Childminder in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY347704 Inspection date 29/03/2011 Inspector Angela Hufton

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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 has been registered since 2007. She lives with her husband and three primary school aged children. The detached home is in a suburb close to Lincoln, Lincolnshire. Shops, parks and schools are within walking distance. There is a fully enclosed garden for outside play. All areas of the home are available to minded children with toilet facilities on both levels and a dedicated playroom on the first floor.

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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 a maximum of five children, three of whom may be in the early years age group at any one time. She has an exception to care for four early years children at certain times to accommodate siblings. Currently the childminder has 11 children on roll. Of these four are in the early years age range and five are over eight years old. All children attend on a part-time basis.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and attends local group meetings. She provides short term placements with the local Sure Start Centre. The childminder has a Level 4 Childcare Qualification and is currently completing an Advanced Diploma in Equality and Diversity.

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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 is highly skilled and qualified and uses her considerable experience effectively to promote individual children's welfare and development. Most required records are well maintained. Children have access to a well prepared and generously resourced play environment and a wide range of play and learning activities are provided. Children's own interests and child-led play is encouraged and the childminder makes frequent outings to widen children's experiences and successfully support their learning. The childminder has good partnerships with parents and carers and is developing the use of self-evaluation to maintain improvement, including developing risk assessments.

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further?

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

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further?

 obtain prior written permission for each and every medicine from parents before any medication is given(Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 07/04/2011

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further?

To further improve the early years provision the registered person should: This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  develop observations further to consistently make links to the 'Developmental matters' prompts to plan the next steps in a child's developmental progress, extending ways parents can contribute to this process and identify children's starting points  extend evaluation systems to ensure that the quality of children's learning, development and care continues to improve.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides and maintains a well organised and stimulating play programme. She has successfully adopted the Early Years Foundation Stage framework for learning and has attended a wide range of training and supplementary courses to inform her practice. Safeguarding is well organised within the setting and the childminder shows a good awareness of the need to protect children and support their welfare. Clearly organised record keeping and sound guidance policies are also in place to ensure children are kept safe and secure. Whilst risk assessments do not identify everything with which a child may come into contact, they are kept safe through close supervision. Whilst most records are very well maintained, including medication that has been administered to children, prior written consent from parents is not recorded for every medication as required in regulations.

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the early years provision

Children enjoy access to a spacious play environment, with the childminder's lounge, dining-kitchen and a first floor playroom well organised to provide a range of different activity areas. Children can move from one organised play-base to another. For example, they can spend time in the lounge with imaginative play and then take their play to the table in the kitchen for craft activities. The childminder successfully organises resources to meet the needs of individual children attending. For example, children are provided with a range of dolls and a dolls house to support their current interest. The childminder has many resources, all well presented in boxes and shelves. Here children can choose and select items easily to vary their play and are encouraged by the childminder to combine resources imaginatively.

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the early years provision

The childminder is able to support children's developing skills well and help them to make progress in all areas of their learning. She has also built up experience in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and is undertaking high level training to develop inclusion. The childminder maintains an inclusive approach to managing her play programme and shows confidence in organising play and working with children over a range of ages. A selection of diversity based play and learning materials are provided within the play environment. The childminder maintains good links with other settings and carers and makes regular visits to the nearby Sure Start centre, as part of her pattern of childcare. She regularly links with the local authority development worker to extend her good practice.

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the early years provision

The childminder provides parents with daily information for all the children who This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 attend, and regards this as important. Parents like to hear about the many outings to places of interest their children have visited and enjoyed. The childminder provides parents with access to her observation and assessment material and regular opportunities are organised to discuss children's next steps in their learning. She encourages parents to contribute to their children's care and learning. The childminder also makes use of questionnaires with parents, to gain feedback on her service and due to her experience, is often called upon to provide parents with guidance and support. The childminder makes good use of reflective practice and responds well to individual children's interests. She has a positive approach to improving her practice and is able to identify areas for development to

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the early years provision

improve outcomes for children. The recommendation from the last inspection has been fully addressed, further improving the outcomes for all children.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder is well organised and consistent in her provision of activities to support children's enjoyment and achievement. She works from overall plans that change as the activities and play themes develop and the children's own interests and play wishes take over. As well as home based play and learning, the childminder makes many planned outings with children and this is a significantly strong aspect of her play programme. Children are taken out to local shops, group activities and play areas. They also benefit from specific outings that are planned to places that will support their development. For example, trips to a nature park provide good opportunities for children to learn about the natural world. The childminder demonstrates good skills with teaching and the promotion of learning. Through the use of good questioning, she successfully extends children's development and helps them to develop across all the six areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

The observation and assessment of children's learning is generally well organised. Whilst the childminder does not formally identify children's current state of development when they first start, she seeks relevant verbal information from parents. The childminder keeps well presented folders for each child attending, with photos and written notes used to show ongoing achievement and progress through the learning stages. The childminder also uses focused observation sheets which she completes regularly, where details of children's next steps in their learning are identified. Children are made welcome and successfully encouraged to feel confident and able to explore and an effective range of procedures are in place to maintain safety within the setting. The childminder takes care to promote and manage children's safety and security. The childminder provides consistent support for children's healthy growth and development. A good range of foods and

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and outcomes for children

snacks are provided and children learn about different types of foods. For example, the childminder has helped children change to eating healthy cereals for breakfast. The promotion of children's physical development features consistently in the play programme. Indoor games encourage their physical confidence, such as, through dancing to music and children have access to the childminder's back garden for play. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder is consistent in her encouragement and support for individual children's personal and social learning. Children's good behaviour is positively reinforced and children of different ages and abilities are effectively included in the play programmes. The childminder successfully promotes children's confidence and ability to work cooperatively with others. Children are helped in their appreciation of others and good sharing and listening is systematically promoted during

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and outcomes for children

activities. Children's future skills are well promoted throughout the many play activities provided. Children's communication and ability with language is consistently featured, with many opportunities provided for children to talk and use words. The childminder has skilfully supported the children to create a resource book of nursery rhymes and uses these to develop other areas of learning, such as, counting 'monkeys'. Children's creative development is consistently supported and a significant amount of first hand experiences are provided to help children learn about the natural world, such as, how caterpillars become butterflies. 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: 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 for the Early Years section of the report. (Records to be kept) 07/04/2011

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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 for the Early Years section of the report (Records to be kept). 07/04/2011

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