Childminder in Sheffield

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY333893 Inspection date 09/03/2011 Inspector Helen Blackburn

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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 2006. She lives with her husband and two children aged eight years and seven years in the Ecclesall area of Sheffield. There are shops, parks, schools and public transport links in the local area. The whole of the childminder's home is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and she can care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding five children in the early years age range. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. She is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding two children in this age range. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or children with English as an additional language. The childminder is registered to provide overnight care for two children under eight years.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and nurseries and she goes to several toddler groups regularly. 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder's relationships with children, parents and external agencies are excellent. Comprehensive documentation, policies and procedures contribute to the safe and efficient management of the setting. The children are independent, enthusiastic and motivated learners who thoroughly enjoy the wide range of experiences and activities on offer. The children behave extremely well and they have a very good attitude towards diversity and difference. Through robust quality improvement processes, the childminder is extremely successful in promoting high standards of care of education.

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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 develop the relationships with other settings children attend to promote continuity and coherence in children's learning. 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 has excellent arrangements in place for safeguarding and promoting children's welfare. She regularly accesses safeguarding training and she has detailed information, policies and guidance that contribute to her putting in place robust procedures to protect children from harm. She is fully aware of possible signs of abuse and neglect and she is clear about her roles and responsibilities in reporting and monitoring concerns. This means children's welfare is paramount. The childminder ensures all adults living on the premises complete appropriate checks and she supervises any visitors to the home. This protects children from harm and keeps them safe. The childminder maintains an extensive range of comprehensive documentation, policies and procedures. These are organised exceptionally well and contribute to promoting the safe and efficient management of the setting. The childminder keeps children very safe because of

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the early years provision

her high regard to promoting high standards of safety. For example, she carries out thorough risk assessments of her home, activities, outings and individual children. Through excellent time management and organisation, the childminder effectively meets children's individual needs. The deployment of resources is excellent. For example, the childminder makes effective use of facilities within the local community to extend children's experiences. In addition, she effectively organises her home, space and resources so that children can make safe and independent choices in their play.

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the early years provision

The childminder's commitment towards promoting a setting striving towards improvement and high standards is excellent. Through adopting a number of robust quality improvement processes, such as self-evaluation and reflection, the childminder monitors and evaluates her service very well. This means she sets well-targeted goals and action plans to bring about sustained improvement. This includes addressing recommendations made at the last inspection. The childminder accesses an extensive range of training courses, which means she is proactive in improving her skills and knowledge. She introduces any ideas from training to promote positive outcomes for children. For example, following training on transitions, the childminder now gathers extensive information from parents regarding individual children. This supports the smooth transition between home and the setting. In addition, through accessing training on 'Every Child a Talker'

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the early years provision

and by becoming an accredited childminder signing up to 'Every Sheffield Child Articulate and Literate' programme, she strives towards improving children's language, communication and literacy skills. This demonstrates her ambition and drive towards promoting high standards of care and education for children. The childminder's self-evaluation processes are inclusive because parents, children and other professionals have excellent opportunities to share their views and ideas on how to improve the service.

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the early years provision

The childminder has excellent relationships with parents. Through effective communication and information sharing children receive continuity in their care and learning. Parents receive a wide range of good quality information about the service and their child's day. For example, a 'day book' provides detailed information about the child's day and comprehensive policies and procedures This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 clearly outline the service provided. Parents regularly access their child's comprehensive observation and progress records and the childminder sends home resources to extend children's learning at home. This means parents are actively involved in their child's learning. The childminder fully understands the necessity of working with school and nursery to promote continuity and coherence in children's learning. However, because children have only just started to attend other settings

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the early years provision

her relationships with them are still evolving. The childminder works very well with other professionals, external agencies and parents to ensure children receive any additional help or support they may need.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's high regard to promoting high standards of cleanliness and safety contribute to promoting children's welfare and well-being. The childminder adopts robust illness management procedures, cleaning routines and food preparation procedures to ensure she minimises the risk of spreading infection and illness. The children have an excellent understanding of the importance of following good personal hygiene routines. For example, they routinely wash their hands at appropriate times throughout the day. In addition, through role play, young children talk about changing their doll's nappy so that they are nice and clean, this demonstrates their understanding of good hygiene routines. The childminder provides a wide range of nutritious meals and snacks. This supports children's healthy growth and development and helps them to understand about making good food choices. The children have very good opportunities to be active

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and outcomes for children

and to exercise. For example, they regularly go on walks, play in the garden, visit parks and engage in local wildlife and ranger activities. This provides very good opportunities for children to climb, run, balance, crawl and move in different ways. In addition, the childminder provides an extensive range of activities and resources to support children's coordination and dexterity skills, such as drawing, cutting, threading, building and baking.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has excellent relationships with the children and she meets their individual needs extremely well. This means children are very happy and feel safe and secure in the childminder's care. The children have a very good understanding of ways in which they can keep safe. For example, they devise their own safety booklets and they take part in regular evacuation practices. The childminder has an excellent understanding of how young children learn. She maintains comprehensive observation, planning and progress records on individual children, which means she supports them in making exceptional progress in their learning. In addition, the childminder provides a welcoming, child-orientated playroom that has an extensive range of resources across all areas of learning. This means children access a rich, stimulating and challenging environment, which results in them being enthusiastic and motivated learners. For example, children use their

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and outcomes for children

imagination and communication skills as they engage in role play activities, they express their creativity when making their fish sticky pictures and they listen attentively to stories. The childminder interacts very well with the children and she is actively involved in their play. This contributes to her effectively supporting their progress. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The children behave extremely well. They routinely learn about sharing, taking turns and good manners and this supports them in having positive and cooperative relationships with their peers. The childminder makes very good use of praise to celebrate children's achievements and children are actively involved in making decisions within the setting. This contributes to them having high self-esteem and a positive self-image. All children are valued and the childminder provides a wide

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and outcomes for children

range of activities that help them to learn about diversity and difference. For example, children watch programmes about the religious festival of Holi. These activities help children to develop a positive and respectful attitude towards all people in society. The children are developing a very good understanding of caring for their environment and nature. For example, through accessing ranger events in the community they learn about bees, making honey, different habitats and wildlife. 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 1 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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