Childminder in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY357931 Inspection date 23/03/2011 Inspector Heather Morgan

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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 three school-aged children in the South Oxhey area of Watford. The whole ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding and a bedroom upstairs is used for sleep and rest purposes. Children have access to the rear garden for outdoor play. The children also visit local parks for outdoor physical play. The childminder walks to local schools to take and collect children. She attends local toddler groups and takes children to the library.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for two children in the early years age group and currently has two children in this age group on roll. The childminder also cares for children up to eight years, before and after school.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder supports children who learn English as an additional language. She is a member of the National Childminding Association and holds a relevant early years qualification.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is satisfactory.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall, children's welfare and development is supported appropriately. The childminder evaluates her practice and takes some steps to improve outcomes for children. However, she does not always address identified weaknesses successfully and consequently some of her documentation does not comply with current regulatory requirements. She has a good awareness of her safeguarding responsibilities and implements effective procedures to keep children safe and secure. The childminder is aware of the importance of working in partnership with parents and other providers, but is not always successful in engaging them in exchanging information regularly about children's progress. Although children engage in a range of interesting and enjoyable activities that support progress and development, planning lacks sufficient focus to ensure that each individual child is achieving their full learning potential.

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further?

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

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further?

 keep a daily record of the names of the children looked after on the premises, their hours of attendance and the names of the persons caring for them (Documentation) (also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register) 28/03/2011

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further?

 ensure that all records relating to childcare activities 28/03/2011 This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 are readily accessible for inspection at all times

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further?

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

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further?

 develop systems for observing, assessing and planning activities to ensure that each child is making progress in all areas of learning, building on what they already know and can do  develop systems to encourage all parents and other settings to exchange information regularly in order to support children's development and progress fully.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good understanding of her responsibility to keep children safe and secure. She has clear procedures in place to support this and shares them with parents so that they too understand how the childminder will respond to any concerns. The childminder undertakes daily checks of her home to ensure the children's play environment is safe and also assesses risks associated with taking the children on outings. This enables her to identify potential hazards and take steps to minimise risks to children.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides the children with a range of activities within her home. She also takes them to local groups to access more play opportunities and socialise with other children. She and her assistant interact sensitively with the children to sustain their interest in activities and support their learning. The childminder knows the children well and has an understanding of their abilities. However, she does not plan activities systematically that build on what each child already knows and can do, to ensure that they are all achieving their full learning potential.

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the early years provision

The childminder has undertaken some evaluation of her practice and has an awareness of areas that require improvement. For example, she has indentified that she lacks confidence in completing the documentation that underpins her childminding practice. Although she has a range of policies and procedures in place that reflect current regulatory requirements, she has failed to maintain a clear record of children's attendance. Parents are asked to sign a document to confirm that they have read and understood the childminder's policies and that they give consent for a range of activities and procedures. Most of this documentation is organised appropriately and available for inspection, although not all of the consent forms are readily accessible. The childminder has taken steps to improve her practice. For example, she has attended training to help her develop children's awareness of sounds and letters and has achieved a childcare qualification.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a range of suitable resources and encourages the children to make independent choices in their play by making a selection of the resources easily accessible each day. She makes good use of local play facilities to extend children's learning opportunities and also uses her garden to provide learning opportunities outdoors as well as indoors. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder provides good support for children learning English as an additional language. She learns words in their home language to help her communicate effectively with children as they settle with her and talks to them about simple illustrations in picture books to develop their vocabulary. She includes activities that reflect their home cultures and traditions, such as celebrating festivals and cooking familiar foods.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed some good relationships with parents, but is not always successful at engaging them in discussions about their children's progress and development. She is aware of the importance of working in partnership with other providers when children attend more than one setting, but does not have effective systems in place to ensure a regular exchange of information to support her in working together to promote children's learning and development.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop healthy lifestyles as they engage in their regular routines with the childminder. They have a good understanding of hygiene procedures and wash their hands carefully before meals. They have many opportunities to play outdoors in the fresh air and enjoy running around and exercising their bodies. They eat regular, nutritious snacks and meals and help themselves to drinks throughout the day to keep themselves well hydrated.

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and outcomes for children

Children have a good understanding about keeping themselves safe. They handle resources safely and take care not to hurt each other as they play indoors or run around in the garden. They are happy, confident and settled in the childminder s home and enjoy engaging with both the childminder and her assistant.

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and outcomes for children

Children's behaviour is good. They enjoy playing together and are happily take turns and share resources. For example, they wait patiently so they can each take a turn at watering the seeds they have planted. Children play cooperatively, such as when passing a ball to each other, and like to look at books together. They develop a secure sense of self as they are praised for their achievements and have opportunities to explore their home traditions and cultures with the childminder. They learn about diversity as the childminder explains sensitively that they sometimes use different words to mean the same thing when they speak in other languages.

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and outcomes for children

Children engage in a range of activities when they are with the childminder, both in her home and when they are taken on outings or visits. They have opportunities to choose resources independently and initiate their own play. For example, they choose from a range of books and enjoy talking about the illustrations. They also enjoy playing outdoors and are particularly interested in nature as they look for bugs and investigate how well their plants are growing. The childminder interacts sensitively with the children, which helps to sustain their interest. For example, she talks to them about the illustrations in the books they have chosen and they select This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 more books and talk about the familiar stories and pictures. They are encouraged to develop their awareness of number by, for example, counting how many sunflowers they are watering. The childminder knows the children well and is able

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and outcomes for children

to identify some of their next steps for learning. However, children are not encouraged to participate in activities that are specifically designed to build on what each of them already knows and can do, which limits their potential for progress and development.

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy singing, dancing and a range of arts and crafts activities and these are sometimes accessed by attending local groups where they can socialise with other children. Overall, children access activities that support progress and development in all areas of learning, although planning of activities lacks sufficient focus to ensure that their development in each area is tailored to their individual needs. 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 3 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 3 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 3

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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

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept) 28/03/2011

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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 in the early years section of the report (Records to be kept) 28/03/2011

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