Childminder in Worcestershire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY350156 Inspection date 09/05/2011 Inspector Elaine Hayward

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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 2007. She lives in a residential area situated close to Worcester city centre. The ground floor of her home is used for childminding with use of the upstairs bathroom. The house is accessible over two front door steps.

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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, no more than three of whom may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding two children in the early years age group. The childminder is also registered by Ofsted on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register and offers care to children from five to 10 years old.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder takes and collects children to and from local schools and makes daily use of local facilities including toddler groups, pre-schools, parks, shops and library. She is a member of the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and holds an appropriate level 3 qualification.

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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

Children are happy and secure in the childminder's care, making good progress in their learning and development. The childminder knows each child extremely well, recognising their uniqueness in order to meet their individual needs. She works in partnership with parents and other settings in order to promote continuity of care. All requirements are in place. The childminder shows strong commitment to making continuous improvements to promote children's care and learning, although, her system for reflective practice is not yet fully effective.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve the systems for the organisation of the setting by developing the use of self-evaluation to support ongoing improvements  update the record of risk assessment to include any assessments of risks for outings and trips.

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the early years provision

Effective safeguarding procedures ensure that children are well protected from the risk of harm. The childminder has good knowledge and understanding of her role and the actions to take should she have concerns. She is fully aware of her responsibilities with regard to supervising the children in her care and ensures This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 effective vetting procedures are in place. She is clearly aware of potential hazards with risk assessments, clearly reviewed in place. However, risk assessments for outings are not clearly recorded in the record of risk assessments in order to clearly demonstrate what action has been taken to ensure children's safety.

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the early years provision

The childminder is highly motivated and dedicated to providing a high level of care and education to ensure the best possible outcomes for children. She is qualified and has many years experience in childcare. The childminder organises her daily routines successfully and the environment is well organised to promote good outcomes for children. Her practice is supported by a clear range of policies and procedures. The childminder carefully considers what to do to promote each child's care and learning, having developed her practice since her last inspection. She does reflect upon her provision, identifying areas for development. However, this process of self-evaluation is not fully robust to ensure her good practice is sustained.

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the early years provision

Equality and diversity is promoted by the childminder through good practice, encouraging children to respect themselves and others. The childminder knows each child very well and forms close bonds with the children. She works closely with parents to ensure children are cared for inline with parents' wishes. Parents are kept informed through daily discussions and are involved in their children's learning through photographs and individual learning journals linked to the early learning goals. The childminder works with other settings and professionals to ensure continuity of care for children.

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and outcomes for children

Children are extremely happy and confident in the childminder's care where they benefit from good, clear support and encouragement to achieve and enjoy. The childminder observes, assesses and plans children's next steps. Given their age, ability and starting points, children make good progress as they play and learn in the childminder's warm and child-centred home. Children interact positively with the childminder, with care and laughter in abundance as she joins in enthusiastically with their play and praises their achievements. Resources are arranged so that children can access a wide range of exciting toys independently. Children make choices about their play across all areas of learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children clearly feel safe with the childminder who knows them so well. They learn how to keep safe. They know, for example, to go to the door when the smoke alarm sounds or to hold hands when by the roadside. The childminder knows children's routines, likes and dislikes. She knows their strengths, favourite activities and books. Children can be seen absorbed and engrossed in activities, such as, when playing skittles, concentrating hard in throwing the red balls at the bottles, knocking them over. Smiles, laughter and praise can be seen and heard. The childminder's clear understanding of children's needs and her actions and responses clearly promotes children's feelings of self-esteem.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder encourages children's language development as she reaffirms This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 words. Children are totally engrossed as they look at a book with the childminder. She reads in a lovely animated way, bringing the words to life. The childminder involves the children, asking them questions to make them think. Children concentrate hard as the childminder encourages children to guess who is hiding. The children ask questions and the childminder answers them and gives clues. Children then work out that an animal on a farm with a curly tail who grunts is a pig!

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and outcomes for children

Children use their imagination as they 'go to the shops' on their trike, pedalling from one room to another. They use their imagination and learn about keeping healthy as they flex their muscles playing pretend tennis, trying hard to beat the childminder. They learn about colours, shapes, numbers and problem-solving as the childminder quite naturally reaffirms and asks children questions in everyday situations. Children quite confidently supervise the childminder making her sandwich, telling her exactly what she has to do and in what order. They eat their sandwiches turning the crusts into a 'number seven' and then a 'number one'. They are creative as they create with the play dough and learn about recycling as they make their creations.

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and outcomes for children

Children learn about the wider world and enjoy the fresh air everyday as they walk to and from school with older children, visit the library, museums, shops, nature centres, parks and open spaces. They love the space to run around. They like to feed the ducks. They examine nature around them, fascinated by the frogs they see. The childminder spontaneously responds with the children as they hear the scrap merchant calling outside and they go outside to see him. Children are fascinated as they hear hail fall outside. They go to examine these big white balls of ice falling from the sky listening intently as the childminder explains what is happening and why.

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and outcomes for children

Children know the importance of washing and drying their hands thoroughly. They are polite and well-behaved. They learn to respect themselves and others, learning to understand right from wrong. Children are motivated and keen to achieve. They develop positive attitudes to learning. They are enabled to become independent, active and inquisitive learners, helping them develop skills for the future. 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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