Childminder in Durham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 313542 Inspection date 16/03/2011 Inspector Julie Morrison

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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 1994. She lives with her adult son in Leadgate near to Consett. The childminder's home is accessed by four steps. The whole of the ground floor and the first floor bathroom of the childminder's home is used for childminding. There is a garden for outdoor play. The childminder cares for children on weekdays from 7.30am to 6.30pm for 47 weeks of the year.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum six children under eight years at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She also offers care to children aged over five years to 11 years. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding six children of whom three are in the early years age range. The childminder collects children from the local school and attends several toddler groups on a regular basis.

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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 are very well cared for by an experienced and dedicated childminder. She provides children with a wide range of fun activities and experiences which ensure that all children have good opportunities to make progress in their learning and development. Highly successful relationships with parents ensure that the childminder has a very good understanding of children s individual needs and they are fully included at her setting. The childminder is clearly motivated and highly committed to developing her practice and promoting outcomes for children, as a result, the capacity to improve is excellent.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop procedures to regularly share children's learning and development records with other practitioners.

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the early years provision

The childminder organises her provision well. A wide range of policies and procedures, which are updated regularly, are used effectively to underpin her good practice. Children are effectively safeguarded as the childminder has a very good understanding of child protection issues and is confident about procedures to follow should she have a concern about a child. A record of risk assessment for all areas of the home and outings, along with daily checks and appropriate safety equipment, further supports keeping children safe. The childminder holds an up-to- date first aid certificate and obtains consent from parents for emergency medical This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 treatment, this ensures she could respond quickly and effectively to any accidents.

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the early years provision

The childminder demonstrates an extremely positive attitude towards her career and developing her practice. This is reflected in her commitment to ongoing personal development, for example, she has attended a wide range of relevant training, such as, safeguarding children, outdoor play and special educational needs. Constantly reflecting on her practice, she considers the impact of such training and how this can help to develop her practice. A personal development plan further ensures that her capacity to ensure continuous improvement is excellent. Play opportunities are promoted well as resources, time and space are used to good effect at the childminder's home. A wide range of age-appropriate toys and resources are stored in clearly labelled boxes and set out ready for young children's arrival. Other resources are stored in a cupboard which older children confidently select from. The enables children to make independent choices about

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the early years provision

their play. As a result, children remain engaged in meaningful play throughout their time with the childminder.

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the early years provision

Excellent procedures are in place to work with parents and as a result, they speak very highly about the care and learning their children receive. The childminder demonstrates a genuine commitment to working with parents to gather information in order to provide the best care she can for children and ensure that she meets their individual needs. Parents have excellent opportunities to get involved in their child's learning and care. For example, they regularly add to their children's learning journals and take cuddly toys on holiday and write about what they have done with them. This enables the childminder to build upon their interests and learning. The childminder has good procedures in place to share information with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage. For example, she asks them for information about what activities they are doing and discusses children's care with key workers. However, procedures to effectively share

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the early years provision

information about children's individual progress towards the early learning goals are not yet fully established to further support continuity of care and learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children are extremely well settled and have clearly developed very close relationships with the warm and enthusiastic childminder. She demonstrates a secure understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage and provides a wide range of fun and stimulating learning opportunities for children which cover all areas of learning. Individual learning files contain observations of the children's learning and examples of their work. The childminder uses these well to inform her future planning and show the good progress the children are making towards the early learning goals.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder makes good use of questioning and support to extend children's learning. For example, as they build with blocks she names the colours and introduces language such as 'big' and 'tall'. This supports children's language skills and begins to introduce mathematical language into their play. Planned activities, such as, visits to the farm, museums and growing sunflowers provide good This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 opportunities for children to learn about the natural world. Everyday activities, such as, climbing the stairs are used to good effect to introduce counting skills for young children. The children clearly enjoy books, selecting them independently or sitting with the childminder to read them together. The childminder talks about the different textures in the books and the children giggle as they rub their noses on the fur in the pictures. The childminder supports children's awareness of diversity

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and outcomes for children

by introducing resources which reflect positive images of race and gender along with planned activities, such as, celebrating the Chinese New Year. Programmable toys along with using the computer to look for information supports children in developing valuable skills for the future.

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and outcomes for children

Children's knowledge about personal safety is successfully encouraged by planned activities, such as, trips to visit the local fire station and through everyday activities. For example, discussing road safety and talking about the dangers of hot water. Children's good health is given the utmost priority by the childminder. Even young children clearly understand daily routines, independently washing their hands and selecting individual hand towels. This ensures that the risk of cross- infection is minimised. Activities, such as, recycling, making posters about healthy foods and using the 'five a day' website to get recipes further supports children's excellent understanding of healthy lifestyles. The childminder uses a very positive and consistent approach to managing children's behaviour, which takes into account their age and understanding. She gives high priority to helping children to become autonomous in their learning, encouraging them to make their own

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and outcomes for children

choices and to make a positive contribution to the setting. For example, older children use smiley and sad faces to feedback their views on activities and children's questionnaires are used to good effect to identify new resources to buy. This ensures that children feel valued which promotes their self-esteem and helps them to develop a strong sense of belonging in the childminder's care. 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 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 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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