Powell, Nicola Joanne

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY358561 Inspection date 22/02/2011 Inspector Liz Grocott

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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 2007 and lives with her husband and three children aged nine, 10 and 12 in the Guiseley area of Leeds. The premises are within easy reach of public transport, shops, parks, schools and community resources. The provision is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed outdoor play area to the rear of the property. Contingency plans are in place to call on another registered childminder in the event of an emergency or sickness. The home is accessible with the exception of the bathroom on the first floor and steps to the entrance.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time. There are currently seven children attending on a part time basis of whom five are within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children are taken to and collected from local schools and preschools. The childminder is accredited and supported by the local authority early years team. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and has achieved a National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in Children's care learning and development. The family has a dog, a cat, two ferrets and a budgie.

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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

Children are very much at home in the childminders warm, caring environment. She is fully aware of each child's individual interests and capabilities and children are making excellent progress in their learning. The childminder promotes inclusive practice in everything she does and is highly committed to continuous improvement through ongoing self-evaluation and training. By working hard with parents, she provides excellent continuity and stability for children. She seeks parents and children's views frequently to ensure continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 continuing to engage with other practitioners to support transitions, both between settings and between the setting and school. 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 very effectively safeguarded from the risk of abuse or neglect because the childminder has a secure knowledge of safeguarding procedures. She fully understands her responsibility to refer any concerns she may have to the local safeguarding children's board and would not hesitate to do this to protect a child. She ensures that she keeps a record of all visitors to the home to protect children and her own family from allegations. All adults in the home have undergone appropriate checks to ensure their suitability to be around children. Young children learn how to keep themselves safe by discussing stranger danger, road safety and assessing risks with the help of the childminder. For example, if it is safe to play in the park if there is broken glass. Rigorous risk assessment of the home, outdoor play area and outings, further protect children from identified hazards.

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the early years provision

The childminder's strengths are extensive. She has recently completed a National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in Children's care learning and development, which has helped considerably in equipping her with the knowledge and understanding to improve outcomes for children. She strives to continue her professional development for the benefit of all children in her care. Recent training attended includes 'every child a talker', 'safeguarding', 'risk assessment' and creative workshops. The recommendations made at her last inspection have been addressed. The outdoor garden was unsuitable at the last inspection because a drunk driver had crashed through the fence the day before the inspection. The fencing has been replaced and the garden is once more secure. Any medicines prescribed for children are administered by the childminder with prior parental permission. Parents are notified accordingly once medication has been given. This

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the early years provision

helps to positively promote the welfare of children. The childminder uses critical self-evaluation to reflect on her practice. She uses feedback from parents and children to meet children's individual needs.

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the early years provision

Children can easily access their toys as they are stored at low level and although not a huge amount of room the childminder is creative with the space she has. This means children are able to play independently promoting and building their self-confidence. Children are helped to learn about others in the local community as well as the wider world. The childminder provides a selection of resources, activities and experiences for children to help with this. For example, visiting the local library and shops as well as celebrating festivals, such as Diwali and Chinese New Year.

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the early years provision

All aspects of working in partnership with parents are equally strong. The childminder provides excellent information about the service she provides, children's artwork and photos are displayed about the home and parents sign to say they have read and understood the policies. The childminder regularly shares the detailed photographic 'profile's' with them and also provides a daily diary for younger children. They are delighted with the service they receive. They particularly comment on the fact that the childminder positively promotes diversity, healthy eating and discipline well. They say their children are provided with 'an excellent grounding in preparation for school'. They see 'a rapid development in This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 the child' since attending the childminder's home. Praise includes the words 'kind, honest, flexible and trustworthy', all positive attributes. The childminder has

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the early years provision

worked hard to engage the local nursery in working with her to promote the Early Years Foundation Stage with children who attend. Unfortunately this has not been reciprocated.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has an excellent knowledge and understanding of Early Years Foundation Stage. She makes baseline assessments drawn from parent's knowledge of the child and her initial observations. She ensures children feel safe in her setting by encouraging visits to settle the child in gradually so that relationships can become established and grow. Emerging interests, likes and dislikes enable her to devise a varied and individual plan for each child to help to narrow the achievement gap. The childminder is highly successful in ensuring that all children make as much progress as they can in relation to their starting points. Excellent and warm relationships are observed between childminder and children and also their peers. She is sensitive and demonstrates a deep understanding of children's individual emotional needs, treating each child accordingly. The childminder makes regular observations and assesses these to plan activities which

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and outcomes for children

Children are helped enormously to develop a positive sense of themselves and of others as they learn about the world around them. Children are happy, settled and eager to participate in the many and varied activities. For example, preparing fresh fruit for a fruit salad to accompany their lunch. Children eagerly chop into the fruit with special 'child friendly knives'. They ask for help when certain fruit is too hard and put real effort into splitting the mango to get the stone out. Children discuss the different fruits they are preparing and talk about the dangers of using knives inappropriately i.e. cutting towards yourself and what may happen. Younger children play happily knowing the two older children are ensuring they do enough fruit for them too.

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and outcomes for children

Children's interest in books is enhanced when the childminder reads the story of 'The Gruffalo' using her voice to make it 'scary' in places, much to the delight of the listening children. They make regular visits to the library to select books both fiction and non fiction. Children's language development is progressing with each visit due to the childminder's outstanding interaction. She asks lots of questions, repeats words back to very young children and praises them for each attempt to answer. Children's understanding of number and problem solving is effectively promoted through game playing and singing rhymes. Younger children enjoy solving problems by posting shapes and attempting inset puzzles. Older children are enthusiastic about trying out the new computerised bee robot that arrives in the post. Boys and girls have equal access to all resources and individual needs of different ages are met alongside each other with ease.

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and outcomes for children

A high priority is given to raising children's self-esteem and the childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 ensures that they are praised and encouraged. Children behave well under the childminders understanding care and watchful eye. Policies and procedures ensure cross infection is kept to a minimum and healthy habits are developed though excellent role modelling of hand washing and good hygiene practices. Children are encouraged to get a tissue when noses need wiping and they help to clean the table after fruit preparation. Healthy eating is successfully promoted through providing choices. Children heartily tuck into baked potato, with a choice of tuna or cheese filling, with coleslaw and salad. This is followed proudly by the freshly prepared fruit salad the children made earlier. 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 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 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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