Shaw, Suzanne Louise

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY277611 Inspection date 02/03/2011 Inspector Maxine Coulson

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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 January 2004. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight and five years in Bradwell Village to the north of Central Milton Keynes. Her home is within walking distance of local shops, pre-school and schools. Childminding takes place mostly on the ground floor, with a bedroom upstairs available if children need a sleep. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

She may care for no more than five children under eight years; of these, not more than two may be in the early years age group. The childminder is currently minding four children, of these, one is over eight years and three are in the early years age range. Children attend for various days and sessions. Family have one dog and two hamsters.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds the National Nursery Examination Board (NNEB) qualification.

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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

Overall, the childminder provides a happy, welcoming and inclusive environment where all children are motivated and very well cared for. A good range of resources and activities that interests the children and meets their individual needs is available. The systems for observation and assessment are beginning to develop well and the childminder has a good knowledge of how to support the children's learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder develops strong working relationships with parents helping to support children's development and learning. She evaluates her practices well and identifies key strengths and areas for improvement and how she can develop them to help improve outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop use of observations by using them to assess and the plan the children's next steps of learning as they progress towards the early learning goals  develop use of toys and resurces that refelct diversity and positive images to help children develop an understanding of the wider world. 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 safeguarded well as the childminder has a clear understanding of her role and responsibilities whilst protecting children in her care. This includes her duty to record and report any concerns and to share her child protection policy with parents at the onset of care. Effective vetting procedures are in place to ensure that adults in the household are suitable to be in contact with the children. The childminder holds a relevant first aid qualification and demonstrates a good understanding of safety issues. For example, she conducts effective risk assessments on her home, the garden and for outings. The childminder has appropriate fire safety equipment throughout the house and has evacuation procedures in place. Children benefit from established daily routines and from the good levels of supervision and individual attention.

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the early years provision

Children are cared for in a warm, child-friendly environment. All required policies and procedures are in place and followed to ensure children's welfare is effectively safeguarded and promoted. The childminder is caring and committed to providing a good quality service to children and their families. She has attended appropriate training which supports her childminding practices and she is proactive in seeking ways to develop her knowledge and skills in order to improve her service. Children benefit from the well-established relationships in place between the childminder and their parents. They work closely together and share plenty of information, which positively impacts on children's care, welfare, development and learning. There are good procedures in place to make links with other providers and use information to extend the learning and development of the children.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care. They demonstrate a secure bond with the childminder, readily approaching her for spontaneous cuddles and happy for her to join in their play. Children are keen to explore the toys and activities on offer and spend time engaged in self-chosen play, for example, playing with musical instruments, they shake the bells and castanets and play shops in a pop-up tent. The childminder responds well to the children, getting down to their level to engage them in their play and interacts well with them.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in an environment that is warm and welcoming. They have access to a good range of toys and equipment that are well organised at a low level to encourage them to choose those they wish to play with, which they do with confidence. Children are provided with a range of activities that promote their development appropriately in all areas of learning. The childminder provides records containing a wealth of photographs, children's pictures and other works of art, that demonstrate well how children are developing and progressing towards the early learning goals. The childminder conducts sensitive observations on children to record their achievements, although this information is not yet fully This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 utilised within children's development records and effectively used to plan children's next steps within their individual development.

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and outcomes for children

Children are encouraged to develop their understanding of how to keep safe, both in the home and when out. For example, the evacuation plan is practised with children and this helps them understand the procedures to be followed should a fire occur. Children appear to feel safe and secure because the childminder uses appropriate practices, such as, ensuring all adults in the household are appropriately vetted and no visitors to the premises are left alone with the children. The environment is warm and clean and very high standards of hygiene are maintained.

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and outcomes for children

Children's good health is further promoted through the regular opportunities for them to develop their physical skills and be out in the fresh air. They regularly go for walks in the local environment to parks, shops and library. They play with various toys and equipment in the garden. Children are developing their awareness of the local community with trips to local village groups, where they play and interact with other children. However, toys and resources that reflect diversity and positive images are not always used to their full potential to allow children to learn about the wider world. The childminder supports children's social skills in sharing and turn taking. She has clear and appropriate boundaries in place and this helps children learn right from wrong. Children receive lots of ongoing positive praise from the childminder for their achievements and for managing tasks independently; children thrive in this positive and relaxing environment.

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and outcomes for children

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 2 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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