Childminder in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY416142 Inspection date 12/04/2011 Inspector Emma Bright

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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 2010. She lives with her partner and one child aged two in a small town near Ely. All areas of the childminder's house are used for childminding and children have access to the fully enclosed garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to care for a maximum of three children at any one time and, of these, no more than two may be in the early years age range. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She is currently minding three children in the early years group, all of whom attend on a part-time basis.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder walks to local amenities and attends a range of local groups. The family has a rabbit. 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 good.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

The childminder has established good working relationships with parents and works closely with them to ensure children's individual needs are well met. She plans and provides a broad range of interesting and challenging learning opportunities for each child and they make good progress in their learning and development. The childminder has a strong capacity to maintain continuous improvement and is committed to improving her service for children and families. All of the required documentation is in place to promote and safeguard children's welfare.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the use of information gathered about children's learning so that parents have opportunities to contribute to the record of their child's progress towards the early learning goals  develop the rich and varied environment to further support children's learning so they can explore and make choices about their play in a greater range of challenging indoor and outdoor experiences.

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the early years provision

The childminder understands the importance of informing Ofsted of any changes and all adults within the home have undergone checks to ensure their suitability, which further safeguards children. She has a clear knowledge and understanding This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 of safeguarding children procedures and has attended training in child protection; this knowledge is underpinned by a clear policy which is shared with parents. Risk assessments are in place to ensure that hazards are identified and minimised, and rigorous daily checks further improve children's safety. The childminder supervises the children carefully and ensures the toys and materials they use are safe and appropriate for their ages. She teaches children to take acceptable risks, allowing them to try things for themselves in a safe and secure environment. The childminder is well organised; clear documentation and good record keeping

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the early years provision

promote the safety and welfare of the children and underpin the good quality care offered. All these factors contribute to the childminder safeguarding children effectively.

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the early years provision

The childminder has a good knowledge of child development and a good understanding of children's individual abilities. This enables her to provide play experiences and activities to support each child's growing skills. The childminder organises space and play resources to meet children's needs. However, she does not always maximise the use of the learning environment to further support children's learning, both indoors and outdoors. The childminder has sound strategies in place to care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The childminder has a clear self-evaluation process to identify areas for future development and maintain continuous improvement. She reflects on her practice to ensure that children have good quality experiences.

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the early years provision

Clear written policies and procedures are professionally presented to share with parents so that they know about the childminding provision. Daily written information is shared with parents so that they know about their child's day. The childminder has good relationships with parents; she gathers clear information from them so that she knows about children's individual interests and needs, and can provide a consistency of care. Positive written feedback demonstrates parents' high regard for the childminder and the service she offers. The childminder is sensitive to children's individual personalities when settling them in to her home and this ensures a smooth transition between home and the childminding home. She is developing links with other providers, such as local pre-schools, enabling them all to work together to support the learning of children whose care is shared.

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and outcomes for children

Children develop their early literacy skills as the childminder ensures they have lots of good quality experiences to promote these skills. For example, children have access to a wide range of books which they enjoy or they visit the local library to choose additional books. This helps to foster children's enjoyment of books and they understand that print carries meaning. Children learn about number and colour through everyday activities and gain awareness of weight and measurement through cooking activities as they weigh ingredients. Children are becoming confident communicators as they talk to the childminder about what they are doing. She models clear language as they attempt to copy sounds and words without discouraging their efforts so that they can use their growing skills confidently. These simple activities lay firm foundations for children's future This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children enjoy lots of opportunities for exercise, both indoors and outdoors, where they can move freely and practise their physical skills. They also enjoy visits to the local indoor activity centre. Resources are in place that help children celebrate the diverse society in which they live. They regularly go out in the local area, helping them to make sense of the world and their place within it. Children learn about nature and caring for living things. For example, they learn about life cycles and how caterpillars become butterflies, and excitedly explain 'it came out of the chrysalis and flew away to find its friends'. The childminder provides an inclusive environment where each child is valued and they are clearly relaxed and comfortable in her care. Children develop warm and trusting relationships with the childminder and they are clearly happy and content.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a good understanding of how young children learn and this enables her to provide an interesting range of experiences and activities to support each child's learning and development. She organises her service to ensure that children receive individual attention appropriate to their needs. Planning is in place and is flexible so that it can be adapted to focus on and extend children's interests. The childminder observes children at play and is developing a record of children's progress so the information gained from her observations can be used to identify the next steps in each child's learning. However, parents do not fully have opportunities to contribute to these records in order to share what they know about children's progress.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder promotes positive behaviour; children are learning to take turns and share resources because she gently reminds them to help them be kind to one another. The childminder encourages children to have a healthy attitude towards food; she provides nutritious home-cooked meals and children have access to fresh drinking water. They readily help themselves to fresh fruit and breadsticks at snack time. The childminder is fully aware of her responsibilities to safeguard children. She helps children to be aware of keeping safe, both in the home and on outings. For example, regular fire evacuation drills are carried out and children explain 'you get outside' to demonstrate their understanding of what to do in an emergency. 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: 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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