Childminder in West Sussex

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY290909 Inspection date 25/03/2011 Inspector Christine Clint

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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 2004. She lives with her husband and three children in the village of West Stoke, near Chichester in West Sussex. Children play in the entrance hall, sitting room and kitchen/dining room, they also use a bedroom on the first floor for sleeping during the day. Children have access to a secure garden. The family has a dog and outdoor cats. They also keep chickens in the garden. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register, to care for a maximum of three children under the age of eight years. Two children may be in the early years age group. The childminder is currently caring for two children on a part time basis, who are both in the early years age group. She takes children to the local parent/toddler group and visits the library and the countryside. The childminder holds a BTEC National Diploma in Childhood Studies and she is a member of the National

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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 childminder shows a clear and dedicated focus on the individual needs of the children in her care. She includes well organised and planned liaison with parents which fully promotes and enhances children's progress and learning. The childminder has breached a specific welfare requirement in relation to the records required, although children's safety is well promoted, overall. She has made strong improvements since the last inspection by introducing effective methods of meeting the Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. The childminder demonstrates a good capacity to maintain continuous improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 keep a record of the risk assessment clearly stating when it was carried out, by whom, date of review and any action taken following a review or incident. (Documentation). 22/04/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the risk assessment further to cover anything with which a child may come into contact . 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 shows a committed attitude to the children in her care because she is conscious of their needs at all times and she has clearly learned about their individual characteristics. She fully promotes their safety by supervising them throughout all play and daily routines. A record of the risk assessment is not kept, which is a breach of a specific welfare requirement. However this does not fully impact on children's safety because the childminder takes effective steps to keep children safe and encourages younger children to learn about the risks and hazards that they can manage themselves. She includes this in their play and daily routines and ensures risks are minimised by her continual supervision. The childminder also understands her duty to protect children and to recognise and refer any concerns. There are clear procedures for fire emergencies and all safety equipment is in place, the childminder has developed a fire plan and she uses gentle explanation

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the early years provision

to ensure that younger children are not frightened by fire drills, but they learn about being safe. All other systems are in place and fully documented to maintain children's well-being and safety, including all written permission from parents.

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the early years provision

The childminder has driven improvements since the last inspection by including systems of recording children's learning and progress. She shows a strong knowledge of child development and plans activities in advance to link with children's interests and preferences. She has very succinct observations in place to show how she recognises children's achievements and how she plans for their next steps in learning. For example, records show that the childminder has painted firework pictures with children and planned to talk about firework safety as the next steps in learning. There are also clear records to show how activities are evaluated according to children's reactions and responses, the childminder has recorded descriptive words to show children's responses, watching, listening, laughing and wanting to repeat activities. She has also included methods of liaising with parents and providing systems within her home for parents to view ever

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the early years provision

changing photographs of children taking part in activities. The childminder has displayed a small white board which is used to inform parents of the daily and weekly plans for play. Children can easily find play resources from the large box in the hall; they have an organised book corner and know where to find their favourite stories. Children sit at the kitchen table to take part in creative play and they can have ample fresh air and exercise in the garden, they use the swing the trampoline and a variety of mobile toys.

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the early years provision

Children's individual needs are assessed in advance and the childminder especially includes words in languages that children understand. She has experience of caring for children with special educational needs and is aware of promoting a positive attitude towards all differences and of including resources which reflect this. She has successfully introduced systems for liaising with parents and for widening the information they provide at the start of children's care. This enables the childminder to establish and build relationships that promote and encourage children's development. There are some regular links in place with the wider community and the childminder shows that she has introduced opportunities for increasing children's awareness through using the mobile library and the This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 community toy library. There are regular school collections for early years children

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the early years provision

and the childminder has established relationships and shared information at times, she has also taken part in different celebrations.

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and outcomes for children

Younger children are fully settled and secure in the setting because the childminder devotes all her time to them and often follows their ideas for play. They show interest in the activities that the childminder has planned and these are varied or extended to suit children's individual concentration levels. Children sit at the kitchen table, safely strapped in their chairs to make a collage picture of the sun. They use various pieces of yellow paper and egg boxes that they have already cut and prepared with the childminder; they notice the different textures and effects. They are communicating quietly and show clear abilities in developing language. Children are competent and learning to be independent, they capability use the brush and the glue to join the paper together. They are very interested in their records of development and eagerly look at photographs of previous activities, which remind them of the 'monkey game' they played and they show

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and outcomes for children

enthusiasm for finding this again and they talk about hanging the monkeys in the tree.

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and outcomes for children

Children sort out plastic numbers with the childminder and lay these on the floor, they recognise and comment on the different sizes and know which is small and which is larger; they are learning to count in low numbers and to follow sequence. They empty all the train track pieces on the floor and learn how to join the pieces together with the childminder to send the train around, making train noises and lining up all the wooden houses to make a village. Children are eager to play in the sunshine and the childminder encourages children to help her find the eggs the chickens have laid. They talk about the chickens and children are very used to collecting the eggs and learning about where eggs come from. Children find resources to interest them in the garden, they push the wheelbarrow along the path, they are learning to manoeuvre the car with their feet to enable them to travel and steer. Children are understanding how to manage risks and hazards

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and outcomes for children

because the childminder is constantly aware of their movements, she reminds them of the step in the path when they are pushing the wheelbarrow and they are cautious and manage this well.

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and outcomes for children

Children are thirsty when they come inside and they are keen to drink and be refreshed, they eat well and make choices about what they will have in their sandwiches, they are encouraged to think and remember if they like cucumber. They are learning about regular routines for maintaining hygiene and the childminder cleans the table before they sit to eat together. Children are becoming independent in using utensils and deciding when they have had enough to eat. The find different toys and sit with the childminder to read stories, looking at pictures and asking questions about what happens in the story. Younger children are learning to play alongside each other, they show a growing awareness of sharing the childminder's time and taking turns with the play equipment. This is This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 because the childminder uses quiet explanation and often distraction to divert

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and outcomes for children

Children are learning how to understand each other's feelings and they spontaneously show a willingness to share resources and include each other when playing games, because the childminder encourages children of different ages to participate in whatever activity is taking place. Children show interest in recognising the letters of their own name and they use the play dough to form these. This helps them to explore different textures and learn to use words to describe these. Children are practising French words, they listen to music and develop skills of dancing. They are fully encouraged to learn about the daily routines and become aware of what happens next to encourage their growing independence. Children use the stairs with the childminder and they are very aware of managing their balance and any hazards because they instantly sit down and come down one step at a time while the childminder supervises them, this

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and outcomes for children

ensures that children are following regular routines and maintaining safety.

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and outcomes for children

Children show high levels of concentration for their age and stage of development, they spend time threading the pasta they have painted and glittered to make a necklace. They join magnetic shapes to one another and practise pulling these apart. They learn how to make puzzles and fit different shapes together and are confidently naming and recognising colours. Children have made firework pictures and talked about the dangers of fireworks and how to stay safe. They have also learned about fire safety within the home and the childminder introduces this appropriately for children's age and stage of development to encourage their learning of future skills. 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 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 and implement a written statement of procedures to be followed for the protection of children, intended to safeguard the children being cared for from abuse or neglect (Arrangements for safeguarding children) (also applies to the voluntary part of the Childcare Register) 22/04/2011

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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 on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register (Arrangements for safeguarding children) 05/04/2011

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