Carpenter Nicola

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 221179 Inspection date 30/03/2011 Inspector Melanie Eastwell

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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 1993. She lives with her partner and two grown up children in Duston, Northampton close to shops, schools, parks and public transport links. The whole of the ground floor and the bathroom on the first floor are used for childminding. The family have a cat and a dog, as pets.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range and she is currently minding five children in this age group. She also provides care to children aged over five years to 11 years and is registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes children to and collects them from the local school.

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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 has a well developed knowledge of each child's needs and this enables her to generally successfully promote their care and learning. Children are safe and secure and they enjoy the childminder's positive interaction with them. The childminder works in close partnership with parents to ensure that their children's needs are met and that relevant information is shared. This means that children generally progress well, given their age, ability and starting points. The childminder has begun to implement procedures for self-evaluation and she is keen to develop these further to ensure her service continues to respond to the children's needs.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the systems for observation and assessment by using the Practice Guidance document to link the observations to the relevant areas of learning, and devise a system to ensure that a balance of evidence is in place across the six areas of learning for each child  improve the risk assessment to include each type of outing the children are involved in and ensure the documents are signed  develop further the procedures for self-evaluation, such as, by involving the children in the process. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

The childminder is organised with her care of the children and this enables her to give each of them good amounts of one to one attention. Children are safe because the childminder is aware of the importance of following the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines in the event of any concerns. All the adults in the household have the required clearances in place and mostly effective risk assessments underpin the childminders good understanding of how to keep children safe at home and when on outings. However, although the childminder carries out risk assessments for each type of outing they are not all recorded on the document. Children demonstrate that they feel safe in the childminder's home. They are confident to move between their chosen activities. Older children are independent when using the bathroom and know where to find different toys and their drinks that are kept on the kitchen unit. Babies are confident to explore and

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the early years provision

readily settle to sleep. The childminder uses the available space effectively; children help to tidy away when they have finished playing and a variety of activities can take place simultaneously in the living room and the conservatory.

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the early years provision

Children's feelings of security and belonging are promoted because the childminder has developed good working partnerships with their parents. When children first start attending parents are supplied with a pack of information from the childminder that contains her policies and procedures. She provides them with feedback each day that relates to practical information about their child's food, sleep times and nappy changes as well as information about the activities they have enjoyed. Parents have regular access to their child's progress records and are invited to add their own comments if they wish. The childminder works closely with parents to support them with issues, such as, feeding and toilet training. She is aware of the importance of working in partnership with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage and with any other agencies who may be involved with the children. This ensures that children receive a consistent approach and a smooth

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the early years provision

The childminder has begun to implement procedures for self-evaluation. She demonstrates a good capacity for continuous improvement. For example, she has taken positive action on the recommendations made at the previous inspection and she has completed further training in safeguarding and observation and assessment. The childminder is willing to develop this process further in order to identify her strengths and her priorities for future development.

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and outcomes for children

Children demonstrate that they are relaxed and comfortable in the childminder's home. They enjoy her positive interaction in their play and they are provided with a good range of play materials that cover the six areas of learning and are appropriate for their stage of development. For example, an older child takes care This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 of the baby doll, tucking it up with covers in the carry cot, finds the play food and pretends to prepare it. A baby pulls themselves up to standing and moves confidently around the furniture. They enjoy rummaging around in the boxes of toys and find things that interest them. The childminder talks to them about what they are doing, promoting their vocabulary and showing a genuine interest in their play. Children are learning about managing their own personal hygiene. Older children are able to be independent in the bathroom and wash their hands before

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and outcomes for children

eating. Babies' routines for sleeping and feeding are followed after discussion with their parents. Children bring packed lunches from home and they have drinks available throughout the day. Children are treated as individuals and with respect. The childminder ably supports them to work together, to share and to respect each other. She talks to them about the wider world and about current events that are going on in the world. Children have access to a range of resources and books that celebrate diversity and the childminder is confident to talk to them and to answer any questions about people who are different to themselves.

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and outcomes for children

Children's progression in their learning is recorded in individual record books. The childminder records observations during each month that are then transferred into each child's record book. Children's progress can be seen and the records are kept chronologically. However, she has not yet implemented a system to ensure that she is gathering a balance of evidence across the six areas of learning. The childminder completes informal planning for each child that is often linked to the previous month's observations and she knows where they are in their development. However, she does not regularly use the Practice Guidance document to help her in focusing and planning for their next steps in learning. The children enjoy a range of activities that cover the six areas of learning and the childminder makes the most of the local parks. Children have plenty of space to run around and practice their physical skills. Older children make dens and they all

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and outcomes for children

enjoy playing hide and seek. The childminder supports them to think about their own safety through discussion and she provides close supervision. Children benefit from the childminder's gentle, yet enthusiastic involvement with them, she knows them well and this promotes their feelings of well-being in her home. 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 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 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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