Childminder in Newcastle upon TyneOfsted inspection, 20 Apr 2011

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY286644 Inspection date 20/04/2011 Inspector Shirley Peart

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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 July 2004. The provision is registered on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register. She lives in a residential area in Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne, with her husband and adult daughter. The ground floor of the home, which includes a bathroom is used for childminding. There is an enclosed rear garden for outdoor play.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered to take a maximum of four children. There are currently three children attending who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage age group. The childminder also offers care to one child aged over five years and regularly cares for her grandchild. She is a member of the National Childminding Association. There are two large pet dogs on the premises, which have their own enclosed compound in the garden.

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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 looked after in a suitable environment by a caring childminder who meets their individual needs well. Children are settled and happy with her so they enjoy their play and learning and make satisfactory progress. She aims to build good relationships with parents and has formed effective working relationships with other providers of the Early Years Foundation Stage, so that children's care and development is suitably promoted. She has not yet used self-evaluation or developed a system of reflective practice but does have some plans for future improvement. Documentation is in place and well organised and most procedures and practice successfully support 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 a regular system of reflective practice and self-evaluation, so that ways to improve the quality of the learning, development and care are identified  develop the observation and assessment systems on all children to ensure that appropriate play and learning experiences are planned, which will help them to make progress throughout the six areas of learning  ensure that hand washing routines are consistently followed for children, specifically before eating. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

All adults living in the household have suitable clearance through Criminal Record Bureau checks. The childminder has a good understanding of safeguarding issues and knows who to contact if she has concerns about a child. Her documentation and most systems successfully support children's welfare, such as, by practicing fire drills and recording how they went, good written risk assessments, appropriate use of child safety equipment throughout the home and good supervision, especially when children play outside. She has addressed the one recommendation from the last inspection, which has improved the consent required from parents. She has not yet embarked on a regular system of reflective practice or self- evaluation although she is ready to put this into place. She does have some plans for the future, for example to improve the garden area by laying false lawns and to do further training.

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the early years provision

Indoor toys are age appropriate and in very good condition and there is an abundance of outdoor equipment available, such as climbing frames, tunnels, slide, swings, rockers, a sand pit and child size picnic tables that children enjoy using. Children often carry out planned activities around festivals and she has some art and craft activities currently planned to celebrate Easter. There are also some dolls and play figures available that help children understand about differences and she allows children free choice as she does not stereotype her toys. She respects each child and parent as individuals and her written equal opportunities policy indicates that all are welcome into her home and she would not discriminate against any family.

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the early years provision

The childminder aims to build up successful relationships with the parents and passes on verbal and written daily diary information on their child. Contracts and consent forms are in place and she shares her comprehensive childminding file with them, which contains a range of information and written policies, to ensure that both parties are aware of their responsibilities. She gathers useful information on children's routines and interests so that she has a starting point for their development stage. She has good working relationships with nursery staff where children attend both settings. Therefore, sharing of relevant information and continuity and coherence is very well promoted to support children's overall development and understanding of boundaries.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a basic understanding of how to use the Early Years Foundation Stage framework in practice. As the children have not been attending long she has only begun to use this in practice and only one child has observation records. These are very brief giving only a general overview and not linked to the areas of learning so do not show the progress they make towards the early This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 learning goals. However, she is aware that if children are interested in something they will learn through their play. They take part in good outings, such as regular visits to the 'fun factory,' library and shopping trips. Some plans are in place to ensure that children remain interested, for example planters are ready for them to plant their flowers.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has lovely relationships with children therefore they are very settled and happy with her and feel safe and secure in her care. For example, they grab her hand when they need help negotiating steps as they begin to show an understanding of their own needs. The childminder helps and supports them to learn through their play, such as by lining up the dolls and encouraging children to count them. They successfully begin to repeat simple numbers in context with the childminder's help. They clearly enjoy playing with the dolls as they cuddle and kiss them, put them in the pram and push them around using gestures, such as waving, to communicate what they are doing. They are beginning to use pencils and pens with good control to make their marks on paper. Children love to be outside. They have plenty of space to push their dolls up and down the garden, they explore the sand, sit at the child size picnic table for snack and try out the

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and outcomes for children

large play equipment, demonstrating a keen interest in their surroundings and what is available.

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and outcomes for children

Children's health is mostly well promoted. A clear exclusion procedure is in place if children are ill or infectious and a varied menu is on offer. Children generally enjoy healthy options for snack, although on the day of the inspection children were given juice and biscuits and were not encouraged or helped to wash their hands before eating. The childminder applies sun cream to ensure that children are well protected from strong sunlight. Sleep and nappy changing is done as part of their normal routine and they get plenty of fresh air and exercise, which promotes their overall well-being 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 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 3

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 2 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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