Childminder in Worcestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY384761 Inspection date 29/03/2011 Inspector Donna Stevens

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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 2008. She lives with her husband and adult child in Kidderminster. The whole of the ground floor and upstairs bathroom is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The childminder is able to take and collect children from local schools and pre-schools. The family has no pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time, of whom, no more than two, may be in the early years age range. There are currently two children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage, both of whom attend on a part-time basis. The childminder also offers care to children aged over five years. This provision is registered on the Early Years Register and on both the voluntary and compulsory parts of the Childcare Register. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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

Children are happy and settled and close relationships between them and the childminder are evident. The childminder ensures that children's welfare needs are effectively met by discussing them with parents in order to meet individual needs and provide children with continuity of care. The childminder has addressed most of the actions and recommendations raised at previous visits. Children would now benefit from the childminder being proactive in her self evaluation, reviewing her practice and pinpointing areas for improvement.

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further?

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

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further?

 have a clearly defined procedure for the evacuation of the building (Suitable premises, environment and equipment) 28/04/2011

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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) 28/04/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the organisation of the setting to include ongoing effective procedures to evaluate the provision and implement areas for improvement  improve the use of observations and assessments to identify learning This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 priorities for each child.

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the early years provision

Children are protected from abuse because the childminder has attended recent training in safeguarding. She is familiar with the possible signs of child abuse and has a clear policy which is up-to-date and in line with local procedures that she would follow if she were to have concerns about a child in her care. The childminder supervises children at all times and ensures that they are safe and secure. She has completed risk assessments for her home, garden and outings. To further ensure children's safety she needs to meet all the statutory requirements for example, keeping a written record of when risk assessments have been carried out, by whom, the date and any action taken. The childminder practices the fire evacuation procedure each month but must ensure that a clearly defined procedure for evacuation is available at all times.

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the early years provision

The childminder ensures that mandatory training requirements are met and has begun to develop her knowledge and understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage by attending workshops and short training courses. She continues to meet with other childminders in the area and takes the opportunity to seek advice and support from more experienced childminders. This also allows her to keep up-to- date with local developments and opportunities such as applying for capital funding to purchase outdoor equipment which has extended children's experiences in the outdoor environment. Although the childminder has ensured that she has met any statutory requirements raised at previous visits and has begun to work towards other areas raised she has only just begun to evaluate her practice. Development of these procedures will allow her to be proactive in looking at areas of her practice that can be improved and will have a direct impact on children's

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the early years provision

The childminder shares information with parents and carers at the beginning and end of each day. She also provides a daily diary that includes information about children's welfare needs and activities they have enjoyed. It also includes details with children's learning and development. She is eager to cater for parent's individual requirements organising her day around children's routines and taking into consideration their likes, dislikes and interests when planning activities and outings.

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and outcomes for children

Children make steady progress towards the early learning goals and in all areas of their development because the childminder has an understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Young children have lots of physical contact, as well as face-to-face interaction helping to support the beginning of early social and communication skills. She is keen to ensure that children feel safe and secure and provides familiar and favourite pieces of equipment. She knows individual children This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 well and they remain happy and contented as she provides experiences that she knows children will like and enjoy. For example, children who particularly like toys with moving parts and buttons are provided with similar toys that will give new challenges. The childminder has begun to record children's achievements in their daily diaries that go home to parents each evening. This procedure could now be

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and outcomes for children

extended so that children's play is observed and their progress linked to their next steps in learning. This would allow the childminder to introduce new opportunities to extend their learning in other areas for example messy or creative activities.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy in the setting and are kind and thoughtful towards each other. They have clear and consistent boundaries so that they develop an understanding of acceptable behaviour and older children are willing to share and take turns. They understand that when younger children are sleeping they need to be quiet and happily settle down to a quiet activity, enjoying individual attention from the childminder. During this time the childminder concentrates on extending older children's knowledge and understanding of numbers and letters. Children can confidently count, recognise written numbers and are beginning to understand the concepts of addition and subtraction. They can recognise their own names and understand the sounds that come from the written letters in order to make up their own name.

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and outcomes for children

Healthy lifestyles are actively encouraged and the childminder provides healthy snacks and drinks for older children. Children enjoy playing outside and walk to school and nursery each day providing exercise and fresh air. At the end of each week, if children with have walked to school and eaten healthily each day, the childminder organises a baking activity where they will make treats such as cakes or biscuits. This helps children to understand that if they lead healthy lifestyles with a good diet and plenty of fresh air and exercise they can have the occasional treat.

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and outcomes for children

Children have opportunities to socialise and meet other children of their own age, as the childminder attends childminder and carer groups and sessions at the local children's centre. She also attends sessions at the local library where children can listen to stories, sing songs and help to choose books to bring back to the childminder's home. Enjoyment of books and stories will help to lay the foundations for children's interest in learning to read and write as they get older. 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 3 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 3 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 2 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 3 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: 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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