Childminder in Wokingham

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY216134 Inspection date 06/06/2011 Inspector Anne Faithfull

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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 2002. 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 three children in Wokingham, Berkshire. The childminder's husband is also her assistant when required. The childminder makes use of local facilities such as parks and toddler groups. The childminder can take children to and collect them from local schools.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder uses the ground floor of the house for childminding with provision for children to sleep and use toilet facilities on the first floor. A fully enclosed rear garden is available for outside play. Her registration permits her to care for five children under eight years and of these three may be in the early years age range, at any one time, and she is currently minding two children who are within the Early Years Foundation Stage on a full and part time basis. The childminder is registered for overnight care for one child under the age of eight years. The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association.

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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 provides a welcoming and caring family environment where every child is valued, included and their individual uniqueness is respected. Children make good progress in their learning and development, as they are well supported by the childminder who provides an exceptional range of stimulating resources and equipment. Children's welfare is promoted well and they are beginning to be aware of the safety procedures in place. The excellent relationships developed with parents ensure the childminder has a good knowledge of each child's individual needs and requirements. The childminder has effective systems in place to evaluate her service and is committed to continuous improvement and development.

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further?

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

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further?

 improve children's understanding of the emergency evacuation procedure by completing the procedure with all of the children on a regular basis.

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the early years provision

Children are safeguarded well in the childminder's care as she has a good understanding of her role in safeguarding children. She has recently attended This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 training to make sure she is up to date with her knowledge and understanding of child protection and the local safeguarding procedures. As a result, she is aware of what to do and who to contact in the event that she has concerns about a child in her care. She ensures all adult family members living on the premises have completed the relevant checks to ensure their suitability to be in the same premises as the children and visitors to the home have their names and times recorded. The childminder undertakes a daily maintenance and safety check on all areas of her home to minimise the risks to children and a range of risk assessments are in place including ones for each outing undertaken with the

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the early years provision

children. The childminder practises her emergency evacuation procedure with some of the children. However, the evacuation procedure is not completed on a regular basis to ensure all children are aware of the steps to take in the event of an emergency.

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the early years provision

The childminder uses her many years experience to provide children with a well organised learning environment both inside and outside. She has taken great care to create a stimulating, child-centred environment with furniture, equipment and resources that are of high quality and appealing to children. Displays of children's work all around the downstairs rooms and playroom adds to their sense of belonging. Many resources are stored at low level, enabling children to make their own decisions and choices, which promotes their sense of independence and enables them to initiate their own play. The childminder relates well to the children and welcomes them warmly into her home. She is aware that all children have differing needs and personalities and has a positive attitude to meeting the individual requirements of all the children in her care. Through the use of a variety of multicultural resources and through visits of her own family members who talk

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the early years provision

to the children about their disabilities children are encouraged to learn about the wider world and to respect differences.

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the early years provision

Children benefit enormously from the warm and friendly relationships that are established between the parents and the childminder. The childminder readily works with parents to ensure the needs of their child are continually met and sees her role as a surrogate mother to the children in her care, which parents very much appreciate. New parents are very well informed about the childminding service as they are given the childminders parents portfolio to take home with them which includes a range of information and a copy of her policies and procedures. Parents are kept very well informed of their child's progress through regular discussions, daily diaries and access to their child's learning journey file. Comments from parents are highly positive such as, how their child is able to play with a wide variety of toys and resources, the family environment offered and how the childminder encourages their child's early communication skills. Parents also

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the early years provision

comment on how much they enjoy the daily reports they receive about their child and that they would highly recommend the childminder to others. The childminder is aware to liaise with other settings the children attend although currently no children attend any other settings. The childminder reflects daily on her practice and is totally committed to on going development. Since her last inspection she has attended a range of courses to update her knowledge and she has gained a level three qualification in childcare and education. This demonstrates her commitment to continuous development and improvement. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006

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and outcomes for children

The childminder's calm and caring manner helps children to feel settled, confident, included and secure. The childminder provides an excellent child-orientated environment where they can make independent choices about their play and the resources they use. The childminder knows each child well and interacts positively with them, offering suggestions and support when required. The childminder thoroughly enjoys her time with the children and is enthusiastic about the role she plays in their lives. She knows individual children well and creates an open, accessible and inclusive learning environment for all children, enabling them to reach their full potential. She has developed a good understanding of Early Years Foundation Stage and is very aware of how children learn through play and provides children with a range of activities, resources and experiences linked to their interests. For example, providing soft toys and puppets linked to panda bears.

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and outcomes for children

Each child has their own learning journey file and this includes photographs and the observations the childminder makes on the children. The observations completed are very comprehensive and include the areas of learning covered, where the observation took place and the time taken. Children's next steps in their early learning and development are identified and recorded and used effectively by the childminder to plan future activities, outings and experiences. The childminder shares the children's files with their parents to keep them informed of the progress their child has made whilst in her care. Children are beginning to be aware of other cultures as they celebrate a range of different festivals and events in their lives and children who attend with English as an additional language can readily access words from their home country. The childminder readily supports children and their families with routine events in their own lives if required such as, taking a child to

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and outcomes for children

Children's early communication skills are developing well as the childminder encourages children to make sounds linked to items they are playing with such as, making the sound of the cars as they use them and giving the child time to mimic and respond to the sound. Children thoroughly enjoy sitting on the childminders lap listening to their favourite story and the childminder expertly includes them in the story by asking them to point to the characters and animals. Children readily respond and the childminder shows her delight and praises their achievements. The childminder uses everyday routines and activities to develop children's early understanding of number for example, counting the number of bowls required for snack time and counting the animals they are playing with. An extensive range of craft activities and experiences enable children to enjoy experimenting with different materials, such as play dough and making pictures out of ribbons.

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and outcomes for children

Children have many different opportunities to begin to be aware of nature for example, they look at posters of birds so they can readily begin to identify the birds they see in the garden. Children are beginning to be aware of skills for the future as they can access electronic toys and resources and re-cycle items for junk modelling. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 Children are well behaved and are beginning to be aware of the boundaries in place. The childminder continually offers praise and encouragement and this helps their self-esteem and the children have developed trusting and secure relationships with her family. Visits to local toddler groups enable children to play and socialise with others. Children are aware of each other's safety as the childminder gently reminds them of safety issues both in the home and when on outings for example road safety procedures. Children are well nourished. They eat healthy snacks and

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and outcomes for children

meals the childminder or their parents provide. They can readily and independently access their drink when they require as the childminder places them at their height. The childminder readily works with parents to help them deal with any specific eating or diet requirements. Children's physical skills are developing well as they use a range of equipment and resources such as, push and pull toys and musical instruments which they enjoy shaking and banging. They have many opportunities to be out in the fresh air including playing in the garden, going on walks to school or to visit the horses in a nearby field. Good hygiene procedures are in place to prevent cross infection for instance, each child has their own towel displaying a different children's character so they can readily identify which towel is theirs. 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 1 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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