Childminder in Essex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 202240 Inspection date 08/03/2011 Inspector Jane O'Callaghan

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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 1996 She lives with her husband and two children aged 15 and 12 years old in Brightlingsea. The whole of the ground floor and rear garden are used for childminding purposes. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time. The childminder currently has 12 children on roll and, of these, five are in the early years age range and six children are in the older age group.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder collects and takes children to local schools, visits parks and places of interest. She has a dog, two guinea pigs and two rabbits as family pets

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Description of the childminding

The childminder 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

Children are happy and self-assured within the setting and participate in a good range of exciting and interesting activities. The childminder creates a welcoming and inclusive environment for all and children make good progress across the areas of learning. The childminder has some risk assessments in place, although these are not fully completed. Well established information sharing systems are in place with other early years providers where necessary and also with parents in some areas. The childminder has developed a good self-evaluation system and is fully committed to reflecting on practice. She has effectively addressed the recommendations raised at the last inspection.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 Conduct a risk assessment identifying aspects of the environment that need to be checked on a regular basis, maintain a record of these particular aspects including when they have been checked and by whom and review at least once a year or more frequently when the need arises. (Premises, environment and equipment)(also applies to both parts of Childcare register) 22/03/2011

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  ensure that children's starting points are identified and observations clearly linked to areas of learning  provide further opportunities for parents to contribute to children's individual learning and development records.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates a good understanding of safeguarding children, such as, recognising possible symptoms of abuse and an awareness of procedures to follow and informs parents of her safeguarding responsibilities. The childminder has risk assessments referring to all outings that she takes the children on. However, there are no records of risk assessment of the home or garden area and this is a breach of regulations.

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the early years provision

The childminder works closely in partnership with parents to ensure the care given to the children is consistent and appropriate. Parents receive all policies and procedures and the childminder encourages them to have settling-in periods prior to the children beginning their care at her provision. The parents send letters praising the childminder about the care their children receive. The childminder ensures that parents receive daily feedback. However, parents do not have opportunities to contribute to children's individual learning and development records. The childminder has good long and short term planning and also bases it on a variety of themes. The childminder has completed a Local Authority self- evaluation form, where she has recognised her strengths and weaknesses and uses this as a working document. She has completed all of the recommendations from her previous inspection.

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the early years provision

The childminder is very positive about the inclusion of all children and works to ensure that children of all ages are provided with a good selection of appropriate activities and resources. Children are encouraged to celebrate some festivals with support from local child-orientated groups. For example, children made Koi carp when recently celebrating Chinese New Year. The childminder has a well-written equal opportunities policy that she shares with parents, which includes how all children are treated equally

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and outcomes for children

The childminder displays close and responsive relationships with the children in her care and a clear understanding of the importance of recognising each child as an individual. Children freely access a good range of toys and they also know to ask for other resources through talking to the childminder. Children's profiles of their individual learning and development are in place for each child. The childminder uses these to collate information gathered through observations of children and tracking of their next steps. However, their starting points are not identified and observations are not clearly linked to the areas of learning. The childminder This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 ensures that planning is flexible and tailored to children's individual needs and interests.

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and outcomes for children

Children play with the road track and move the toy vehicles around and tell the visitors that they know of people who are firemen and that they drive the engine. Some children count the rungs on the ladder as they place the toy figures up it and confidently count up to three. The childminder asks children if they would like to play with the animals. All of the children are very keen to get them and then they imitate the noises of the cat and lion. Children recognise lots of the toy fish and repeat the names of the ones that they do not know when told what they are by the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder encourages children to look at and read books; she takes them regularly to the library where they choose their own. They are keen to get a book from the variety on offer to them, some choose their particular favourite and they sit with the childminder and read it together.

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and outcomes for children

Children receive daily opportunities to develop their physical skills both indoors and out in the garden and local community. For example, children visit local woods, parks, the beach and places of interest. The children eagerly put on their own coats, as they are asked if they would like to go in the garden. When out playing they learn to ride on the bicycles and use their imagination when sitting on the bench, saying: 'We are going to the zoo to see the animals'.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder ensures children are in a healthy and hygienic environment. Children have their own individual towels to use after washing their hands and are encouraged to wash hands after feeding the family pets. The children bring their own lunches and meals to the childminders home and these are all stored appropriately. She ensures that children receive drinks of water or juice throughout the day, along with nutritious and healthy snacks. For example, children sit down at snack time with a bowl of fruit and raisins.

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and outcomes for children

Children play in a safe setting, the childminder makes sure that all smoke alarms are regularly tested, fire drills practiced with all children and safety gates placed appropriately. Children also learn about how to stay safe through being taught about road safety, not talking to strangers and putting toys away so they do not fall over and hurt themselves.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a good behaviour policy and procedure, which includes written house rules for the more able children. She continually intervenes appropriately with all of the children and encourages them to share and to be polite to their peers and friends. The childminder give lots of praise to the children when displaying good behaviour. 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the Early Years section of the report (Suitability and Safety of Premises and Equipment)(also applies to Voluntary part of the Childcare register) 22/03/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the Early Years section of the report(Suitability and Safety of Premises and Equipment) 22/03/2011

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