enthusiastic start in the use of formal self-evaluation systems as she recognisers the need for continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the systems to ensure that self-evaluation, identifies the settings strengths and priorities for development that will improve the quality of provision.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a secure knowledge and understanding of child protection procedures and has completed safeguarding training to further support current This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 practice. A range of documentation and effective strategies are used to support her working practice to promote children's safety and security within her setting. For example, safety gates are used to restrict access to the kitchen and gates are used to separate the top and lower parts of the garden.

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the early years provision

The childminder has reviewed her monitoring systems. For example, she makes initial observations and completes and records ongoing assessments, which she links to future planning. The childminder continuously reviews her practice and researches areas for person development, with a view to improve her provision and develop her knowledge. For example, she has completed her NVQ Level 3. This has a positive impact on the service offered to parents and children, to ensure that children make good progress.

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the early years provision

The childminder builds excellent communication with parents, both verbally and through a comprehensive range of documentation, such as, child development journals, daily diaries and emails. Children and parents are highly valued and respected; their opinions are regularly sought through, such as, questionnaires. She has developed excellent links with outside agencies and pursues developing links with the children's nurseries and school settings; to promote effective practice in partnership working and to support children's individual and specific needs. Parents comment positively, saying that it is a warm, friendly and positive environment and that there is always loads of interesting things for the children to do. The childminder reflects exceptionally well upon her practice to ensure all children are included in activities and opportunities.

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the early years provision

Resources are well balanced and used effectively to ensure children access age- appropriate activities, giving them choice and opportunities to make decisions about what they do. Space is used appropriately and some resources are rotated. All toys, resources and equipment are suitable for their purpose, regularly checked for any damage and are adapted to meet children's individual needs. Children's awareness of the local community and the wider world are effectively promoted. For example, they have access to a new range of books that they use to talk about people and countries of the world.

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and outcomes for children

High priority is given to identifying children's individual needs and the childminder, ensures that children are happy and settled in her care and they have developed excellent, warm and positive relationships. The childminder provides an environment that is safe and secure, where children feel confident to express their own needs. The childminder and her co-minder work extremely well together. High adult to child ratios afford very good support and care for the children. She has enthusiastically endeavoured to develop systems to plan and assessed children's learning and development and uses these to plan the next steps in children's learning. Consequently, children are making good progress.

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and outcomes for children

Children are provided with a range of positive learning opportunities which enables them to make good progress. The childminder makes good use of interesting This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 outings and visits, and these excite the children to learn more and help develop their social skills. For example, they visited the local toddler group, woods and farms in the area. This supports the children having fun while they learn. There is a good balance of adult-led and child-led activities, taking account of children's individual interests and abilities.

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and outcomes for children

Young children enjoy many sensory activities. For example, they access a sensory room in the garden and they explore and investigate different textures and natural materials. Children are motivated and encouraged to be involved by the childminder through positive praise and encouragement. For example, when children are completing jigsaws, they are praised for their efforts. Children have good opportunities to count, learn about shape, form and colour, as they complete jigsaws and sing action rhymes. Their understanding of diversity and differences is enhanced as they celebrate festivals, special events and they learn about the local environment as they take part in walks around the village. They learn about animals and their environments, make the sounds of the animals and say, the frogs like to be wet.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate a good understanding of and they recognise the importance of good personal hygiene through established daily routines. They know to wash their hands before eating their snack. They enjoy being in the outside cabin taking part in physical play, testing and challenging their skills, as they climb up and jump on the soft play equipment. Children learn very well about health and keeping safe through the childminders skilful use of outings to strengthen children's awareness and understanding of road safety. For example, on trips out, they use high visibility tabards and talk about why they use them. 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 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 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 1 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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