Childminder in WiltshireOfsted inspection, 11 Mar 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY311392 Inspection date 11/03/2011 Inspector Karen Prager

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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 has been registered since August 2005. She lives in a three bed- roomed house with her husband and two children, in Devizes, Wiltshire. She is registered on the Early Years Register to care for three children within this age range and currently cares for five early years children on a part time basis. The childminder is also registered on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Children have access to mainly the downstairs of the house, although upstairs is used for sleeping children. There is also a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play. The family has one cat. The childminder walks to, shops and a primary school and a children's centre.

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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

Children are very settled, as they access a wide variety of play opportunities and experiences to help them progress well overall in their learning and development. The childminder promotes inclusive practice by valuing the uniqueness of each child. Through regular, useful communication with parents, she is able to meet each child's individual needs effectively. Planning takes account of the interests of the children and is linked to the information gained from the observations the childminder completes. Resources are deployed well to enable children to make independent choices and become active learners. The childminder has an accurate picture of her strengths and areas of the provision to improve, so shows a good capacity to maintain improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 make further improvements to the outdoor area to create a more stimulating environment that is easily accessed throughout the year  improve wider partnerships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage in order to broaden two-way communications and take a more consistent approach.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from the good organisational skills of the childminder. Children are safeguarded well. The childminder has clear policies to follow should she have a concern about a child in her care; she shares her procedures with parents. The This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 childminder takes positive steps to keep children safe and makes sure that adults in the household are suitably vetted. Required paperwork is reviewed and kept up to date well. Written records are reviewed amended where necessary. Parents are fully informed of all policies when their children start attending so that they are well informed about the provision. Thorough risk assessments are in place for within the home and for any outings undertaken. Appropriate steps ensure that risks to children are minimized; for example, the children are prevented from climbing the stairs to access parts of the home not included in the registration.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises regular and varied outings, where children engage in active play and gain a greater understanding of the wider world. The childminder's home is clean and well maintained and organised with children's needs in mind. Toys are set out in the lounge on open shelving for easy access. The selection of toys is regularly changed to provide increased variety to stimulate play. There is an enclosed garden with easy access from the house, although resources and activities are underdeveloped here and it is not used throughout the year. This means that children who learn better when outside are not so well catered for, although they still make good progress overall. The childminder is committed to providing good quality provision, attended a number of courses over the past year to achieve this. She has addressed the recommendations raised at the previous inspection by making drinks easily

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the early years provision

accessible to children throughout the day, by improving settling in arrangements for children and by practising fire drills regularly with children. The childminder regularly reviews the provision for children, identifies aspects to develop accurately overall and takes appropriate steps to address these. She has recently started to use the Ofsted self-evaluation tool to add increased structure to future evaluation, again showing her aim to improve.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a positive relationship with parents, which ensures that they work together effectively on all issues, such as potty training, to meet the specific needs of individual children. She keeps parents accurately informed about their children's development through daily discussion and diaries, so parents are involved. She also communicates well overall with other providers when children attend more than one setting. This helps everyone take a consistent approach to children's care. Discussions with parents and other providers do not currently include consideration about children's next steps in learning.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder uses her knowledge the Early Years Foundation Stage framework well to support children's development, and as a result, children are making good progress in their learning. The childminder conducts regular observations to assess children's progress. She shares this knowledge with parents ensuring that they are involved with children's development. Some of these observations are recorded in the daily diaries and in learning journals, providing a picture of the children's continuous development. The childminder identifies areas for children's future This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 development and supports them well in achieving their next steps.

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and outcomes for children

Children are motivated to learn and interested in the world around them. The childminder follows children's interests when planning activities and providing resources. A current interest in vehicles sees children playing with a wide variety of cars and trucks. They settle on the floor as they develop their play, knowing how to attach a small car to the pick-up truck, so that it can be towed away. After snack, children choose to stay at the table and select the colours for their drawing, exploring the marks they are making with a range of brushes. Throughout the day this cheerful childminder engages well with the children, encouraging them to try tasks for themselves and to think about the world around them. They use their imaginations well when playing with miniature people. Regular counting of objects helps children gain an early understanding of number. Young children volunteer 'one, two', and when prompted can say that 'three' comes next. They try to put on

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and outcomes for children

their own shoes and coats and accept help when this is not quite managed. In the garden, the toddlers become very busy; they carry stones to place on the slide. As they play, the childminder incorporates ideas and words such as 'heavy' and 'light', 'large' and 'small'. The children then climb the slide and the childminder supports them in learning about keeping themselves safe. She reminds them to be careful when they climb and explains the dangers of rolling down a large stone rather than a little one. They practice fire drills in the home regularly and talk about how to keep themselves safe when out walking. Children demonstrate how safe and very secure they feel in the care of the childminder. They interact happily with her and move around confidently in her home. Children play well on their own and with others. They behave very well.

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and outcomes for children

Children eat a range of foods provided by their parents. Children make choices as they eagerly chose fruit from the fruit bowl, demonstrating a healthy appetite. Children know to follow good hygiene procedures, and the childminder sets a good example wearing gloves when she changes nappies and washing her hands afterwards. Children learn from this and follow her example by washing their hands carefully, enjoying the water play involved. Children enjoy physical activity in a variety of ways. They frequently go to a soft play centre, go for walks in the local woods and play in the large space behind the house. 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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