Childminder in North Somerset

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY413831 Inspection date 11/05/2011 Inspector Tim Butcher

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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 husband and five children in Worle, near Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. Children have access to all areas of the family home. The first floor is used for minded children to sleep and have access to the toilet facilities. There is a fully enclosed rear garden for outdoor play. The family care for one cat and one dog. The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register and both parts of the Childcare Register. She is registered to care for a maximum of four children under eight years at any one time; of these, two may be in the early years age range and of these no more than two may be under one year at any one time. The childminder sometimes works with her husband who is an approved assistant. The childminder is currently looking after three children within the Early Years age group. The registration includes overnight care for one child under eight years.

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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 are happy, relaxed and settled with the childminder. The childminder ensures that they have their individual needs met appropriately. They have a warm, child-friendly and safe environment in which to play. The childminder has an appropriate knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children make satisfactory progress in their learning and development, although the assessment system requires further development. The childminder establishes secure partnerships with parents and other carers but has yet to comprehensively share information about children's progress and review this with them. The childminder demonstrates the capacity to maintain steady and continuous improvement as shown through the improvements that she has already made to the provision of resources, although her current systems of self-evaluation require further development.

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further?

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

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further?

 develop further the system of observational assessment to identify children's next steps in development and to aid the planning process  develop systems of self-evaluation further to form an accurate appraisal of the setting's effectiveness in supporting children's learning and development improve the partnership with parents to ensure information about children's progress is fully shared and that they are involved in their childs learning and development. 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 has a satisfactory understanding of safeguarding issues and of her responsibilities to safeguard the welfare of children in her care. She has a clear awareness of the action to take should she have a concern about a child and has written information to help her follow the appropriate procedures. The provider carries out a competent assessment of risk of the premises and for taking children on outings and as a result, children enjoy a safe environment in which to play. She practices fire drills with the children regulary so that they know what to do in an emergency. The childminder promotes equality and diversity. She has an appropriate knowledge of each child's background, including care requirements and dietary needs. There is a suitable exchange of day-to-day information with parents through the use of a daily diary and through discussion and this includes some information about the progress that children make. Information about baby's

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the early years provision

routines, feeds, nappies and sleeps is usefully shared. This contributes to the continuity of care for children. A plan is in place to more comprehensively share information about children's progress through a review process with parents. The childminder has begun to establish wider partnerships with other settings who also provide care to the children that she minds. She passes on information from pre- schools to parents and has begun to use the information passed from the pre- school about children's next steps in development. The childminder is currently studying for a Level 3 qualification in the Early Years. She has begun to evaluate her practice, seeking advice from local authority professionals. She is at an initial stage in this process. Some of the priorities for improvement have been identified; she has already reviewed her use of space and also the provision of resources. Many resources are now more easily accessible to

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the early years provision

children and overall, an adequate range of resources are made available. Space is used well including the use of the outdoor area. The childminder has improved her documentary processes of observational assessment but this requires further development.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a secure knowledge of child development and an adequate understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children make satisfactory progress in their learning and development in her care. The childminder has made a suitable start in her observation and assessment of children, but has yet to fully develop her system for planning for children's next steps in development. As a result the analysis is not always robust enough to identify and to plan future activities that will take children forward. This currently limits the progress that children make.

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and outcomes for children

Children benefit from the warm interactions with the childminder and her family, and from the homely and child- friendly environment that she creates. They settle This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 easily upon arrival and decide how they may wish to spend their time. The childminder ensures that they have a suitable range of toys and playthings, including creative activities and she prepares these in readiness for children''s arrival. They are also free to choose from the wider range of resources stored in the play house in the garden. Children demonstrate that they are happy and settled and have a suitable sense of belonging within the setting. This is seen through their responses towards the childminder and through positive relationships that are beginning to be formed with other children. They are suitably behaved and know what is expected of them. Young babies are encouraged to explore their

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and outcomes for children

surroundings and to gain in confidence. The childminder divides her time between children well to ensure each has suitable amounts of individual attention. Overall, children acquire the skills they require in order to progress their learning. They make adequate progress in their communication, language and literacy skills. The childminder keeps up a conversation with children to stimulate their language skills. Babies make sounds and gestures of their own in response to the childminder and begin to make their feelings and wishes felt. The babies watch and listen what is going on around them and thoroughly explore toy items through touch and with their mouths.

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and outcomes for children

Children have suitable opportunities to be creative; for example, they choose stencilled shapes to colour with felt tips and they decorate stones with cut and stick materials to make sea creatures. The childminder provides activities that follow children's interests; for example, activities focussed on sea creatures followed a visit to the beach. The children had collected objects from the sea-shore and were able to explore a new environment.

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and outcomes for children

Children have suitable opportunities to make marks such as through labelling creative activities with their names and there are other opportunities when they are at toddler group. They learn to count and to recognise shape such as when counting fridge magnets with the childminder, thereby supporting early maths skills. Children are helped to feel good about themselves as the childminder provides plenty of praise and encouragement. The children have a sense of self- esteem and feel valued. They have suitable opportunities to initiate their own play activities and to make choices, and so are able to make a positive contribution to their own play and learning. Children have regular opportunities to be active through floor play, visits to the local park and beach. They relish their time in the childminder's garden, developing their physical and communication skills as they do so. Children's health and well-

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and outcomes for children

being is soundly promoted. Young children's dietary needs are suitably met as the childminder is well organised and discusses babies routines and their day to day needs with parents.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder encourages sensible routines that protect children from the spread of infection, such as by the washing of hands after play and before a snack. Children are beginning to learn about healthy lifestyles through appropriate opportunities to discuss the food they eat and the physical activities they enjoy. They demonstrate an adequate understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe such as by their knowledge of road safety and also when negotiating space and each other in the garden. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Overall, the children are cared for by an enthusiastic childminder who is committed to further improvement, in a setting with a positive family atmosphere. 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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