Childminder in Dudley

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 257243 Inspection date 04/04/2011 Inspector Jasvinder Kaur

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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 and works with an assistant. She lives with her three adult children in Cosley, West Midlands. The property is within walking distance of local amenities such as schools, shops and parks. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. The first floor is not used, except for the bathroom. There is a fully enclosed garden available for outside play. The family have a dog and two guinea pigs.

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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, of whom no more than three may be in the early years age range. She is registered to care for six children under five years when working with the assistant. She is currently minding seven children under five years of age and five children over five years of age, all of whom attend part-time on varied days. This provision is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children from the local school and nursery and attends the local toddler groups regularly. 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 make sound progress towards their learning and development and generally enjoy their time at the setting. Resources are sufficiently organised to meet children's needs. Positive partnerships with parents mean children's needs are mostly met. Policies and procedures are generally implemented to ensure children's welfare is supported and provides inclusive practice. Systems to evaluate the setting are not sufficiently robust in identifying areas for ongoing improvement to advance outcomes for children.

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further?

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

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further?

 ensure that written parental permission is requested at the time of the child's admission to the provision to seek any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment and to take children on outings (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare). 05/04/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further observation and assessment of children to identify their This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 achievements clearly in order to plan next steps in learning effectively  support children's social skills so that they learn to join in with play, share and enjoy being with other children  make better use of the existing risk assessment process to minimise hazards to toddlers in the living room  support further children's awareness of diversity through providing a range of activities and organising play opportunities on a regular basis  improve the systems for evaluating all aspects of the provision by means of continuous review.

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the early years provision

Children are protected from harm or neglect as the childminder has an acceptable understanding of the signs and symptoms of abuse and Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures. Suitable vetting procedures ensure adults having regular contact with children are suitable. Risk assessment of the premises and of prospective outings and daily safety checks are carried out in most areas to eliminate risks. However, safety of toddlers in the living room is not fully considered if the childminder needs briefly to leave the room. Children are generally encouraged to adopt safe and responsible habits through input from the childminder. She takes positive steps to protect children from the spread of infection because she has implemented a procedure to exclude any children with infectious illnesses.

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the early years provision

The childminder, who has a common understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage, has commenced a process of self-evaluation. However, the systems for evaluating all aspects of the provision are not consistently implemented. Therefore, some areas for improvement have not been fully identified. Policies and procedures are under constant review, and updated information is shared with parents. The complaints procedure and most of the records of the children are maintained. However, written parental consent for taking part in outings and for seeking any necessary emergency medical advice or treatment has not been requested. These factors compromise their health and safety. The childminder establishes suitable relationships with parents and recognises their contribution as partners in their children's wellbeing. Daily notebooks and appropriate opportunities are provided to discuss children's progress and to seek parents' views on their education. There

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the early years provision

are suitable arrangements to develop partnerships with other professionals such as local pre-school staff to discuss children who are about to move on.

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the early years provision

The childminder generally supports inclusive practice. The children are mostly occupied and contented in the childminder's house. The available resources are age-appropriate and are deployed suitably to provide free choice. This encourages children's independence and learning. However, a limited range of activities and opportunities is provided to celebrate diversity. This means children are not fully supported in learning about differences in ethnicity, religion and disability. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The children are provided with adequate opportunities to make progress in their learning and development. Although the childminder has commenced a practice of observing and assessing children's learning, her findings are not sufficiently clear in identifying their achievements to help her plan next steps towards the early learning goals. This means children are not sufficiently challenged to make the fullest progress. Nevertheless, they generally show interest in the available activities and explore the environment. They are able to establish a positive relationship with the childminder. However, their social skills are not supported to join in with play, share and enjoy being with other children.

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and outcomes for children

There is a suitable range of resources to develop their early creative, numeracy and technology talents, including learning about different colours and shapes and operating simple programmable toys. A satisfactory range of musical instruments and texture experiences including cornflour, water and sand play, supports children's abilities. Children expand their simple calculation skills and learn about quantity and differences in size and pattern during role play and planned activities. These consist of measuring and mixing ingredients when baking pastries. Children generally extend their communication skills through routine activities such as making marks, singing nursery rhymes and listening to stories. The selection of storybooks encourages children's interest. Younger children develop vocabulary as they take pleasure in talking to familiar adults, and making and listening to a variety of sounds. They create personal words as they begin to develop language.

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and outcomes for children

Suitable opportunities are provided for children to develop physical skills. They walk to school most days and play regularly in their local park. Children enjoy demonstrating their skills, such as balancing on one foot or rolling over. They visit their local amenities and observe seasonal changes and their surroundings during walks in the area. Drinking water is available and accessible throughout the session. Children enjoy healthy meals in a relaxed and sociable atmosphere. They routinely follow hygiene practices such as washing hands. 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 3 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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