Childminder in Devon

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY413332 Inspection date 16/05/2011 Inspector Julie Neal

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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 lives with her husband and son in Barnstaple, Devon. She mainly uses the ground floor of her home to provide childcare, and there is an enclosed garden suitable for children's use. The family have a pet dog, rabbit, guinea pigs, and lizards.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered on the Early Years Register, and on the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She may care for a maximum of six children under eight years at any one time, three of which may be in the early years age range. She is currently minding three children in the early years age group at different times. Overnight care is not provided.

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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

Overall, children's individual needs are understood and met effectively. The children enjoy a variety of activities that promote their learning in all areas and as a result they make steady progress, relative to their individual starting points. The childminder's processes of self evaluation are appropriate and have enabled her to develop areas of practice that improve outcomes for children. Generally, the childminder has a sound understanding of the records she must have in place, in order to ensure the safe management of the setting, and to meet the needs of children. However, some records were not easily accessible and available for inspection, which is a breach of a specific welfare requirement relating to documentation.

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further?

To meet the specific requirements of the EYFS, the registered person must:

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further?

 ensure that all records relating to childminding activities are readily accessible and available for inspection at all times 06/06/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 improve processes of monitoring children's progress towards the early learning and development goals to show how activities enjoyed by children support their learning in specific areas  devise a process to show that risk assessments for outings are reviewed appropriately. 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 sound understanding of the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and as a result, children are appropriately safeguarded. The childminder is secure in her safeguarding knowledge and the actions she must take to protect children in her care. She keeps written safeguarding policies and procedures, which are shared with parents so they understand that she has a duty to act if she has concerns about children's wellbeing. The childminder has conducted an effective risk assessment of her home, and reviews all areas and resources each day to ensure safety measures are appropriate, bearing in mind the ages of children present at any one time. For example, she checks to ensure that, when minding babies and older children together, there are no toys accessible to younger children that could present a choking risk. The childminder conducts risk assessments for outings. She has not recorded when these have been reviewed,

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the early years provision

however, she can identify how routines have varied to ensure children's safety, depending on their ages and abilities. Overall, the childminder maintains documents relating to children's welfare appropriately. For example, agreements with parents relating to the care of their children contain all required information. Records of any accidents or incidents involving children are suitably detailed and shared appropriately with parents. However, some records relating to children's welfare were not available for inspection because a recent accident with paint had made these illegible, and the childminder had not yet replaced these. This included the attendance record that notes the times children are present, and it is a breach of the specific welfare requirement relating to documentation for this not to be in place. However, the childminder also keeps a diary that shows which children are booked in each day, and she marks whether they have been present or absent in

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the early years provision

this. Therefore, there are some records in place to show that ratios have been met.

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the early years provision

The childminder reflects on her practice, and overall she identifies and prioritises areas for improvement appropriately. For example, she has worked well to develop her knowledge of the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and to familiarise herself with the early learning goals. The childminder is aware that she lacks confidence in recording children's progress in learning, and that she struggled to find a way of monitoring their development effectively. She has addressed this by seeking advice from other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage, and as a result she has begun to implement a system that she feels confident in using.

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the early years provision

The childminder promotes an inclusive environment where children's individual needs are understood well. Her good relationships with parents result in information being shared well. For example, babies are content because the childminder knows any recent changes to their daily routines and is well prepared to meet these as they grow and develop. The childminder actively encourages children to explore their cultural heritages. For example, some children have family members who live abroad and speak languages other than English, although all children currently minded speak English as their main language. The childminder's good relationships with parents enable her to explore aspects of their cultures such This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 as language, customs, food, and dance, and to introduce these into activities in ways that are meaningful to children. Some children attend other settings that

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the early years provision

provide the Early Years Foundation Stage, such as local pre-schools or nurseries. The childminder is beginning to establish relationships with key workers in these settings. For instance, she has daily discussions with staff when she collects children to share information about recent achievements.

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and outcomes for children

Children's welfare, learning, and development is promoted effectively. The childminder's daily health and safety checks ensure that children are kept safe and secure. She has a good awareness of children's individual health and dietary needs, and works closely with parents to ensure these are met. The childminder promotes a healthy diet and provides children with a good choice of fruit and vegetables at snack times. She ensures that there are selection of each child's favourites and also introduces new tastes regularly. The childminder confidently addresses health issues with children. For example, some children have heard about 'nits' and the childminder became aware through discussion that they were concerned about what these were. The childminder talked to children about head lice and how to check for these; children can retell how they can be sure 'I don't have nits'.

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and outcomes for children

Overall, children are making satisfactory progress towards the early learning and development goals, relative to their starting points. The childminder provides a child centred environment where children are involved in planning activities. For example, a child is very keen to learn to write their name, and the childminder supports this well. She shows the child the letters in their name, and they sound them out together. They look at the shapes of the letters in books, and the childminder writes the child's name so they can copy this. Children are confident communicators because the childminder's good interactions encourage their speech from a very young age. For example, babies smile and babble while exploring bricks, as they hand them to the childminder she smiles and says 'thank you'. When she hands the bricks back, the childminder encourages children to repeat 'thank you' and everyone smiles and claps to applaud their efforts. Children

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and outcomes for children

are confident and well behaved. They develop good relationships with the childminder and her family, and enjoy the welcoming environment where they are encouraged to feel 'at home'. The childminder is beginning to implement systems to show how children enjoy activities that provide learning opportunities in all areas. Each child has a photograph album that that show them happily engaged in a wide variety of activities. The childminder makes general observations of the benefits children have gained from the activity. She is not yet making effective links between observations, and evidence of children's participation in activities, to show how these relate to specific areas of learning. 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 2 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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