Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 221190 Inspection date 01/03/2011 Inspector Melanie Eastwell

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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 1999. She lives with her husband and two children aged 20 and 14 years in Duston, Northampton. 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 family has three hamsters.

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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, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range and she is currently minding six children in this age group. She also provides care to children aged over five years and is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder works regularly with an assistant and during these times may care for a maximum of seven children under eight years, no more than five of which may be in the early years age group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks or drives to local schools to take and collect children and attends the local parent and toddler groups.

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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

The childminder has developed a clear knowledge of each child's needs and this enables her to successfully promote their welfare and learning. Children are safe and secure and they benefit from the childminder's gentle, yet enthusiastic interaction with them. The partnerships with parents and other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage are strong and this makes sure that the needs of all children are met. Children progress well given their age, ability and starting points. The childminder has implemented systems for self-evaluation and is keen to develop these to ensure her provision continues to respond to the children's needs.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the systems for observation and assessment to show how the identified next steps are re-visited to clearly demonstrate children's progression in their learning  improve the risk assessment to ensure each type of outing is included. 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 very organised with her care of the children and her work with the assistant which enables her to ensure each child is provided with good amounts of individual attention. She is skilled at managing their specific needs and is able to anticipate when they need a change of activities, when they are tired or hungry. She gives safeguarding a high priority and always maintains close supervision of the children. All the adults in the household have the required clearances in place and the childminder has devised comprehensive written policies and procedures that are reflected in her daily activity with the children. Written risk assessments are in place. Although the childminder demonstrates a good understanding of how to keep children safe both at home and when on outings, the risk assessments do not include each type of outing the childminder does with the children. The childminder makes effective use of the available space. Children

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the early years provision

enjoy spending time in the dedicated play room where they can easily access plenty of their own activities from low-level boxes and units. They are able to see other items and indicate to the childminder when they want specific things, such as, 'special' books.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed effective partnership working with the children's parents and with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage that are involved with them. This three-way partnership working is significant in providing children with a smooth transition and a consistent approach which promotes their sense of security and belonging. For example, the childminder provides parents with detailed written and verbal feedback each day relating to practical information, such as, sleep times and nappy changes as well as details about the activities their child has enjoyed. Parents have access to their child's record of achievement and to displays of posters relating to the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder works closely with parents to support them with any specific issues that arise, such as, feeding or behaviour. She has regular discussions with the staff at a local pre-school that some of the children attend to

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the early years provision

share information, messages and planning of activities.

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the early years provision

The childminder is an experienced and qualified practitioner who understands and successfully meets the needs of each child in her care. She has implemented systems to evaluate her practice and is keen to continue to develop this in order to celebrate areas of strength and to identify her priorities for the future. She demonstrates a good capacity for continuous improvement. The childminder has completed relevant training courses and has taken appropriate action to address the recommendations made at the last inspection. She has sought the views of the children's parents through the use of a questionnaire. These report highly complimentary comments about their child's experiences with the childminder. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children clearly demonstrate that they feel safe and enjoy their time with the childminder. They are confident to choose their own activities and to move between the play areas freely. They ask the childminder or indicate when they want different resources and the childminder responds to their requests. She is skilled at managing the needs of children of different ages and is always prepared with new activities. Children show a bond with the childminder. For example, they ask to sit on her lap when reading stories and toddlers put their arms up to her for a cuddle or reassurance when they need it. Children begin to learn about their own safety. They are encouraged to help tidy away when they have finished playing, the childminder maintains close supervision and talks to them when out walking about road safety. Children begin to learn about the benefits of managing their own personal hygiene. For example, they are able to be independent in the

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and outcomes for children

bathroom and they are supported to wipe their own hands and faces after lunch. All children are treated as unique individuals and with respect. The childminder ensures she takes time to explain why certain behaviour is unacceptable and retains children's dignity when managing behaviour issues. Children get on well together; toddlers look for their friends and say their names while older children choose to sit close to their friends when reading books. They begin to learn about the wider world because the childminder involves them in appropriate and meaningful activities linked to a variety of festivals including Chinese New Year and she has a good range of resources, such as, books, dolls and small world characters that celebrate diversity.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy the positive and sensitive interaction from the childminder in their activities. She knows when to step in and be directly involved and when to allow them to be independent. Children become engrossed in their chosen activities and toddlers express their curiosity through exploring toys in a bag, sorting through them and selecting some to put into another container. The childminder carries out regular, informal planning for individual children that is linked to their interests and to their next steps in learning. She knows where each child is in their development and she ensures that their current interests are taken account of. She is creative in her methods of encouraging children's development through their daily activity. For example, when out walking they play a game to count the cars they see or to name the colours of the cars. She also provides resources, such as, figures of the

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and outcomes for children

children's favourite characters and involves these in counting or colour activities. The childminder records each child's progression in individual files through written observations some of which are backed up by photographs and are stored under each of the six areas of learning. She uses the Practice Guidance document alongside other relevant text books to help her identify individual next steps in learning. However, although some of these next steps are re-visited, currently the childminder does not have a system to cross reference the observations in order to clearly demonstrate children's progression towards these next steps. The childminder is committed to providing the children in her care with an inclusive experience. For example, different aged children work together on a variety of jigsaw puzzles. Toddlers are supported to complete play tray style puzzles and clap their hands when they are successful. The childminder ably supports older children

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 to complete larger puzzles; talking to them about looking for clues in the pieces and giving lots of praise when they finish. One child asks to show the picture to their parents and the childminder responds to this by carefully replacing the completed puzzle into the box and putting it to one side which values the child's request. This inclusive approach promotes children's feelings of belonging and well-being. 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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