Childminder in Wiltshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY418092 Inspection date 18/04/2011 Inspector Janet Moutter

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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 registered in 2010. She is registered on the Early Years Register and both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives with her husband and young son in Devizes, Wiltshire. Minded children may use the entire house; although in practice remain mostly downstairs. A fully enclosed rear garden is available for outside play. Her home is readily accessible from the back of the property, as there are steps to the front door. The children visit the shops, toddler groups, a park, library and other amenities. The childminder can take children to and collect them from, local schools and pre-schools.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder's registration permits her to care five children of these two children may be within the early years age range, at any one time, in addition the childminder can offer overnight care. Currently she has seven children on role of whom 5 are in the early years age range. The childminder cares for older before, after school and during the school holidays.

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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 is enthusiastic in her role and clearly enjoys looking after the children in her care. She provides a welcoming service to the children and their parents and ensures that all children are valued, fully included and enjoy their time with her. The childminder has a very good understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and plans activities and experiences that effectively promote children's all-round development. All welfare requirements are met successfully. The childminder although, new to childminding has started to reflect upon her practice and is committed to ongoing improvement. She has effective one-way partnership with parents but, is forming strong links with other settings the children attend.

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further?

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

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further?

 extend communication with parents, to ensure a two-way link to make certain that review their child's progress regularly and contribute to their child's learning and development record This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

Children's welfare is efficiently promoted by a childminder who has a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and welfare issues and the procedures to follow in the event of concerns. Detailed risk assessments for indoors, outdoors and outings are carried out, as well as thorough daily checks on the premises and garden. These ensure the childminder is aware of the need to identify and remove potential hazards to the children, enabling the children to move around the premises freely and play in safety. The childminder has an effective fire evacuation procedure in place and is practiced by the children. Thus, children's safety is fully promoted in the provision.

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the early years provision

Children play in a well organised and child friendly environment. They have access to a wide range of interesting and stimulating toys and equipment that are stored at low level. This helps children develop confidence in initiating their own play. The childminder provides a well maintained home that is welcoming to all. Displays of the children's art work and photographs of them engaged in activities are clearly seen in their individual learning journals. The childminder has an in-depth knowledge of the children in her care and all children are valued and included, which helps them develop high levels of self-esteem. They have access to a good variety of resources that promote positive images of diversity in their daily play, helping them develop respect for others.

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the early years provision

Children benefit from the strong relationship the childminder has with parents. Detailed information is shared daily regarding children's routines and this ensures they are cared for in line with parents' wishes. The childminder exchanges information with parents regarding children's learning and development and children's achievements outside of the provision are shared verbally. She offers children activities linked to those they participate in at home with their parents, offering a complementary approach to their development. This aids consistency for supporting children's learning and development. Feedback from the children's parents was obtained as part of this inspection. Parents report that their children are 'encouraged and supported'. Although, there is no two-way link to make certain parents review their child's progress regularly and contribute to their child's learning and development record. The childminder has established a strong

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the early years provision

relationship with other early years providers and professionals. This ensures a collaborative approach to promoting children's next steps in their learning.

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the early years provision

The childminder has begun to consider introducing a self-evaluation tool, to evaluate the benefits to the children, which is considered good practice. Although, at present she does not have a formalized system of her own to monitor and assess her childminding practice, she does have records of the recommendations made by the local Childcare Network. The childminder continues to attend training and this offers her the enthusiasm to implement new ideas into her daily practice. She demonstrates a high commitment to making ongoing improvements to outcomes for children. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

Children appear happy, very confident and at ease in the childminder's care. They actively engage in their play and are keen to join in planned activities and initiate their own play. Children talk excitedly about their favourite activities, including activities children undertake outside the childminding setting, which enhances their early years experiences. Such trips include visits to a local park to use play equipment and to experience transport such as buses to town, the market, and to natural play spaces where children explore woodland paths. The childminder monitors all the outdoor activities. For example, Children talk excitedly about their favourite activities, including digging in the garden, watering the plants and feeding the birds. These adult-led activities make certain that the free flow into the garden covers all six areas of learning. The children enjoy painting, sticking, and creating their own artwork. Children use their imagination well as they engage in

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and outcomes for children

role-play, feeding the babies, and using the small world people to visit the doctor in the toy hospital. They like to pick there own books to look at and snuggled up with the childminder as she answers their questions about books they have chosen such as the nursery rhymes book. The childminder encourages the children to join in the stories she reads linking their own experiences to those of the characters. They operate the sound buttons, turn the pages and show interest in the illustrations and sing the nursery rhymes.

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and outcomes for children

The young children explore the whole of the ground floor with toys and equipment freely available. They help themselves to toys of their choice and investigate how they work, for example, together they use the chalk easel or the wax crayons on the paper side. The children use their fine motor skills to select and push the buttons that make sounds on the various small world toys and push along equipment present. These single finger actions are important skills to learn. The animal figures, when placed in the tracker-trailer, make the sound such as chickens, sheep, cow as well as the engine starting and is a popular toy with the children. Also, the children's creative play shows a desire to participate in exploring may materials and to make new things emerge as a result. They role-play with the small world dolls and they concentrate for some time on exploring the packed toy baskets and boxes. The childminder supports the children extremely well during

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and outcomes for children

their play as she skilfully introduces new words and encourages them to solve simple problems. For example, piecing together puzzles, the fairy princess large piece floor puzzle, is favourite today.

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and outcomes for children

Children have frequent outings, including toddler groups, parks and the local library. Here they socialise with other children and become familiar with their local community. All of these experiences help them develop excellent skills for the future. Children have access to a wide range of adult led and child-initiated activities both indoors and outside that help them make good progress towards the early learning goals. The childminder has a good knowledge of the individual children in her care, their abilities and their interests. She records their achievements and assesses their progress in each stage of individual learning and development. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are gaining confidence in their personal hygiene, independently getting out their own nappy change mats and helping the childminder with wet wipes and chatting while being changed. This means that the childminder prevents the risk of

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and outcomes for children

cross-infection as she follows appropriate nappy changing procedures that include the use of gloves and wiping down mat with anti-bacterial spray after each use. In addition, the children are learning to be responsible for their own health and wellbeing in an appropriate way. There is a wall sign next to the sink to remind children to wash their hands properly and the childminder wipes young children's hands before and after meals and snacks. This encourages children to follow appropriate hygiene routines. Meals and snacks are prepared in accordance with children's individual needs and parents wishes are adhered to. They demonstrate a positive attitude towards fresh air and exercise, jumping up and down excitedly when getting ready to go outside and then to remove their own boats and shoes when coming back inside or getting ready for their mid-morning nap. The children enjoy eating a range of nutritious snacks and there is a balance of opportunities

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and outcomes for children

for activity and rest. The childminder is an excellent role model to the children and is calm and consistent in her manner with regard to her behaviour management techniques. Children play together co-operatively, they share and take turns and their behaviour is very good and is appropriate for their ages and stages in development. 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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