Childminder in HertfordshireOfsted inspection, 24 Mar 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY298450 Inspection date 24/03/2011 Inspector Lindsay Dobson

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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 2004. She lives with her husband and two children aged eleven and six years in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. The whole of the childminder's house is used for childminding purposes and there is a fully enclosed rear garden for outside play. The family have a pet hamster.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register to care for a maximum of five children under eight years. There are currently five children on roll of whom four are in the early years age range. The childminder walks and drives to the local school and pre-school to take and collect children. She attends various toddler and community groups.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and has completed a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) to Level 3 in Childcare.

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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 provides a happy, caring environment where children settle well and make good progress towards the early learning goals. She knows children well, recognises their uniqueness and gathers a wide range of information from their parents. This enables her to meet their individual needs well. The childminder is fully committed to her ongoing professional development; recently attaining an NVQ to Level 3. This has enabled her to embrace the Early Years Foundation Stage and ensure it is implemented, having a positive impact on her practice and the outcomes for children. Ongoing and effective self-evaluation systems lead to continuous improvement across all areas of the provision.

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further?

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

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further?

 continue to develop the outdoor curriculum, where possible linking indoor and outdoor environments  ensure children's starting points are recorded and used to further their development.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding issues and has in place a clear policy document to support her practice. She regularly attends child protection training to keep her knowledge and understanding in this area current. Effective risk assessments are in place and routinely updated. These are supported by regular checklists which highlight any relevant safety issues and there is a This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 record of risk assessments in place for all outings. All other required documentation is in place and well organised for ease of access should the need arise.

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the early years provision

The effective partnership with parents and other provisions the children attend enhances the consistency in care the children receive and actively contributes to their good progress towards the early learning goals. Parents receive a good range of information about the setting when their children start. The childminder also gathers detailed information from parents to enable her meet their individual care needs and involve them in their children's ongoing learning and development. However, she does not currently record their individual starting points to use as the foundation for their learning. Parents are kept fully informed of their children's progress through verbal discussions, daily diaries and access to their children's informative learning records. Feedback from parents is positive. They state that they are made to feel welcome and their children enjoy a very wide range of activities, also that the childminder is reliable, organised, efficient and experienced.

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the early years provision

The childminder is aware of her strengths and areas she wishes to develop and has used the Ofsted document as the formal system of self-assessment. She demonstrates a clear commitment to continuous improvement, through her regular attendance of short training courses offered by the local authority, to ensure her knowledge and skills are kept up-to-date. The recommendation from the last inspection has been fully addressed. The childminder has good knowledge and understanding of equality and diversity. This has a positive impact on her childminding with children's individual needs understood and equality promoted at every opportunity. The childminder has a varied range of exciting, age appropriate resources to engage the children and promote their understanding of their local community and the wider world. She deploys herself well to support children's play.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and confident, and it is clear that they feel safe and very much 'at home' in the company of the childminder; consequently, they settle well. They confidently access the toys and activities as they move around the ground floor rooms. Strong relationships have been built with the childminder and it is clear that they are very fond of each other. For example, they involve her in their play and happily approach her for cuddles, help and support. Children are becoming independent as they choose some of their own resources and help to tidy up after themselves. They have opportunities to socialise with other children at community groups, and learn to co-operate and share the toys. They enjoy stories and have a good range of books to choose from. The childminder supports their language development, taking her time to ensure they understand her and listening to their comments, and asking relevant, open-ended questions to encourage them to think.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder and children enjoy playing games with memory matching cards and jigsaws puzzles.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy a good range of imaginative and role play activities. For example, This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 children use the small world farm and animals. The childminder enhances the children's play by introducing dried pasta and they enjoy putting this into the scoop of the tractor and in the trailer. The childminder introduces mathematical concepts as children play by encouraging them to count the pieces of pasta, and group the animals by size, such as, big and small. The childminder and children play together with the doctor's set. They listen to the doll's heart with the stethoscope and put bandages on their arms. From their own experiences children administer medication to the dolls and then with the help of the childminder use the syringe to pretend to give the doll an injection. Children's developing creativity is well supported by the opportunities the childminder provides. They join in with a

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and outcomes for children

play dough activity and using small body part pieces to make people and animals, showing the childminder where the arms, eyes and ears should go. Children have opportunities in the childminder's home and at the groups they attend to paint and stick. Their art work is proudly displayed in the kitchen raising children's self- esteem and sense of belonging.

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and outcomes for children

Children have daily access to fresh air and outdoor play. In the childminder's garden they ride on wheeled toys, play football and use the trampoline with their parents' written permission. Although the children have opportunities for physical play, the garden does not currently promote all aspects of the curriculum. In the community children visit play groups, parks, the adventure play ground and the farm. On such outings they develop their large physical skills as they climb, slide and swing on the fixed equipment. The childminder includes physical play into children's understanding of a healthy lifestyle. She also provides a varied range of healthy and nutritious home cooked meals and snacks which meet the children's individual dietary needs. They learn to use good hygiene practices as they wash their hands before meals and after toileting. Children's safety is given high priority. The childminder has installed safety gates and cupboard locks in the home and she

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and outcomes for children

regularly practises the fire evacuation drill with them. On outings children learn to cross the road safely and the possible dangers of talking to strangers. Behaviour is well managed by this positive childminder and she recognises children's achievements and offers lots of praise and encouragement to them. Children understand the basic house rules which are available in written and picture form and learn to take turns and respect each other in this happy and fun 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 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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