Childminder in Oxfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

p.1

Unique reference number EY383534 Inspection date 27/09/2010 Inspector Gill Little

p.1

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.

p.1

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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).

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Description of the childminding

The childminder was registered in 2008. She lives in Bicester with her partner and three children aged 13, five and one. The whole of the childminder's house is available for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outdoor play. Access to the provision includes a small step into the house. The family has a hamster and some fish.

p.4

Description of the childminding

The childminder offers care on a daily basis, before and after school, and during school holidays. She walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight at any one time, of whom no more than two may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding one child in the early years age range on a part-time basis. She is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for children over five years. She currently has three children on roll in this age range.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

p.4

The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children settle quickly and develop good relationships with the childminder in this welcoming and safe setting. The childminder works closely with parents to enable her to meet children's individual needs. She ensures children are able to make some progress towards the early learning goals and is developing systems to observe, assess and plan for their individual capabilities. She is beginning to evaluate her practice but is not yet familiar with some regulatory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage which leads to some weaknesses in her paperwork. She does, however, have a positive approach to continuous improvement and has some ideas for further development.

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 maintain a record of the risk assessment clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, the date of review and any action taken following a review or incident (Documentation) 11/10/2010

p.4

further?

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

p.4

further?

 use the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework and Practice Guidance as the basis of ongoing self-evaluation processes This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  develop the safeguarding children policy so that it is in line with Local Safeguarding Children Board guidance and procedures.

p.4

the early years provision

The childminder has an appropriate understanding of safeguarding children procedures and ensures that all household members have appropriate background checks. She ensures that her home is safe and clean, and she is vigilant when supervising young children. However, she does not maintain a record of her risk assessments, which is a requirement in regulation, and her safeguarding policy does not fully reflect Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder provides a good range of easily accessible toys and resources to help children make progress towards the early learning goals. She effectively encourages children to care for their environment, for example, by sorting household refuse into the correct recycling bins and composting sunflowers which they have grown from seed.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder actively promotes equality and diversity. For example, she talks to children about similarities and differences and uses resources, such as library books, to help them learn about people from different backgrounds. She is effective in meeting children's individual welfare needs and works closely with parents to achieve this. She welcomes parents warmly into her home and provides initial visits and a settling in period to help both children and parents feel comfortable with her. She has daily discussions with parents and provides a written daily diary to keep them fully informed of their children's time with her. She receives very positive feedback from parents who state that they are very happy with her care of their children. She currently has no children on roll attending other settings but has an appropriate understanding of the importance of communicating with other professionals.

p.5

the early years provision

The childminder is beginning to evaluate her practice and has several ideas for further improvement which are likely to have a beneficial impact on children. She accurately measures the overall quality of her setting but does not identify all weaknesses as she is not yet very familiar with the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework and Practice Guidance.

p.5

and outcomes for children

Young children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure with the childminder following a well-managed settling in process. They happily enjoy a cuddle on the childminder's lap as their parent leaves the setting, and enjoy the company of older children after school. They quickly engage in exploring resources offered to them; for example, they show a keen interest in a soft baby book and watch intently as the childminder turns the pages and reads the story to them. They This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 show an interest in their environment and the childminder encourages this, such as enabling them to watch the family's pet fish, talking to them as she does so. They also enjoy listening to nursery rhymes, clapping their hands to the music, and exploring pots and pans. They are safe in the setting as the childminder follows good safety procedures, such as strapping them into highchairs and providing stair

p.5

and outcomes for children

gates to prevent access to the kitchen and stairs.

p.6

and outcomes for children

Young children demonstrate that they are bonding well with the childminder as they watch her closely as she prepares their lunch. They benefit greatly from her caring, interactive approach and good awareness of their individual routines. When they become hungry and irritable, the childminder quickly settles and reassures them, enabling them to eat their lunch calmly. They are able to sleep according to their needs as the childminder is very familiar with their individual routines. They have daily opportunities for fresh air and outdoor play as the childminder takes them for local walks and occasionally visits the park or the duck pond.

p.6

and outcomes for children

The childminder has very recently begun to use the Early Years Foundation Stage Practice Guidance to ensure that children are making appropriate progress towards the early learning goals. She is intending to provide parents with written progress reports each month and is currently keeping some notes on children's progress in their daily diaries. She is also intending to develop planning processes now that children have successfully completed their settling in period. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

p.6

Annex A: record of inspection judgements

The key inspection judgements and what they mean

p.7

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

p.7

children in the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The capacity of the provision to maintain continuous improvement

p.7

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 3 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

p.7

Stage

The quality of the provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage 3

p.7

Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 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 3

p.7

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

p.7

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8

Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Met

p.8