Childminder in Medway

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY278256 Inspection date 16/02/2011 Inspector Linda Coccia

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and three children aged six, 16 and 18 in Chatham, Kent. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The bathroom is downstairs. There is one step to access the premises at the front door.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on 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 these, up to three children may be in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The childminder may look after 2 children aged under one year. The childminder is also registered to work with an assistant in which case the numbers of children the childminder can look after can be doubled. With the agreement of parents the assistant can be left alone with children for short periods of time. The childminder is currently minding 12 children between the ages of one year and 11 years of whom five are within the early years age range. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends the local parent/toddler group and local childminding groups. The family has some pet fish and two pet rabbits. The

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Description of the childminding

childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder provides care of outstanding quality for children. She constantly considers their needs and how best to provide activities that they will find enjoyable whilst helping them to progress in their learning and development. The childminder has addressed recommendations from her last inspection and consistently evaluates all that she does to ensure that children benefit from their experiences. Overall, the children's individual needs are being fully met.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 strengthen the use of reflective practice and self-evaluation to identify strengths and priorities for development that will continuously improve the quality of the provision for all children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder is exemplary in the organisation of her provision. Her well thought out policies and procedures provide parents with excellent information of how the provision is run. Children benefit from many of the excellent procedures. For example, by practising the evacuation procedures regularly they obtain real knowledge of how to keep themselves safe during a real emergency. The childminder is very vigilant in ensuring all her family members and assistants hold Criminal Record Bureau checks. Assistants also hold current paediatric first aid certificates. Her risk assessments for the premises are very thorough and she provides appropriate safety equipment for the youngest children. The childminder complies with requirements to inform Ofsted of any building work and changes to the children's play areas. This means that children are always safe in the setting and their well being is exceptionally promoted.

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the early years provision

The childminder is proficient in regularly evaluating her service. She uses comments made by parents and children to formulate plans for improvement. However, some evaluations of activities could be more precise. The children have identified what they enjoy doing with the childminder and what they would like to do more of. This means that children's thoughts and ideas are valued and the children play a part in activity decision making. The childminder is exemplary in driving the improvement of her service by changing the whole ground floor area in order to cater for the individual children's needs. She has considered the needs of all age ranges of children. For example, the new television room will allow older children to enjoy their electronic games without posing any risk to the youngest children. Other changes are timetabled into the next six months and will be achieved during the school holidays when the childminder tends to have fewer

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the early years provision

children. There are an excellent range of resources available to the children including a wealth of craft equipment available in the craft room. The childminder has identified that the boys need plenty of physical play space which is why the garden is an area which is used all year round and in all weathers. The childminder has an excellent understanding of equality and diversity issues. She uses the internet to research salient aspects of care for children. For example, different faiths and differing health needs. Children are involved in different festivals throughout the year including various saint's days as well as the more well known celebrations. In this way children become aware that all people can be different and learn tolerance and understanding.

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the early years provision

The childminder has excellent partnership working with other EYFS provision. She has instigated partnership working with her local primary schools, has excellent links with the local children's centre and runs the local childminding group which gives her the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues. The children enjoy their regular visits to the children's centre where they can get involved in different ranges of play activities, such as the soft physical play equipment. Some parents have provided written references for the childminder. These, and the comments in their service questionnaires, show that they consider the childminder is excellent in the support she offers to their children and themselves. They find her to be caring, approachable, flexible and willing to listen. Parents are provided with extensive This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 information, not only about childminding but childcare in general. They swap

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the early years provision

information with the childminder about each child verbally. There are also contact books for the youngest children. Parents can see their child's observation records at any time and have indicated to the childminder that on occasions they have used her activities at home. This shows that parents are reinforcing their children's learning and the children benefit from positive interaction with their parents.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from the childminder's extensive experience in caring for children. They are made to feel welcome and at home. Babies love to be near the childminder. They follow her around and even when they can't see her they like to hear her voice to know she is around. The babies put their arms out for cuddles which they always receive and the childminders happy demeanour ensures that children's responses are similar. In this way children show they feel safe in the setting.

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and outcomes for children

All children are able to choose their own toys and can move freely around the premises. Even the youngest children have choices of playing in the lounge, in the hallway or in the safe kitchen area. The freedom of choice helps to encourage children's decision making skills and helps them to feel confident. Excellent interaction occurs between the childminder and the babies. She talks to them with pauses to give them the opportunity of replying. They reply in baby babble which the childminder interprets. Real conversations take place and the children really show they understand what the childminder is saying. The childminder is able to read their moods well and is adept at providing just the right things, such as, toys, food or rest. The babies have all the opportunities that the older ones do except for outdoor play although they do accompany the childminder regularly to the local Children's centre where they use the soft physical play equipment. They are

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and outcomes for children

regularly involved in some excellent sensory and craft activities which the childminder researches on the internet. For example, photographs show children exploring the qualities of porridge in a large tray. All children regularly use books selected for the childminder's extensive collection. They like to source information for projects which helps their problem solving and reasoning skills. They can sit and watch their favourite television programmes, normally the craft ones, and can investigate music and sound through instruments or tape recordings. Their favourite play is outside in the garden. The childminder's plans to provide a covered area will have a big impact on the children as they will be able to take more activities outside. At the moment they participate in ball activities, use the climbing frame and make up their own games with dens and hideaways. The excellent use of good quality toys and a wide variety of child initiated activities

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and outcomes for children

mean that children are fully engaged in their play and are developing a wide range of skills for the future. The childminder keeps extensive observation records on the children. Following an initial assessment to ascertain children's individual starting points the childminder instinctively plans activities for them which they are interested in and which she thinks will help them progress. Activities are often planned with the children so that they know what they can look forward to. The This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 various areas of learning are noted in the records to advise parents in what areas their children are achieving. The records show that children are making excellent progress towards the Early Learning Goals (ELG). For those children who are in reception year at school the records show that they have met their ELG targets.

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and outcomes for children

The majority of children eat food provided by their parents. The childminder has discussed their individual dietary needs with their parents so that she is aware of the variety of food they consume. Following the discussions the childminder feels able to supplement their diets should the need ever arise. The children who do have their food provided by the childminder have a varied menu of meals. The children have choices about what they eat and are consulted at the beginning of the day for the evening meal that night. Parents are expected to provide a healthy diet for their children in line with the childminder's excellent healthy eating policy. The children are involved in growing vegetable and particularly like testing the strawberries from the strawberry pots to ensure they are ripe. They have indoor physical play opportunities if weather is to bad to go outside. Children are beginning to adopt a healthy lifestyle because the childminder promotes healthy

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and outcomes for children

eating and active play. The children mix well and play very well together. They understand that everyone can be included in games and why they need to take turns. Children like to help the childminder preparing the table for snack or helping to tidy-up and they receive praise for being industrious. The older children instinctively help to look after the younger children as they provide them with toys or talk to them to settle them. The childminder regularly discusses her house rules with the children to see if children feel they are fair. In this way the children are able to manage their own behaviour because they know the childminder's house rules very well. 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 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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