Platt Gillian

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 221126 Inspection date 17/03/2011 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 1988. She lives with her husband and three children aged 20, 17 and 12 years in Wootton, Northamptonshire close to shops, schools, parks and public transport links. The ground floor and one bedroom on the first floor are used for childminding. The family have three pet Geckos.

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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 three children in this age group. She also provides care to children aged over five years to 12 years and is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes children to and collects them from the local school and attends toddler groups regularly.

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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

An extremely well-developed knowledge of each child's needs makes sure the childminder is very successful in promoting children's welfare and learning. Children are very safe and secure and benefit greatly from the childminder's inclusive and expert interaction with them. The excellent partnership working is significant in making sure the needs of all children are very well met. This means that children make good progress given their age, ability and starting points. The highly developed systems for self-evaluation by the childminder celebrates areas of strong practice and identifies her priorities for future development, resulting in very effective provision that responds to the children's and families needs.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 developing further the opportunities for outside play activities.

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the early years provision

Children's care, welfare and learning are enhanced by the highly effective way in which the childminder manages her provision. Safeguarding is given the highest priority. The adults in the household have the required checks in place and the well-organised documentation and robust risk assessments underpin the childminder's vigilance in managing children's safety. Children demonstrate very clearly that they feel safe in the setting. For example, they sit themselves on her This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 lap for stories, they show that they are familiar with the daily routine, they move around between their self-chosen activities independently and they settle quickly to sleep after lunch.

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the early years provision

Children enjoy the free flow between the play room, kitchen/dining room and the hallway. In the summer, this free flow extends into the garden. The childminder ensures that they are able to help themselves to boxes of interesting toys from low-level boxes and shelves. Children make their own choices and enjoy rummaging through the boxes selecting the items they want. The childminder has developed truly inclusive surroundings for the children. They are all treated as individuals and with respect. They have access to a good range of books and resources that celebrate diversity and they begin to learn about the wider world through discussion with the childminder and through celebrations, such as, Christmas, Fathers Day and Chinese New Year. She consults children about matters that affect them and always checks that they are happy and settled. Individual children's routines for sleep and feed times are incorporated into the

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the early years provision

flexible daily activities. This inclusion promotes children's feelings of confidence and well-being and contributes to their progression in learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder works extremely hard to ensure that she develops effective working partnerships with parents and other providers delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage. She is sensitive when working with the parents and does her best to meet their individual requirements. She respects their wishes and gathers detailed information to ensure each child's needs are met. Parents have regular access to their child's achievement file; they are fully involved in their child's learning and are invited to include their own comments or suggestions for activities. Parents have provided testimonials that record highly complimentary comments about their experience of their child's time with the childminder and how she works very hard to ensure their children are happy and settled in her care. The childminder has made every effort to develop partnerships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage. She has devised a communication

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the early years provision

sheet that she has shared with other providers. However, although she has not had a very positive response she remains resolute to continue to try to work on these partnerships to ensure a smooth transition and a consistent approach for the children.

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the early years provision

The childminder has implemented exemplary procedures for self-evaluation. She has enhanced her practice since the last inspection and demonstrates a strong capacity for continuous improvement through further training and taking positive action on the recommendation made at the previous inspection. This has developed her confidence. She values the opinions of the parents and children and has sought their views and suggestions through the use of a questionnaire. She has identified well-targeted plans for future development and demonstrates her strengths through her wealth of experience as a childminder. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder skilfully meets the needs of all children by providing them with an extensive range of play materials and activities that are interesting and appropriate for them as individuals. Children are able to choose their own activities. Resources are set out and the children are able to help themselves to other resources which develop their decision making skills and confidence. She offers a range of alternative activities to the children who indicate whether they want to do these or not. Children benefit greatly from the childminder's calm and gentle interaction with them and this creates a harmonious and productive atmosphere. For example, a child chooses a small pile of books from the shelf and settles themselves on her lap. They become completely engaged in the story and point out familiar items in the pictures. The childminder skilfully incorporates language opportunities into the stories. For example, she reminds the child of an event that happened recently

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and outcomes for children

that was similar to what was happening in the book and the child recalled the event and smiled at her in recognition. Children develop friendships in this welcoming setting. The older children help out the little ones by finding toys and offering them, and they talk to each other. The childminder ably supports them to share and they feel secure because they understand the boundaries and expectations for behaviour. Children are very safe because the childminder knows them all well and maintains very close supervision while balancing this with allowing children to lead the play and to use their imagination. Children enjoy the freshly prepared meals and snacks provided by the childminder; they indicate their excitement and anticipation of lunchtime and eagerly tuck into their food. She thoroughly discusses each child's dietary needs with their parents and ensures that any food for babies that is provided by parents is stored and re-heated

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and outcomes for children

appropriately. Children are protected from cross infection because the childminder has very high standards of hygiene in her home and she follows effective procedures for nappy changing. Older children are able to be independent in the bathroom and they begin to learn about managing their own personal hygiene through discussion with the childminder.

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and outcomes for children

Children are provided with a very good range of play materials and resources that cover the six areas of learning and that promote their curiosity and imagination. As part of her numerous plans for ongoing development she is keen to extend further the outdoor play opportunities to the children in her care. Babies enjoy manipulating soft characters; they explore them with their mouth and bash them together. They show persistence in their chosen activities. For example, a baby finds a character that is designed to fit into a particular toy. They try again and again to put the character into the hole and clap their hands when they succeed. Older toddlers enjoy exploring the plastic magnetic fruit, and then proceed to choose other items from a box to fill a bag. Then they take a pull along toy 'for a walk', giggling and smiling all the time. They enjoy looking at the childminders Geckos, they watch with fascination how they move and enjoy looking at the

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and outcomes for children

crickets they are fed on. Children's progress is recorded in beautifully presented files that contain an abundance of written observations and photographs that clearly demonstrate their progression and learning. The childminder records short written observations on a regular basis under a chronological system and she has This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 implemented a process to ensure that she gathers a balance of evidence under each of the six areas of learning. She uses the Practice Guidance document to assist in the identification of appropriate next steps for each child and links the observations to the relevant areas of learning. This highly effective system for observing and assessing the children's progress demonstrates her clear understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The childminder's dedication to continually improving her practice and commitment to each individual child is

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and outcomes for children

significant in promoting their feelings of belonging and well-being in her 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 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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