Childminder in Sheffield

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 300659 Inspection date 18/02/2011 Inspector Melanie Arnold

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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 2000. She lives with her husband in High Green, Sheffield. The whole ground floor is used for childminding, with toilet facilities located in this area. The premises are accessible by six steps up to the front garden and two steps into the house. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder has a dog.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. There are currently four children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. She 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 cared for in safe, suitable home, where mainly appropriate procedures are in place to protect their health and safety. All children are adequately supported, which enables them to satisfactory progress in their learning and development. The childminder works in partnership with parents and carers to ensure the individuality of each child is respected and valued. However, links with other providers have yet to be fully established. The childminder has worked on the recommendation raised at the previous inspection and she is beginning to use a process of self-evaluation to promote continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop awareness of responsibility of food hygiene legislation including registration with the Local Environmental Health Department  provide children with access to a wider range of toys and resources to meet their developmental needs and to fully create a stimulating indoor environment that offers a range of activities which will encourage their interest and curiosity  develop links with other providers to ensure clear information is exchanged to promote continuity of care and learning for each child  link observations to the expectations of the early learning goals and use them to monitor children progress and to identify and plan for individual children's next steps for learning. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are cared for in a safe, secure home where space is organised appropriately to meet their needs. However, the childminder has yet to provide children with access to a wider range of toys and resources to fully create a challenging indoor environment, which promotes their investigation and exploration as they learn through play. All required records and documents are in place and appropriately maintained. They are used by the childminder to safeguard children and promote their welfare. For example, the childminder appropriately risk assesses her provision to ensure potential hazards are identified and minimised. Since the last inspection the childminder has developed a generally good awareness of safeguarding procedures, to ensure children are protected from potential harm. Children remain safe because they are fully supervised by the childminder at all times.

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the early years provision

The childminder promotes the inclusion of all children. She ensures children's welfare needs are appropriately met and enables each child to make satisfactory progress from their specific starting points regardless of backgrounds and beliefs. The childminder works in partnership with parents and carers, gathering and exchanging mainly clear information to support children's individual needs. Parents learn about their children's daily routines, activities and progress through appropriate verbal and written exchanges of information. The childminder works with other providers when assessing children's additional needs. However, she has yet to forge consistent links with other settings to ensure the exchange of general information to fully promote an integrated approach to children's care and learning. The childminder is motivated and continues to develop her knowledge through her commitment to ongoing training and development. The childminder

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the early years provision

appropriately monitors and analysis her setting through her relevant system of self-evaluation. Therefore, the childminder is aware of most of her strengths and she has identified some areas for further improvement.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy, settled and confident in the childminder's care. They show a strong sense of belonging and relate well to their peers, playing co-operatively with each other. Children's behaviour is good and they are encouraged to develop good social skills and manners. Older children act as positive role models, helping younger children to respect the childminder's clear boundaries. Children learn to value differences and diversity through discussions and planned activities which introduce them to cultural and religious festivals and events. Their awareness of maintaining their own health and safety is also well promoted. They develop good hand washing practices as part of the daily routine and they learn how to cross the road safely on regular walks. Children engage in regular outside play providing them with fresh air and exercise. They also plant and grow their own vegetables, which promotes their awareness of healthy eating. Parents provide all meals for

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and outcomes for children

their own children, with the childminder providing a healthy range of snacks to This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 meet children's dietary requirements. Parents are actively encouraged to provide healthy options for their children, through a clear healthy eating policy. However, the childminder has yet to fully develop her awareness of food hygiene legislation, including registration with the Local Environmental Health Department if necessary. The home is clean and practices and procedures are in place to minimise the risk of cross infection and to protect children's safety.

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and outcomes for children

Children make satisfactory progress in their learning and development. Although observation and assessment systems are in place, they are not fully linked to the aspects of learning to ensure children's progress is more effectively monitored. They have also yet to be used to identify and plan for children's next steps for learning. Children access a generally suitable range of developmentally appropriate toys and resources, which promote the six areas of learning. Children enjoy participating in some purposeful learning experiences delivered through indoor and outdoor play. For example, children enjoy outings where they get to ride on the train and the bus. This is often very exciting for children as it is sometimes their first experience of using this form of transport. Activities are always adapted to ensure each child can fully participate. For example, while older children enjoying colouring a picture, younger children have fun as they make marks on their paper.

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and outcomes for children

Children's awareness of colours and numbers is also promoted through these activities as the childminder encourages children to count and identify the colour of their pens. Children independently use the computer and access other suitable electronic and programmable toys and resources, which promotes their interest and use of technology. 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 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

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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 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

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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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