Childminder in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 220343 Inspection date 06/04/2011 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 1990. She lives in Northampton close to shops, schools, parks and public transport links. The whole of the ground floor of the childminder's house is used for childminding. Access to the house is via one high step up to the front door.

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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, no more than three of which may be in the early years age range and she is currently minding four children in this age group. She also offers care to children aged over five 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 nursery and attends toddler groups regularly.

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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

An extremely well-developed knowledge of individual children's needs makes sure the childminder is successful in promoting their care, welfare and learning. Children are very safe and secure and they enjoy the gentle, yet enthusiastic interaction from the childminder who manages them all as unique individuals. The partnerships with parents are a key strength and are significant in making sure that any specific needs are met. This means that children make rapid progress, given their age, ability and starting points. The childminder has successfully implemented systems to evaluate her provision and to identify her priorities for future development which results in a provision that responds to the needs of the children and their families.

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further?

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

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further?

 developing further the system for observation and assessment by implementing a system to ensure that a balance of evidence is in place across the six areas of learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder is very organised with her childminding and this enables her to spend good amounts of time with individual children. She has a secure knowledge of the procedures for safeguarding and fully understands the importance of This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 following the Local Safeguarding Children Board guidelines in the event of any concerns. She has implemented robust risk assessments that cover all aspects of her house and garden as well as each type of outing that involves the children. The childminder is active in promoting children's awareness of their own safety. For example, they help her to tidy away when they have finished playing and the older children discuss the procedures to follow when out walking, such as holding hands or onto the buggy and stopping, looking and listening for traffic. They get to know the local police community support officer and regularly talk to them when

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the early years provision

they are out and about. The childminder's risk assessment responds to events that occur. For example, following an incident on a bus; she realises the importance of keeping herself safe and adapted her risk assessment to take account of this. This pro-active approach contributes significantly to children's safety and sense of security. Children are able to make plenty of choices and decisions about their play. They know where all the resources are kept and are confident to get the toys out to play with. The childminder provides all children with a very good range of resources and creative activities that are suitable for their different ages and that take account of their interests.

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the early years provision

The childminder has developed excellent partnerships with the children's parents. She provides each family with a good deal of support and seeks detailed information from them to ensure that their child's individual needs can be met.The effective communication ensures that parents are provided with detailed verbal and written feedback each day about their child's daily routine and the activities they have enjoyed. Children benefit from these very good relationships because they receive a consistent approach and a smooth transition. The childminder is aware of the importance of working closely with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage and she regularly communicates with the children's key workers at local provisions.

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the early years provision

The childminder has successfully implemented a procedure to evaluate her daily activity with the children. This clearly identifies her many areas of strength and also identifies her priorities for future development. She demonstrates a strong capacity for continuous improvement. For example, she is keen to continue to develop her knowledge through attending training courses and she has taken positive action on the recommendations made at the previous inspection. The childminder has significantly increased her provision and her many years of experience as a childminder underpin her skills in managing each child as a unique individual.

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and outcomes for children

Children are happy and confident in the childminder's home. They know where to find the play materials they want and clearly demonstrate that they feel safe with the childminder. For example, they ask her for support and guidance when needed; they move confidently between their chosen activities and regularly approach the childminder for physical comfort. The childminder is a skilled and experienced practitioner who ably meets each child's needs effectively while This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 working alongside their parents to support the whole family. Children thoroughly enjoy her positive and enthusiastic interaction with them She talks to them about what they are doing and encourages them to persist at their chosen activities. Children sit together at a small table to eat and tuck into their packed lunches. They have drinks available to them throughout the day and the childminder talks

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and outcomes for children

to their parents about any specific dietary or allergy needs. The childminder has high standards of hygiene in her home. She works with parents on toilet training and older children are confident to use the bathroom independently. Children are all treated as individuals and with great respect. The childminder involves them in appropriate decision making and consults them about things that affect them such as the planning of future activities including making choices about what to plant in the new raised beds in the garden. Children are developing friendships and refer to each other as 'my best friend'. Older children are supportive of the younger ones and they work together to create tracks for vehicles and during role play and imaginative games. Children begin to learn about the wider world through a good range of resources and play materials that celebrate diversity and through discussion with the childminder. She talks to parents about any specific

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and outcomes for children

requirements and manages these effectively in her provision. She has supported children who have a variety of different needs and she has recently attended a training workshop about managing Individual Educational Programmes for children. Children enjoy taking part in seasonal activities such as Mothering Sunday and Lent.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder provides children with a great range of activities that cover each of the areas of learning and that take account of their individual interests. They take part in a wide variety of art and craft activities that include making bracelets, charms, photograph frames and pottery painting. They are learning about the world through the seasonal activities and have planned outings including to Coventry cathedral and swimming. A particular favourite addition to the childminder's provision is 'Billy Bones', a child sized model skeleton that contains the bones and internal organs. The children demonstrate that they are very fond of him, introducing him to visitors and pointing him out to their parents. They talk confidently about his organs including pointing to the heart, intestines and the bladder. They know where the food goes in and where the waste comes out. The childminder ensures that children have access to a wide range of books and takes

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and outcomes for children

advantage of media offers to obtain books to give to each child and she keeps a set at home for them to access when they wish.

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and outcomes for children

Children's progress is clear to see in their very well-presented achievement files and portfolios. The childminder makes records each day of the child's activities and includes samples of their work and photographs to record in their portfolio. These records are linked to the relevant areas of learning and are regularly shared with their parents. The children thoroughly enjoy looking through these books and enjoy pointing out their friends and are prompted to talk about recent events that they enjoyed. The childminder is currently in the process of adapting her system to record the observations showing children's progress. She understands how to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage for individual children and she uses the Practice Guidance to assist her in identifying their next steps. The assessment records are kept in chronological order and the childminder is keen to implement a system to ensure that she is gathering a balance of evidence across the six areas

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 of learning. The childminder works very hard to ensure that she can meet all the children's needs. This commitment and dedication is evident in her enthusiasm and willingness to continually improve and the children demonstrate clearly that they have formed a bond with her and enjoy her interaction with them. 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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