Childminder in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 208954 Inspection date 04/03/2011 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 and two children in Welton, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The whole house is used for childminding, with most play taking place on the ground floor and sleeping facilities located on the first floor. The premises are accessible by one step. There is an enclosed garden available for outside play. The family has a pet rabbit.

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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 nine 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Each child is fully supported and included by the caring childminder, which ensures their individual needs are effectively met. Children are achieving well as they engage in a generally good range of purposeful play experiences. Children are safeguarded and their welfare maintained through the childminder's mainly effective practices and procedures. The childminder's generally good partnership working in the wider context, promotes an integrated approach to children's care and learning. Improvements made since the last inspection and a clear process of self-evaluation 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 responsibilities under food hygiene legislation including registration with the relevant Local Authority Environmental Health Department  develop further the links with all other providers involved with the children, sharing more information about children's learning and development  develop further the observations and assessments to more accurately monitor children's progress and use them to clearly identify and plan for their next steps for learning.

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the early years provision

Children are happy and settled in the childminder's care, where they are fully safeguarded through a range of clear practices and procedures. For example, the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 home is clean and securely maintained and potential hazards are minimised through the effective risk assessment procedures. All required records and documents are in place; completed well and stored with regard to ensuring confidentiality is maintained. They are effectively used by the childminder to protect children's health and safety. The childminder's good knowledge of child protection further protects children from potential harm. Children are constantly supervised by the childminder and she maintains a current first aid certificate to ensure children's well-being is protected at all times. Space and resources are organised well, creating an accessible environment where children independently

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the early years provision

The childminder ensures all children are fully supported and included, in line with their individual needs, backgrounds and beliefs. The initial clear information she gathers from the outset, enables her to build on what children already know and can do. This ensures every child reaches their full potential. The childminder works well with parents and carers, using a wide range of methods to ensure the clear exchange of information. For example, parents learn about their children's daily activities, care needs and progress through verbal communication, written diaries, accessible observation and assessment files and through mobile phone text messages. The childminder works in partnership with other providers and has developed some mainly effective links with local pre-schools, ensuring the constant exchange of information. However, links with local schools as not as effective, resulting in information relating to children's progress and development not being

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the early years provision

shared to fully ensure each child benefits from not only continuity of care, but continuity of their learning also. The childminder has developed her service since the last inspection, continually striving to make improvements to maintain her good standards. She uses a clear system of self-evaluation to aid the process of further development.

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and outcomes for children

Children are cared for in a secure, safe home, where good health and hygiene routines are implemented to minimise the risk of the spread of infection. For example, children help to clean the tables and surfaces when they have finished eating and a clear illness policy ensures everyone is aware that the childminder does not provide care for children when they are suffering from a contagious illness. Meals are provided by some of the parents, with the childminder also providing healthy, nutritious meals and snacks if required. However, the childminder has yet to register with the environmental health department to fully ensure she meets all of her responsibilities relating to food hygiene requirements. Children's dietary requirements, likes and dislikes are met through the childminder liaising closely with parents. Drinks are left freely accessible to children, enabling them to access them when thirsty. Children are constantly supervised by the

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and outcomes for children

childminder, which ensures they remain safe when playing inside, outside and on outings. They learn to keep themselves healthy and safe through regular events and routines, discussions and activities. For example, the childminder not only provides children with nutritious meals and regular exercise, but she also re- enforces the benefits of these with the children. Children's awareness of road This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 safety is promoted during outings, where they learn about the possible dangers of standing too close to the curb. They learn to keep their fingers away from doors to prevent them from getting trapped and they learn to play safely with equipment and resources. For example, when using scissors during activities, they learn how to use, carry, and pass them correctly, not only minimising the risk to themselves but to others too. Children's behaviour is good because the childminder offers

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and outcomes for children

regular praise and encouragement, which promotes their self-esteem. They are encouraged to value and respect other people, regardless of their backgrounds and beliefs and they play with a good range of toys and resources depicting positive images of differences and diversity. This helps to promote children's awareness of the world in which they live.

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and outcomes for children

Children have fun as they freely access their toys and resources from the good range provided. Their learning is effectively promoted during inside and outside play, resulting in children making good progress towards the early learning goals. Children enjoy participating in a wide range of hands-on learning experiences, which are planned around their interests and developmental needs. This results in the inclusion of all children as each child is fully supported and challenged in line with their individual needs. Observations and assessments are used to record children's achievements and are shared with parents and carers. However, they have yet to be used to more accurately monitor children's progress in each area and to fully ensure children's next steps for learning are continually identified. Children's learning is promoted as the childminder engages in play with them, asking questions to challenge them to think. For example, when playing with play

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and outcomes for children

dough, children's development is skilfully promoted in all areas. They play co- operatively with their peers as they use a range of tools and resources to manipulate the dough. A child exclaims to the childminder that they have made a long, thin worm. The childminder praises the child and shows an interest in what they have made. The child confidently explains to the childminder how she can make her own worm. Other children follow these instructions and show delight as they make their own long, thin worms. They then proceed to use their imagination as they make a snail. Children are encouraged to count how many items they have made out of play dough. When another child approaches the play dough activity, they use the alphabet cutters; correctly identifying some letters associated with other children's names as they proceed to cut these out of dough. Children's interest in books is promoted during trips to story time sessions at the local library.

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and outcomes for children

They also enjoy choosing their own books to bring home, using the electronic equipment to scan their own book out of the library. Children's interest and use of technology is developing as they access a good range of toys, resources and equipment, within the childminder's home. 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 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 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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