Childminder in North Tyneside

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY405503 Inspection date 08/02/2011 Inspector Julie Larner

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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 2010. She lives with her husband and children aged ten years and four years. They live in the residential area of Forest Hall in North Tyneside. The whole of the premises except for the master bedroom is used for childminding. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register, and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of five children aged under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding one children in this age group. She can also offer care to children aged over eight years. The childminder cares for children Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm for 52 weeks of the year.

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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 cared for by a capable practitioner who places a high emphasis on successfully meeting the children's welfare and development needs to enable them to make good progress in their time at her setting. She organises her space and time very effectively and mostly plans activities that help children make progress in all areas of their development. The childminder values each child for their own unique abilities and collects comprehensive information to ensure they are all fully included in her setting. The childminder shows a good capacity to improve and mainly uses self-evaluation well. Records and documentation are well organised and contain most of the relevant details.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop a sound understanding of the areas of learning to help children make good progress towards the early learning goals  develop systems for self-evaluation to identify and improve outcomes for children, for example by using the Ofsted self-evaluation form effectively.

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the early years provision

Children remain safe and secure in the childminder's care through the successful and comprehensive procedures she follows in her setting. She places a high emphasis on minimising risks. She completes detailed risk assessments and uses these to develop a daily checklist to ensure all areas that the children use are both safe and suitable. The childminder provides an excellent range of resources that children enjoy and also stimulate their imagination. The playroom ceiling is covered with brightly coloured baubles and shiny disc for babies to gaze at before they This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 become more mobile. Beads hang from the curtains to catch their eye. They concentrate for very long periods of time exploring the exciting and unusual items in the treasure baskets the childminder has developed. The childminder uses these resources very well to capture the babies' interests and stimulate their senses. The

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the early years provision

childminder has a good understanding of child protection issues. She clearly knows the procedure she would follow if she has a concern about a child and realises the importance of maintaining confidentiality. All persons living on the premises have been appropriately checked to ensure they are safe and suitable and do not pose a risk to children. The childminder has developed an effective policy on equal opportunities that she follows to ensure that her service is fully inclusive

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the early years provision

The childminder has only recently begun to look after children. She has started to evaluate her practice, however, this is basic in parts and lacks a clear focus on her plans for the future, although she has identified training as one of her priorities. She shows a strong capacity to improve her setting. She has worked hard to provide an exciting and stimulating environment for the children that focuses on meeting their individual needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed very strong partnerships with parents. She continually uses good systems to keep them informed about their child. Written daily diaries are used effectively by both parents and the childminder to share relevant information about children. This results in younger children's changing needs being continually met by the childminder. The childminder approaches parents for their views by using detailed questionnaires. This allows parents to contribute their ideas and thoughts about the childminder's service and shows that these are highly valued. The childminder shares observations and written policies with the parents to keep them updated about their own child and her setting. The childminder does not currently care for any children who attend other settings providing the Early Years Foundation Stage. However, she shows a clear understanding of the need to communicate with other settings to share

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the early years provision

information. These systems will develop consistency in children's welfare and learning when the need arises.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has developed very good relationships with the children who attend. They feel safe and secure in her care. Children confidently come into the setting and separate very easily from their parents. The childminder follows younger children's established routines. She knows the children extremely well and constantly responds to them with smiles, talking and facial expressions. Babies are happy and confident in exploring their environment. The childminder encourages even the youngest children to make decisions and choices. For example, by pulling two boxes towards the children and tipping them on their side so that they can choose what they want to explore. Children relish using their senses to explore. They take immense delight in exploring their environment. Younger children concentrate on manipulating materials and household items for extremely long periods of time. This is due to the childminder providing a wealth of excellent toys

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and outcomes for children

and materials that encourage children to use their senses. She supports them in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 using their senses to explore with loofahs and pieces of fine materials that they hide beneath. Babies really enjoy playing with the fabrics, they smile and laugh as the childminder pops this over their head and pulls it off. The childminder values children's emerging language. She constantly talks to them about what they are doing and repeats the sounds and noises that they make. The childminder makes good observations about what children can do. This enables her to plan for the next steps in their development. She is beginning to develop a good understanding of the different areas of learning and how she can help children make progress. However, at times this is focused on specific areas, such as physical development which suits the children's needs but provides a less clear picture of how they are

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and outcomes for children

developing in all areas of learning. When children begin to attend the childminder observes their interests and the stage of development they are at. She then uses this to provide a wide and varied range of experiences and activities that help them make good progress in her setting.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from healthy snacks and meals that they enjoy. The childminder collects comprehensive information on a daily basis from parents to ensure she can meet younger children's changing individual needs. She devises a planned menu to ensure that children benefit from a variety of balanced meals and snacks that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Great emphasis is placed on giving younger children plenty of opportunities to become mobile. The childminder encourages children to roll over by placing their favourite toys and items beside them on the floor. She constantly praises the children for their achievements, for example, by encouraging them when they reach out for balls and musical instruments. Clear procedures are used by the childminder to limit cross-infection. She encourages older children to wash their hands at appropriate times and maintains her own personal hygiene well to ensure children remain free from risks. Children are given

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and outcomes for children

plenty opportunities to hydrate themselves. The childminder keeps younger children's drinks nearby, and offers these to the children at regular intervals. Children feel safe and secure in the childminder's care. She has gained a wealth of information from parents to ensure she can follow children's individual routines to help them develop a sense of belonging in her setting. The childminder ensures that she supervises children very closely to make sure they remain safe in her setting.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder encourages children to learn about diversity. She recognises and values different cultures by displaying welcome posters in her setting that contain different languages. She plans activities that encourage children to explore diversity and begin to help them develop respect for others with differing beliefs to their own. The childminder follows a written behaviour policy. She understands how to deal with unwanted behaviour in a positive way. The childminder does so in a calm and sensitive manner which respects children's feelings and encourages them to think about the effect their behaviour has on those around 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 1 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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