Childminder in Cornwall

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY101899 Inspection date 08/03/2011 Inspector Heather Tanswell

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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 registered in 2002. She lives with her husband and teenage daughter in the village of St Columb Road, near to Indian Queens, in Cornwall. The family have a pet dog, and two guinea pigs. All downstairs areas of the childminder's house are used for childminding and there is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. The upstairs of the home is used for overnight care only.

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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. When working with an assistant, they may care for a maximum of six children in the early years age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

There are currently six children attending who are within the early years age range. They live locally and some also attend early years units of local primary schools, day nurseries or pre-schools.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is in receipt of funding for the provision of free early education to children aged three and four. The childminder supports children who use English as an additional language and is a member of the National Childminding Association and Cornwall Community Childminding Network.

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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

The well-qualified and friendly childminder makes successful use of her home and outings accompanied by other childminder's to promote children's welfare, learning and development with success. All of the required policies and most of the procedures are in place to underpin good quality practice. Positive use of self- evaluation, training and feedback from other professionals ensures the childminder maintains continuous improvement in her efforts to support the individual needs of children.

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further?

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

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further?

 keep written record of all medicines administered to children, and inform parents. (Promoting good health) 29/03/2011

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further?

 carry out a full risk assessment for each type of outing, which includes an assessment of required adult:child ratios. (Premises, environment and 29/03/2011 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 equipment).

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further?

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

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further?

 develop more effective systems to liaise with other providers delivering the EYFS for children to ensure progression and continuity of learning and care  give children more independence and control over their learning to keep their interest and develop their creativity  review the implementation of risk assessments, in this instance by checking that hazardous plants are promptly removed from the garden area.

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the early years provision

The childminder is generally well organised and understands the importance of making sure all adults who come into contact with minded children are suitably vetted. Detailed risk assessments and close supervision indoors and out means that most hazards (other than prickly brambles) are identified promptly and kept to a minimum. Risk assessments to cover outings do not include an assessment of adult: child ratios, and one written record of medicines administered to children is incomplete, both of which are legal requirements. Good standards of hygiene are maintained throughout the premises to promote children's health and are backed up by the knowledge gained through attendance on a food safety training course.

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the early years provision

Parents report they are highly satisfied with the service the childminder offers and feel the childminder keeps them well-informed about their child's time in her care and their progress. The childminder provides an informative and amusing daily diary. She regularly reviews progress and seeks parent's views to complement and enliven daily feedback about activities and achievements recorded in learning journals. The childminder has set up effective systems to help children make the transition into school. Targets based on the childminder's observations and comments from home are not always shared with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage to ensure consistency in children's care and learning. The available resources, including junk materials and outings to local places such as a recycling centre and the Eden Project, are used well to achieve planned goals in learning and development, and enable children to learn more about the wider

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the early years provision

The childminder makes very good use of information gathered from training courses, and observations and feedback from other professionals such as the childminding network coordinator, to help her reflect on her practice and bring about improvements, and plan to meet children's individual needs. Good progress has been made since the last inspection to improve hygiene routines and the first aid kit is kept in date. The childminder is now part of accredited networks, which means she is qualified and able to offer nursery education sessions as well as respite care for children with additional needs. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children are confident, happy and settled in the caring atmosphere of the childminder's home. The childminder has a good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, is suitably qualified and continues to attend training in topics such as the use of sign language to promote inclusive practice. The childminder confidently plans worthwhile experiences linked to topics such as space travel as well as children's current interests. Younger children benefit from being surrounded by lovely displays of children's art work. Creative activities such as making flags and food to celebrate special events, handling and exploring resources from a variety of cultures and making space ships from cardboard boxes all help stimulate their imagination through stories, role-play, design and art. Sometimes opportunities for children to express their own ideas through a wide range of types of representation are limited, as tools and materials are not easy for

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and outcomes for children

Children behave very well, respond very well to expectations and make friends on shared outings with other childminders to places of interest, such as leisure centres, the beach, Dairyland, woodland walks, and the Maritime Museum. Children learn to share as they play alongside and with the childminder whose company they enjoy. Children's confidence in communication and use of language grows as the childminder encourages conversation through sensitive comments and questioning, modelling language as they play. Children learn to solve simple mathematical problems in everyday activities, for example, how many and where to place eyes, arms and legs to complete a drawing of a member of their family. Children apply knowledge of number as they count, sort and compare how many parts of a game there are as they set them up ready to play.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy physical activity and develop skills in coordination and control by riding trikes, building dens, cutting up fruit, applying paint with large rollers and using spoons to fill containers with sand. Through everyday routines and planned activities, such as emergency evacuation practice and the application of road safety awareness, children learn about keeping themselves safe. The activities and daily routines support children's emerging understanding of healthy habits; they are keen to play outdoors, enjoy the benefits of exercise, and eat well. Activities such as planting and growing beans and cress support children's emerging understanding of where food comes from, the world around them and life cycles. Food from home is stored and served hygienically and all meals are taken at the table to promote good eating habits.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder uses the home languages of the children who attend and has carefully labelled the home and uses some sign language to promote inclusive practice. Children celebrate festivals such as St David's and St Piran's Day, Chinese New Year, Easter, and the local Band Week where children won a prize for 'Best In Show'. Children enjoy their play in the care of the childminder, begin to make a positive contribution to their community and develop skills for the future. 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 3 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: 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

 keep a record of any medicine administered to any child who is cared for on the premises, together with a record of a parent/guardian/carer's consent. (Records to be kept)( also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 29/03/2011

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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 compulsory childcare register section of the report. 29/03/2011

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