Bathmaker, Heather Frances

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY413379 Inspection date 09/02/2011 Inspector Hilary Preece

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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 registered in 2010. She lives with her husband and two children aged one and four years in a village near Royston. The whole of the premises is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder drives or walks to a local school and pre-school to take and collect children.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than one may be in the early years age range. There are currently two children attending at different times who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years and is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder 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 satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are happy and settled and most of their needs are met well. Appropriate information is shared with parents and positive relationships are being developed. Wider partnership working is beginning to be explored. The childminder is starting to develop a system to observe, assess and plan for children but this does not fully support their progress in all areas of learning and development. Procedures for keeping children safe and secure are mostly appropriate, although some regulations are not fully met. Basic self-evaluation is emerging to support the capacity to make steady improvement.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 improve her understanding of the safeguarding policy and procedure (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 02/03/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 develop a systematic and routine approach to using observations and assessments to plan the next steps in a child's developmental progress and regularly review this approach  plan appropriate play and learning experiences based on the children's interests and needs, with particular regard to allowing children to freely explore creative media and materials  provide more effective continuity and progression for children by sharing This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 relevant information with all settings that children attend  develop self-evaluation and quality improvement processes as the basis of ongoing internal review by assessing what the setting offers against robust and challenging quality criteria.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded to some extent because the childminder has basic knowledge of how to recognise any concerns and refer them to the appropriate agencies. She has a sufficient policy and access to the required publications and documents in order to take action. However, her understanding of the procedure to follow in the event of an allegation made against her is not secure. This means safeguarding regulations are not fully met and the safety of children and the childminder may be compromised. She ensures appropriate vetting is carried out on adults living in the household and provides adequate levels of supervision for minded children. She carries out risk assessments of her home and garden, when on outings and practises fire drills with the children. Records of these are adequately maintained. Children's medical needs are attended to well. The childminder has an up-to-date first aid certificate and understands requirements

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the early years provision

for recording and sharing medical and children's health information with parents.

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the early years provision

Partnerships with parents are developing well. There are appropriate opportunities for parents to share information about their children and for the childminder to provide information about her policies and services. Parents report that they are very satisfied with how their children settle in and develop good behaviour and manners. The childminder is beginning to explore partnerships with some but not all of the other settings that children attend in order to support continuity of care and learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder is beginning to develop self-evaluation systems. She has started to use a local authority quality development toolkit to reflect on her practice and identify where improvements can be made but so far these only cover some aspects of the provision and are therefore not yet robust. She shows some commitment to developing her skills and knowledge through training and recognises that children would benefit from additional resources to promote equality and diversity and find out about the wider world.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is developing her knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and how to use it to support children's learning and development. She has started to make simple observations of children but these are not used in any systematic way to plan their next steps in learning and are not sufficiently clear to show what progress children make towards the early learning goals. She puts a lot of effort into planning some appropriate activities for children based on topics and themes but these tend to be planned too far ahead to take account of children's This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 current interests or needs and are not based on the childminder's observations of children. Some creative activities are too adult-led and limit children's ability to freely explore and express their own ideas. Nonetheless, children enjoy taking part and the childminder provides good levels of support and interaction. They learn

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and outcomes for children

how to manipulate glue sticks and experience different textures and materials. They giggle excitedly when feeling a 'soft, tickly feather' and are beginning to become aware of shapes and colours pointed out by the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

The environment is homely and welcoming. There is a sufficient range of toys accessible to children at any one time to encourage some decision making and independence. These are rotated each week to provide sufficient variety and interest. Children are generally keen to use what is available or to initiate their own games. They develop good communication, language and literacy skills overall because the childminder actively encourages conversation, listening and thinking throughout their play and activities. They are keen to experiment with mark making by pretending to write their names on their pictures. Communication and understanding are further supported because the childminder uses some simple sign language to convey meaning to babies and very young children.

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and outcomes for children

Relationships are warm and positive and children clearly have lots of fun. They learn to be polite, considerate to others and confidently express their needs. Overall they are respectful of expectations for their behaviour and are willing to listen and adapt their behaviour when necessary. Good basic health and hygiene awareness is promoted throughout daily routines. They are encouraged to wash their hands at appropriate times and to use the toilet independently. Individual flannels ensure the risk of cross-infection is minimised. Snack and meal times provide opportunities for children to develop some independence as they choose which fruit to eat and pour their own water from the jug. Menus for meals are well balanced and nutritious so children get the appropriate amount of protein, carbohydrate and fruit and vegetables for healthy growth. Children are made aware of keeping safe by watching a cartoon about firemen before practising the

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and outcomes for children

fire evacuation drill with the childminder. Road safety is consistently reinforced to them so that now they immediately know to hold hands when going out and to stop when they come to a road. Regular fresh air and walks around the village enable children to stay healthy and develop awareness of their local community. They learn about the wider world and diversity through celebrating some festivals and dressing up in Thai costumes. The childminder has plans to increase the range of resources and activities that positively reflect diversity. 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 3 The effectiveness with which the setting promotes equality and diversity The effectiveness of safeguarding 4 The effectiveness of the setting’s self-evaluation, including the steps taken to promote improvement The effectiveness of partnerships 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 The extent to which children feel safe 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 3 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 3

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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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