Childminder in Leicestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 225973 Inspection date 28/03/2011 Inspector ISP Inspection

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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 1995. She lives with her husband and three adult children in Market Harborough, which is situated in south Leicestershire. The whole of the property is used for childminding. There is a fully enclosed rear garden available for outside play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight at any one time, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age group. She is currently minding four children in this age group. She also offers to care for children aged over five to 11 years. The provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities or children with English as an additional language are supported. She has a recognised early years qualification and 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 outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

This childminder organises her home and daily routines with dedication and imagination to ensure that children are safe and secure and are offered inspiring and challenging opportunities to learn as they play. Children are happy, settled and confident as the childminder takes great care to establish all available information about them and their individual care, learning and development needs. She fosters close working relationships with parents by providing them with excellent information about her services and comprehensive feedback about their child's care and learning. She develops strong partnerships with others involved in the children's lives, for example, local schools, making sure that the needs of all children are met, along with any additional support needs. She has established efficient systems to monitor and evaluate her practice and secures a genuine capacity to drive development by recognising the importance of effective appraisal

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further?

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

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further?

 drawing on the extended range of quality improvement tools that are available to continue to plan, organise and evaluate performance to ensure that every child receives an enjoyable and challenging learning and developmental experience that is tailored to meet the their individual needs. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

This childminder gives attentive consideration to the inclusion of all children and effectively organises activities and learning opportunities so that they are fully enabled to participate safely and confidently according to their age and capability. Children are safeguarded successfully as the childminder has a robust understanding of child protection procedures. She knows exactly what to do to report any concerns and ensures that parents are fully informed of her responsibilities. The childminder efficiently promotes children's safety by undertaking thorough risk assessments of her premises, all outings and activities, and by maintaining vigilant supervision at all times.

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the early years provision

An extensive and detailed range of written policies are in place to effectively promote children's health, safety and welfare, and parents are provided with copies of these important documents. All necessary records are completed efficiently and parents receive written details of their children's daily care and routines. The childminder has established excellent systems to sensitively observe and assess what children can do. She uses this information efficiently to plan for individual children's next steps and keep parents up-to-date with their children's progress. She values the exemplary partnerships she has created with parents, which means that they feel fully informed and included at all times. She has established excellent working relationships with others involved in the children's lives to provide an individual service which supports every child's overall development.

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the early years provision

This childminder is committed to personal development and embraces relevant training opportunities to support her work with young children. She has made the improvements recommended at her previous inspection and has fully implemented the requirements and guidance accompanying the Early Years Foundation Stage and Framework. Highly efficient systems are implemented to monitor and evaluate the childminder's services and secure ongoing development.

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and outcomes for children

This childminder has created a child-centred, inspiring environment where children enjoy innovative and challenging opportunities to learn through their play and exploration. Children enter this childminder's home with confidence and enthusiasm, eager to take part in the excellent range of purposeful and developmentally appropriate experiences offered to them each day.

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and outcomes for children

The daily programme of planned and spontaneous activities is organised and effectively delivered to ensure that children have real opportunities to practise and progress in numeracy and problem solving, and have many opportunities to practise their mark-making. For example, resources to encourage this learning are available throughout the environment to be used in play. Children have a multitude of opportunities to foster their imagination and creativity and enjoy working with a This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 wide variety of mediums, such as, gloop, paint, water and sand. They use everyday items and recycled materials to support their games and play. For example, they scoop and gather polystyrene chips as they act out the work of the waste recycling plant, collecting and sorting the waste products. Older children eagerly describe how their parents recycle garden waste by squashing it into

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and outcomes for children

special bins for collection. Their speculation that the chips would stick together if water is added was noted by the childminder for experimentation. The childminder skilfully builds upon children's play, suggestions and imagination to support and extend their learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children proudly talk about their work and the photographs on display illustrating activities, adventures, their families, friends, pets and important events in their lives. They learn about different customs and significant events in the lives of others. For example, they have visited a Sikh Temple, learned the meaning of Vesakha, Holi, Diwali, Eide and many other important occasions. Children are taken around their county and local community to explore social and cultural history in their environment. In this way, children develop a sense of place and identity as they learn to recognise and value differences.

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and outcomes for children

A safe, challenging outdoor environment provides an interesting and enticing range of learning opportunities as children work, play and exercise in the fresh air. Children are encouraged to use their listening and observational skills to explore and learn. For example, they learn how things grow and about healthy eating as they plant and cultivate fruit and vegetables in their garden pots. They use their problem solving skills to measure the fully grown sunflowers vertically then compare the lengths horizontally at ground level.

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and outcomes for children

Children have excellent awareness of right and wrong in line with their stage of development and respond happily to the consistent praise and encouragement offered. They are delighted when their good behaviour is recognised, which means they are spurred on to respect and help others. Children's health and welfare are effectively promoted as the childminder is an excellent role model and ensures children learn through daily routines. They eagerly explain why hand washing and a healthy diet are important to their well-being and describe how they remind little ones who may forget.

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and outcomes for children

This childminder is exceptionally skilled at capturing spontaneous opportunities to support and challenge children in their play and learning. Children have a positive attitude to learning, fostered by this inspirational childminder and the exceptional range of activities provided. This results in children being active learners and creative and critical thinkers. The childminder has thoroughly implemented all aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage, including robust systems of observation and assessment to inform planning for individual children's next steps. This ensures that children achieve as much as they can in relation to their starting points and capabilities. 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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