Childminder in Thurrock

Inspection report for early years provision

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Unique reference number EY269690 Inspection date 02/06/2011 Inspector Anne Daly

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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 2003. She lives with her nine-year-old child in South Stifford, Essex. The whole of the premises is used for childminding and there is an enclosed garden for outside play. The childminder walks to a local school and pre-school to take and collect children. She takes children to the library, park, soft play areas and toddler groups. The family has a cat, six rabbits, African land snails, two birds, fish, four guinea pigs and a hamster.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is registered by Ofsted on the Early Years Register and on both the compulsory and voluntary parts of the Childcare Register to care for six children under eight years. She is currently minding six children on a part-time basis, three in the early years age range and three in the age range of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register.

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Description of the childminding

The childminder is a member of the National Childminding Association and an accredited childminder of the Thurrock Childminding Network.

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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 experienced childminder has a good understanding of the learning and development requirements within the Early Years Foundation Stage. A worthwhile range of challenging and interesting activities help children to make good progress in all areas of learning. Partnerships between providers, parents and other agencies are developing well to ensure that individual children's needs are met. The childminder maintains the required documentation for the safe and efficient management of the setting, however, potentially children may not be fully safeguarded due to her lack of a current paediatric first aid certificate. She recognises the importance of self-evaluation and is proactive in making continuous improvements for the benefit of children and their families.

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further?

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

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further?

 maintain a current paediatric first aid certificate at all times (Safeguarding and promoting children's welfare) (This also applies to both parts of the Childcare Register). 30/06/2011

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further?

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

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further?

 develop the use of the outdoor area as a stimulating learning environment that children can easily access This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006  improve the information obtained about children's cultural backgrounds and home languages.

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the early years provision

Children are being safeguarded through the childminder having a good knowledge of her safeguarding role. She has a wide range of policies and procedures to safeguard children and is confident in her ability to act promptly and appropriately should she have any welfare concerns. She has been appropriately vetted, with evidence of her Criminal Records Bureau check held on file. Good systems are in place to verify the identity of any visitors to further safeguard children. Children are well protected from harm through effective risk assessments identifying potential dangers within her home, garden and on outings. The childminder completes a written daily checklist to ensure each area to be used by children is safe and secure. She ensures that each child's personal details form provides the necessary care information to enable her to meet individual children's needs.

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the early years provision

The childminder is enthusiastic about her work with children and is committed to bring about sustainable improvements to her setting and to the outcomes for children. Since the last inspection, she has gained a Cache level 3 Diploma in Home-based Childcare to further develop her knowledge of child development and to help children to develop and progress well towards their early learning goals. She feels confident that she would be able to deal appropriately if a child should require emergency first aid. However, her paediatric first aid certificate recently expired and she has been unsuccessful in securing a place to renew this qualification by updating her knowledge to enable her to fully safeguard children.

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the early years provision

Children have plenty of space in which to play and worthwhile resources to support their learning and development. The childminder effectively organises her daily routines to ensure that children receive plenty of encouragement and support in the different learning environments within the home and at toddler groups and in the park. However, the childminder has identified future development of the garden to enable children to have an 'outdoor' classroom.

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the early years provision

The childminder has an effective equal opportunities policy and values and respects each individual child. Children are encouraged to have a positive attitude and respect for themselves and for other people. They celebrate different festivals, while having access to a good range of resources and books representative of different cultures, genders and disabilities. The childminder has a secure knowledge of each child's background, however, she has not always sought further information from parents about their different cultural festivals and home languages. She has a good understanding that some children may have learning difficulties and/or disabilities, including recognising the strength of professional relationships in creating an approach to best meet the needs of individual children. She regularly communicates with schools to support individual children in their first year at school by ensuring that information is regularly shared and used to

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the early years provision

promote their achievements, for example, listening to the children reading. This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 The childminder has established very positive relationships with parents and carers, including good levels of support to enable their children to settle well. During school holidays prior to transitions from nursery to school, children attend the setting to enable them to settle into her care before starting school. The childminder completes daily diaries for the younger age range of children, including information on what they have eaten, how long they have slept and what they have enjoyed doing that day. Unique profiles full of photographs and observations support children's learning across all six areas. Well-organised policies and procedures effectively support and underpin good care practices for the benefit of children to ensure their good progress in all areas of learning and in their sense of

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the early years provision

security and wellbeing. Parents have written letters specifically for this inspection confirming that they are kept well informed about all aspects of their children's achievements, wellbeing and development.

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and outcomes for children

Children's welfare and learning needs are met by a proficient childminder, who understands and adapts activities to meet their individual needs. They thoroughly enjoy their time with the childminder and develop and achieve well in all six areas of learning. Her systems for planning and observing children's progress and achievements enable her to create records containing photographs and observations linked to the six areas of learning. Systems enable her to match her observations to the expectations of the early learning goals and to identify any gaps in children's learning.

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and outcomes for children

Children make choices about the resources with which to play. The childminder uses relaxed opportunities for children to develop spoken language through allowing time to initiate conversations with them, especially when reading to them. They thoroughly enjoy singing familiar songs while linking words to parts of their bodies when singing 'if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands'. The childminder actively encourages children's independence skills as they do things for themselves, for example, when happily playing with construction toys. She uses everyday opportunities to encourage children to count, including encouraging young children to count the stairs when going upstairs. Children have many opportunities to explore different textures, for example, when pinching and poking different types of malleable materials. They are actively involved in the community gardens, for example, by making 'fat' balls to encourage wild birds. The

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and outcomes for children

childminder praises their achievements to build their confidence and to help them to feel valued.

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and outcomes for children

Children are provided with opportunities to develop the necessary skills for their future, for example, play provision incorporating technology to enable them to investigate how to operate telephones. They behave well because of their childminder's consistent boundaries for behaviour within her home and on outings. She includes all children in activities and encourages them to share toys and be kind to each other. They have a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe, demonstrated by telling their childminder that the pretend iron is hot. They know that they have to wear their flourescent jackets so that they will be seen This inspection was carried out under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 when out walking and can confidently describe what they will do if the smoke alarm sounds. They demonstrate their good understanding of health and hygiene by asking for a tissue to blow their nose and by using antibacterial wipes after

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and outcomes for children

having their nappies changed. 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: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The provider confirms that the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register are: Not Met (with actions)

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

The registered provider does not meet the requirements of the compulsory and or voluntary part/s of the Childcare Register.

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report (Welfare of the children being cared for). 30/06/2011

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

To comply with the requirements of the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, the registered person must take the following action/s by the specified date:

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Annex B: the Childcare Register

 take action as specified in the early years section of the report(Welfare of the children being cared for). 30/06/2011

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