Childminder in DurhamOfsted inspection, 16 Mar 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY265599 Inspection date 16/03/2011 Inspector Lynne Pope

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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 2003. She lives with her husband and three children aged four, 10 and 15 years. They live in the residential area of Blackhill near Consett in County Durham. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor of the childminder's home is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years, and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of five children aged under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding five children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five years. Currently there are four children that attend in this age group. The childminder cares for children Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm for 52 weeks of the year. She escorts children to and from the local school. She attends toddler groups on a regular basis. She is a member of the Derwentside Quality Assured Childminding Network.

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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

The childminder has implemented excellent practices to promote children's maximum learning potential. She clearly understands that children learn through play and provides them with exceptional support and exciting learning opportunities. Children's safety and security is given high priority. Partnership with parents and other providers positively support children's development and the continuity in their care. The childminder is highly motivated and has very effective systems in place to evaluate the service. She actively seeks to make improvements which help children to make very rapid progress.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop procedures for parents to be able to contribute to their child's learning and development through recording their comments.

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the early years provision

The childminder's strong commitment to improvement enhances all aspects of her provision. She continually assesses her practice and embraces any changes in legislation as she fully implements them. Children are very well protected because the childminder has an excellent understanding of safeguarding procedures and This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 knows when to take action to safeguard children in her care. Records have been developed and are maintained with extreme care, precision, and attention to detail. For example, written risk assessments are in place for the home, garden and any outings that children go on. Weekly written checks are carried out and daily visual checks to ensure that there are no possible hazards for children.

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the early years provision

The home is made very welcoming for children. The excellent organisation of the premises ensures that children easily make choices from the wide range of stimulating resources. They develop a high level of confidence and independence in their play and learning. They have access to a large conservatory where resources are stored on low level shelving so that they can make their own choices. Their artwork is shown effectively in a large display on the kitchen wall and photographs of their activities are frequently rotated so that parents can see what they have been involved in and which children enjoy looking at as they name their friends. This gives them ownership of the environment. The wide range of resources include items that the childminder has put together such as a song bag. It contains props which relate to rhymes and songs. Children select them from the bag and immediately know which rhyme they should sing.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an extremely positive approach to her professional development. She continues to attend important training, in particular she has attended training for special educational needs and inclusion awareness and understanding diversity which are areas of development for herself that she identified through self evaluation of the service. The childminder is part of a 'Buddying Pilot' in the local authority called 'Making a Big Difference'. She is a lead childminder and holds regular cluster groups for five other childminder's where she can pass on her knowledge and experience. She has strong links with the network coordinator. Through this she benefits from regular monitoring visits and monthly meetings which keep her up-to-date on any childcare developments.

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the early years provision

Very positive relationships have been developed with parents. The childminder is committed to their active participation. For young children and those parents that would like one, the childminder completes a daily diary in which she records the child's routine, activities and special moments. She talks to parents and carers daily, sends them text messages and photographs during the day and discusses activities that they can do at home. This helps to extend their child's learning and development. Parents have access to their child's learning journal at any time, however their observations of their child at home which are passed on through discussion are not included in the journal to give a full picture of their child's development. Parents, carers and children left written comments for the inspection all stating how much they appreciate what the childminder does for them and that they feel their child's development is down to the efforts that they she puts in.

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the early years provision

Excellent systems are in place that ensure that a very positive relationship has been established with other provisions that children attend. Information about the children is regularly exchanged and they ensure that she receives any newsletters to keep her up to date. 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 plans and organises the systems exceptionally well to ensure that every child receives an enjoyable and challenging learning and development experience that is tailored to meet their individual needs. Consequently, children have the opportunity to participate in an excellent range of activities and experiences and the childminder is able to plan and promote their individual development and learning requirements with great success. Settling in visits is offered to new children which enable the childminder to find out about the child's needs through discussion with the parent and through observation. She has completed a 'My starting Points' document which helped her to evaluate children's starting points and is currently in the process of reviewing how this works. There is a very good balance of adult and child-led activities for both indoor and outdoor play whilst the childminder always ensures that plans remain flexible to allow her

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and outcomes for children

to respond to the interests and ideas of the children. Written observations are carried out of children's activities which are supported by photographs which are kept in the child's learning journal. The childminder has attended training on 'Flying from the start' and has implemented the recording sheets which track and clearly show children's progress against the early learning goals. This all helps her to very effectively plan the next step in children's learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

Children are very settled and comfortable in the childminding environment. They show that they feel safe and secure. They delight in new experiences becoming very excited about playing with the large tray of coloured rice. They enjoy it so much that they frequently return to it throughout the morning. Children clearly communicate their likes and dislikes as they ask for certain resources. They ask can they look at the photographs on the computer of the diggers that they went to see at a nearby building site. They talk their activities through and reflect and modify what they are doing as they try out various sizes of sieves to see if the rice will fit through the holes. Number is used in every day play. The childminder hides some shells in the rice and children search for them and count them as they find them. Another child counts how many toy diggers they have got accurately up to nine. Children go on numerous outings into the local environment which stimulates

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and outcomes for children

their interest in the world in which they live. For example, they visit toddler and singing groups, the park and an allotment to see the chickens. They freely gain access to the outdoor area from the conservatory. At the park they are able to access large equipment such as climbing frames, a slide and swings. These all help children to learn to negotiate space effectively and to move with pleasure and confidence. In the home children use their bodies to explore texture and space. They take their socks and shoes off so that they can stand in the rice and feel it on their feet. They sit in it and eventually lie down in it. Other experiences include playing with jelly, coloured pasta and shaving foam. The childminder is very adept at recognising and maximising learning opportunities. For example, the childminder has involved children in activities linked to Red Nose day, which develops children's awareness of the world around them.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder promotes the good health of the children and takes necessary steps to prevent the spread of infection and takes appropriate action when they This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 are ill. Therefore, children are protected from infectious illness and they develop clear understanding of how to promote their own good health. When washing their hands for lunch the childminder explains why they need to wash them and about germs. Children are encouraged to develop the habits and behaviour appropriate to good learners, their own needs, and those of others and have excellent self- esteem. Children begin to understand about dangers and learn how to keep themselves safe. The childminder gives them guidance about general safety during their activities such as when walking to and from school she talks about staying close together. Emergency evacuation procedures are practiced monthly which

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and outcomes for children

helps them to understand what to do in such an event. Children have a very good awareness of what the boundaries are when with the childminder. The childminder uses a very positive and consistent approach which takes into account children's understanding and maturity. They receive lots of praise for their achievements and thrive in the loving, caring environment. 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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