Childminder in Warwickshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY358552 Inspection date 04/03/2011 Inspector Jayne Rooke

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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 2007. She lives with her husband and two children aged 8 and 6 years in Leamington Spa. The whole of the ground floor, and one bedroom and the bathroom on the first floor of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder takes and collects children from local schools and pre-schools. The family has pet cats.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of five children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. The childminder is registered to provide overnight care for two children under eight years. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, all of whom attend on a part time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged five to over eight years. She is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who speak English as an additional language. 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children enjoy a stimulating and varied range of play and learning experiences, indoors and outside. They are valued as individuals and practice is inclusive. The childminder skilfully monitors their individual progress, using the Early Years Foundation Stage programme. The childminder forms positive and trusting partnerships with parents, carers and other professionals, ensuring children receive consistent and complementary care. Records and procedures are regularly reviewed and generally work well in practice. Self-review systems are used well to promote improvement through continuous professional development.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the record of risk assessment regarding the safety of the patio doors in the kitchen area. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children are protected from harm and neglect because effective safeguarding procedures exist. The childminder recognises the signs and symptoms of abuse and knows what to do if she has concerns about a child's well-being. She is attentive to children's safety and is vigilant about security, ensuring that children are closely supervised at all times. Emergency evacuation procedures are well- planned and organised so that children know what to do should there be a fire on the premises. Risk assessments are thorough, supported by rigorous daily safety checks to ensure children can move freely and safely around the home. However, the childminder has not included details of all potential risks in her records with regard to the open patio doors leading to the garden. This has minimal impact on children's safety overall because the childminder ensures that door restrainers are used so that children cannot get their fingers trapped. She has taken steps to

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the early years provision

ensure that the garden is clear of any hazardous materials so that children can enjoy free access to the outdoor play area and vegetable plots.

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the early years provision

The childminder is committed to ongoing professional development. She attends regular training events to update her knowledge and skills and to enhance her practice. As a result, significant developments to promote inclusion and positive behaviour management have been made. She evaluates her own practice well, taking into account her strengths and areas for further development. She makes good use of early years reference resources to ensure her practice is consistent with current guidelines. She takes time to discuss and share good practice ideas with other childcare and health professionals. This results in a continually improving setting. Recommendations from the previous inspection have been successfully addressed so that all areas accessible to the children are safe, secure and free from hazardous materials. She has improved the organisation of resources so that children can make free choices and decisions about their play.

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the early years provision

The childminders practice is inclusive. She has good systems in place to support children and families with diverse backgrounds and needs. Activities and outings are carefully planned and organised to enhance children's knowledge and understanding of diverse communities, cultural traditions and beliefs and disabilities. Her equal opportunities policy promotes positive attitudes towards equality and diversity. She develops strong and trusting partnerships with parents, carers and all those involved in each child's care. This ensures that routines are tailored towards children's individual interests, patterns of attendance and development needs. All of the necessary signed consents are in place to support children's welfare. This includes written information about parental responsibility and emergency medical treatment and advice details.

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the early years provision

Detailed written policies, covering all aspects of the provision are in place and work well in practice. This ensures that parents are fully informed of all matters regarding their child's safety and well-being. Written comments received from parents, and some of the older children are positive and complimentary. This demonstrates that children are happy and settled and 'love' being with the childminder. Parents feel confident and re-assured by the childminder's 'loving This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 care' and are happy to see their children smiling on arrival and collection. They appreciate the childminder's attention to meeting children's individual dietary requirements with her 'fantastic cooking'. Parents are kept up-to-date with what their children are doing through daily discussion, diary notes and learning journey records. Information about their child's educational progress is regularly shared

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the early years provision

which helps parents to continue supporting their child at home. The childminder shares relevant information with other settings that children attend which promotes continuity of care.

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and outcomes for children

Children are actively engaged in a well-balanced programme of activities which cover all areas of learning, and which offer children a broad range of interest and ongoing challenge. For example, babies and young children confidently explore their surroundings, showing curiosity and interest as they place objects into different containers. They are comfortable in the company of adults and each other, seeking out familiar people when needed. The childminder is sensitive to the changing needs and routines of each child, offering them comfort and reassurance when they are feeling tired or unwell.

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and outcomes for children

Children play imaginatively with a wide range of toys and equipment that encourage their sensory development. Older children talk freely on the toy telephone and smile proudly when they successfully switch on action toys and watch them move about. Younger children make excited movements as they listen to the different sounds made when they push the buttons to activate musical tones. The childminder skilfully interacts with the children encouraging their speech, language and communication as she asks questions and joins in with their play. She draws children's attention to pictures and interactive displays on the wall, prompting interesting conversation about the days of the week and different types of weather. Children are encouraged to look out of the window to find out what colour the sky is and whether it is cloudy and windy. She helps children to think about the different types of clothes they need to wear to keep themselves cool or

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and outcomes for children

warm, promoting good health and body awareness.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop skills in reading and writing through meaningful and practical experiences. Older children freely access books and spontaneously read stories to the dollies. This shows an interest in reading for a purpose. Children enjoy close contact with the childminder when it is time to settle down for a rest and to listen to a story. Readily accessible writing materials encourage younger children to spontaneously make marks on paper and on the low level easel. Older children practise and consolidate their skills as they hold pencils correctly and concentrate intently as they write their name. Girls and boys express their creativity in a variety of ways. They enjoy dressing up in role play outfits and are happy to wear their favourite 'super hero' costumes. They imitate familiar events in their lives as they This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 make cups of tea in the home corner. They thoroughly enjoy creating bright and

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and outcomes for children

glittery decorations, using a range of art and craft materials. They develop a sense of other cultures and beliefs as they make Diwali lamps to celebrate the festival of light. Children become fascinated by light reflections as they discover how to reflect the sunlight in shiny objects, chasing the 'light fairy' around the room.

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and outcomes for children

Older children show care and consideration for others as they show babies how to use the shape sorter toy and offer to share their crayons with others. Younger children develop their confidence and emerging skills as they use low level furniture to gain their balance when they are ready to take their first steps. The childminder skilfully organises her home so that children can reach for objects at lower and higher levels to extend their skills.

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and outcomes for children

Outdoor play is a significant feature of children's daily routine and provides many opportunities to extend their learning. They particularly enjoy playing in the sand, using a variety of containers to make shapes and buildings. Children expertly level the sand with a spade and 'bash it' before turning it over to make a 'butterfly', 'turtle' or 'fish' shape. They beam with pride as they receive lots of happy praise and claps for their achievements. The childminder helps children to recall how water was added to sand to make it stick together and to observe the texture and temperature of the sand. She encourages them to compare it to the dry sand they play with at pre-school, which is good for tipping and pouring through the funnel and sand wheels.

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and outcomes for children

Children are physically active indoors and outside. They sleep and rest according to their individual needs and routines and eat healthy meals and snacks. They learn how to keep themselves clean through the daily routine and with support from the childminder. This successfully promotes their good health and well-being. Children behave well because the childminder is a good role model. She speaks kindly to the children and establishes clear rules for expected behaviour which are easy for them to understand. They know that they must stay close to the childminder when they go out and cross the road safely, whilst younger children are safely transported in a pushchair. As a result, children learn to how to take care of themselves and to value and respect each other.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder makes good use of observation and assessment information to monitor and advance children's progress and skills. She skilfully links what children can do to the early learning goals, identifying further learning opportunities to support their development. She takes into account the needs and abilities of each child to plan a programme of activities which is meaningful and supportive. Consequently, children develop strong 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 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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