Childminder in East Riding of Yorkshire

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number 503369 Inspection date 24/05/2011 Inspector Diane Turner

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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 has been registered since 2001. She lives with her husband, parents, adult son and two children aged 14 and four years in a detached house in the village of Swanland in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The ground floor living room, kitchen diner, and the living room and two bedrooms on the first floor are used for childminding purposes. Toilet facilities are available on both levels. There is an enclosed garden for outdoor play to the rear of the premises. A dog and two rabbits are kept at the home

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for five children under eight years at any one time, two of whom may be within the early years age group. The childminder is also registered to work with an assistant when the number of children who may be cared for at any one time is five under eight years, three of whom may be within the early years age group. There are currently two children on roll, both of whom are within the early years age group and attend on a part-time basis.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding.

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The overall effectiveness of the early years provision

Children are cared for in an extremely welcoming and highly organised environment where the uniqueness of each one is valued highly and nurtured with the greatest care. Children are offered an excellent range of purposeful and exciting learning opportunities which enables them to make rapid progress in their learning and development given their age, ability and starting points. The highest priority is given to promoting children's safety and the attention that is given to working in partnership with parents is excellent. This ensures a highly effective shared approach to meeting the children's individual care and learning needs. The systems for monitoring the quality of the service are very well established and are used in a highly effective manner to promote continuous improvement of a very high standard.

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further?

To further improve the high quality early years provision the registered person should consider:

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further?

 developing the opportunities for children to explore the textures of natural materials and household objects. 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's arrangements for safeguarding children are excellent. Through attending regular training and accessing up to date information from the relevant authorities she has a comprehensive knowledge of the possible indicators of abuse or neglect and the correct procedures to follow should she need to make a referral. The childminder's home is maintained to a very high standard throughout and has stringent measures in place to ensure it is kept safe and secure at all times. A comprehensive range of policies and procedures are in place that have been carefully devised in line with the welfare requirements for the Early Years Foundation Stage. These, alongside the meticulous organisation and maintenance of day-to-day documentation, underpin the extremely efficient management of the service.

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the early years provision

The childminder is highly motivated and has clear aims for her service which she implements with great determination. She talks passionately about providing children with the best possible care and ensuring each one is nurtured and cared for in a loving environment. The childminder is driven to continually improving her service. She regularly re-visits and updates her self-evaluation document and, alongside her monthly reflections of her practice, draws up challenging but realistic development plans for the future. The improvements she has made to her service since the last inspection have had a significant impact on the outcomes for children. For example, the addition of new furniture ensures resources are readily accessible to promote choice and independence.

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the early years provision

Promoting equality and diversity is at the heart of the childminder's practice. She gains a wealth of information about the children's individual needs before the placement begins, which enables her to meticulously meet every aspect of their care and learning and to ensure their time with her is a true extension of their home life. The children are able to make independent choices from a very good range of resources and they have excellent opportunities to learn to be accepting of the needs and beliefs of others. For example, the childminder delights in discussing how the children have made strong friendships with other children through the groups they attend. Festivals from around the world are explored and celebrated on a continual basis and capture the interests of children of all ages. For example, as they make vibrant patterns with chalk to celebrate Holi.

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the early years provision

The childminder does not currently care for any children who attend other early years provision. However, she is fully aware of the importance of working in partnership with other settings to support children's continuity of care. She has good links with other providers in the local area and has devised a clear system for the reciprocal sharing of information in anticipation of this. The childminder's partnership with parents is superb. She provides them with a wealth of valuable information when the placement begins, including a welcome booklet and copies of all the policies and procedures for their reference. A well-presented notice board in the entrance provides ongoing information and daily diaries are used as a highly effective two-way communication tool, particularly in keeping the childminder informed of any changes during periods of absence, such as holidays. Parents play This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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the early years provision

a full and active part in their children's learning and this is very strongly evidenced by their comments in the children's learning journal. Questionnaires and both written and verbal comments from parents about the service are highly complimentary and leave no doubt that they hold the childminder in the highest regard.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has an excellent understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage. For example, she knows it is vital to establish children's starting points in their learning through observation and close partnership working with parents and to be clear of what it is they are working towards. She achieves this with great success, meticulously planning activities that are tailored to the children's individual needs whilst at the same time ensuring she is flexible and responsive to meeting their changing interests. The childminder gives the highest priority to ensuring the children feel completely safe in her care. As a result, they become a real part of the family, are completely relaxed and at home in their environment and become highly motivated and enthusiastic learners who develop very valuable skills for the future.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has a very enthusiastic yet patient approach which motivates the children to take part in the activities and she interacts very skilfully with them as they play, making the experience fun whilst extending and challenging their learning. For example, the youngest children eagerly come to the table to make a 'cotton wool sheep', showing excellent control of their small muscles as they spread the glue on the paper and press the cotton wool down. They show immense pride and beam with delight at the finished item, which shows their self- esteem is excellent. The children have excellent opportunities to develop their communication, language and literacy skills. For example, the childminder provides print-outs of photographs taken on previous visits the children have enjoyed and encourages them to recall the event as they make a collage with these. The children become fully immersed as they look at the photographs, identifying their

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and outcomes for children

friends with great pleasure and very confidently and correctly naming the animals they saw at a children's farm, including more unusual ones, such as turkeys.

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and outcomes for children

The childminder has highly effective systems in place to monitor and assess the children's progress. These include record sheets entitled 'I can and I have' which include photographs that show expressions of awe and wonder on the children's faces as they experience making marks in fake snow, observing the birds at a local park and walking underneath a whale bone. The childminder is highly successful in empowering the children to take responsibility. As a result, their behaviour is exemplary and from a very young age they display a real thirst for knowledge. They independently choose toys that interest them and very confidently make their needs known even when they do not have all the necessary language. They help to tidy away the toys after use without hesitation, carefully putting the items in the correct box which shows they have great respect for their surroundings. The children have excellent opportunities to learn about nature and the care for living

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and outcomes for children

This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 things as they plant and tend sunflower seeds, and vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots and peas in the garden. The childminder delights in relating how this has inspired some of the parents to grow their own potatoes too. The children have good access to various electronic toys and the computer but they do not have a great deal of opportunity to explore natural and found materials. However, this is an area the childminder has identified for development. The childminder pays excellent attention to helping children to understand what contributes to a healthy lifestyle. For example, they have daily opportunities to play purposefully in the garden and take part in vigorous exercise and go for walks. Each week they attend a music and movement session at the library and they also delight in taking part in such activities in the home, pretending, for example, to be a 'Dingle, dangle

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and outcomes for children

scarecrow'. From an early age the children know to use a tissue to blow their nose and to put this in the bin afterwards and they delight in cleaning their teeth after their lunch, showing they have an excellent understanding of the importance of self-care. 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 1 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 1

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Stage

The extent to which children achieve and enjoy their learning 1 The extent to which children feel safe 1 The extent to which children adopt healthy lifestyles 1 The extent to which children make a positive contribution 1 The extent to which children develop skills for the future 1

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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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